Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says he’ll push for vote after vote until the U.S. House and Senate override President Bush’s veto and set a date for withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
Obama, a U.S. Senator from Illinois, campaigned in Iowa Sunday and spoke at a Baptist church in Waterloo. "Over 3300 young men and women aren’t coming home. We’re spending $275 million a day in Iraq. Imagine if we spent $275 million right here in Waterloo," Obama said, as the congregation’s pianist accompanied his words with running chords.
Some in the congregation clapped. Others said "Amen" to Obama’s words.
Democrats face an uphill battle if they plan to override Bush’s veto of an Iraq spending plan that includes a timeline for withdrawal, as they have to convince some Republican members of the U.S. Senate to join with them in order to get enough votes to override Bush’s veto. "And I’m out there trying to gather those 16 votes, but I have to tell you if I don’t get those 16 votes before I’m president, as president I will bring our young men and women home," Obama told the crowd of about 300, as some clapped and one woman yelled "All right!"
Obama urged his Iowa audience to start lobbying Republican Senator Charles Grassley to vote for legislation that includes a withdrawal plan for Iraq.
Earlier this spring, Obama told the Associated Press he did not think congress would "play chicken" with Iraq funding if President Bush vetoed a bill which set a timeline for withdrawal.