Early voting is fast, easy, and it could make the difference in this election. And today is the last day to vote early in Illinois. Show your friends and family that you've made up your mind and you're ready for change now. Request your absentee ballot, or find your early voting location. Early voting is simple, safe, and convenient. It's also a vital part of our strategy. The more supporters who make their voices heard now, the more energy and resources we can devote to our Get Out The Vote efforts closer to Election Day. Vote early today and see if you can get five or more friends to vote early with you. All across the country, supporters like you are working together to grow this movement for change. We know that Illinois families can't afford four more years of failed Bush-McCain policies. That's why we need you to help make sure we have an advantage in Illinois before Election Day. Take a moment now to find out where your early vote location is in Illinois http://www.voteforchange.com This is our chance to take America in a new direction -- so the next four years don't look like the last eight. We can't do this without you. P.S. -- Once you've gone through the process, tell us about it. Did you take people with you? What are you going to do on Election Day, now that you've already voted? Share your early vote story today: http://il.barackobama.com/earlyvotestory
It was a Monday evening on a college campus. The football game would be on in a couple hours, the barbecue was fired up and the burgers were cooking. However, the people congregating at the picnic tables weren't discussing the Chargers versus the Jets. They weren't focused on the busy first day of classes looming tomorrow. Instead, they were discussing something far more important and intriguing: their future and each other.On Monday, Northwestern University students congregated around four picnic tables and two grills for a "BBQ for Barack". Almost 300 students showed up to find out more about the campaign and what they could do to help (and of course free burgers!). While the event, hosted by Northwestern University Students for Barack Obama and College Democrats, was designed to raise awareness about the organizations, it also raised awareness about the students themselves. Alison, a junior from Coconut Creek, FL, felt that "everyone's pretty enthusiastic. It's really cool to actually see people out here wanting to do something!"In a college student's daily discussions, politics has difficulty getting the same play time as classes, parties and how unfair it is that all the freshmen get wireless in their dorms. However, this gathering clearly showed that there is a crowd that wants to discuss the issues that are important and relevant to the world outside campus life. Jacob, a senior from San Francisco, said there were "lots of familiar faces that you wouldn't expect to see here. It's always nice to see young faces, people my own age, interested." And many of these students were far more than just interested. Approximately 140 students pledged to travel to Iowa with the campaign at least once, with more than 80 planning on going this Saturday. NU students have often complained of political apathy on campus. This election, this candidate and this message have changed that. Today's students are finding their voices and using them to declare the need for change in this country. Thousands of students across the country are sacrificing their time, a precious commodity in college, to help the campaign that has inspired millions. Anyone wanting to see the hope in Barack Obama's campaign need only look out at that crowd of students and find inspiration.
My name is Nikki and I'm from Illinois. I've been a supporter of Barack since he announced his candidacy and I wanted to get more involved. I was curious about how his campaign worked, and last weekend, I got the opportunity to see it firsthand. Yes, Barack Obama is giving people the opportunity to be on the inside of his campaign! And if you have been itching to get involved, now is your opportunity. You no longer have to sit anxiously on the sideline waiting for the coach to put you in the game - it's your turn right now. Barack is calling your name and he's giving you the ball -- run with it! How do I know? Because I was just like you. I wanted to know what I could do to help Barack win this election. So, I signed up to volunteer and attended Camp Obama. And let me tell you, this two day seminar helped sharpen my skills as a leader. I am confident that the information shared at Camp Obama will contribute to my success far beyond helping Barack win this election! Read More »
My thoughts and prayers are with all of those in the Chicagoland area who are experiencing flooding and those forced to evacuate their homes and businesses. My office is working with state and local officials to ensure our emergency response and disaster relief personnel have the resources they need to keep our communities safe. We must do everything we can to get our electricity up and running again, reopen our schools, and clear our roads as soon as possible. In the weeks ahead, I will work with Senator Durbin and members of the Illinois delegation to help Illinoisans recover from the damage.
Last night, over 150 people in Jackson County came out for two meetings with Obama campaign representatives to hear about Barack and to learn more about how they can help. Members of Southern Illinois University Students for Obama, Jackson County, IL for Obama, and the Jackson County Democrats gathered at the SIU Student Center and Mississippi Flyway to find out what the campaign is doing here in Carbondale. Since only 13 people had signed up for the first meeting, the 45 who showed up made for an especially impressive turnout! The second meeting was absolutely stunning. Only 25 people had signed up. But our homestate senator creates a lot of excitement here in southern Illinois. There were 125 people at the second meeting. The atmosphere was electric. There was great enthusiasm and a willingness to do our part in reclaiming our country. In both meetings, Obama campaign representatives Kyle from Cape Girardeau and Magen from Chicago told us about the exciting steps this campaign is taking, and what we can do to make sure we win in November. Kyle took the fear out of phonebanking for us. Many of us thought making phone calls to identify supporters would be difficult, but we learned that it's really just a simple fact-finding mission. It starts with one simple question: do you support Barack? The possible responses are fairly limited: yes, no, or I don't know. If yes, that's great! We have a known supporter and possibly a new volunteer. If no, that's too bad, but now we know. If they don't know, that's just what we wanted to know. Now we can make sure they are contacted personally in the future. Whatever the answer, we've added another piece to the electoral puzzle! Kyle emphasized that this election is not going to be a landslide. It will be won by a small percentage, and that percentage is going to come from the rural communities in our neighboring states: Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, and Missouri. Magen told us how euphoric she was when Barack lost Indiana by the slightest of margins. That may sound counter-intuitive, but she explained that that primary is when it became clear that Barack would become the Democratic nominee. Magen was a part of that! Her hard work, along with others, made it happen. We'll all be happy when Barack Obama is elected the next President of the United States. I bet we too will be euphoric when we know we are the ones that made the difference. Magen spoke of Illinois as a beacon of hope, a vital resource in this campaign. It's our challenge, and our privilege, to convert our resource -- our enthusiasm -- into action.
Last week, Barack accepted the Democratic nomination with the support of over 80,000 people in Denver and millions more watching at home. It was a historic moment -- the culmination of 19 months of hard work by supporters like you.
Here in Barack's home state, we have a unique opportunity to make a big impact once again and spread Barack's message of change in the general election.
With just 62 days left before Election Day, November 4th, we can't afford to sit on the sidelines. Too many people are counting on us. We are literally surrounded by crucial battlegrounds -- Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Missouri.
That's why we're introducing a new program to mobilize Barack's most dedicated supporters. We'll be organizing trips for Illinois supporters to each of our neighboring battleground states, every weekend from now through Election Day.
Sign up to become a leader in this movement and make a difference in a battleground state right next door.
This is a great way to meet fellow supporters, grow this movement, and bring new voices into the political process.
Learn more about taking a trip to help Barack in a neighboring state:
http://il.barackobama.com/ILborder
If you're in the Chicago area but can't make it to a battleground state, sign up to volunteer at the Illinois Headquarters: http://il.barackobama.com/ILvol
This past Saturday, a group of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois students traveled to West Lafayette, Indiana to do everything that we could for the campaign in this swing state. Students and community members alike will continue to do so each Saturday, just like hundreds of others around the state of Illinois. Nothing illustrates our trip better than the story of Linda. Linda called me while I was explaining the contents of a voter registration form to a resident near the Purdue University campus in Indiana. I let the phone vibrate in my pocket as I registered the voter, and then I quickly returned the call. Linda was an elderly Urbana, Illinois resident and a huge supporter of Barack. She had gotten my number from the local Democratic party and wanted to know if she could do anything for this election, the most important election of her lifetime. Absolutely. Linda explained that she worked every other weekend and that she had just had knee surgery, but she was still happy to spend her free Saturdays in Indiana, walking door-to-door. As I stood on that West Lafayette, Indiana sidewalk talking on the phone, I signed her up to carpool to one of the five swing states surrounding Illinois (this time Indiana, but also Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri) on Saturday, September 13. Meanwhile, the 15 Champaign-Urbana students who had traveled to Purdue continued their mission: register college-age voters. The group knocked on door after door, and registered voter after voter in a race to beat voter registration deadlines in early October. At the end of the day, the volunteers sipped their well-earned 44-ounce slurpies with nothing but smiles on their faces. Although their home state of Illinois was expected to overwhelmingly support Barack in the November election, their voice would be heard even louder and clearer in this election. And this story is not exclusive to Champaign-Urbana. Throughout Illinois, ordinary people are doing extraordinary things. The voices of Barack's constituents are being heard well beyond the borders of Illinois. Each Saturday, hundreds of volunteers are flooding across state lines because they know what Senator Obama means for America.
Hearing the enthusiasm of the crowd is fantastic. It makes you feel connected, like you're part of something bigger.
You meet people from all walks of life. There's a sense of camaraderie - you feel like you're making a difference.
Today, as Barack Obama takes to the stage in Denver to deliver a historic address to the over 75,000 people gathered at Invesco Field and accept the Democratic nomination for President of the United States, communities across Illinois will be gathering together at local watch parties to show their support for the Obama-Biden ticket. The hundreds of gatherings present an opportunity to celebrate with family, friends and neighbors and to learn more about Barack Obama's plans to bring change to our state and our nation. Today also marks the 45th anniversary of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.'s extraordinary "I Have a Dream" speech. Just as Dr. King looked forward and dreamed of a brighter future, communities across Illinois will be coming together to share their hope for change and a better tomorrow. Tonight will be a truly historic moment in our history. Sharing the experience with your community and attending a watch party in your neighborhood will make the moment even more extraordinary. There are hundreds of watch parties across the state -- find one in your area.
