Open Thread

Barack surprised the folks at the Copper Dome in St. Paul, Minnesota this morning when he stopped by to order up some pancakes. He walked from table to table, meeting the patrons and shaking hands ...

Polls open in 88 days...

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Bill Clinton To Speak at DNC Convention

Obama has offered Bill Clinton a prominent speaking role at the convention the night before the VP speaks.

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On the Ground: "114 Obama RV Tour" in Georgia

In Georgia, as in many states, voter registration and turnout will be key in November. TIME magazine reported that "the Obama campaign has wasted no time [in Georgia], launching massive voter registration drives before the primaries had even ended." Georgia staffer Thomas Kelly has been following the story of Field Organizer Lance Williams and his voter registration RV tour to Heard County and back again... 

Generated as a volunteer led event, the "114 Obama Tour" left Columbus early in the day for its first destination, Franklin, Georgia. Loaded up with tables, registration forms, volunteer recruitment forms, signs, and even a voting machine similar to the one locals would use on Election Day, the RV set up in Franklin at the oldest African American-owned business in the county. As people practiced voting on the machine the team hauled with them, they recruited volunteers to help them out in the future and to caravan with them to their next destination, La Grange, Georgia in Troup County.

Photos submitted by Nikasha Wells and Lance Williams

Arriving in Troup County, the RV tour was led into Union St. Park by a local step team. The festive tone was set and the atmosphere was enhanced by the fish fry that accompanied the event. The volunteer-led team had a large turnout, which was comprised of teams from two separate counties together (underscoring the collaborative efforts the Campaign for Change has encouraged). In addition to letting potential voters practice on the voting machine, they ran a voter registration competition amongst the group. 

Overall the event yielded more than three dozen voter registrations, and over 30 new volunteers were recruited to be Unite for Change team members with the Campaign for Change. As the RV tour turned out of the the park to head back to Columbus, Lance Williams and his team of volunteer leaders decided this was just the beginning. Look out for the "114 Obama" Registration RV Tour" coming soon to a town near you.

Visit GA.BarackObama.com for more info on how to get involved in Georgia.

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The buzz from local blogs: Michelle gets it.

Photo from Lawyer Mama

Stephanie at Momocrats attended Michelle Obama's roundtable discussion with military family members in Virginia yesterday and blogged about the event.

Michelle ... I'm sorry, I have to call her Michelle. Calling her Mrs. or Ms. Obama seems too impersonal for such a warm woman. Michelle showed a deep understanding for the struggles of military members and their families... Make no mistake. Michelle gets it.

[snip]

Aside from the political purpose of the event, I was struck by Michelle's warmth, candor, and sincerity. I'll save the content of my conversation with Michelle, which was personal in nature... but it only made me determined to do everything I can to get Michelle Obama's husband into office.

Dsvabeachdems at Raising Kaine also covered the event and had this to share:

Michelle made it clear that she is focusing her efforts on military spouses because of the myriad challenges sustaining their families while their spouses are serving. She also proved that she fully grasps the issues raised as she discussed her observations and common concerns raised elsewhere. She has made the effort to hear firsthand the concerns of spouses who must balance work and family under conditions of uncertainty. She made clear her role communicating the information that has informed Senator Obama's vision to support America's military families. "If Barack has the distinct honor of serving as your President, and I have the privilege of serving as your First Lady, I'm going to keep taking your stories to him. Because the Commander-in-Chief doesn't just need to know how to lead the military; he needs to understand what war does to military families, and what he can do to make their lives better."

Matt at Rhode Island's Future invites Ocean Staters to meet with Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy and Providence Mayor David Cicilline to discuss Barack's new energy plan AND register voters!

Jeff at Ohio Daily Blog has pictures and a wrap-up of Barack's town hall in Dayton, Ohio earlier this week:

When Obama was finally at the podium the crowd spontaneously sang "Happy Birthday," which cracked him up. He thanked and acknowledged a few people in attendance, notably (former) Clinton national co-chair Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

[snip]

At the very end, Obama compared his call for energy independence to the nation's quest to go to the moon. The first step is to set goals, he said. "It takes ingenuity to meet them, but we have that." America has not been striving to achieve lofty goals, and has not been listening to the voices of the people. It comes down to whether we "want a government that's accountable to you, or to the special interests."

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A Full House in Martinsville, Virginia

August may typically be considered political down time, but Obama supporters and volunteers are still working as hard as ever in the states to spread Barack's message of change. On Tuesday night in Martinsville, Virginia, supporters came together to meet with campaign staff and discuss the issues that are important to them. The Martinsville Bulletin covered the event:

Henry County and Martinsville residents told representatives of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign Tuesday night that it is time for change in the local and national economies.

A crowd of about 100 people attended a town hall-type meeting sponsored by the Obama campaign at Binding Time coffee shop on Spruce Street. The standing-room-only crowd inside the shop spilled into the parking lot.

Campaign officials told the crowd that Obama, D-Ill., will work to create high-paying jobs and improve the economy, as well as put more money into people’s pockets, if he is elected president Nov. 4.

“I don’t think there’s anyone in here who hasn’t struggled” due to economic problems the community has suffered in recent years, Martinsville Vice Mayor Kimble Reynolds Jr. told the crowd.

Reynolds said he supports Obama for president because “he is willing to look at things through a different lens” and consider other viewpoints.

Obama’s legislative assistant, Daniel Sepulveda, said the senator “wants to make (it) intensely clear” that he cares about small, economically troubled areas such as Henry County-Martinsville that presidential candidates often do not visit.

We got in touch with Naomi, one of the attendees at the event, and she described what it was like inside.

People thought it wouldn't be well attended... It actually was well attended, and there was a diverse group of people there. It really showed that he's not just able to pull the young and minorities. Senator Obama can pull people from across all demographics. And people were eager to hear from the campaign his plans for getting us out of these economic doldrums. They were eager to hear how he's going to turn America around and get us all back to work.

Naomi said that Martinsville has been hit hard by the flight of American jobs overseas.  Unemployment there is over 11%. Although such unemployment rates could really get a community down, folks in Martinsville packed the meeting to hear about Barack's plans to create more jobs, ones that can't be shipped overseas.

The building was too small. All the tables and chairs had to be removed for people to come in. The building was so packed that there were people standing out in the doorway.

You can join Naomi and the people of Martinsville and host your own campaign event in your neighborhood. There are always events going on around the country, but the best way to get involved is to sign up to host an event and meet other supporters today.

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Barack Obama to appear at Keehi Lagoon Beach Park

Barack Obama's vacation will not only be fun and relaxation.

In addition to a fundraiser, Obama is scheduled to appear at a free public rally at Keehi Lagoon Beach Park in Honolulu.

Obama has not been back to Hawai'i, where he spent most of his childhood, since 2006 when he was still pondering over whether to run for president.

"Im going to see my grandma who i've haven't seen in almost 18-19 months and who's getting to the age where i want to make sure i spend time with her on a consistent basis and so she can see her great-grandchildren," Obama said about his Hawaiian trip.

It's not looking much like he or his opponent John McCain will announce their VP picks before the Olympic Games being as many had once expected. Although it's still possible to hold a press conference sometime early tomorrow.

Check out this story on how island life in Hawai'i shaped the presumptive Democratic nominee.

"Hawaii's spirit of tolerance might not have been perfect or complete. But it was ? and is ? real," Obama wrote in a 1999 essay for the Punahou alumni magazine. "The opportunity that Hawaii offered ? to experience a variety of cultures in a climate of mutual respect ? became an integral part of my world view, and a basis for the values that I hold most dear."

And here's a story on Obama's grandmother who broke many barriers of her own allowing the family to send Barack to the elite Punahou School.

Disco generation Barack "Barry" Obama, second row right, in a 1978 senior yearbook photo at the Punahou School, the prestigious private academy in Honolulu, Hawaii. Punahou Schools / AP

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

 

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On the Ground: The Most Effective Messenger

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell recently called the growing ground organization in Pennsylvania “unprecedented.” There are already over two dozens offices in the state, and in the coming weeks the campaign is working to create approximately 700 Neighborhood Teams. These teams will organize phonebanks, canvasses, house meetings and volunteer recruitment within their own communities.

As the Tribune-Democrat reported:

“There is no more effective messenger than someone you know, someone you trust, someone who lives next to you in your neighborhood,” said [Sean Smith, the campaign’s Pennsylvania communications director.]

About 247 teams already are in place, he said.

With Democratic voter-registration ranks having swelled in the months leading up to the primary, there are plenty of registered voters for the Obama teams to visit.

But campaign officials also calculate that there are more than 1 million unregistered, eligible voters in Pennsylvania. Smith said Obama’s message of change could resonate with those residents.

“We’re asking voters to believe in something different this year,” he said.

Staffer Kevin Hartnett wrote on the Pennsylvania state blog:

In Philadelphia, Campaign for Change Field Organizer Anna Perng led a group of Center City volunteers as they began to assemble their Neighborhood Team for the general election. Many of the attendees were Neighborhood Team members during the primary. There were a lot of new faces, too, and a lot of excitement and determination all around.

video details and more

If you live in Pennsylvania, you can find out more about Neighborhood Teams here.

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On the Ground: "The most effective messenger"

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell recently called the growing ground organization in Pennsylvania “unprecedented.” There are already over two dozens offices in the state, and in the coming weeks the campaign is working to create approximately 700 Neighborhood Teams. These teams will organize phonebanks, canvasses, house meetings and volunteer recruitment within their own communities.

As the Tribune-Democrat reported:

“There is no more effective messenger than someone you know, someone you trust, someone who lives next to you in your neighborhood,” said [Sean Smith, the campaign’s Pennsylvania communications director.]

About 247 teams already are in place, he said.

With Democratic voter-registration ranks having swelled in the months leading up to the primary, there are plenty of registered voters for the Obama teams to visit.

But campaign officials also calculate that there are more than 1 million unregistered, eligible voters in Pennsylvania. Smith said Obama’s message of change could resonate with those residents.

“We’re asking voters to believe in something different this year,” he said.

Staffer Kevin Hartnett wrote on the Pennsylvania state blog:

In Philadelphia, Campaign for Change Field Organizer Anna Perng led a group of Center City volunteers as they began to assemble their Neighborhood Team for the general election. Many of the attendees were Neighborhood Team members during the primary. There were a lot of new faces, too, and a lot of excitement and determination all around.

video details and more

If you live in Pennsylvania, you can find out more about Neighborhood Teams here.

Read The Full Article:
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Voices for Change: Cathie from Pennsylvania

Less than a hundred miles from Cathie’s home in southern Pennsylvania, Barack Obama gave a compelling speech in mid March addressing the role of race in America entitled “A More Perfect Union.”  The speech, given at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, amazed her and inspired her to follow the campaign intently.

"His approach to the issues of race and diversity is so incredibly real, honest and compassionate," she said. "I too have family and friends whose perspectives I disagree with, but that doesn't mean I don't care about them. It was an incredibly powerful speech that gave serious insight into Senator Obama's character. Wow."

After following the campaign for several months, it became clear to Cathie that the most powerful means of change would come through listening to a broad range of voices. She has grown tired of a government that is exclusive and shuts out those who do not agree with them.

He’s interested in listening to people. He brings us into decisions and no other politician has done that. He speaks an important message that focuses on what we can do, not what he can do. When Barack Obama is president his culture of inclusion will filter down. Instead of closed doors, people will demand a different kind of government that is transparent and open to the common man. He can’t change the world, but he can inspire people to make a difference. He is open to compromise and looks at all options.

The idea of citizens taking a greater role in the political process resonates with Cathie. She studied mass communications in graduate school and knows broadly supported movements are wholly effective. Through our involvement, and Barack’s leadership, we can create this change.

I am not new to the voting process. I voted for the first time in 1970. But this year, for the first time ever, I see the potential for real change. Not just in Washington, but in us, the citizens of the United States. We are being offered the opportunity to change our country. As president, Barack Obama will bring all of us to the table. I believe he will help us heal the rift that divides us.

Cathie and her husband, like many Americans, are feeling the stresses of a strained economy. “The cost of everything is going up,” she says. “I can’t even afford to put my husband on my medical insurance plan.” Their daily lives are also affected by rising costs. “We’re staying in when we would go out and drive. We go out to dinner a whole lot less. We’re actually moving to get closer to where I work because I’m spending $300 a month on fuel.”

Still, Cathie gets paid once a month and contributes once a month. It is important to her that she is doing what she can to win in November.

I’m donating because it’s one thing I can do right now to make a difference. I can’t imagine losing this election…I’ve been very impressed by the campaign he is running. He doesn’t take money from lobbyists or PACs. It’s clear too many politicians take directions from the lobbyists who are talking to them, rather than everyday people telling their side of the story.

Cathie is clear about the role of individual supporters in this broad campaign. She knows that she is a part of a powerful movement, and whatever she is able to give will make an impact. She explained that Barack “seeks all of our voices, but each and every one of us has to carry our small piece of this victory. It takes many drops of water to make an ocean. Your voice matters more than you know. Your voice could be the one that turns the tide.”

Voices for Change is a series featuring profiles of Barack Obama's grassroots supporters from across the nation. The people who make up this movement come from all different backgrounds, but they share a common goal – to help bring about fundamental change in Washington.

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Support the Troops McCain Consistently Votes
Against Our Troops!

McCain's voting record does not support our combat troops:5/2008: McCain voted AGAINST the Webb G.I. Bill. Obama voted FOR the...

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