NH for Obama

Gene Canvasses for the First Time

New Hampshire HQ — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:17:24 EDT

One of the great things about this campaign is the opportunity to see so many people become involved in the political process for the first time in their lives. At a canvass this past weekend in Concord, Gene was one such volunteer.

Gene is a life-long Concord resident, software engineer, and 2000 McCain Voter. Like many independent-minded Granite Staters, the realities from the past 8 years - from Iraq to the health care crisis to the nature of republican's fearful rhetoric - have shifted him towards supporting candidates on the Democratic ticket, and Barack Obama is no exception. From a personal standpoint, Gene's mother hasn't been able to afford health care coverage, and his dad, a middle-class oriented realtor hit hard by the housing crisis, took a second job just so he could have health care coverage and take care of his other day-to-day expenses.

Pictures from this past Saturday's training and canvass in Concord

Although he had never been involved with a campaign before this one, Gene has made phone calls for Senator Obama several times during this campaign. But this was his first time hitting the streets and talking to voters about the change the Obama/Biden ticket represents.

Gene talked to us about what inspires him to get involved:

When John McCain ran for President in 2000, I voted for him. I was an independent voter who thought John McCain was as independent-minded as me. Since that time, I've come to realize that the Republican Party is cynical, divisive and dishonest. I feel their policies don't protect the very liberties we hold dear but would erode them. John McCain seems to be carrying that on, and I see no evidence of the "Maverick" I saw back in 2000 here in New Hampshire. Their (Republican) economic policies are irresponsible and ineffective. John McCain has made a decision to give up his values and to choose conformity with Republican principles.

I am proud to say that I support Barack Obama because he's a leader with integrity, compassion, and a common-sense vision for America. Before getting involved with Barack Obama's campaign, I never had any interest in becoming a part of a political campaign. I never volunteered a moment of my time and not a cent from my pocket. But this year is different. I believe in Barack's vision that this is our campaign and I decided I wanted to be a part of it.

Last year, Gene made his first-ever campaign donation to Barack Obama's campaign. Since then, Gene has been speaking about Barack to his friends, family and coworkers for over a year. Soon he'll begin additional volunteer outreach with his labor union, SEIU Local 1984.

Gene confessed that he was a little nervous before this first time talking to other voters face-to-face. But he called this "an eye-opening experience, in a good way," in that he was able to get a sense of what his neighbors are thinking about the issues facing the country.

Gene also pointed out that Al Gore lost the state of New Hampshire by 7,000 votes in 2000 -- if Gore had won the state, George Bush wouldn't have become President. "Even if I can only persuade a handful of people -- I know there are a lot of people doing the same thing that I'm doing across the state, and it adds up."

You can get involved in this campaign too -- take your first steps towards getting involved -- Click Here!

The Drive for Change

New Hampshire HQ — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:56:37 EDT

Meet Paul. He's a recent college graduate who lives in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Paul traveled up to New Hampshire on Saturday to canvass for Barack Obama and Joe Biden's Campaign for Change as part of the Drive for Change.

Paul is also one of the founders of ObamaWorks, a website aimed at getting Obama supporters involved with community service projects as they help to spread Barack Obama's message of real change.

Paul has canvassed before -- several times, in fact -- and he drove up this time with some friends from Massachusetts because he really enjoys the experience of talking to voters. "I've had so many more positive experiences then negative ones. I really enjoy the opportunity to talk to other people about why I support Barack Obama, and to learn about what matters to them when deciding who to support this fall."

Check out some pictures of Paul in action amongst photos of the group of supporters he trained with before going out to canvass:

Less than 7 WEEKS until Election Day. Want to join Paul in helping bring change to crucial battleground state? Join the Drive for Change! Click here for more information.

Volunteer Profile: Roger from Hooksett

New Hampshire HQ — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:56:13 EDT

Meet Roger. He's a High School teacher from Hooksett, and he'll be volunteering for Barack Obama's Campaign for Change this fall, doing most of his work out of the Concord office.

Roger supported Bill Richardson in the Democratic Primary -- he's looking forward to hearing Governor Richardson speak Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. But he's also looking forward to seeing Barack accept the Democratic nomination on Thursday. "It's an exciting time for a lot of reasons," he says.

I've supported candidates before, but this is the first time I've done more than put a yard sign up for one. I like the plans Barack has for his presidency. I like his presence. And I'm also scared to death of John McCain. He's an honorable man -- I just don't like what he stands for, and the campaign he's running. He promised a respectful campaign, but he's not giving us that thus far.

If you're interested in volunteering for Barack Obama's Campaign for Change in New Hampshire, attending a Convention Watch Party on Thursday, August 28th is a great way to get started.

The Campaign for Change offices are open all day long. Click here to see a map of all of the Campaign for Change offices across the state. Come in help us reach out to undecided voters and then stick around to watch the speaches with us each night. Now is the time New Hampshire!

New Hampshire Organizational Meeting: Concord

New Hampshire HQ — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:43:48 EDT

Just days before the start of the Democratic Convention in Denver, hundreds of supporters across New Hampshire gathered at organizational meetings Wednesday night. The meetings were an opportunity for volunteers to learn how to get involved in Barack's Campaign for Change.

Concord's meeting brought together folks who had supported several different candidates in the Democratic Primary. Stu is a self-described environmental voter who worked on Edwards campaign during the primary. He spoke of his initial decision to back John Edwards:

[It was] a difficult choice, considering all of the excellent candidates -- but it was an easy choice to come over to Barack's team after the primary was over. It's very important that we win this fall and take back the White House.

Erika, who lives in Penacook, supported Hillary Clinton in her historic run for the presidency. She too is on board with helping Barack win in November:

I know this was hard for a lot of Clinton supporters, but I wasn't heartbroken when the primary campaign ended. As a Democrat, I'll always work hard for the candidate I support in the primary, but once a decision's been made, I'm on board. If you care about environmental issues, fair economic policy, and protecting a woman's right to choose, then Obama stands very close to Senator Clinton on those issues.

Laurie from Concord has been a supporter of Senator Obama for more than a year, and she was excited by the prospect of bringing her kids along with her next time she came in to volunteer. This is the most excited I've ever been about a candidate, and I want to do what I can to get [Barack] into office.

The meeting itself was all business. Campaign staff briefed attendees on the importance of voter contact in the weeks to come. Said Turner, a Field Organizer from Concord:

On the phones and door to door are the two best ways to get to talk to voters. Our goal is to talk to every voter in New Hampshire by Election Day. We (staff) could spend every hour on the phone between now and Election Day and it wouldn't get done -- so we need your help.

Several attendees stuck around after the meeting to make phone calls to voters. With only 75 days left until Election Day, every day is a chance to get Barack Obama closer to becoming our next President.

If you couldn't make it out to an organizational meeting, that's OK -- now is a great time to get involved in Barack's Campaign for Change, and you can take the first steps towards getting involved right now. Just sign up HERE, and someone from the campaign will contact you to let you know how you can help New Hampshire stay "Blue" in 2008.

New Ad: Book

New Hampshire HQ — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:48:50 EDT

Obama Campaign Releases New Ad Highlighting Plan to Put America’s Middle Class First

30-Second Spot to Air in 16 Battleground States, Including New Hampshire

MANCHESTER, NH — Today the Obama campaign announced a new TV ad focused on the economy to air beginning Thursday in 16 battleground states, including New Hampshire. The new ad entitled Book highlights Obama’s plan to break with the failing economic policies of the past eight years and put America’s middle class first.

John McCain has supported George Bush 95 percent of the time, including spending ten billion dollars a month for the war in Iraq while the Iraqis sell oil for record prices, giving Iraq a $79 billion oil surplus at the expense of America's economy. Barack Obama knows that families need immediate and lasting relief -- that’s why he will put America's middle class first. Senator Obama will responsibly end the war in Iraq, restore balance and fairness to our economy, and give working people immediate and meaningful relief.

You can watch the ad below:

Jay from Merrimack

New Hampshire HQ — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:16:51 EDT

Sunday's skies were a bit threatening. But that didn't stop Jay from Merrimack from hitting the streets to talk to voters.

Jay canvassed in the primaries for Barack, but this is the first campaign he's ever been involved in. Actually, that's not quite accurate -- he says he was dragged by a few friends to hold up signs for a candidate in a municipal race a little over a decade ago. But it took a candidate like Barack Obama to convince Jay to canvass:

Barack is the right candidate at the right time for this country -- and he's got the charisma and skill needed to get things done.

Jay is studying Exercise Science at UNH, following several years work as an engineer. He's going to be pretty busy this fall, but he's determined to be back out canvassing for a good number of the twelve weekends left before Election Day (yes, that's all the time we have left until November 4th):

I'm the kind of guy that if there's something that needs to be done, I'll do it. And canvassing is one of the most important things that needs to get done for us to win this fall.

It started to rain towards the end of Jay's Canvass shift, but Jay was prepared -- he just pulled out his umbrella and kept on hitting the doors on his list. The voters he was talking to must have been impressed with his resolve.

Twelve weekends left to Election Day. It's a great time to get involved -- sign up to get involved, or find a Campaign for Change office near you.

Supporters Tout Obama Energy Plan in Manchester and Portsmouth, New Hampshire at the Pumps

New Hampshire HQ — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:12:46 EDT

Supporters of Barack Obama's Campaign for Change in New Hampshire gathered outside a gas station in Manchester and another in Portsmouth today to talk with motorists and tell them about Senator Obama's New Energy for America initiative.

While supporters passed out Senator Obama's New Energy for America Blueprint leaflet to customers and passers-by, several speakers spoke about why Senator Obama would be the best choice as President for the Granite State because of his Energy policy.

Jack, the first speaker, knows Barack Obama well:

I'm from Senator Obama's home state of Illinois, where I work as an environmental advocate working to bring clean energy and price relief on energy issues for Illinois consumers. I've worked closely with Senator Obama over the last twelve years to try to bring rate relief, electric and gas price relief to Illinois consumers. And I know, I've seen his dedication to environmental protection and acting in the public interest, and he has exactly the kind of leadership that America needs to get us out of our energy crisis...
Who needs help -- Exxon-Mobil, which just made $12 Billion in one quarter? Or those of us who are paying these prices at the pump? Barack Obama knows that New Hampshire drivers and drivers across America are the ones who need relief; not big oil.
I encourage you to go to the website and look up the details of Barack's Energy Plan. NewEnergyforAmerica.com has the solutions we need to solve this problem and Barack Obama is the right candidate at the right time to help America do it.

Sally spoke next. She is a life-long Independent from Exeter, NH:

I will tell you, in 2000, I was kind of hoping that John McCain was going to be the Republican candidate for President. I thought he was saying the right things and making the right choices for us. He didn't win, and we've had eight years of an administration that I really have come to believe has taken a lot away from us.
I'm wondering where I'm going to get my money to pay for my heat this winter. I know my gas prices are going up. I know my electric prices are going up. I've got friends and family who are real concerned right now how they're going to get through a New England winter.
This is a major impasse and we need somebody here to step up. We need to take ownership as voters in this country and do something for ourselves, and not rely on everyone else to do it for us. And I think that Obama has gotten that message through.

Finally, we heard from David, an engineer from Manchester:

This is a grassroots effort -- as much as we have to vote to elect a new President, that not alone is going to change anything if we don't get a leader. We need a leader who's going to stand up and use the power of the Oval Office to engage people again. To say, this is our country, we can do it, and we need to make these changes. And that's why I'm such a big Barack Obama supporter. Because it's not just solutions from up high, it's leadership which means getting people to actually follow something that's good. That's what leadership is; it's to get people to follow and do what's good for the country.

You can go to NewEnergyforAmerica.com to learn more about Barack Obama's plan or click HERE to view a speech the Senator recently made in Lansing, Michigan on the subject.

New Ad: Pocket

New Hampshire HQ — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:36:40 EDT

The New Hampshire Campaign for Change sent out the following press release earlier today...

Obama Campaign Releases TV Ad on Obama’s New Energy for America Plan

30-Second Spot Highlights Senator Obama’s Plan to Offset the Costs of Rising Energy and Addresses Oil Industry Contributions to John McCain’s Campaign.

Manchester, NH – As Barack Obama announces his New Energy for America Plan today, the Obama campaign unveiled a new ad, one that illustrates the clear choice in this election between an approach that keeps us sending billions to oil companies and foreign governments and one that gives middle class families a $1,000 rebate funded by a windfall profits tax on the oil companies. Pocket highlights that for far too long, we’ve had an energy policy that has worked for the oil companies. Barack Obama believes it’s time we had an energy policy that works for the American people.

Today Senator Obama is outlining his New Energy for America plan in a speech in Lansing, Michigan. Obama's plan will provide an immediate energy rebate to Americans struggling with high gas prices, create five million new green jobs, and eliminate our need for Middle Eastern oil in 10 years.
You can watch the new ad below:

Happy Birthday Barack

New Hampshire HQ — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:19:14 EDT

Senator Obama turns 47 today, August 4.

Celebrate with fellow supporters at office openings and open houses across the state tonight! Click here for a complete list of event times and locations.

Can't make it to an event tonight? Click here to send a virtual birthday message to Barack.

Joint Canvass -- Manchester

New Hampshire HQ — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:13:38 EDT

Saturday's canvasses 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 boost Democratic candidates in New Hampshire this fall.

Sheila and John, two volunteers from Manchester, were paired off and sent to Manchester's west side to talk to voters. Sheila is a school counselor; she volunteered for Barack during the New Hampshire primary, but was excited to have the chance to canvass for US 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 Barack and the rest of the Democratic ticket in New Hampshire. John was a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton during the New Hampshire primary, and he was a driver in both President Clinton's and Senator Clinton's motorcade on separate occasions. He's still got a Hillary bumper sticker on his car, but he's warmed to Barack, and also strongly supports 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 seemed to become 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 NH! The state and this country needs them."

Want to learn more about how to get involved? Become a part of Barack's Campaign for Change by attending an Office Opening or Open House near you this Monday Night.

Email: Celebrate Barack's Birthday This Weekend

New Hampshire HQ — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:05:12 EDT

Katina Tsongas, Field Director of the New Hampshire Campaign for Change, just sent out the following email:

Dear Friend --

This Monday, August 4th, Barack will be celebrating his 47th birthday -- and you have a unique opportunity to give him something that few other people across the nation can.

This weekend, the New Hampshire Campaign for Change is asking you to give your time, energy, and passion by taking part in a statewide joint canvass to support all the candidates who have pledged to bring change to America.

Supporters like you will be knocking on doors to spread that message to the voters of New Hampshire.

Sign up and celebrate Barack's birthday by growing our grassroots movement:

http://nh.barackobama.com/nhbday

We're working with Democrats and Independents across the state who want to see change in Washington.

To do that, we'll have to work together to elect not only Barack Obama but Democrats up and down the ballot in New Hampshire, including Jeanne Shaheen, John Lynch, Paul Hodes and Carol Shea-Porter.

Turn your enthusiasm for all of these candidates into action by taking part in a statewide canvass this weekend:

http://nh.barackobama.com/nhbday

No previous experience is required to get involved -- Campaign for Change staff will provide you with all of the support you need to succeed.

Talking face-to-face to people in your community is the most effective way to spread our message of change and build toward victory. Bringing change to America will take ordinary people working together, and that's why your involvement is so important.

Thanks,

Katina

Katina Tsongas
New Hampshire Field Director
Campaign for Change

P.S. -- Can't make it to a canvass this weekend, but still want to give Barack a gift? Stop by an office near you this Monday for our Birthday Open House to find out about other ways to volunteer and get involved:

http://nh.barackobama.com/nhoffices

Platform Meetings in New Hampshire

New Hampshire HQ — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:59:31 EDT

With less than a month until the Democratic National Convention begins in Denver, the final Platform Meetings drew to a close yesterday. These meetings gave ordinary people a unique chance to meet and discuss the issues that matter the most to them. The Democratic National Committee will be reviewing the input from the Platform Meetings as it puts together the planks of the 2008 Party platform.

Deb reported from Statham:

Six Obama supporters from the Seacoast Region gathered Thursday night, July 24th, for nearly three hours in Stratham for a lively discussion about the upcoming Democratic Party platform. The group identified six specific issues the members feel are especially important to address in the platform: Health Care, Sustainability, the American Community, Rights and Freedoms, Education, and Corporate Responsibility. Participants were excited to have this opportunity to have their voices heard in the formation of the party platform.

The Stratham event was one of several held throughout the state. In Nashua on Saturday a dozen Granite Staters had also gathered to talk about issues they want to see addressed at the Convention. Monica, a campaign volunteer, had decided to host a Platform Meeting a few weeks ago:

I've learned that you meet a lot of interesting people when you're volunteering for a campaign, and you get a chance to learn about the issues that matter to other people. I've also learned that we all have a lot more in common with each other as Americans than we have differences.

The discussion in Nashua covered a wide range of issues, from campaign finance reform to education to the health care. Participants found a challenge in narrowing the conversation to three issues, but after a close vote, energy policy, consumer protection/economy, and the need for government transparency made the cut.

As part of their Energy/Environment plank, Nashua's group concluded: "We need more than energy independence; we need energy liberation. We need an irreversible transformation to renewable nonpolluting energy sources to ensure national security."

The group's discussion on economic issues focused on the importance of tax reform that addresses the real impact on individuals, especially working families. There also was a call to restore the regulation of financial practices to prevent predatory lending and create stability in the market.

The theme of government transparency arose again and again throughout the discussion, and because of this it became a standalone issue for the group. Everyone embraced the concept that government should use the internet and other technologies to share information about pending legislation and regulations, and that there should be an increased window of time for public comment so that citizens can review legislation and contact their Congressional Representatives before bills are passed into law.

Ellen (who drove down from Concord to attend the meeting) was impressed with the quality of the group's discussion:

I was impressed with the depth of understanding on the issues everyone had...and the consensus that we were able to find on so many important issues. It was difficult to narrow things to three, but the issues we ended up with were three of the big muscle groups that affect a lot of the other issues we discussed today.

Discussions like the one in Nashua will hopefully help the Democratic National Committee draft a platform which reflects the concerns of not just Democrats but of all Americans.

Sign-up today to get involved in Barack's Campaign for Change in New Hampshire.

Video: Barack in Berlin, Germany

New Hampshire HQ — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:32:25 EDT

In case you didn't get a chance to see it, here is video of Barack Obama's speech in Berlin, Germany:

Click here for the full text of the speech and click here to learn more about Senator Obama's foreign policy plan.

Sign-up now to get involved in Barack's Campaign for Change.

100 Days Canvass

New Hampshire HQ — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:51:11 EDT

Katina Tsongas, the Field Director for the New Hampshire Campaign for Change, just sent out the following email, and we wanted to share it with you:

Dear Friend --

My name is Katina Tsongas, and I'm the Field Director for the Campaign for Change in New Hampshire.

The general election is coming up sooner than you may think. This Saturday, July 26th, is just 100 days from election day.

Earlier this week, when John McCain came to New Hampshire and talked about the same old ideas, Democrats, Republicans and Independents all came together to call for change.

New Hampshire voters cannot afford four more years of the McCain/Bush economy.

And that's why we need to act now to organize communities all across the state to make sure that New Hampshire stays blue in November.

This Saturday, supporters like you from every corner of New Hampshire are going to be joining 100 Day Canvass events -- reaching out in their local communities and helping spread Barack's message of change.

No political experience is required. We'll provide you with everything you need.

Find a 100 Day Canvass event in your area this weekend:

http://nh.barackobama.com/nh100

We're up against some formidable opponents. John McCain, the Republican Party, and the well-funded outside groups that support them are not going to hold back in their efforts to stop us. We need to be prepared, and we can't afford to wait.

Democrats won New Hampshire by one point in 2004 and lost by one point in 2000. There's a real opportunity to succeed but it's going to be close -- and it's going to take all of us working together.

Face-to-face contact with friends, neighbors, and undecided voters is the most effective way to grow our movement. And with 100 days to go before the general election, we can't afford to sit on the sidelines -- we have to start now.

Reach out in your own community by joining a 100 Day Canvass event this Saturday:

http://nh.barackobama.com/nh100

The success of this movement is in your hands. Barack Obama will change Washington and improve the lives of all Americans -- but only if supporters like you reach out to your friends, family, and neighbors.

See you this Saturday,

Katina

Katina Tsongas
New Hampshire Field Director
Campaign for Change

P.S. -- If you can't make it this Saturday, but would still like to get involved in your community, sign up to volunteer now:

http://nh.barackobama.com/nhvols

New Additions to the NH Campaign for Change Team

New Hampshire HQ — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:47:19 EDT

The New Hampshire Campaign for Change just sent out the following press release...

Obama Campaign, Campaign for Change announce New Hampshire Staff Additions
Manchester, NH – U.S. Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign today announced staff that will be joining Obama for America in New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Campaign for Change – a grassroots, voter contact organization that is a project of the New Hampshire Democratic Party.

"New Hampshire families can't afford a third term of Bush's failed economic and foreign policies through John McCain. Barack Obama will restore the integrity and respect to the White House that we've lost over the last seven years and will finally address the tough challenges our families face," said Raymond Buckley, Democratic State Party Chairman. "I look forward to working with the New Hampshire Campaign for Change and Obama for America staff to elect Senator Obama the next President of the United States."

The Campaign for Change is charged with leading the grassroots effort in New Hampshire to educate voters about U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's plans to change Washington and create good-paying jobs, lower gas prices and bring a responsible end to the Iraq war. It will also work to harness the enthusiasm of Obama's grassroots-level supporters and organize them in communities across New Hampshire as they work for Democratic candidates up and down the ticket.

The Obama Campaign and the Campaign for Change previously announced campaign previously announced Mindy Myers as the New Hampshire State Director, Sandra Abrevaya, as the New Hampshire Communications Director and Larkin Barker as the New Hampshire Campaign for Change Press Secretary. Today they are announcing:
Tracey Lewis, NH Campaign for Change, General Election Director

Tracey Lewis was the New Hampshire Field Director for Senator Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential primary campaign. After New Hampshire, Ms. Lewis served as senior staff and field advisor and organized get-out-the-vote efforts for Clinton in six other primary states including Tennessee, Texas, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia and South Dakota. This will be Lewis' third presidential campaign. She worked in Wisconsin for Gore-Lieberman in 2000 and worked in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Florida for John Kerry in 2004 and served as Kerry's credentials director during the 2004 Democratic National Convention. In 2006, Ms. Lewis was the coordinated campaign manager for the Massachusetts Democratic Party and served as the deputy executive director for John Kerry's leadership political action committee until 2007. She has also worked on various local and statewide races in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Katina Tsongas, NH Campaign for Change, Field Director

Katina Tsongas returns to New Hampshire after serving as Regional Field Director for the Obama Campaign in the primary, as well as working in Georgia, Ohio and North Carolina. Prior to joining the Obama Campaign in 2007, she was the Regional Field Director for the Environmental Defense Fund in Washington, DC. Tsongas was a Field Organizer in 2004 on the re-election campaign of former Senator Tom Daschle. Tsongas is a graduate of Brown University and Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Click here to read the rest of the press release and meet the other additions to the New Hampshire Campaign for Change staff.

New Additions to the NH Team

New Hampshire HQ — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:18:47 EDT

The New Hampshire Campaign for Change just sent out the following press release...

Obama Campaign, Campaign for Change announce New Hampshire Staff Additions
Manchester, NH – U.S. Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign today announced staff that will be joining Obama for America in New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Campaign for Change – a grassroots, voter contact organization that is a project of the New Hampshire Democratic Party.

"New Hampshire families can't afford a third term of Bush's failed economic and foreign policies through John McCain. Barack Obama will restore the integrity and respect to the White House that we've lost over the last seven years and will finally address the tough challenges our families face," said Raymond Buckley, Democratic State Party Chairman. "I look forward to working with the New Hampshire Campaign for Change and Obama for America staff to elect Senator Obama the next President of the United States."

The Campaign for Change is charged with leading the grassroots effort in New Hampshire to educate voters about U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's plans to change Washington and create good-paying jobs, lower gas prices and bring a responsible end to the Iraq war. It will also work to harness the enthusiasm of Obama's grassroots-level supporters and organize them in communities across New Hampshire as they work for Democratic candidates up and down the ticket.

The Obama Campaign and the Campaign for Change previously announced campaign previously announced Mindy Myers as the New Hampshire State Director, Sandra Abrevaya, as the New Hampshire Communications Director and Larkin Barker as the New Hampshire Campaign for Change Press Secretary. Today they are announcing:
Tracey Lewis, NH Campaign for Change, General Election Director

Tracey Lewis was the New Hampshire Field Director for Senator Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential primary campaign. After New Hampshire, Ms. Lewis served as senior staff and field advisor and organized get-out-the-vote efforts for Clinton in six other primary states including Tennessee, Texas, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia and South Dakota. This will be Lewis' third presidential campaign. She worked in Wisconsin for Gore-Lieberman in 2000 and worked in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Florida for John Kerry in 2004 and served as Kerry's credentials director during the 2004 Democratic National Convention. In 2006, Ms. Lewis was the coordinated campaign manager for the Massachusetts Democratic Party and served as the deputy executive director for John Kerry's leadership political action committee until 2007. She has also worked on various local and statewide races in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Katina Tsongas, NH Campaign for Change, Field Director

Katina Tsongas returns to New Hampshire after serving as Regional Field Director for the Obama Campaign in the primary, as well as working in Georgia, Ohio and North Carolina. Prior to joining the Obama Campaign in 2007, she was the Regional Field Director for the Environmental Defense Fund in Washington, DC. Tsongas was a Field Organizer in 2004 on the re-election campaign of former Senator Tom Daschle. Tsongas is a graduate of Brown University and Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Matt Kennedy, NH Campaign for Change, Constituency Vote Director

Matt Kennedy graduated from Harvard Business School in June. Prior to business school, Matt managed Senator Kennedy's reelection campaign in Massachusetts and ran The MoneySite, a non-profit dedicated to helping low income families achieve their financial goals. Kennedy is a graduate of Stanford University.

Sally Cluthe, NH Campaign for Change, Director of Scheduling

Sally Cluthe comes from the office of Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota where she served as the Director of Scheduling since 2007. From 2002 to 2007, Sally served as Scheduler for Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. From 2001 to 2002, Sally served as scheduler for Senator Bill Nelson of Florida. From 1998-2001, she worked for Senator Lautenberg of New Jersey where she served over the years as Scheduler, Assistant to the Chief of Staff, and Legislative Correspondent. Sally is a graduate of Florida State University.

Samir Randolph, NH Campaign for Change, Director of Operations

Samir Randolph has worked on the Obama campaign since March of 2007. He has held several roles including February 5th States Operation Desk, Get Out The Caucus Coordinator in Iowa, and Operations Director for Texas and West Virginia. Prior to joining the Obama campaign, he worked on the staff of the Center for Public Leadership, a research center housed at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. There he coordinated co-curricular leadership development programs for graduate students and assisted professors with research work. Samir has also worked on several local campaigns in Massachusetts. He is a graduate of Northeastern University.

Mitchell Kent, NH Obama for America, Deputy State Director and Policy Director

Mitchell Kent joined the campaign in Iowa, went on to be the GOTV Director for Indiana and ran get out the vote efforts in Minnesota and Ohio. Mitchell came to the campaign from his position as an attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York. From 1999 through 2002, Mitchell served as the Director of Research on the Senate Finance Committee under Chairman Max Baucus of Montana and was on Committee Staff for the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York. He holds a J.D. from New York University School of Law and a B.S. from Cornell University.

Brian Wallach, NH Obama for America, Political Director

Brian Wallach returns to New Hampshire after serving as the Deputy Political Director in the primary. After the primary, Brian worked in the Chicago Headquarters as a Deputy Regional Desk and ran Voter Protection Programs in Texas, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and West Virginia. Prior to joining the Obama campaign, he completed his J.D. studies at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D.C. Wallach is a graduate of Yale University and Georgetown.

Taking it to the Streets -- Exeter

New Hampshire HQ — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:37:44 EDT

Another campaign weekend has come and gone in New Hampshire. Supporters across the state braved the heat on Saturday and the rain on Sunday to talk to voters about why they support Barack Obama.

Exeter's canvass group on Sunday was fired up and ready to go when we arrived. Here they are outside of Ollie and Me's in Exeter, the day's designated meeting place:

We ended up hitting the streets with Frank from Exeter. Frank is running to be a state representative in New Hampshire (from a district encompassing Exeter, North Hampton, and Stratham), and has been walking for Barack since long before the New Hampshire Primary this past January.

Frank has a button made from a picture he had taken with Barack

Frank is hoping to have his own personal victory to celebrate this November, but he was straight to the point about this state's importance in the electoral map for the Presidential race for Senator Obama:

In New Hampshire in 2000, Al Gore lost New Hampshire by 7,000 votes; if he had won the state he would have become President. We've got to do what we can to support Barack here.

For many people, Barack's campaign is the first they've ever been involved with. Not so for Frank -- his first campaign experience was knocking on doors for John F. Kennedy's campaign in New York. But he'd recommend the experience to someone who'd never done it before.

Canvassing is always an adventure. Most people are polite at the door, and it's the best way to talk to people about the presidential race and what issues matter to them.

When we finished our turf for the afternoon, Frank took with him an additional walk packet of several dozen more voters to contact in the days ahead. In a close election, these conversations he's having with New Hampshire residents could make all the difference in deciding who our next president will be.

If you'd like to get involved and help Barack Obama win New Hampshire this fall, click here to sign up to get more information about the campaign.

Canvass Events Across NH

New Hampshire HQ — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:28:17 EDT

Be a part of Barack's New Hampshire Campaign for Change. Canvasses are happening all across New Hamsphire this weekend. Check it out:

Click on the map to find a canvass near you.

Or, visit http://nh.barackobama.com/nhvols and sign up to volunteer if you can't make a canvass this weekend.

New Ad in NH

New Hampshire HQ — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:48:00 EDT

Today, Barack Obama's campaign released a new television ad, entitled "America's Leadership," which will air in 18 states, including New Hampshire. The ad highlights Senator Obama's bipartisan work with U.S. Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) to stop the smuggling of loose nuclear weapons and Obama's commitment to restoring America's leadership in the world.

You can watch the ad below:

After you've watched the ad, find an event near you here by clicking here.

Carole King Event (Concord, NH)

New Hampshire HQ — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:26:29 EDT

Singer-songwriter Carole King visited a bookstore in Concord (NH) today as part of her tour of New Hampshire. King has been making stops across the state talking about why she supports Barack Obama.

King was introduced at the event by Peggo Horstmann Hodes, wife of Congressman Paul Hodes.

King supported Hillary Clinton in the Democratic Primary, but was enthusiastic in her support of Senator Obama:

We've got a candidate that Hillary (Clinton) has put her full support behind, so I'm encouraging everyone who supported her like I did to do the same. The primary was such a hard choice for all of us, because there wasn't a world of difference between Obama and Clinton, but there is a world of difference between them both and John McCain.

After leading the crowd of Granite Staters in renditions of a couple of her songs (including "I Feel the Earth Move"), King reminded those at the event of their importance in the months to come:

We have a chance of helping something really good to happen. We can elect a leader who can lift us up and inspire change. But he needs all of us to accomplish this. He needs you...not only to vote, but to get other people you know excited about his candidacy.

Inspired? Want to get involved? Click here to sign-up and learn more about volunteering in New Hampshire.

Carole King in New Hampshire

New Hampshire HQ — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:30:35 EDT

Singer-songwriter Carole King will be visiting New Hampshire this week, and will make several stops to speak about why she supports Barack Obama.

On Tuesday:

Nashua, 1:00 PM. For event Details and to RSVP: Click here .

Concord, 3:00 PM. For event Details and to RSVP: Click here .

On Wednesday:

Laconia, 10:00 AM. For event Details and to RSVP: Click here .

North Conway, 1:00 PM. For event Details and to RSVP: Click here .

Around the State

New Hampshire HQ — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:29:47 EDT

Here's a little taste of what's happening around the state this weekend.

On Friday, Seacost Women for Obama staged a visibility event in downtown Portsmouth:

On Saturday, volunteers across the state gathered to canvass. In Concord, supporters were trained and stickered up before they hit the streets. :

Also on Saturday, supporters in Hanover gathered at the "Prouty," a fundraising event for cancer research at the Norris Cotton Cancer Center. The Upper Valley for Obama team raised over $1500 in the event.

Sign-up here to find out when volunteer events are happening near you!

Special thanks to Colin, Deb, and Jamie for the pictures.

Barack's Speech on Energy -- Complete Remarks

New Hampshire HQ — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:31:46 EDT

Barack made an address on Energy Policy today in Dayton, Ohio. We wanted to share with you his remarks.

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama –(as prepared for delivery)

A Secure Energy Future

Friday, July 11th, 2008

Dayton, Ohio

I’ve often said that the decisions we make in this election and in the next few years will set the course for the next generation. That is true of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It’s true of our economy. And it is especially true of our energy policy.

The urgency of this challenge is clear to anyone who’s tried to fill up their tank with gas that’s now over $4 a gallon. It’s clear to the legions of scientists who believe that we are nearing a point of no return when it comes to our global climate crisis. And with each passing day, it is clear that our addiction to fossil fuels is one of the most serious threats to our national security in the 21st century.

For the last eight years, this Administration has narrowly defined security as fighting an open-ended war in Iraq. But in the interconnected world of this new century, new threats come from stateless terrorists, loose nuclear weapons, the spread of pandemic disease, an inability to compete with rising powers in the global economy, the threat of global climate change and our dependence on foreign oil. I’ll be talking about these threats next week and in the weeks to come, and today I’d like to begin with those related to energy.

We now know that the carbon emissions released by countries across the globe are warming our planet, which leads to devastating weather patterns, terrible storms, drought, and famine. In fact, studies show that by 2050, famine could displace more than 250 million people worldwide. That means people competing for food and water in the next fifty years in the very places that have known horrific violence in the last fifty: Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. That is a threat to our security.

An even more immediate and direct security threat comes from our dependence on foreign oil. The price of a barrel of oil is now one of the most dangerous weapons in the world. Tyrants from Caracas to Tehran use it to prop up their regimes, intimidate the international community, and hold us hostage to a market that is subject to their whims. If Iran decided to shut down the petroleum-rich Strait of Hormuz tomorrow, they believe oil would skyrocket to $300-a-barrel in minutes, a price that one speculator predicted would result in $12-a-gallon gas. $12 a gallon.

The nearly $700 million a day we send to unstable or hostile nations also funds both sides of the war on terror, paying for everything from the madrassas that plant the seeds of terror in young minds to the bombs that go off in Baghdad and Kabul. Our oil addiction even presents a target for Osama bin Laden, who has told al Qaeda, “focus your operations on oil, since this will cause [the Americans] to die off on their own.”

If we stay on our current course, the rapid growth of nations like China and India will rise about one-third by 2030. In that same year, Middle Eastern regimes will be sitting on 83% of our global oil reserves. Imagine that – the very source of energy that fuels nearly all of our transportation, controlled almost entirely by some of the world’s most unstable and undemocratic governments.

This is not the future I want for America. We are not a country that places our fate in the hands of dictators and tyrants – we are a nation that controls our own destiny. That’s who we are. That’s who we’ve always been. It’s what led us to wage a revolution that brought down an Empire. It’s why we built an Arsenal of Democracy to defeat Fascism, and stopped the spread of Communism with the power of our ideals. And it’s why we must end the tyranny of oil in our time.

This is a debate we’ve been having in this campaign, but it’s also an issue we’ve been talking about for decades. We have heard promises about energy independence from every single U.S. President since Richard Nixon. We’ve heard talk about curbing our use of fossil fuels in nearly every State of the Union address since the oil embargo 1973. Back then we imported about a third of our oil. Today we import over half.

Now, a few days ago, Senator McCain said, “Our dangerous dependence on foreign oil has been thirty years in the making, and was caused by the failure of politicians in Washington to think long-term about the future of the country.”

I couldn’t agree more. The only problem is that out of those thirty years, Senator McCain was in Washington for twenty-six of them. And in that time he has achieved little to help reduce our dependence on foreign oil. He’s voted against raising our fuel mileage standards and joined George Bush in opposing legislation twice in the last year that included tax credits for more efficient cars. He’s voted against alternative sources of energy. Against clean biofuels. Against solar power. Against wind power. Against an energy bill that represented the largest investment in renewable sources of energy in the history of this country.

So when he talks about the failure of politicians in Washington to do anything about our energy crisis, understand that Senator McCain has been a part of that failure. When he proposes policies that give $4 billion in tax breaks to oil companies but only pennies a day to Americans struggling with high gas prices, understand that that’s not part of the solution in Washington, that’s part of the problem in Washington. When he offers a plan that doesn’t make any real investment in alternative sources of energy, that represents a failure to think long-term about our nation’s future. That’s what we’ve had in this country for too many years, and that’s why we need change in November.

I won’t pretend this change will be easy or that it will come without significant cost or some measure of sacrifice from the American people. Achieving energy independence is one of the greatest challenges we’ve ever faced, and it will be the great project of our generation. But I’ve seen that progress is possible.

Today, with oil and gas prices this high, we hear a lot of plans and proposals coming out of Washington since politicians are finally paying attention. The problem is, they’re reacting instead of acting. They’re searching for easy answers to get them through the next election instead of serious, long-term solutions that will offer real relief and real security for America.

I understand the politics. In a country desperate for action, ideas like a gas tax holiday or expanded oil drilling in the waters off our coasts are popular. And I’ll say this – if there were real evidence that these steps would actually provide real, immediate relief at the pump and advance the long-term goal of energy independence, of course I’d be open to them. But so far there isn’t.

As good as they sound, the history of gas tax holidays is that the prices go up to fill in the gap, and the big winners end up being the retailers and oil companies – not the American people. That’s what happened when we had a gas tax holiday in Illinois that I supported, and that’s why we ended up repealing it. It didn’t work. And it would also drain the federal highway fund of billions of dollars and cost hundreds of thousands of American jobs.

When it comes to offshore drilling, even Senator McCain has acknowledged that it won’t provide short-term relief. In fact, if we started drilling today, we wouldn’t see a drop of oil for seven years, and even then it would have little if any impact on prices.

Meanwhile, the oil companies currently have the rights to drill on 68 million acres of land and offshore areas that they haven’t touched. I believe that before we give the oil companies any more land, it’s time we tell them to start drilling on the land they already have or turn it over to someone who will, because we need that oil. We should also invest in the technology that can help us recover more oil from existing fields. And we should also look to our substantial natural gas reserves to tap a source of energy that’s already powering buses and cars here and around the world.

In the long-term, however, we have to remember that these domestic resources are finite. Even if you opened up every square inch of our land and our coasts to drilling, America still has only 3% of the world’s oil reserves. Senator McCain may believe otherwise, but that is not a real solution to our energy crisis.

What we need are real ideas to give hardworking Americans relief from high gas prices, and serious, long-term investments to permanently reduce our dependence on foreign oil. That’s exactly what my plan does.

To provide immediate relief, I’ve proposed a second, $50 billion stimulus package that would send energy rebate checks to every American. I’ve asked Senator McCain to join me in passing such a plan, and I extend that invitation again today. I’ve also proposed a $1,000 middle-class tax cut that will go to 95% of all workers and their families. And I’ll crack down on oil speculators who may be artificially driving up the price of oil.

But to truly reduce our long-term dependence on foreign oil, my plan will fast-track $150 billion of investment in a clean energy fund to help create the fuel-efficient cars and alternative sources of energy that will secure this nation and jumpstart a green economy. It’s a plan that will reduce our oil consumption 10 million barrels per day by 2030, which is more than all the oil we’re expected to import from OPEC nations in that same year.

First, we’ll double our fuel mileage standards over the next two decades utilizing much of the technology we have on the shelf today – a step that will save this country half a trillion gallons of gasoline, the equivalent of cutting the price of a gallon of gas in half. And I will provide tax credits and loan guarantees for our automakers to help them make this transition.

Second, we’ll launch a Venture Capital Fund that will provide $50 billion over five years to get the most promising clean energy technologies out of the lab and into the marketplace. A principal focus of this fund will be continuing the work I began in the Senate and investing in plug-in hybrid batteries that will allow cars to get up to 500 miles per gallon. I’m glad that Senator McCain now understands the importance of this battery technology, but it will take a lot more than a cash prize to achieve this goal. It will take a serious investment.

Third, to create a market for alternative sources of energy like solar, wind, , I’ll require that 25% of our electricity comes renewable sources by 2025, and that we produce two billion gallons of advanced cellulosic biofuels by 2013. We’ll also invest in finding cleaner ways to use coal, our nation’s most abundant energy source, and safer ways to use nuclear power and store nuclear waste.

Fourth, we’ll use our clean energy fund to invest over $1 billion a year to re-tool and modernize our factories and build the advanced technology cars, trucks and SUVs of the future – so that the jobs and industries of the future are created right here in the United States of America.

Finally, one of the fastest, easiest, and cheapest ways to conserve energy and use less oil is to make America more energy efficient and more competitive with the world. That’s why, when I’m President, I will call on businesses, government, and the American people to make America 50% more energy efficient by 2030.

When all is said and done, my plan to invest $150 billion in alternative energy will create entire new industries, thousands of new businesses, and up to five million new, green jobs that pay well and can’t be outsourced. And we pay for all of it by taking away tax breaks for oil companies and putting a price on carbon pollution – a step that will also reduce our carbon emissions 80% by 2050.

Most importantly, this plan will ensure that we control the energy we use with resources and technology that are available today. The steps I just spoke about are not far-off, pie-in-the-sky solutions, they are now. Today, there are waiting lists for fuel-efficient cars. There’s an old steel mill in Pennsylvania that has become the home of a new wind turbine factory. I’ve seen a small business in Nevada powered entirely by solar power. Across the planet, countries like Germany and the United Kingdom have already implemented clean energy polices that are reducing their carbon emissions right now, and leaders like Tony Blair and Angela Merkel have done a great job of raising the visibility of climate change within the G8. Now it’s our turn to lead – to show that this future is possible for America.

In the last century, during the days that followed the attack on Pearl Harbor, the American people were asked, almost overnight, to transform a peacetime economy that was still climbing out from the depths of depression into an Arsenal of Democracy that could wage war across three continents.

Many doubted whether this could be achieved in time, or even at all. President Franklin Roosevelt’s own advisors told him that his goals for wartime production were unrealistic and impossible to meet. But the President simply waved them off, saying, believe me, “the production people can do it if they really try.”

The challenge we face from our energy dependence is great. Meeting it will take time, and it will not be easy. But if we’re willing to work at it, and invest in it, and sacrifice for it; if we’re willing to summon the same spirit of optimism and possibility that has defined this country’s greatest progress, then I believe that we too will be able to do it if we really try. And I look forward to trying with you. Thank you.

Barack's Speech on Energy

New Hampshire HQ — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:39:01 EDT

Barack made an address on Energy Policy today in Dayton, Ohio. We wanted to share with you some of his remarks.

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama – exceprts (as prepared for delivery)

A Secure Energy Future

Friday, July 11th, 2008 -- Dayton, Ohio

I’ve often said that the decisions we make in this election and in the next few years will set the course for the next generation...And it is especially true of our energy policy.

The urgency of this challenge is clear to anyone who’s tried to fill up their tank with gas that’s now over $4 a gallon...And with each passing day, it is clear that our addiction to fossil fuels is one of the most serious threats to our national security in the 21st century.

The price of a barrel of oil is now one of the most dangerous weapons in the world. Tyrants from Caracas to Tehran use it to prop up their regimes, intimidate the international community, and hold us hostage to a market that is subject to their whims. If Iran decided to shut down the petroleum-rich Strait of Hormuz tomorrow, they believe oil would skyrocket to $300-a-barrel in minutes, a price that one speculator predicted would result in $12-a-gallon gas. $12 a gallon.

The nearly $700 million a day we send to unstable or hostile nations also funds both sides of the war on terror, paying for everything from the madrassas that plant the seeds of terror in young minds to the bombs that go off in Baghdad and Kabul. Our oil addiction even presents a target for Osama bin Laden, who has told al Qaeda, "Focus your operations on oil, since this will cause [the Americans] to die off on their own."

This is not the future I want for America. We are not a country that places our fate in the hands of dictators and tyrants – we are a nation that controls our own destiny. That’s who we are...And it’s why we must end the tyranny of oil in our time. [...]

To provide immediate relief, I’ve proposed a second, $50 billion stimulus package that would send energy rebate checks to every American. I’ve asked Senator McCain to join me in passing such a plan, and I extend that invitation again today. I’ve also proposed a $1,000 middle-class tax cut that will go to 95% of all workers and their families. And I’ll crack down on oil speculators who may be artificially driving up the price of oil.

But to truly reduce our long-term dependence on foreign oil, my plan will fast-track $150 billion of investment in a clean energy fund to help create the fuel-efficient cars and alternative sources of energy that will secure this nation and jumpstart a green economy. It’s a plan that will reduce our oil consumption 10 million barrels per day by 2030, which is more than all the oil we’re expected to import from OPEC nations in that same year. [...]

The challenge we face from our energy dependence is great. Meeting it will take time, and it will not be easy. But if we’re willing to work at it, and invest in it, and sacrifice for it; if we’re willing to summon the same spirit of optimism and possibility that has defined this country’s greatest progress, then I believe that we too will be able to do it if we really try. And I look forward to trying with you.

[Read Barack's speech in its entirety by clicking here.]

Find a Canvass Near You

New Hampshire HQ — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:36:50 EDT

Canvasses are happening across the state this weekend. Click on the map image to find a canvass near you.

Join other supporters as they hit the streets to talk to voters about Barack -- Canvass for Change.

Can't make a canvass? Check out the new NH Neighbor-to-Neighbor Voter Contact tool to reach out to voters in your neighborhood.

Questions or comments? Email nh@barackobama.com.

More from July 4th

New Hampshire HQ — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:06:16 EDT

Here are a few more pictures taken by Deb in Portsmouth at Portsmouth's July 4 Celebration:

Want to volunteer? Click here to sign up now.

Fourth of July

New Hampshire HQ — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:25:27 EDT

It's Independence Day. From Hanover to Conway, from Raymond to Merrimack, Granite Staters are gathering at parades and fireworks displays. Many of these events have had contingents of Obama supporters marching or otherwise showing their support for Barack's campaign.

New Hampshire's parades in Amherst and Merrimack are among the biggest and best-known in the Northeastern US. The Amherst parade featured Governor Lynch, Congressman Paul Hodes, and US Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen all marching alongside their supporters. The Obama contingent was a vocal one -- volunteers chanted "Obama, oh-eight!" and "Obama, Yes We Can!" as they marched along the parade route.

Do you have a picture or story from an event you attended? Send an email to nh@barackobama.com and we might feature it on the New Hampshire blog!

There still may be events going on tonight near you. Visit http://nh.barackobama.com/NHJuly4 to find events near you.

Happy Fourth of July!

Attend a Fourth of July Event Near You

New Hampshire HQ — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:12:58 EDT

Supporters across the state will be gathering at parades, fireworks shows, and other events across the state tonight and tomorrow to show their Obama Pride.

Visit http://nh.barackobama.com/NHJuly4 to find an event near you.

Happy Fourth of July from the NH Obama Team.

New Hampshire Heeds Barack's Call to Service

New Hampshire HQ — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:43:29 EDT

Across the Granite State today, supporters of Senator Obama took the opportunity of Barack's call to service in Colorado Springs, CO to participate in volunteer activities in their own local communities.

Obama supporters in Portsmouth pick up trash at Hampton Beach

While campaign supporters in Portsmouth were picking up trash on New Hampshire's coastline, volunteers in Nashua worked with campaign staff and members of the Obama Organizing Fellows program to help prepare and serve dinner in a local soup kitchen.

Supporters from Hudson and Bedford lend a hand at the Nashua Soup Kitchen

Mike is an Organizing Fellow from Boston who was helping out in Nashua. He was glad to have the opportunity to volunteer in the kitchen.

Barack talks about the importance of being involved on the neighborhood level helping others -- I think if everyone took the opportunity to be involved in their own local communities, it would be a great thing for the country.

Here is an excerpt from Barack's speech today:

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.

Obama On the Air in NH

New Hampshire HQ — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:26:32 EDT

The campaign announced the release of its second television advertisement for the general election today. This ad, entitled "Dignity," will begin airing in New Hampshire, underscoring Senator Obama's commitment to being an advocate for workers and children. The ad highlights Senator Obama's decision to bypass big money jobs and help lift neighborhoods stung by job loss. It illustrates Senator Obama's record of working hard to move people from welfare to work, passing tax cuts for workers and providing healthcare for children. Watch the ad here:

Here is the script of the ad:

I'm Barack Obama, and I approve this message.
Announcer: He worked his way through college and Harvard Law.
Turned down big money offers, and helped lift neighborhoods stung by job loss. Fought for workers' rights.
He passed a law to move people from welfare to work, slashed the rolls by eighty percent. Passed tax cuts for workers; health care for kids.
As president, he'll end tax breaks for companies that export jobs, reward those that create jobs in America.
And never forget the dignity that comes from work.

Unite for Change in New Hampshire

New Hampshire HQ — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:23:18 EDT

Saturday was a fantastic day in New Hampshire to Unite for Change. All across the Granite State, friends, family, and neighbors gathered together to learn how to get involved in Barack's campaign. Portsmouth's Unite For Change meeting, held at the Portsmouth Democratic Party headquarters, was one of the state's largest. Over 90 people showed up.

Standing room only in Portsmouth

Recognizing that their candidates had far more in common with Barack Obama than with John McCain, people across the state who had supported opposing Presidential candidates during the Primary committed to working together to take back the White House this fall.

Volunteers gather in Stratham

At these events, attendees signed up to get involved in the campaign in the months to come by knocking on doors, making phone calls, and by talking to friends and neighbors to encourage them to support Barack. Throughout the state, there was a high level of excitement about getting involved.

Attendees at a Springfield Unite for Change House Meeting pose for a photo

Thanks to everyone who helped make these events possible. If you did not have a chance to attend a house meeting but would like to get involved in the campaign, make sure to sign-up today!

More from Unity

New Hampshire HQ — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:49:47 EDT

It's been an exciting day here in New Hampshire. Barack and Senator Clinton made their first apperance together since the end of the Democratic primary season, and almost everyone we talked to on the way out of the event could feel the unity in the air. It's time for New Hampshire Democrats to focus on working together to win in November.

Our superstar team of volunteers (consisting of Deb from Portsmouth, Truda from Londonderry, and Kris from Concord) brought their cameras along to chronicle this event, and we wanted to share some of their pictures with you, along with a few quotes and interesting stories behind some of the folks we saw at the event.

Ryan (above) attended the event with his son Sean. Ryan served in Iraq in ’03, and went back for a second tour of duty two years ago. He’s been a volunteer for Barack Obama since last July. Ryan had this to say of the event:

I’m feeling very positive about this campaign...A lot is at stake, and I care about many issues. Of course, veteran’s issues, especially when vets come home. The current administration is reactive, not proactive, when it comes to taking care of our veterans, especially the vets’ hospital and overall vets’ health care. Oh, the G.I Bill too. I hope it can be implemented under a Barack Obama presidency. Plus employment for everybody. It’s very rough on a lot of folks who are losing their homes and jobs.

Unity isn't a large town -- its population was 1,530 at the last census. However, there were a good number of locals in attendance at the event. Dick from Unity volunteered for the Clinton campaign's Claremont office during the Democratic Primary.

Dick switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat recently. "I just had to this year!" he told us.

Corina is from Austin, TX. She has a friend who lives about an hour a way from Unity, so she decided the Obama & Clinton event provided a great reason to come spend some time in New Hampshire and visit her friend.

Many of New Hampshire's elected officials were in attendance as well.

State Senator Peter Burling, himself having been a supporter of John Edwards during the primary, was ecstatic to see Senators Obama and Clinton campaigning together in the state.

It’s so fabulous to have this democratic duo here. I’m with the folks in this region who worked hard, and it’s just this kind of event that excited folks on the front lines of fighting for New Hampshire votes. In 28 years in public life, I can’t remember wanting something more than to have Barack Obama in the White House, for the message it sends to all of America and to the world. We can unite for Change. We can make it happen.

More photos from the event, with captions:

New Hampshire Congressman Paul Hodes mingles with the crowd at the event

Erin is a teacher in nearby Springfield, VT. She loved this quote, and made this T-shirt to celebrate today’s historic day

The fantastic Obama race car belonging to Bucky of Cornish, NH. Bucky actually drives this car around once a week on the track. He said he's been successful since changing his number from 26 to 08 in support of Barack, but he's still looking for a big win.

Luckily, the weather stayed dry throughout today's event. About a half an hour after Barack and Senator Clinton finished speaking, it started to rain. This volunteer didn't seem to mind.

Remember, Unite for Change events are happening all across New Hampshire today (Saturday). Visit http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/uniteforchange/ and type in your zip code to find an event near you.

Michelle Obama in Manchester

New Hampshire HQ — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:22:56 EDT

Michelle Obama spent a lot of time in New Hampshire last year in the leadup to the state's Democratic Primary. Today, Michelle made her first return trip to the Granite State since Barack became the presumptive Democratic nominee for an event with Governor Jeanne Shaheen.

The event was held in downtown Manchester at the Radisson Hotel ballroom. Michelle and Governor Shaheen focused on issues affecting New Hampshire women, from healthcare to the increasing costs associated with raising a family. The underlying message in the event was that change was needed in Washington to affect change in women's lives, and that Democrats like Barack Obama and Jeanne Shaheen were going to work hard for these changes if elected.

Those we spoke to after the forum were impressed with both women. Dana from Goffstown said

I thought it was a great event! I hope that when they get to the White House that they'll continue these types of events, especially talking about health care. I love it that they've included regular people in this forum.

Dana, holding a copy of a book she hoped to have Michelle sign at the event.

In the crowd, we saw a lot of people who had been involved as volunteers for the campaign during New Hampshire's Democratic Primary, but we saw a lot of new faces as well. One of these faces belonged to Claire, who owns a fabric store in Manchester. Claire's path to the Michelle event was an interesting one: Someone from the Obama campaign came by her store to purchase some drapes to go behind the stage at the event. Claire decided she wanted to attend for herself when the staffer told her what the drapes were for.

For Maria from Merrimack, Michelle's visit signified the return of the campaign to New Hampshire. Both Dana and Maria were active volunteers for the campaign during the primary. Maria told me a story of having gone by the Manchester campaign office several days in a row in March of 2007, only to see an office full of furniture but no staff. One day when she went by, staff had finally arrived. She stayed involved all the way through January's primary day, and looks forward to keeping up that involvement in the fall, hoping to also bring her daughter Bethany (a student at Southern New Hampshire University's Manchester campus) into the fold.

Maria (left) with daughter Bethany (center) and friend Yvonne

There's some history with Maria and Michelle. At an event in New Hampshire last fall, Maria handed Michelle a loaf of cornbread that she had baked for Michelle. The future First Lady took it and held it up like a trophy for the television cameras at the event to see. The next day Maria's friends, several of which had seen the event on C-SPAN, started calling her "The Cornbread Lady."

We also saw Mary Rauh, NH Co-Chair of Obama for New Hampshire and Anita Freeman, Democratic Committee Member from New Hampshire, sitting together and thought we'd say hello. Anita was a strong supporter of Senator Hillary Clinton during New Hampshire's Primary. Seeing them walk in together and sit together at this event event was a great sign of the unity we're starting to see in New Hampshire in advance of Friday's event with Barack and Hillary Clinton appearing together in Unity. Said Anita

We've got to get Jeanne Shaheen in the Senate, as well as Barack Obama in the White House. We have got to get the Democrats elected. As soon as Hillary Clinton got out of the race, there was no question where where my support would go [Obama]. And nothing can convince me of otherwise!"

Both Mary (on the left) and Anita (right) got their pictures taken with Michelle after the event

Michelle and Governor Shaheen took questions after addressing the audience

We caught our friend Claire on the way out of the event. She had this to say:

Everyone sounded great. They touched many important points today, especially health care concerns. I'm a diabetic, and it costs me quite a bit to get the care I need. I'll soon be in the Medicare part D donut hole, and I'll be in it the rest of the year. That means I'll be paying for all of my medication costs out of pocket. So I'm very eager for progress on health care.

Special thanks go out to Kris from Concord and Truda from Londonderry for their help in covering this event.