Working for Change at Every Level

My.BarackObama.com enables our supporters to organize their communities using an array of online tools. Whether supporters use our tools to plan a canvass for Barack, a community service project or a phonebank for a down-ballot candidate, they are working hard to bring change to our country at every level.

Meena of Baltimore, MD, got active on MyBO about a month ago, joining three Baltimore area groups.

Before I was completely clueless as to how to get involved. Now I get an email every day about something going on. I couldn't care so much and not do anything.

She was alerted on MyBO about a phonebank for Congressman John Sarbanes, who is running for reelection in her district. Knowing that Sarbanes supported Barack and was running on a similar platform of change, Meena decided to volunteer for the phonebank. After her first experience phonebanking, she’s ready to do it again tomorrow evening. She'll do anything, she says, to change the current political system.

Like Meena, Dan in Chapel Hill, NC wants a sweeping change in Washington, from the Oval Office on down. Dan has been using the MyBO tools to make this happen, building support for Barack and Kay Hagan, who is running for Elizabeth Dole’s Senate seat.

My brother and I had a long conversation about how wrong the war was before it started. Somewhere there was a state senator who spoke out against it before it started and there were so few people doing that. So I joined his website, joined a few groups, wrote a few blogs and then I held a fundraiser.

Dan “the pottery man” -– as he calls himself -- hosted two fundraisers for Barack in his paint-it-yourself ceramics store. Supporters made donations to the campaign to paint a ceramics piece and have it fired in the kiln. Dan made $600 from his first fundraiser and $300 from his second.

Building on the success of his first two fundraisers, he decided to host a third one in support of Kay Hagan last weekend. He posted the event on MyBO and put the word out where he lives. About eight people showed up to his latest fundraiser, raising $150 for Hagan.

Barack needs all the Democrats he can get elected with him in November.

Our supporters also have formed MyBO groups for Jim Slattery of Kansas and Tom Udall of New Mexico, both running for the U.S. Senate.

Barack can’t bring about the change we seek by himself. It’s going to require a new political outlook, focused on real solutions, that is shared by our elected officials –- from city council members to members of Congress. We can band together to show the power of this grassroots movement and make our voices heard at all levels of the political process.

You can use our online tools to get involved in local groups, host events and fundraise. Get active now!

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Senator Obama Responds to New CDC Numbers on
HIV/AIDS in the United States

Senator Obama released the following statement on the Center for Disease Control's report about new cases of HIV/AIDS in the United States:

We have now learned that 56,300 new HIV infections occurred in the United States in 2006, not 40,000 that had been previously cited. These new figures should bring new focus to our efforts to address AIDS and HIV here at home.

As president, I am committed to developing a National AIDS Strategy to decrease new HIV infections and improve health outcomes for Americans living with HIV/AIDS. Across the nation, we also need to prevent the spread of HIV and get people into treatment by expanding access to testing and comprehensive education programs. This report also demonstrates the need for more timely data about HIV transmission so that we can effectively evaluate prevention efforts. 

Combating HIV/AIDS also demands closing the gaps in opportunity that exist in our society so that we can strengthen our public health. We must also overcome the stigma that surrounds HIV/AIDS - a stigma that is too often tied to homophobia. We need to encourage folks to get tested and accelerate HIV/AIDS research toward an effective cure because we have a moral obligation to join together to meet this challenge, and to do so with the urgency this epidemic demands.

To read Senator Obama's plan for fighting HIV/AIDS at home and worldwide, click HERE.

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On the Ground: First Friday In Augusta -
Register, Contact, Recruit

Thomas Kelley is on the ground in Georgia. Although not traditionally considered a battleground state, a surge in primary voter turnout and an aggressive voter registration effort has made Georgia competitive. -- Chicago HQ

The first Friday of every summer month in Augusta, Georgia and other rural communities around the state is a chance to celebrate. Putting away the cookwear, people go out to eat in restaurants and gather on Broad Street in the heart of the city to enjoy the carnival atmosphere that includes live music, car shows, street vendors and community organization booths. On this particular Friday, however, local Field Organizers from the Campaign for Change were in their cozy and colorful office on 8th Street preparing to take action.  

During the afternoon Devon, Kayla, and Hamilton prepared clipboards, tables and campaign signs, before training volunteers for the large voter registration drive that would blanket Broad Street. While part of the team prepared for the evening festivities, Michael, Luke, and Josie assembled volunteers for afternoon registration at Maryland Fried Chicken and at the regional American Idol tryouts at Imperial Theatre. As the sun set organizers and volunteer teams from the Augusta office fanned out along Broad Street to talk to voters and encourage people to register to vote.

Volunteers set up registration tables in front of Woolworths, The Imperial Theatre, a park on the banks of the Savannah River,  and the New Moon Cafe, which was the founding site of Paine College. Since Augusta is a border city with the state of South Carolina the volunteers carried two sets of registration forms, enabling them to register people from both Georgia and South Carolina. While the volunteers registered voters, the organizers recruited more volunteers and spoke to undecided voters about the issues that concerned them most.

However, even more importantly than talking to voters, they listened. They listened to the concerns of voters on real issues such as gas prices, health care reform, and the urgent need to create energy independence for America's economy and our security as well.

... As the night moved past Midnight and the revelers began to disperse, the work for the CFC volunteer teams and Field Organizers didn't end. Folding up their chairs and tables, they headed back to strategize about voter registration and how to do it all over again tomorrow. 

Read the full post . . . 

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Don't Count on Bill

I don't think Bill Clinton will be much of a help in Barack's campaign.  Of course, "next y

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On the Ground: Joint Canvassing in New Hampshire

Staffers are on the ground in New Hampshire, helping train and organize grassroots volunteers in the basics of field work. This massive organizational effort will have a lasting effect on both the presidential race and down ballot candidates throughout the country, including U.S. Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen. -- Chicago HQ

Saturday's canvasses all across New Hampshire provided an opportunity for supporters of the Democratic ticket to talk to voters about all of New Hampshire's Democratic candidates.

In Manchester Saturday morning, staff from the New Hampshire Democratic Party's Coordinated Campaign worked with staff from Senator Obama's Campaign for Change to train the volunteers in attendance and prepare their walk packets. To fire up the volunteers and put their work in perspective, Ray Buckley, chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, spoke about the importance of being out in neighborhoods talking to voters in order to help elect Democratic candidates in New Hampshire this fall.

Sheila and John, two volunteers from Manchester, were paired up and sent to Manchester's west side to talk to voters. Sheila is a school counselor. She volunteered for the Obama campaign during the New Hampshire primary and was excited  to canvass for U.S. Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen as well.  "Shaheen was a great Governor. It's time to get her in the Senate."

This was John's first time canvassing for Senator Obama and the rest of the Democratic ticket in New Hampshire. John was a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton during the New Hampshire primary. He was a driver in both President Clinton's and Senator Clinton's motorcade on separate occasions and still has a Hillary bumper sticker on his car. John now supports Senator Obama as well as Jeanne Shaheen:

Hillary Clinton's message is the same one that Jeanne Shaheen has -- that we need a major shift in this country, a new direction. And I'm happy to support Barack Obama because I think he represents that change too.

Sheila and John became fast friends -- canvassing together will do that to people. But more than that, they enjoyed being a part of the Democratic campaigns on this beautiful Saturday. As Sheila said, "We've got to get these Democrats into office in New Hampshire! The state and this country needs them."

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On the Ground: "The largest campaign in Michigan
history"

Josh Penn is on the ground in Michigan, where staffers and volunteers are quickly putting together the largest field operation the state has ever seen. - Chicago HQ

MLive.com reports: 

Barack Obama's Michigan campaign is promising the biggest effort in state election history and one double that of John Kerry's successful effort four years ago.

... [Michigan campaign director Amy Chapman] said the campaign would staff as many as 40 offices around Michigan, with three-quarters of them sharing space with down-ballot Democratic candidates.

"In the past weeks, we have moved quickly to put in place a leadership team that will build and manage the largest general election campaign in Michigan history," Chapman wrote.

Field organizers will organize the activities of some 2,000 volunteer precinct captains.

"As all of us know, this volunteer, neighborhood-based, person-to-person contact, starting now will be the most important way we can properly introduce Barack Obama to voters ...

Over a 1300 people turned out last week for the Michigan Campaign for Change HQ Office Opening in Detroit:

Yesterday marked the official opening of the Kalamazoo office, bringing the total number of Michigan offices to 20 so far.

Visit MI.BarackObama.com for more information on how to get involved in Michigan.

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Obama urges full voting rights for Michigan and
Florida Delegates

Sen. Barack Obama is not calling for delegates from Florida and Michigan to have full voting rights at the Democratic National Convention.

"As these delegates go about the important business of the Convention, I believe Party unity calls for the delegates from Florida and Michigan to be able to participate fully alongside the delegates from the other states and territories," Obama wrote in a letter to the chairmen of the party?s credentials committee.

Delegates from the two states had been allowed only half a vote each in punishment for holding their primaries before Feb. 5 against Democratic National Committee rules. Obama urged the credentials committee to pass a resolution during their Aug. 24 meeting granting the delegates full votes.

Races in both states appear close with Obama seemingly gaining momentum in Florida while McCain has been edging closer in Michigan. The Obama campaign now has 20 field offices in Michigan with the opening of the Kalamazoo office yesterday.

Paul Kekai Manansala is a freelance author and blogger from Sacramento, California.

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On the Ground: Office Opening in St. Petersburg,
FL

Kristen Psaki is on the ground in Florida, and was on hand for the St. Petersburg office opening last Wednesday night. St. Pete is just one of 19 offices that are already up and running in Florida. - Chicago HQ

Over 200 names filled sign up sheets that began to curl from the rain in Grand Central District. Barack’s Campaign for Change unveiled its St. Petersburg office with special guests Senator Charles Justice and Representative Rick Kriseman, who reminded the packed crowd:

We are in one of the most diverse areas of St. Petersburg, which is exactly what this campaign is all about. How do we turn this movement into a reality right here in St. Pete?  We go door to door and we talk to our neighbors.

The people who stood shoulder to shoulder Wednesday night all arrived for their own reasons.

Kristen is a labor delivery nurse who has seen the cracks in the health care system head on -- she's consistently frustrated by the number of hospital patients she sees who deserved preventative care months ago. Kristen came to the office opening because she's excited for the first time about a candidate and is looking forward to volunteering a few days a week when she's not working the night shift.

Next to Kristen stood Tammy. Tammy's roots run deep in St. Pete, and she has been involved in political campaigns since Jimmy Carter.

But best of all, we met Bobby, whose mom owns the ice cream parlor next door and decided to paint a sign for the office opening.

Read the full post . . .

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Christian Support for Obama

I know there are many of us here that are stong Christians, and have struggled with reconciling some of our beliefs with our support of Barack Obama.  Most of us decided that the good Obama will

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"The largest field operation in the history of
American politics"

This is what a ground game looks like:

The election site FiveThirtyEight reports today:

In Alaska, Obama has four field offices open (Juneau, Fairbanks, Anchorage, Palmer) to McCain’s none. In Montana, Obama had six offices to McCain’s none in July ...

In Virginia, Obama has a 20-6 field office edge, with as many as 60 expected to be open in the near future ... in each of Florida and Pennsylvania Obama is expected to have a minimum of 200 paid organizers.

In Wisconsin, Obama has 15 offices open now, with 24 expected to be open by mid-August. The staffers are directly paid by Obama’s “Campaign for Change” organization. By contrast, Republicans have five party offices open that handle both McCain field work as well as the state leg. races, which somewhat dilutes the effort.

Already there is staff on the ground in traditional battleground states, as well as a number of nontraditional ones. Current plans call for large-scale operations in at least 22 states, with medium operations in many, many others. But paid staff are just one small part of what campaign manger David Plouffe described as "the persuasion army."

From the July 19th edition of the Boston Globe:

"The climate has made millions of Americans who haven't been involved in a political campaign ever in their lifetimes very active," [deputy campaign manager Steve Hildebrand] said. "We estimate that 70 percent of our grass-roots volunteers haven't worked in a campaign before. . . . We're somewhere just shy of 2 million volunteers, and we think we can potentially triple that on Election Day."

That would mean 6 million volunteers. For comparison, about 116 million people voted in the 2004 presidential election.

The Obama-Clinton battle set primary turnout records in state after state, and Hildebrand expects more of the same in November: "We think the turnout will be beyond record turnout, and if we're effective, we will have done two additional things - brought in millions of new people who are registered to vote and we will increase the percentage of registered voters who will turn out."

To accomplish that, Obama's campaign is assembling what would be the largest field operation in the history of American politics. Advertising and campaign communications will be important and debate performances will be critical, but the Obama campaign is investing heavily in the importance of organizing voters and getting them to the polls on Nov. 4.

... "This allows us to increase the volume of voters we're talking to and have it be done with people who live in their community," Hildebrand said.

Veteran Democratic operative John Sasso of Massachusetts said that level of organization is "unprecedented on the Democratic side." The Obama model, particularly in its use of the Internet as an organizing tool, is a significant upgrade, he said.

"People tend to believe information delivered by people they know and who live in their neighborhood more than an ad they see on television or what some third party from out of their state is telling them," said Sasso, who supported Clinton in the primaries and has played key roles in many presidential campaigns. "It can really change the electoral map."

Throughout the day today, we'll be looking at some of the many events that have been going on across the country as we begin to build out our ground operation. In many places, there are already staff and offices that you can connect with. No matter where you live, you can sign-up for updates on campaign activities in your area and connect with grassroots supporters in your community.

There is no better way to reach to voters than through face to face contact. What began in Iowa and South Carolina is now being replicated across the country. The largest field operation in the history of American politics presents an unprecedented opportunity for ordinary people to get involved. 

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