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Sign This Petition, Please. I did!

post from Republicans for Obama - Public Blog on 02 July 2008 11:20:20 PM. © Republicans for Obama - Public Blog

Barack Obama just co-sponsored a bill in the Senate that you should know about, one that will close a loophole that allows lobbyists to hide important dealings and connections. Under current law,

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http://www.republicansforobama.org/?q=node/1472

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Barack Speaks to Coloradans about Service

post from Obama HQ on 02 July 2008 09:13:23 PM. © Obama HQ

Today, two days before what many consider to be the most patriotic day of the year, Senator Obama gave a speech in Colorado Springs, highlighting the importance of service and each person's responsibility to take an active role in their community.

Cori, a graduate of Colorado State University and a Colorado Springs local, introduced the Senator, sharing with the audience why she had chosen to get involved with the campaign:

I recently became engaged to a wonderful soldier in the United States Army who is soon going to be deployed for his second tour of duty in Iraq. I am immensely proud of my fiance and his service to our country. Many of us have friends and loved ones serving overseas and I know it is easy to feel scared and isolated. However, I have found the best comfort and solace in knowing that not only military families are supporting my fiance's service to our country but so is the next president of the United States.

Cori spoke about the important role that service plays in the lives of Coloradans and all Americans and explaining why Senator Obama expects us to give back to our country:

Whether it's Colorado Springs' brave men and women in uniform serving overseas or Americorps volunteers in Denver working in inner-city schools or Peacecorps volunteers from Grand Junction bringing much needed relief to a community abroad, he knows that working together we can strengthen our local communities, change the country and face common challenges we face here at home and around the world.

I believe that Senator Obama is not only the leader who will bring my soldier home safely, but the one who has already brought people together from all over the country through all walks of life to make it clear that we have a hand a hand in our future and you should too. I believe that we can rely on him. I believe that we can respect him because he respects us and all those who serve us.

People traveled from across the state to hear Senator Obama's speech, many of whom had been actively serving their country -- whether they are involved through Teach for America, a branch of the military, or helping their community on a local level.

Tom traveled from Golden to hear the Senator's speech and said he was supportive of the Senator's message of serving our country:

He wants us involved and all this ground up effort is the key to this...The people of America are hungry for something like this, so I know that there are going to be millions who take him up on his challenge... you want to be in the military, you want to serve your country, you want to be a teacher, you want to go to inner city schools. We will help you. What a fantastic two way street it is, in a time when Washington has been a one way street, a street away from us.

Here's a video of other Coloradans talking about Senator Obama and what service means to them:

video details and more

Read The Full Article:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/jennprosser/gGxsRg

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Unite for Change: Lombard, Illinois

post from Obama HQ on 02 July 2008 09:03:16 PM. © Obama HQ

On Saturday night in Lombard, Illinois, almost 30 Obama supporters gathered to spend their Saturday night talking about how to get Barack and other Democratic candidates elected this November.

Amanda, a life-long resident of Lombard, has never been involved in politics before. This was her first time hosting an event, and even though she hates speaking in public, she put her fears behind her to share her story and get others involved.

We need to get out there and talk to our neighbors. I mean, this is how it all got started, at the grassroots. People are excited and they want to get involved.

Look around. There are more then 25 people here that I’ve never met, and I’m sure you haven’t met them either. If I can do it, then anyone can do it.

Rupa, a therapist for children who come have abusive families, said that she had a tough time choosing between Barack and Hillary. But after she ready “Dreams Of My Father”, she felt connected to him. As mother of a bi-racial child and a daughter of immigrants, she saw pieces of herself in him.

He represents all of us, he’s the face of everyone. And even though he went through a tough childhood, he still has hope. He hasn’t been disillusioned by his work in politics – and let me tell you, the South Side of Chicago is not that nice. But he still sees the good in people. He believes in us.

Lombard is located in Dupage County, a highly republican territory. In over 30 years, Dupage has never elected Democratic candidates at the state level. But those involved in Dupage politics are excited to see the effect that Barack and his volunteers can have on the election.

Bob, a former York Township chair, said...

We have a real shot here. We can help get Democrats elected up and down the ticket. It’s easy to get plugged into your local democratic organization. In Dupage, you can get trained to be a voter registrar and talk to people about Obama and the other candidates.

This is a true grassroots movement. And with Barack running, it’s very helpful. He can make substitutive changes in Washington.

Stop by your local Democratic office this week to find out how you can your local candidates.

Read The Full Article:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/amandascott/gG55g3

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Vote for Change: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

post from Obama HQ on 02 July 2008 07:53:20 PM. © Obama HQ

This July 4th, as Americans celebrate our nation's independence, volunteers across the country will be mobilizing to bring more voices into the political process through our ongoing Vote for Change voter registration drive. David from Philadelphia is planning a whopping nine voter registration events this week alone:

I signed up 400 new voters during the primary, and of the 400 I got 123 on the very last day. It was a really satisfying experience to get all those people, but there are still so many who are not registered to vote, and I feel like if we just give them the opportunity to do it, then people are more likely to do it. I actually have 9 other events this week. I want to be there any time we have a public festival or a parade.

David is expecting 16 other volunteers to help him out at the the Welcome, America! festival on Philadelphia's Ben Franklin Parkway, where over a million people are expected to turn out for a John Legend concert and a fireworks display. He says he's met all of them through My.BarackObama.com, and that they were excited to be able to mix their civic duty with their 4th of July celebration.

He's not alone this weekend - there are Vote for Change events planned all around America. Check out the Vote for Change web page, and find an event to volunteer at near you. Together, we can reshape the electoral landscape and help shape the outcome of races up and down the ballot this fall.

Read The Full Article:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/obamahqblog/gGxsBK

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Video: Barack on Service: "I am asking you to
change history's course"

post from Obama HQ on 02 July 2008 06:45:23 PM. © Obama HQ

Here's the full video of Barack speech from Colorado Spings, Colorado earlier today:

video details and more

Barack talked about the divide between our day to day lives and what happens in the wider world, and the need to bridge that divide:

This is the divide that separates you from the ability to shape your own destiny. So I am asking you – on this 4th of July – to reject that divide, to step into the strong currents of history, and to shape your country’s future. Because your own story and the American story are not separate, they are shared.

He also made a new call to service, an issue that has long been at the heart of this campaign:

We need your service, right now, at this moment – our moment – in history. I’m not going to tell you what your role should be; that’s for you to discover. But I am going to ask you to play your part; ask you to stand up; ask you to put your foot firmly into the current of history. I am asking you to change history’s course.

You can watch more videos and highlights at YouTube.com/barackobama.

Read The Full Article:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/gGxsBn

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Organizing Fellows: Andy in Columbus

post from Obama HQ on 02 July 2008 05:22:58 PM. © Obama HQ

Throughout the next six weeks, we will be following Obama Organizing Fellows as they share their stories and their experiences. They’ll talk about the people they meet, the hardships of organizing, what the campaign means to them, and how this summer is potentially changing their life.

Andy is an Organizing Fellow in Columbus, Ohio. He’ll share a re-cap of his week every Wednesday.

I was raised by a mother from Flint and a father from Redford, Michigan. Their childhood homes have been hit hardest by the economic woes facing this country. My parents worked hard in the public education system to give me a better opportunity than they had as children. Because of them, I have learned that the promise of the American Dream is to use the resources we have to create opportunities for others. It is a Dream that I will always cherish. But I have learned it is also a Dream that must be defended. I learned this lesson from many places in my life, but I learned it best from my stepfather. He was a hard working electrician for about forty years of his life. Unfortunately, he contracted lung cancer from the asbestos he was exposed to on the job.

As my family gathered around his deathbed just before last Thanksgiving we gave our final thanks for the moments we shared. I was most thankful for the loving way my mom and him took care of each other. But I will always wish that the health care companies took care of him as well. I often wonder if he had better preventive health care if he would still be here today. I will never know the answer to that question, but what I do know is that we need a health care system that takes care of every American and not just the wealthy. That is what brought me to this historic movement for change.

It has been an honor to be part of the organizing fellowship with the campaign. Never in my life have I seen such a talented group of people from all backgrounds come together in defense of the American Dream.
I have met amazing organizing fellows like Michael. Michael’s father escaped from forced labor, swam for 10 hours through shark infested waters and then chartered his way to the U.S.A. to live the American Dream. Michael wants to create change to insure that America continues to be the land of opportunity that his father arrived in many years ago.
I have met wonderful grassroots volunteers like Carlotta. She works in preventive health care and smoking cessation and has seen health care plans become increasingly out of reach for Americans like my stepfather. She knows she must take action in order to protect the values of this country.

Organizing can be incredibly uplifting but also difficult at times. However, I know no matter what happens that my family and my friends like Michael and Carlotta will be there to help me through it.

The most important thing I have learned through them and this campaign is that it takes hard work to create the change this country needs. That is why I will be working all day on my birthday this July 4th. I would be honored if you would celebrate this country’s (and coincidentally, my own) birthday this July 4th by helping us with our Voter Registration Drive. I can think of no greater way to defend the American Dream this July 4th than by working to empower fellow citizens with the right to vote.

Check back next week for more from Andy in Columbus.

Read The Full Article:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/amandascott/gG5x9B

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Organizing Fellows: Andy in Columbus, Ohio

post from Obama HQ on 02 July 2008 05:22:58 PM. © Obama HQ

I was raised by a mother from Flint and a father from Redford, Michigan. Their childhood homes have been hit hardest by the economic woes facing this country. My parents worked hard in the public education system to give me a better opportunity than they had as children. Because of them, I have learned that the promise of the American Dream is to use the resources we have to create opportunities for others. It is a Dream that I will always cherish. But I have learned it is also a Dream that must be defended. I learned this lesson from many places in my life, but I learned it best from my stepfather. He was a hard working electrician for about forty years of his life. Unfortunately, he contracted lung cancer from the asbestos he was exposed to on the job.

As my family gathered around his deathbed just before last Thanksgiving we gave our final thanks for the moments we shared. I was most thankful for the loving way my mom and him took care of each other. But I will always wish that the health care companies took care of him as well. I often wonder if he had better preventive health care if he would still be here today. I will never know the answer to that question, but what I do know is that we need a health care system that takes care of every American and not just the wealthy. That is what brought me to this historic movement for change.

It has been an honor to be part of the organizing fellowship with the campaign. Never in my life have I seen such a talented group of people from all backgrounds come together in defense of the American Dream.
I have met amazing organizing fellows like Michael. Michael’s father escaped from forced labor, swam for 10 hours through shark infested waters and then chartered his way to the U.S.A. to live the American Dream. Michael wants to create change to insure that America continues to be the land of opportunity that his father arrived in many years ago.
I have met wonderful grassroots volunteers like Carlotta. She works in preventive health care and smoking cessation and has seen health care plans become increasingly out of reach for Americans like my stepfather. She knows she must take action in order to protect the values of this country.

Organizing can be incredibly uplifting but also difficult at times. However, I know no matter what happens that my family and my friends like Michael and Carlotta will be there to help me through it.

The most important thing I have learned through them and this campaign is that it takes hard work to create the change this country needs. That is why I will be working all day on my birthday this July 4th. I would be honored if you would celebrate this country’s (and coincidentally, my own) birthday this July 4th by helping us with our Voter Registration Drive. I can think of no greater way to defend the American Dream this July 4th than by working to empower fellow citizens with the right to vote.

Check back next week for more from Andy in Columbus.

Read The Full Article:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/amandascott/gG5x9B

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And the Gloves Come Off...

post from Republicans for Obama - Public Blog on 02 July 2008 04:49:40 PM. © Republicans for Obama - Public Blog

The GOP (affiliated groups) will be launching attack ads against Obama, as expected.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.republicansforobama.org/?q=node/1471

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Targeted States: Florida

Florida has been a tough state for Democrats in the last two presidential elections and the race looks very tight for 2008.

The state has a Republican governor and both a Democrat and Republican senator. Both the Florida State Senate and State House of Representatives are controlled by Republicans. The Florida delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives consists of 16 Republicans and 9 Democrats.

Florida, of course, was the scene of the 'hanging chad' controversy during the 2000 election when Al Gore barely lost the state costing him the election.

Presently, the RealClearPolitics average of recent polls shows John McCain ahead of Barack Obama by 2.2 points.

Florida: McCain vs. Obama
Polling Data
PollDateSampleMcCain (R)Obama (D)SpreadRCP Average06/09 - 06/29--46.043.8McCain +2.2Strategic Vision (R)06/27 - 06/291200 LV4941McCain +8.0PPP (D)06/26 - 06/29723 LV4446Obama +2.0Rasmussen06/26 - 06/26500 LV4841McCain +7.0Quinnipiac06/09 - 06/161453 LV4347Obama +4.0
See All Florida: McCain vs. Obama Polling Data

Two tough crowds in Florida for Obama are Cuban and Jewish Americans. Many conservative Cubans appear less than thrilled with Obama's more open approach toward the country's southern neighbor. The Illinois senator also may be weaker than either Gore or Kerry among Jewish voters. This fact may be complicated by the fact that Sen. Joe Lieberman, a conservative Jew who ran as Al Gore's VP, will be campaigning for McCain.

Florida also has many older voters including a huge population of retirees, who generally have not been as favorable toward Obama.

However, as in most other states, the economy is the top issue for Florida voters followed by Iraq. With many of Florida's voters on fixed incomes, the rising costs of fuel and food are worrisome, and offer an opening for the Obama campaign by concentrating people's attention on the failed Bush, and by extension, McCain economic policy.

Regards,Paul Kekai Manansalahttp://www.myspace.com/paulkekaimanansala

Read The Full Article:
http://obamabarack.blogspot.com/2008/07/targeted-states-florida.html

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