Ginger the staging location director told me about what today means to her:
We've been practicing today for the past two weeks, and we have this down to a fine tuned machine. Barack has elevated this whole area, and empowered this community. I'm inspired by the passion and the people who walk in here step by step. Today I would say we had at least fifty brand new people we've never seen before. I am so proud to be a part of this.
Have you voted already? Share your voting story with us and then come help get others out to vote. If you haven't voted, there are only five hours left until polls close. Find your polling location .
Coloradans aren't the only people working to help Barack win the Rocky Mountain State -- thousands of volunteers from states such as Utah, Maine, New York, South Dakota and even Alaska have traveled to Colorado and are knocking on doors and calling folks to get out the vote.
I spoke with a couple of Californians who had arrived in Denver yesterday. Danielle told me why she came to Colorado for the last few days.
There wasn't much we could do in California so we decided to come to Colorado. This is our big push to get people to vote -- to not be complacent, to not get over confident about Barack being ahead in the polls. We're making people to get out and vote and just do everything we can to make sure we actually win.
Angelo, another Californian, had just returned from knocking on doors when I spoke to him. He told me about one of the people he had met while canvassing.
There was a Republican on my list who I started talking to. He had voted Republican his entire life but he was on the fence -- he didn't like McCain but he didn't know anything about Obama. I know a bit about Obama, I'm not going to say I'm an expert in any way. But I talked to him. I asked him what mattered to him and tried to put it into context -- that it would help you and the ones you care about more if you vote for Obama rather than McCain. And he said he would vote for Barack.
It's not to late to join the campaign. Sign up to volunteer.
On average, Colorado gets 300 days of sun per year. Volunteers have taken full advantage of two of those days by knocking on doors all over the Rocky Mountain State.
Others are getting their warmth from the energy inside the staging locations where they are making phone calls and helping to run the biggest grassroots campaign Colorado has ever seen.
Lynn has been volunteering in Denver for months and will be there through the end. She told me about the importance of the last four days:
It's important to volunteer at any time, but the last couple days are crucial. We are keeping up the sustained effort for Barack and Mark Udall and we need every volunteer we can get. We're not getting complacent, we are keeping our momentum that we've built through the past few months so that we can make sure Barack wins on Tuesday.
This office has become a community and it's this marvelous world of spirit and enthusiasm and filled with wonderful people. Seeing the smiles around the offices, being a part of something so, it has probably extended my life.
There are two more days of sunshine and two more days of campaigning, and there's still time to help out today. Visit a staging location near you and help Barack win Colorado this Tuesday!
If you don't live in Colorado, find a GOTV event near you to volunteer today.
Colorado, I have just two words for you: three days. Three days. After decades of broken politics in Washington, eight years of failed policies from George W. Bush, 21 months of a campaign that has taken us from the rocky shores of Maine to sunshine of California, we are three days away from bringing fundamental change to the United States of America.
Don't believe for a second that this election is over. Don't think for a minute that power will concede anything without a fight, we're going to have to work like our future depends on it these last few days, because it does. But I know this Colorado, the time for change has come, we have a righteous wind at our backs. And these last few days, if you will knock on some doors for me, if you will make some phone calls for me, if you will stand with me and fight by my side, then I promise you we will not just win Pueblo, we will not just win Colorado, but you and I together we are going to win this election and we are going to change the country and we are going to change the world.
We had over 100 phone bankers and nearly 100 canvassers, including about 18 people who came in and hadn't even signed up to canvass. It's a wonderful thing.
We had teenagers phonebanking, we even had an 11 year-old making calls with her dad. Everyone had such an upbeat positive attitude, it has been great.
I voted early on October 25th, in Englewood at the Civic Center. It was great! Thanks for the most fantastic campaign in history! -Patty You are so organized, and so are we! We've voted, and so have our neighbors. You should see the cars lined up for the mail-in ballot drop offs. It's great! -Mary My vote is in and so are five friends'! -Homer
I voted at the County building -- 200 Oak Street in Fort Collins this morning! I dropped off my husband's absentee ballot (another vote for Obama!) and figured while I was there, since there wasn't much of a wait, I'd vote! I was all decked out in my halloween costume, which made a lot of the workers there smile as I joked "I don't look like myself today!" when presenting them with my ID. -Margie
It has been 21 months and I can probably count down the hours. We have seven more days and once we get through this day, we'll be almost done, it will be six! This journey has been wonderful for the Obama family -- we have seen so much. And I have been traveling around even more this week, because we're in the final days. But it is good to come back to the states that have given us so much. Colorado is really one of those states -- you guys have been amazing.
Our hearts go out as I think about all of our troops our men and women who are away today and fighting and taking care of this nation across the seas. But it also reminds me that we cannot forget the loved ones left at home. Whether you are a parent or a child or a grand parent, we have to remember that when our troops go to war our families go with them, which means that we have to make sure that they come home to families that have been cared for.
That is one of the reasons that the conversations that I have been having with military families all across this country has meant so much to me -- it has opened my eyes to the challenges that you uniquely face. And I know that once this nation understands more about those challenges we will be unified around solutions around answers around discussions to make your sacrifice not so hard.
Denver, CO -- U.S. Senator Barack Obama will join with Michelle Obama to host a 'Change We Need Rally' on Saturday, November 1st, at the intersection of S. Union Avenue and D Street in Pueblo.
This will be Sen. Obama's fourth trip to Colorado since the Democratic National Convention in August. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1st CHANGE WE NEED RALLY WITH BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA Union Avenue Historic District Intersection of S. Union Avenue and D Street Pueblo, CO 81003 Public Entrance: Corner of C Street and S. Main Street, located in the heart of the Union Avenue Historic District Gates Open: 1:00 PM Program Begins: 3:00 PM The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are NOT required. Members of the public are encouraged to RSVP here. Space is available on a first come, first serve basis.
There is a danger in suggesting who other people should vote for, and I recognize that. But I think there is a greater danger in being silent out of fear. And I'm proud to be here as one voice in a collective voice of millions of people who can bring Barack Obama into the White House.
For months and months, I've been trying to get young people to vote, and my main message has been it doesn't matter who you vote for -- you get out there and vote. The most important thing is that you vote. I've been saying that for so long, and I'm tired of saying that. So I'm now going to come out and say "you've got to vote for Barack Obama."
I've been watching the news and they keep saying that Colorado is the new Florida. So I said, "get me on a plane to Colorado and tell those young people who use the interweb that they got to vote." You have to vote, you guys. You can vote early up until Halloween at the Rec Center. I love the Rec Center, it's the best. You can do a lot of things at the Rec Center, I'm sure -- I've never actually been to the Rec Center. But if I were to go to the Rec Center, I would vote.
I voted because I'm tired of oil companies running our country. I want to bring to change to America. I think there are a lot of people who are suffering and it's not right. I didn't want to wait in those lines. I would have, if I had put myself in that situation. But it's so easy to vote early. Why put yourself in that situation? It could take you a couple of hours on election day, it took me 10 minutes the other day.
This election is too important for anyone to be on the sidelines of history. This election will determine whether or not America gets back on the right track for the kind of future that all of us, our children and generations to come deserve.
I have been all over the country and from Florida to New Hampshire to Pennsylvania where I was this morning. Everywhere I go people are being convinced that they must join with us. I believe that on the merits, voters are recognizing what the Obama/Biden ticket offers. I also believe that the economic crisis that we have been enduring and that unfortunately will continue to play out over the months ahead is a wake up call to all Americans because for the months a head because, as the governor was saying, just looking at the returns here in Colorado and the number of people who have already voted, Barack Obama will be elected not only by Democrats, but by Independents and Republicans who know we have to change.
I want you to turn off the TV about red states and blue states. I want you to turn it off. I want you focusing on one thing -- get out now and vote now. Because you know something is going to come our way. You know these guys are not only going to throw the kitchen sink, they're going to find the bathroom sink. There's going to be a lot coming our way. Maybe I've been down this road too many times before, but we cannot afford to wait. So for those of you who have not voted yet… you have no excuse, go vote now.
We have the best ground operation this state or any state has ever seen. We have committed volunteers, we have over fifty offices… We are not taking a single thing for granted. The stakes in this election could not be higher. This is the single most important election any of you no matter how young or old you are in this gymnasium will have ever voted in.
I got a phone call saying that somebody might come in the office that night, so I stopped by to make some phone calls. It was amazing seeing Biden, there was just this energy that filled the office when he entered the room. He was right there in front of me, while he gave his speech. He even pulled my baby brother out of the audience and held him while he was talking. He was incredibly nice and it was really inspiring to get to see him in person.
Dear Jenn, I just got back from touring Colorado with Governor Bill Ritter and former Governor Roy Romer, and I wanted to share a little bit about the trip. After hearing from so many Colorado families who are struggling because of the disastrous Bush-McCain economic policies, it was clear that Barack Obama is the only candidate who can bring the change we need and fix our economy. But the McCain campaign is hard at work here in Colorado trying to distract voters by spreading false personal attacks about Barack with "robocalls," mailings, and a flood of TV ads. We need to fight back against these distractions and get the truth out in our communities and neighborhoods. Volunteers are already out in full force doing the kind of work that wins elections -- knocking on doors, making phone calls, and talking to undecided voters about Barack's message of change. But they need your help. Watch this short video of volunteers working for change, then sign up to join us and help win Colorado for Barack. With only 12 days left until Election Day, the McCain campaign and the RNC are focusing all their energy on lies and distortions, and doing their best to distract Coloradans from the issues that really matter. They're even employing "robocalls" so sleazy that some Republicans think they've gone too far -- John McCain himself thought so when they were used against him in 2000. With such serious issues up for debate in this election, it's alarming to see the McCain campaign continue to distract voters rather than talk about the real issues at stake. As a Coloradan and close friend of Barack, I think we can agree that Coloradans deserve better -- that's why we are out there right now fighting back in every corner of our state. By focusing our positive energy, we can show the undecided voters of Colorado what this campaign stands for and share with them Barack's message of change. Watch the video -- then sign up to volunteer and help make a difference here in the Rocky Mountain state: http://co.barackobama.com/cospreadthetruth And please be sure to forward this message to friends and family who may not know the truth about Barack. Thanks for all that you do, Ken Salazar P.S. -- From now until Oct. 31st, every day is election day. Log on to VoteForChange.com now to find your early vote location and go vote early today: http://CO.VoteForChange.com
