SFBO blog

Student Rewind: All Across the Map

Alex DeGolia — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:31:49 EDT

Barack in front of a huge crowd at the University of Montana in Missoula

Pennsylvania Students Gear Up for April 22nd Primary
By Luke Messac

With almost 700,000 college students across Pennsylvania, the youth vote will be a key factor in the April 22nd Democratic primary. On over 70 college campuses around the state, SFBO chapters are turning heads and winning new supporters. Mia Prensky, a 21-year-old at Bryn Mawr College, talked to SFBO members as they handed out stickers and information about Senator Obama's position on Iraq. Finding herself in agreement with Obama on the war — a central issue for her in this election — Prensky told the Associated Press that he would have her vote.

Mia is not alone, as students from across the nation see Obama as the candidate most attuned to their hopes and concerns. A recent poll conducted by Gallup and the Chronicle of Higher Education shows that when asked which candidate would do more to help families deal with rising college tuition costs, more Americans between the ages of 18 and 22 chose Obama than Clinton and McCain combined. Barack Obama's attention to young people is one of the reasons why he has won the student vote by overwhelming margins in this year's primaries and caucuses. As Scott Keeter, director of survey research for the Pew Research Center, observes, "I cannot recall another candidate in the past couple of decades that had such consistent support from young people."

Dave Matthews in Bloomington, IN

Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds played an acoustic set in front of a crowd of 13,500 at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN to promote voter registration and support for Senator Obama. To read Dave Matthews’ endorsement posted on his website, click here. Asked by Rolling Stone why he is supporting Senator Obama, Matthews responded, “It’s a quality he has that seems to elevate the people around him… the most important qualification a candidate can possess is being able to inspire people to want to do things for their country.” For a more in-depth look at why he is supporting Senator Obama, read the entire Rolling Stone interview here.

In Other News…

Senator Obama enjoyed an enormous crowd at the University of Montana in Missoula on Saturday. Paul Donaldson, who works at the University of Montana in Missoula setting up sound and stage at the Adams Center, says that he’s never seen anything like what happened two days ago. Students began lining up for the event at midnight even though Barack wouldn’t be there until 10 p.m. Donaldson said, “This is history.” To read the entire story in the Great Falls Tribune, click here.

Barack wins a mock Democratic Convention at St. Francis University in Loretto, PA, with 60 percent of the vote. Read more here.

Teens are fired up in Lancaster County, PA.

Your Stories: Brenda from New Mexico

Alex DeGolia — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:04:31 EDT

Brenda is a retired Post Production Supervisor in the film industry and a mother from rural southern New Mexico. She remembers being young and listening to President Kennedy speak to the nation — it was the first time that she heard a politician speak, and described her reaction as one of full of the hope that politics can be used to bring people together and make things better. After he was killed in 1963, she says that she disassociated herself from politics for a long time. The first time that she heard Barack speak, she realized “we don’t have to give up on politics.”

We've heard many stories of children convincing their parents to support Barack, but Brenda’s story works in reverse. She called her son and had to convince him that this kind of movement doesn’t come along frequently, and that “we cannot let go of it.” She continues, “It makes me tear up every time I think of it… Now almost all my son’s friends are supporting Obama.”

When I asked what Barack’s inspiration could do to help the country, Brenda struck a broad note …

One of the biggest things is the change that he could make in a whole general sense. He brings a different view not just to politics, but to the American culture. His speeches are about us, about the American people. He doesn’t just carry on about what he did and who he is, that’s where he’s different. What I think would happen are very great changes.

Brenda believes that the strength of a campaign, and this campaign in particular, comes from the ground up. The first thing we must do to make lasting change in America is to engage ourselves in its politics. This belief has been and remains the cornerstone of our campaign. Many people have already given and shared their own story with us. If you would like to become a part of this campaign, and want to be eligible for a chance to have “Dinner with Barack,” please donate by 11:59 PM EST tonight.

Student Rewind: Barackapella

Alex DeGolia — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:48:43 EDT

By Marc Peters

Focus on: Oregon

Oregon has five active Students for Barack Obama chapters: University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Portland State University, Lane Community College, Lewis & Clark College. Three of the chapters each have over 500 members.

Believing in a participatory democracy, the University of Oregon and Lane Community College just helped organize a rally for Senator Obama on Friday, March 21st. Over 10,000 people showed up for the event.

The SFBO chapters have organized multiple phonebanks and registered 1,750 new voters. They also hosted a "Barackapella" concert in Portland. Video of the group performing an a cappella version of the song "Yes We Can" has drawn over 50,000 views on YouTube.

Focus on: Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has 35 official SFBO chapters, and has registered over 5,000 new voters in the state. In addition, they have organized over 150 phonebanks.

The Baltimore Sun recently chronicled Obama's appeal to PA students. They looked particularly at a campaign event in Pittsburgh:

Hundreds of people huddled around a pair of loudspeakers, apparently mesmerized by a disembodied voice. These hardy souls, blowing into cups of coffee, shoulders hunched against the chill, were just a few of the people who couldn't get tickets to see Obama in person. University students, administrative staff, restaurant employees, retail workers, faculty members -- they were all settling for the next best thing.

In SFBO Other News

ASU reports on how Obama joins star power with political will.

A new SFBO chapter starts at East Carolina University.

Your Stories: Stephanie from North Carolina

Alex DeGolia — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:27:59 EDT

Stephanie is a Middle School Guidance Counselor in rural North Carolina. Yesterday she told me about why she decided to support Barack …

I feel the vision… I see the honesty that he brings, the integrity that he brings. I am a school counselor and live in a rural area; my kids are not afforded a lot of opportunity, and I think he’s going to make a change … He has remained calm through the storm of the campaign, and gives a message of hope. He is young, energetic, and someone that my middle school students can identify with when dealing with adversity.

Stephanie sees the downturn in the economy hurting her community, particularly difficult since many of her students already aren’t provided the kinds of breaks that other, more affluent students often are.

She says, “a lot of my students come from single parent homes, some without as many role models as they could use.” Still, Barack provides them with this kind of role model, and again she reiterated that “he gives this great sense of hope, that he really wants to make the change” that can help her kids ...

If he is able to do what he’s talking about in making college affordable, it allows me to keep preaching to my kids that if they work all of them can go to college …otherwise, these parents are having enough trouble feeding and clothing the kids, and the students see that their parents can’t afford to pay for them to go to college … And I won’t be able to be straight with them and tell them that.

Barack wants to work to make college affordable for every student in America. To read about Barack’s education plan, click here. To read about his plan to support rural communities, click here.

If you are inspired by Barack's message of hope, as Stephanie is, please consider donating. If you donate by tonight at 11:59 PM EST, you'll be eligible for a chance to have “Dinner with Barack.” And don’t forget to share your story with us.

Your Voices: Supporter Stories from Susan and Diana

Alex DeGolia — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:26:12 EDT

Meet Susan …

Susan is a retired homemaker from Lock Haven, PA. While she is concerned with a number of issues in the upcoming election, she says that what really draws her to Barack is “that he appeals to young voters who have been sitting back” in recent elections. She also “really enjoyed the matching donation program,” which is what first drew her to donate to the campaign…

I had never seen that before… It makes you feel like your small donation goes a little further… and then you don’t just donate, you get a note back that shows there are lots of other people out there wanting to give, even if it’s just a little bit.

Susan is a mother and a grandmother, and told me that her 10 year old granddaughter is a big Obama supporter who is “very interested in the election.” Susan's entire family drove thirty five miles to see Barack speak at State College today.

Meet Diana . . .

Diana has taught at public schools in Cleveland, Ohio for 18 years. As a techer, she's very concerned with what has happened to our education system over the past seven years, particularly with No Child Left Behind…

Children have been overtested. You can see the frustration in their faces … they’re not getting the help that they really need. What it's doing is showing them what they lack, rather than what we can do to give them the resources to actually improve.

Diana is also worried about the economy and how she’ll be able to make ends meet, but she sees Barack Obama as an individual who can make needed changes …

This nation has been so bruised, it's time for Americans to pick themselves back up again… to do the things that we do best. And Barack Obama is that type of person. He can bring us new ideas …

In this election, Diana believes that we need to pick a leader who can mobilize the nation to fix our problems — in education, the economy, and elsewhere. To read Barack's plan to reform No Child Left Behind and expand educational opportunities for all children, click here.

And if you feel inspired, as Diana and Susan were, to help make these ideas reality, please consider donating and sharing your own story. If you make your donation by 11:59 pm EST on Monday night, you could win the chance to share it at "Dinner with Barack."

Rhonda's Story

Alex DeGolia — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:18:00 EDT

Rhonda and her husband are truck drivers who live in Indianapolis, Indiana. She described why she joined the profession seven years ago …

I would be working on a line in the factory, and work my way up so that I'd be making a little bit of money, and then the factory would shut down, ship off overseas. And then, because it's based on seniority, I'd go to another factory and be making five, six, or seven dollars an hour again.

Seeing that "we'll always need people driving trucks" in this country, she made the decision to "take the little amount I had saved in my 401(k) and go to truck driving school." She's been doing that now for seven years, though now she finds herself with less "miles per run," meaning she has to work longer to make the same amount of money as before. She has health insurance, but "it feels like I pay into it every week, even though when something happens the insurance comes up with some excuse and I end up paying an 80% premium rather than the 20%."

Rhonda says that "when I hear Barack speak, I have hope." She continued, "I understand that people should all be well educated and be able to use new technologies … but not everyone had the money or the time to do that, and those of us that didn't, rely on blue collar jobs — good paying blue collar jobs." She said she feels like our government is often run by "money changing hands behind closed doors," and fears that this makes it easy for our leaders to lose sight of what matters to the American people.

Even though she may not have lots of money, Rhonda decided to give something to support Barack's campaign because she hopes for a better future. She readily admits that Barack has "no magic wand" to make these issues go away, but concluded our conversation by saying that "maybe he can start to make a dent … start to turn things around for the average Joe."

If you feel strongly about the need to turn things around, like Rhonda does, please consider making your own donation and sharing your story. If you make a donation by Monday night at 11:59 PM EST, you could have a chance to share your story at "Dinner with Barack."

Student Support Still Strong

Alex DeGolia — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:58:15 EDT

According to a comprehensive survey by Student Life, the Wash. U. in St. Louis independent student newspaper, Senator Obama is still highly favored among Wash. U.'s student body. In Student Life's poll, Senator Obama would beat John McCain by a mark of 78.1% to 18.5% among students if the election were held today.

The poll asked students to indicate which of the remaining three candidates they felt would be most capable of dealing with a number of the country's most pressing problems, including the economy, the war in Iraq, education, poverty, immigration, and others. For every single issue students chose Senator Obama as the most capable leader.

You can read more, and see some cool graphs, here.

Student Rewind: St. Patrick's Day

Alex DeGolia — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:40:37 EDT

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Students for Obama!

Sen. Obama speaking in front of a crowd of 9,000 at Jackson State University on Monday, March 10th. The next day Sen. Obama won the Mississippi primary overwhelmingly, including taking some 73 percent of all votes from 17-29 year olds, according to MSNBC exit polls.

The Pennsylvania Ground Game

By Justin Charity

Legions of loyal supporters have begun spreading the energy of our movement to the doorsteps of Pennsylvania. Following our recent victories in Wyoming and Mississippi, volunteers throughout the state are canvassing Pennsylvania’s political landscape in search of new supporters. The Philadelphia Inquirer offered up its own critique of Obama’s organizational efforts in the state:

While Obama's goal is to expand the Democratic electorate in Pennsylvania, Clinton is hardly as focused on doing the same. The New York senator's campaign said it had no similar voter-registration drive because that is not central to its strategy; Clinton has done better in closed-primary states, so it is not a necessity for her to lure independents, Republicans or new voters.

With Pennsylvania’s Democratic primary soon approaching, our campaign is crafting a competitive ground game to bolster our prospects in the state, and to bring new voters into the process, just as we’ve done across this country throughout the course of this campaign:

A key target are the state's 35 largest colleges, where, the campaign estimates, 327,000 undergraduates are up for grabs. Dozens of organizers have been dispatched to secure those voters.
Temple Students for Barack Obama, for instance, is a campaign-sanctioned group with "dorm leaders" and "dorm captains" responsible for visiting every residence hall to find new voters.

On April 22nd, it’s all eyes on Pennsylvania, and we’ve begun to lay the groundwork another grassroots movement in the making. Read the full Philadelphia Enquirer article here.

State College Office Opening

Jay Paterno and members of the Penn State Football Team will be joining Obama Staff, community members, and student leaders in opening the new Obama office tomorrow, March 18th, at 5:30pm. The office is located at 224 S. Allen St., and everyone is encouraged to attend.

In Other News…

Students for Obama chapters at Universities in Northeastern PA are organizing for the voter registration drive. You can read about it here. And Penn State students have a huge registration goal, which you can read about here.

Sen. Obama was in Indiana last week, speaking at Plainfield High School, where he spoke on issues of college affordability and a more united country. Read more about it from the Indiana Daily Student here.

A Student Letter

Alex DeGolia — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:50:16 EDT

We received this letter on Saturday. Thank you Jamie.

Dear Barack:

                I am but 13 and I am already into politics and your movement in this
                country. I am a huge fan of not only you, but your point of view and
                your stance on the things our country cares about most. I believe all
                Americans my age need to know about politics and be involved with
                politics because it is our future that is at stake by the decisions of
                Americans made now. I really do hope you are America's president in
                next January, because I believe in Change. I am so excited about the
                results of the actual election and I have faith that you can make it.
                I am very happy our country has come to the point where America can
                handle and accept an African American president. I wish you the most
                of luck and faith in this campaign and hopefully your future
                responsibility of being President of the United States of America.
                Thank you.

Sincerely,

Jamie L.

Student Rewind

Alex DeGolia — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:06:21 EDT

Watch John Legend Talk About Sen. Obama on Colbert!

On Thursday, John Legend was on the Colbert Report and spoke about why he supports Senator Obama, what “Yes We Can” is all about, and the meaning of true patriotism. He also does a kind of duet-battle over lady liberty with Stephen Colbert. Check it all out here.

Rolling Stone Endorses Senator Obama

By Kim Ahern

In an unprecedented move, Rolling Stone has endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President! The most recent edition of Rolling Stone features two pieces on Senator Obama. The first, "The Machinery of Hope," profiles the incredible grassroots operation that we have been able to build in just one year. It describes what has been happening over the past year not so much as a campaign for Senator Obama to become President Obama, but as a wholly grassroots movement, a mechanism for people to empower themselves. This includes the activity of Students for Barack Obama:

"Steve Hildebrand, in shaping the campaign strategy from the outset, saw that there was an amazing opportunity here with Barack and young people," says Riemer (National Youth Vote Director). Turnout has been astonishing: In Iowa, as many people under thirty caucused as did senior citizens. In every contest, the youth vote has at least doubled and often tripled previous records. Riemer is quick to point out that these successes aren't just the result of the campaign organizing young people but of young people organizing themselves. "When I arrived at the Obama campaign," he says, "there were 175 Students for Barack Obama chapters already in existence" — a group that had started on Facebook in 2006 before morphing into a sophisticated grass-roots organization. "My responsibility was to nurture it and work with them on their political strategy."

The second piece, "A New Hope," goes on to provides Rolling Stone’s endorsement of Senator Obama. Among other things, the article focuses on his unique ability to bring people together in our country:

We need to send a message to ourselves and to the world that we truly do stand for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And in electing an African-American, we also profoundly renounce an ugliness and violence in our national character that have been further stoked by our president in these last eight years.

Like Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama challenges America to rise up, to do what so many of us long to do: to summon ‘the better angels of our nature.’

In Other News…

Our own Kimberly Ahern was selected to be a delegate to the National Convention in Denver from Rhode Island last Tuesday. She is a law student at Roger Williams University and received the third most votes among any of Senator Obama’s delegates in the state. You can read more about it here.

As we reported earlier in the week, the University of Pennsylvania College Democrats endorsed Senator Obama last week and committed to working hard towards his victory in the PA Democratic Primary on April 22nd. Read more here.

Students in North Carolina are already excited about their May 6th primary, and are organizing a huge voter registration drive in anticipation of it. The News & Record in Greensboro, NC reports (link) that January and February saw 5000 new voters register in Guilford County, with over one third of new voters to register being under the age of 25.

Thank you to those students who traveled from distances both near and far to help out in the primaries over the past week. You can read about a few student groups that traveled to help here and here.

Rolling Stone Endorses Senator Barack Obama

Alex DeGolia — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:17:40 EST

By Kim Ahern

In an unprecedented move, Rolling Stone has endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President! The most recent edition of Rolling Stone features two pieces on Senator Obama. The first profiles the incredible grassroots operation that we have been able to build in just one year, including Students for Barack Obama:

…the campaign has granted Rolling Stone rare access to its top strategists and organizers, who discussed in detail the mechanics of Obama's meteoric ascendancy. According to David Axelrod, the campaign's chief strategist, the bottom-up ethos of the campaign comes straight from the top. "When we started this race, Barack told us that he wanted the campaign to be a vehicle for involving people and giving them a stake in the kind of organizing he believed in," Axelrod says. "He is still the same guy who came to Chicago as a community organizer twenty-three years ago. The idea that we can organize together and improve our country — I mean, he really believes that.

The second piece goes on to provides Rolling Stone’s endorsement of Senator Obama. Among other things, the article focuses on his unique ability to bring people together in our country:

We need to send a message to ourselves and to the world that we truly do stand for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And in electing an African-American, we also profoundly renounce an ugliness and violence in our national character that have been further stoked by our president in these last eight years.

Like Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama challenges America to rise up, to do what so many of us long to do: to summon ‘the better angels of our nature.’

Get your copy of Rolling Stone today!

Arcade Fire Set to Hold Free Concerts in Ohio

Alex DeGolia — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 21:20:58 EST

Members of Arcade Fire including Win Butler, Regine Chassagne, Jeremy Gara, and Sarah Neufeld will hold two free concerts support of Senator Obama tomorrow, March 2nd and Monday the 3rd. The concert tomorrow will be held in Nelsonville, OH starting at 7:00 p.m. at Stuart’s Opera House. The concert Monday will be in Cleveland at the Beachland Ballroom starting at 8 p.m. Colin Stetson will be opening the concerts. See Pitchfork for more information.

Marshall University Prepares to Help Knock on One Million Doors

Alex DeGolia — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:09:48 EST

The Marshall University chapter of Students for Barack Obama has seen its numbers grow dramatically in recent months. According to the University’s paper, the Marshall Parthenon, the group now numbers some 270 members and counting, up from just four a few months ago. And now the group is putting those new members to use, preparing to help the campaign by traveling to Ohio and joining in the One Million for Change canvass this weekend, when we hope to knock on one million doors all across Ohio to get out the vote for Senator Obama on March 4th.

To get involved with the campaign in Ohio and be a part of the historic One Million for Change canvass, visit us at ohio.barackobama.com.

The "Youthquake" Hits Texas

Alex DeGolia — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:48:23 EST

On Tuesday, the Houston Chronicle explored the continuing impact of young voters on this primary election, and their likely impact come November:

For young voters expected to have a large impact on the remaining presidential primaries, this political season is about change. It’s about the future.

Most of these voters, according to polls, support Barack Obama. The impact that young voters are expected to have will be very significant. According to pollster John Zogby, approximately 20 percent of voters in November will be from the youth bloc, but he says, “if Obama is the candidate, it’s conceivable that young voters will make up 25 percent of the vote.”

This suggests that not only is the importance of this particular election motivating young people to come out and vote, but that young voters recognize the importance of this candidate, at this time, to make the kind of change our country needs.

Total Youth Turnout Big in Wisconsin

Alex DeGolia — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:25:49 EST

According to estimates made by CIRCLE (The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement), over 220,000 people aged 18-29 came out to vote yesterday in Wisconsin's presidential primary. As we've already noted on this blog, a strong majority of those came out in support of Barack Obama.

However, it is also important to look at the turnout by itself. According to CIRCLE's exit polling, the nearly 176,000 young voters who participated in the Democratic primary constituted 16% of the total voters, up almost 50% from 2004, when this age bloc made up only 11% of all Democratic primary voters. CIRCLE's director, Peter Levine, had this to say:

Since 2000, young people have been volunteering at high rates and are becoming more interested in news and public affairs. Now they are ready to consider voting as a way of addressing major problems...[young voters] are beginning to make their distinctive and lasting mark on American politics.

There seems to be little doubt of that.

Students at the Polls: Wisconsin

Alex DeGolia — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:38:20 EST

Students have been heading to the polls today in Wisconsin to vote for Senator Obama.

Here are a few pictures:

Kal Penn and Brandon Routh at UW-Madison

Alex DeGolia — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 17:01:39 EST

By Justin Charity

Our Madison, Wisconsin campaign office looked a lot like a movie set this past weekend, with 'Superman Returns' star Brendan Routh and 'Harold and Kumar' star Kal Penn stopping by to show their support. The University of Wisconsin-Madison's student publication, the Daily Cardinal, covered the celebrity drop-in from this past Thrusday:

“Superman Returns” stars Brandon Routh and Kal Penn shared how Obama has inspired them with a crowd of students and community members gathered among laundry machines.

“I have never been as inspired by anyone probably since my grandparents marched with Gandhi,” Penn said.

A self-identified cynic and Independent, Penn became an Obama supporter after the presidential hopeful’s inspirational keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

Routh encouraged students to put aside political apathy and get involved in the political process.

“This is not really politics we’re talking about, this is an investment in my future,” Routh said.

Routh and Penn helped to demonstrate that anyone can make a difference, so long as they're willing to put in the time, the dedication, and some good, old-fashioned hard work:

Penn said he enjoys knocking on doors because he can talk to people one on one and hear their concerns.

“They’re the ones that support the stuff that we do, you know, they’re the ones who watch our TV shows and buy our DVDs,” Penn said.

“Without that I certainly wouldn’t have the type of health care that I hope that they have with a new president.”

Celebrities or not, we can all make a difference. Read the full article here.

New USA Today Poll: Youth Vote Has Shifted to Obama

Alex DeGolia — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:38:49 EST

A new USA Today poll came out today that shows that as young voters are focusing on the presidential race, they are shifting to Barack Obama. Barack now garners support from young voters at a nearly 2-1 basis.

It is also worth noting the poll found that most voters in both parties seek a leader who will "chart a new course," something that Senator Obama has been advocating from the start of his campaign and that has inspired many people--in particular young people--to become politically involved at record levels.

By the Numbers: Obama Turns Out the Youth Vote

Alex DeGolia — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:04:07 EST

By Luke Messac

The wires are abuzz: after months of media speculation about whether students could help deliver Obama a victory in the Iowa caucuses, caucus returns confirm beyond the shadow of a doubt just how potent the youth vote is. Here are some earth-shattering numbers to ponder:

Turnout among Democratic caucus-goers under 25 more than doubled between 2004 and 2008. Click here for more information.

While overall caucus turnout for Democrats increased 90% between 2004 and 2008, turnout Democratic voters under 25 increased 135%. Click here for more information.

According to entrance polling conducted by the Associated Press, Obama won 57% of votes among caucus-goers aged 17-29. Click here for more information.

According to Congressional Quarterly reporter Greg Giroux, Obama won 9 of the 10 Iowa counties with the lowest median age, including Story and Johnson counties, home to Iowa State University and the University of Iowa, respectively. Click here for more information.

The country is sitting up and taking notice while the press scrambles to document the momentous changes before their eyes. Students for Barack Obama chapters around the nation have awoken a slumbering giant, never to be quieted again. Keep up the good work, SFBO!

The Really Early Vote

Alex DeGolia — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 11:14:04 EST

Over 900 New Hampshire students have already voted for Barack Obama in the New Hampshire primary. No, the primary dates weren't moved around again--these are students who have already cast an absentee ballot for Senator Obama. Mike Heslin, President of the New Hampshire College Democrats and a student at Darmouth, had this to say:

"Barack Obama has the vision and courage America needs to get abck on track. He is the only candidate who will make our government work the way it should, and this campaign is a movement I had to be a part of."

The Obama campaign has been working hard to reach out to students across the Granite State. We have chapters on twelve college campuses around the state, and eight full-time staff members devoted to reach out to those student voters. As of last week, these students had knocked on over 17,000 doors and made over 18,000 phone calls to speak to other students about why they believe that Senator Obama is the candidate to bring this country back together to make real change that we desperately need.

Questions for the Candidates

Alex DeGolia — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:08:39 EST

The website tenquestions.com is in the middle of an initiative that promotes participatory democracy through connecting video questions from anyone willing to make one to presidential candidates. On their website, they refer to it as “the internet’s first truly people powered campaign forum.”

Users have chosen the ten best questions of those submitted, and asked the candidates in both parties to provide a response to the answers. Senator Obama is one of four Democrats to have done so. Now, you can go to the site and vote on which candidate you believe has answered each of the ten questions most thoroughly. Examples of the questions include:

2. As president, will you practice your religion without imposing it on the American people, as our current president has?
7. When the people don't know what's going on we can't hold our public officials accountable, and we get terrible policies. I would like to know what you would do, as President of the United States, to share information more effectively and to increase access in the White House to both the media and the the people of the United States.

You can check out the site and vote for yourself here. Over 17,000 people have already done so.

Work to Do

Alex DeGolia — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 09:51:43 EST

By Marc Peters

Changing this country isn’t about one election or even one candidate. If we want real change, we all have work to do.

Kidz in the Hall, a critically-acclaimed group from Chicago, recently released a new track on this theme. Called "Work to Do," the song is inspired by Barack Obama and his campaign for the presidency. The Kidz have watched Barack’s rise from community organizing on the South Side of Chicago to presidential candidate. Says Naledge, the Kidz MC:

"I happen to think that Barack Obama embodies everything that is promising for the future of our nation and represents the hope I sought to speak on in the song," Naledge said.

Kidz in the Hall joins a growing group of renowned hip-hop artists who have spoken out for Senator Obama and for the power of the new generation to change this country.

Jin Tha MC, of 106 and Park’s Freestyle Friday fame, posted a song called an "Open Letter to Obama" on his MySpace page. Music fans went wild for the song and so did we. Soon, Jin was appearing at rallies and telling audiences why he had never turned on to the political process until Barack Obama came along.

Common, another Chicago Southside resident and hip hop star, says that his lyrics “ignite the people like Obama” on his latest album and his video showcases Obama gear. He has also followed Obama's rise from the outset, and has come to see Obama for the change he represents.

Kidz in the Hall’s song has already grabbed the attention of hip-hop zine's SOHH and XXL, and its burning up the blogs.

Stop by the Kidz myspace page and check out, “Work to Do.”

Student Rewind: In Concert

Alex DeGolia — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:56:02 EST

Barack Obama at a Generation Obama event in Seattle, WA this week

Agent of Change Profile: Kristin Rush, Nevada

By Luke Messac

With the January 19th Nevada caucuses a little more than one month away, high school Students for Obama are spreading the message of change in their schools and in their communities. Kristin Rush, a senior at Carson City High School, is the events coordinator for her school's SFBO chapter. After following Senator Obama since she first read about him in 9th grade, Kristin decided this year to get active in his campaign. Between homework, varsity soccer practice, and Environmental Club meetings, Kristin is working hard to see that Obama is elected our next president.

Since the beginning of the semester, Kristin and over a dozen other members of the Carson High chapter have held house parties, organized "mock caucuses" where students can learn about the state's process of selecting delegates, and traveled to see Barack speak at the Reno Convention Center. They have also been spreading the message to older voters by phone banking for the campaign. Kristin knows from experience the difference that these personal calls can have:

I got a call from my grandma recently, and she said, 'One of your friends from school just called from the Obama office, and we talked for half an hour. Now I've signed a pledge card!'

Kristin's work is especially meaningful because for many high school seniors the upcoming caucus will be the first vote of their lives. High school chapters energize Obama's candidacy while instilling a lifelong sense of civic engagement among young voters. Kristin explains this dual mission:

Barack is my #1 candidate, and we're trying to get as many people as we can to caucus for him. In fact, just last week a few of my friends pledged to vote for Barack…But for some students politics has never affected them, or so they think. Getting them to vote, getting them to take that step, would be such a huge accomplishment.

Talks with Tunes

Senator Obama held two west coast Generation Obama events this week that were part political rally, part rock concert. Like the Countdown to Change events that have been held in recent months, these are low-dollar fundraisers that provide good student deals. The New York Times described it as a “rally/fund-raiser/concert.” The first featured musical guests Ne-Yo and the Goo Goo Dolls and drew more than 4,500 supporters at the Gibson Theatre in Hollywood on Tuesday. Still, Senator Obama was the biggest star there, and upon entering the stage at the end of the event, received a tremendous ovation. You can read more about the event here.

The second Generation Obama rally/fund-raiser/concert took place Wednesday in Seattle. The event featured Stone Gossard’s (of Pearl Jam fame) side project Brad and The Dusty 45s and drew around 1,000 supporters. You can read more about the event here.

Mock This

In a mock primary held by the University of New Hampshire , the largest university in the first-in-the-nation primary state, Senator Obama came away a clear winner. He received a total of 890 votes, over three times more than his closes Democratic opponent. Read about the mock primary here.

Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa held a mock caucus organized by a senior government class last week that taught over 1,000 students to caucus and ended with Senator Obama beating out the rest of the Democratic field. Read about it here.

In Other News…

Shaun Hundle writes in the University of Wisconsin Badger Herald of how Barack Obama’s dedication to a transparent government beholden to none but the people it represents will restore the desperately needed legitimacy of real representation in our government.

Returning the Law to its Citizens

Alex DeGolia — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 16:35:51 EST

By Kim Ahern

"This is a moment when America needs its lawyers to look outward and ask what they can do to be the catalysts and architects of a better world. This is a moment when America needs its lawyers—and all its citizens—to commit in some meaningful way to public service. Doing any less suggests a poverty of ambition." Senator Barack Obama, Charleston Law Review

In addition to his busy campaigning schedule, Senator Obama recently found time to write the forward for the most recently published volume of the Charleston Law Review, the law journal of the Charleston School of Law. It’s no surprise that Obama, the former President of the Harvard Law Review and a professor of Constitutional Law in Chicago, still has a deep concern for the role of the Constitution and how the Bush Administration has eviscerated so many constitutional protections.

He realizes just how important it is for lawyers to fulfill their ethical responsibilities and uphold the Rule of Law and he will carry this admiration with him to the white house. A Justice Department in the Obama Administration is certainly something that our Nation needs after the past eight years. To read more about his article, see the Associated Press article here.

Defending Student Voting Rights

Alex DeGolia — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 14:24:30 EST

The New York Times is running an editorial today that steps up and defends student voting rights, as Barack Obama has done throughout his campaign:

College students are legally entitled to vote where they attend school. That makes perfect sense given that they often live in their college communities for four years or more and become eligible to vote for the first time while living there. But not everyone likes this arrangement, and political operatives often try to suppress the student vote. We recently got a glimpse of this process in Iowa, where the presidential caucuses are just weeks away...
...In Iowa, the suppression has been rhetorical. With Barack Obama’s campaign, in particular, urging students to come out for him, other campaigns have tried to put up roadblocks. Earlier this month, Hillary Clinton said during a campaign stop that the process should be reserved for “people who live here, people who pay taxes here.” Chris Dodd seemed to imply that people who were “paying out-of-state tuition” and participating in the process were somehow being deceptive and unfairly casting themselves as Iowan
Students are rightly up in arms about these statements. The law in Iowa is crystal clear: students who attend school in the state are entitled to register to vote in the state as long they are not registered anywhere else. The two parties’ rules say registered voters may participate in caucuses in the precincts where they are registered. Students have the same right to do so as any other Iowan. But statements challenging their right to vote may intimidate some students into staying home.

Obama Keeps Reaching Out to Students

Alex DeGolia — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:03:08 EST

Senator Obama wrote a guest editorial in today’s publication of The Daily Iowan, the University of Iowa student newspaper. The Senator doesn’t mince words, starting the piece by writing that “this is a defining moment for America and for your generation.”

It seems that many young potential caucusgoers agree with him, and are reacting by forming Students for Barack Obama groups at their schools, volunteering for the campaign in Iowa, or pledging to caucus for him on January 3rd. Asked why Senator Obama has such tremendous support in high schools and colleges in Iowa and throughout the country, Amina Kaner, a leader of Hoover high school’s SFBO in Des Moines, mused that it was not necessarily his policy positions or his youth:

I think most younger people are supporting him because of how much attention he’s paying to us.

UC Santa Cruz Students Canvass Reno

Alex DeGolia — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:56:32 EST

By guest blogger Pel Beyak

Here at UC Santa Cruz, we do things our own way. We chose the most un-intimidating mascot in the world, the banana slug, we put our campus in the woods, and we road trip for fundamental change in politics just because, well, we can!

The first thing we noticed was that someone turned the heat down in Reno, Nevada. Banana slugs might not be known for faring well in sleet and snow, but we were determined to canvas and head eastward, carrying iPods and yardsigns. Once we got there, we got our hands dirty, grassroots style.

We were eight strong, equipped with clipboards and name sheets, arranged lovingly by the extra-hard working Reno field organizers. At one point, I made the mistake of reminding them that they literally work more than half the hours that exist in a week. We went into the cold and the wind, but unlike the elements, the reception was overwhelmingly warm.

While many residents were undecided, they responded well to our energy and enthusiasm. We provided information about caucus protocols and listened while people vented their frustration about the current administration.

All in all, canvassing for Obama was a fulfilling and helpful experience. The full time staffers expressed their deep appreciation for us being there, which could easily be reason enough for us to go back again. Don't worry guys, we're clearing our schedules! See you in January for the caucus!

Student Rewind: Join the Parade

Alex DeGolia — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:21:57 EST

Michelle, Barack, and Oprah all on stage in front of a crowd of 29,000 in Columbia, S.C.

Oprah and Obama Draw Huge Crowd in S.C.: A student perspective

By Rashad Drakeford

I left Hampton, Virginia at 6pm Saturday night for Columbia, South Carolina with my fellow Hampton University students. We didn't know what to expect though we knew whatever it was would be special. By the time we left Columbia, South Carolina at 7pm the next day, we knew that we had experienced an historical event, live and in the flesh.

When we arrived Sunday morning, the line was already snaking around the stadium. We spent two hours before the start of the event passing out call sheets so people could phonebank right there in the stadium (a world record phonebank, as far as I know). We also passed out signs and helped people to their seats in the downright balmy 79 degree weather.

Finally, we joined the crowd of 29,000 people, all of whom seemed hungry to embrace someone who could lead this country in a better direction, someone who could unite the country, and someone who could restore America's image in the world. Oprah put the rally into perspective in saying, "I have found that one, Barack Obama!!" I too have found the one. It is the reason my classmates and I have traveled down the South Carolina two weeknds in a row to canvass and volunteer. And we are not alone. We met students from Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and on. It seems that they also have found the one, and from this point on we plan to make sure that America picks the one!!

University of Kansas students brave the snow to get people fired up

Campus Support

Students spent three hours out in the snow at the University of Kansas this week asking students to stop for a minute and make a call for Senator Obama. The four students shown and others convinced over 100 students to stop and make calls, while many others stopped just to chat about their favorite candidate.

Ben Cohen, one of the students shown, wrote this week in the University Daily Kansan about how the student political movement has caught fire at his school there. Senator Obama has been a major part of that movement, and Cohen describes how he felt at an Obama rally a few months ago:

Something occurred to me that night, as I stood among the throng of Obama supporters. The people I met up with at that last-minute rally were not just interested in a political candidate, they were excited. A generation that seemed like it was doomed to choose between apathy and cynicism has chosen something else altogether: Passion.

At the mock caucus

College Democrats hosted a mock caucus at American University on December 5th. 57 people attended, and 27 of them went for Obama. At the end of the caucus, Obama got 4 delegates while Clinton and Edwards each received two.

A young Obama supporter at a Christmas Parade in Murfreesboro, TN

By Zach Marshall

On an unseasonably warm December day, Middle Tennessee State University SFBO and Barack Obama supporters from across Middle Tennessee gathered to take part in the annual Murfreesboro Christmas Parade. Traveling down Main Street in an alternatively fueled automobile, area volunteers greeted hundreds of middle Tennesseans and their families and showed spectators what they want this Christmas - a President they can believe in!

California SFBO in Young Democrats Magazine

California SFBO recently helped California Young Democrats and California College Democrats in publishing their inaugural issue of “The Margin,” a magazine created for and by young California voters. The mutual collaboration only furthers the already strong relationship between Students for Barack Obama and the College Democrats of America. Natalie Rojas wrote a piece about her experience as California State Coordinator for SFBO, parts of which are below:

For those of us who dare to believe that we can create change, we throw ourselves into politics and hope that something or someone will validate the long hours of volunteering. This idea of hoping for something more is what has driven me to campaign for one of the top presidential candidates: Barack Obama. Not only is his message different, but the campaign itself is also very different, especially in organizing the youth vote.

Although I’ve given up sleep, a regular schedule, partying, going out with my friends several nights a week and countless other activities for this campaign, I’ve changed my life in the best way. I feel the invigoration that comes with knowing you’re in something that is creating real change…Obama for America unites, trains, and invests in its volunteers so that they can reach their full potential and have a real, tangible, direct impact on the future of our country.

In Other News…

Political Intelligence reported that a study done by the Institute of Politics at Harvard University shows Senator Obama leading all Democratic candidates among young voters. According to the study, 38 percent of all young voters support Obama, while that number jumps to 44 percent among college students.

Mike Connery wrote an interesting article this week for Future Majority profiling the ways that the Obama campaign and others are reaching out to students to ensure that they know what they need in order to caucus in Iowa.

For more student news every day, please visit students.barackobama.com.

SFBO Groups Canvass Carolina

Alex DeGolia — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:22:11 EST

By Moses Wilson III

Anyone involved in a political campaign understands that canvassing is one of the most important aspects of a grassroots movement. Students from Hampton University and Old Dominion University spent this weekend treading the streets of residential neighborhoods in South Carolina.

Edward Reed, Hampton University Campus Coordinator, SFBO said, "This weekend made me realize that this campaign is like no other, we can make an enormous difference if we all work together towards a common goal--and have fun at the same time."

A group of D.C. supporters trekked down and joined us in South Carolina for the day of canvassing. This diverse team of 14 strangers worked together to canvass in pairs of two, swarming local blocks. After a family welcome from the Columbia Staff, the team of volunteers shared messages of hope with Sumter area residents.

The fourteen of us managed to knock on over 400 doors and identify 280 voters.

Our canvass was intended to identify voters and raise awareness for the December 9, 2007 "Rally with Barack Obama and Ms. Oprah Winfrey". Abby Williams, Virginia SFBO State Coordinator, described a successful day of knocking on doors:

Senator Obama often talks about bringing people together for common solutions. I am proud that Virginia SFBO was able to make a difference in South Carolina and expand our Obama family.

The South Carolina Primary will be held on January 26, 2007.

To register to vote in South Carolina, click here.

Tis’ the Season, for fundraising!

Alex DeGolia — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 12:28:12 EST

By Kim Ahern

Students for Barack Obama is yet again on the cutting edge of campaign work for students everywhere. SFBO just recently launched a personal fundraising program created specifically for students, and it allows you to track your own personal fundraising.

Click here to create your own personalized page today!

Meredith Segal, Students for Barack Obma National Director, had this to say about why the new fundraising program is important:

“The holidays are the perfect time to take a step back and think about all that we have to be thankful for and what we can do to make our community, our nation, and our world a better place.”

For incentive even beyond helping to change our country, is that top student fundraisers will be profiled on the student blog (the one you’re reading)! Again, get started today by setting a goal and achieve it by telling your friends and family why this movement is one worth taking action for!

Canvassing Keene

Alex DeGolia — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:40:20 EST

By Sierra Gladfelter

As the days fly by before the primaries begin, things seem to become increasingly urgent. In towns all across New Hampshire, people like you and I are canvassing and building the momentum that Senator Obama will need come January. This past weekend, November 30 through December 2, my brother Bryce, friend Bri and I joined a group driving up to Keene, New Hampshire to canvass. Bri and I will be turning 18 just in time to cast our vote for the first time in the coming election. So we rented a van, reserved rooms at a Super 8 Motel, and headed north to spread Obama's message.

Early Saturday morning, we woke up and immediately began layering on sweaters for a day of canvassing in the chilly New England cold. Soon we headed to the Obama HQ here, tucked into an obscure nook of a strip mall. A large sign in the frozen parking lot directing us to the door with a message: "Obama for America; Ready to Go!"
The room we entered was awash with Obama enthusiasts. There were over 100 people here this weekend to canvass from all over. Obama pins were distributed and we adorned our jackets and hats with stickers.
Before heading out into the streets of Keene to Canvass we were given a brief training session.

I was a bit intimidated, having never canvassed before, but left the office feeling upbeat after an enthusiastic pep talk that felt a little like a rally. We talked about a campaign built from the bottom up by real, hearty and enthusiastic people who are willing to offer their time for a cause they believe in. One particularly lucid volunteer commented that "today in Keene, the heart of democracy is beating a little stronger!" In eruptions of applause and chants of "Fired up! Ready to Go!" we flooded out into the streets of Keene.

When no one came to the door, we would pull out flyers and tuck them under the door handles or in the festive wreaths hanging on the porch. With my frozen pen I scribbled "LL" for Left literature on my clipboard. We did leave a lot of literature, but the people we talked to were very open to talking with us about their political views. Quite a few braved the bitter wind in their housecoats to ask us why WE supported Senator Barack Obama, and were interested in the literature we offered them.
At the end of the day back at Headquarters, people were sprawled all across the floor or sitting on heaps of coats filling out post cards to the people they talked to during their canvassing runs. It was fun writing philosophical messages about how Obama speaks personally to each of us, offering something that no other candidate does. We took turns reading our post cards aloud with inflection and clapped for one another.

By the end of the weekend we had walked the streets; we had met the people. We had shared with them our concerns, and we had listened to theirs. We had made friends with people of all ages and backgrounds who came together to help elect a President who stands for the best of what Americans are capable of. We left feeling envigorated by the strength and energy of the this campaign and the community that it has already created.

Counting Down to Change in Boston

Alex DeGolia — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:15:13 EST

From Guest Blogger Max Chaiken, Brown University ’09:

On a cold Sunday evening in Providence, students from Brown's chapter of Students for Barack Obama gathered to walk down to the train station and hop the train to Boston to hear Senator Obama speak at Boston's Countdown to Change. At Plaza Castle excitement was in the air as a crowd of people representative of Senator Obama’s base of support—people of all ages, races, and backgrounds—gathered to hear the Senator speak. After a beautiful rendition of the national anthem and a message from three members of Boston's city council, Senator Obama was introduced by a volunteer working on her first political campaign.

Senator Obama’s reminded us that the "fierce urgency of now" means that it is time to get involved. And as hard as it can be to give our time during finals, the holidays, and this dreary time of year, the Senator is right: there is a such thing as being too late. So, we only have one choice: keep knocking on doors in Manchester; keep making phone calls; and keep hoping that in a few months, we'll have a Democratic nominee named Barack Obama.

To read more about the event, you can click here for an article from the Harvard Crimson, or here for one from Political Intelligence, the Boston Globe's campaign blog.

Iowa Community College Goes for Obama

Alex DeGolia — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 11:25:12 EST

Another mock caucus was held Wednesday at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington, Iowa. Over 100 people from the college and the community came out to practice caucusing and support their candidates of choice.

Senator Obama swept the democratic end of the mock caucus, winning more than three times the number of votes than any other candidate.

You can read the entire story here.

"The Judgment to Lead"

Alex DeGolia — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:44:27 EST

Today Senator Obama held a foreign policy forum to discuss why his leadership and judgement provide the United States the greatest opporunity to face the serious foreign policy issues that exist in the world today and address others that will be sure to emerge in our future. He was joined by numerous foreign policy experts including a former Secretary of the Navy and National Security Advisor whom all agree that Senator Obama is the best candidate to lead us forward:

Who is the inspirational leader who will bring us together rather than dividing us, who's going to make the U.S. a leader again on the world scene? I think it's pretty clear.

The answer, of course, is Barack Obama. Another panelist commented that Senator Obama "has a wonderful blend of confidence and humility," as well as "character, courage and unconventional wisdom -- and that is precisely what we need and why Barack Obama is the man for the moment."

If you would like more information regarding the foreign policy forum or to see video of the event, click here.

To read more about the event, click here.

In Case You Missed It: Senator Obama on Nightline

Alex DeGolia — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:05:12 EST

If you didn't see Nightline's "A Day on the Campaign Trail" last night profiling Senator Obama as he travels through Iowa, you can see it here.

Student Rewind

Alex DeGolia — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:22:29 EST

Obama Volunteers Hard at Work

A team of Obama supporters would not be deterred by the soporific effects of tryptophan over Thanksgiving break. These Colorado volunteers took time out of their break cozily confined together in a computer lab entering voter pledge sheets into our databases.

High School

Adam Scholl, recently named one of three national high school directors for the Obama Campaign, was profiled here last week. Regarding his experience working on the campaign, he said:

This is the most incredible experience I’ve ever been around. We’re the only high school campaign in the country, and you can really see how excited Barack makes young people.

Student Profile: Indra Sen

Indra Sen is a senior Truman Scholar at Georgetown University studying culture and politics. He began interning for the Obama campaign in Washington, D.C. last August, and he is currently a finance intern. His work varies, though most often his time is spent answering phones and processing financial contributions, as well as double-checking to ensure that the donors are not registered lobbyists. When asked what the everyday work environment is like, he could not conceal his enthusiasm:

I work in the Mid-Atlantic Finance and it's a great environment. The people I work with are extremely dynamic people with energizing personalities. Collectively, we have an eclectic musical taste, addiction to caffeine, and above-average knowledge of sports.

Beyond his usual tasks in the office, Indra has also had the opportunity to help organize Countdown to Change events, for which he has reached out to churches in the D.C. area, located student groups through Facebook, University websites, MySpace, and Flickr to encourage people to attend or volunteer for these low-dollar, student-friendly fundraisers. I asked him about his best experience working on the campaign, and he described one of these events and the historical salience of Senator Obama's campaign as a moment in which real, necessary change is possible:

At one of the countdown to change events, I saw a man bring three of his kids to the event. One was about eight years old, the other around 5, and one was a baby. He was pushing a carriage, carrying diapers--he looked quite occupied. But it seemed like he really wanted his kids to hear Obama speak. They probably could not understand or internalize what Senator Obama was saying, but this man wanted his kid to witness this historic moment. He held one of his kids on his shoulders--it was inspiring for me.

Indra said that Senator Obama provides daily inspiration and that he believes in him more and more each day:

I learned that as important policies are, sometimes the hope that a candidate brings to people, as well as their ability to unite different parties, may be even more important.

Obama Presents Education Plan

Alex DeGolia — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:22:04 EST

Today Senator Obama gave a rousing speech in Manchester, N.H. outlining his new education plan calling for more educational opportunities for students before they even get to kindergarten, more money for students who want to go to college but may not be able to afford it on their own, and more money for teachers, who provide the bedrock of American public education. Below are excerpts from the speech.

Education is now the currency of the Information Age. It’s no longer just a pathway to opportunity and success – it’s a pre-requisite. There simply aren’t as many jobs today that can support a family where only a high school degree is required. And if you don’t have that degree, there are even fewer jobs available that can keep you out of poverty.

In this kind of economy, countries who out-educate us today will out-compete us tomorrow.

You can read more about Senator Obama's Education Plan here.
After describing numerous shortcomings in our current educational system, Senator Obama said:

This kind of America is morally unacceptable for our children. It's economically untenable for our future. And it's not who we are as a country.

We are the nation that has always understood that our future is inextricably linked to the education of our children – all of them. We are the country that has always believed in Thomas Jefferson's declaration that "…talent and virtue, needed in a free society, should be educated regardless of wealth or birth."

Referencing the importance of good teachers and the imperative of providing those teachers with the resources needed to teach our children, Senator Obama said this:

I will make this pledge as President – if you commit your life to teaching, America will commit to paying for your college education.

I will also make sure that teachers have the conditions in which they can succeed – including excellent principals who support their work, the materials they need to teach effectively, and time to plan and collaborate with one another on improving instruction.

Finally, Senator Obama ended with these words:

While I know hopelessness, I also know hope.

We can make a difference in the lives of our children and the life of this country – not just in East L.A. or the south side of Chicago, but here in Manchester, and suburban Boston, and rural Mississippi.

The challenge we face at this moment is great, but we have met great challenges before. Over the course of two centuries, we have fought and struggled and overcome to expand the promise of a good education ever further – a promise that has allowed millions to transcend the barriers of race and class and background to achieve their God-given potential.

It is now our moment to keep that promise – the promise of America – alive in the 21st century. It’s our generation’s turn to stand up and say to the little girl in Chicago, or the little boy in Manchester, or the millions like them all across the country that they are not ‘these kids’ – they are our kids. They do not want to let us down, and we cannot let them down either. That’s what I’ll be fighting for in this election, and that’s what I’ll do as President of the United States.

There will be a more thorough analysis of the plan in a few days time.

Obama Sees Technology as a Tool for Growth and Transparency

Alex DeGolia — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:20:35 EST

Barack Obama traveled to Google Headquarters this week and met in a rather unconventional town hall to unveil an agenda for allowing new technology to help the American people. At the event, he described technology as an important mechanism for making political engagement easier for all Americans and thus improving government accountability, which has been so lackluster in this administration. Moreover, he advanced the belief that investment in technological innovation now will pay huge dividends in both our very near and more distant futures by helping achieve universal health care, improving energy efficiency, and providing strong economic opportunities for the next generations of American workers.

In the speech, he affirmed his full commitment and belief in the importance of net neutrality, noting that “the internet is perhaps the most open network in history” and that we cannot allow that to change. Net neutrality, which the Senator has strongly supported in proposed legislation as well as future presidential plans, involves preventing broadband discrimination between different providers, e.g. websites. This is extremely important for all of us who rely, for example, on media sources other than the largest and thus those most able to pay for larger bandwidth. Some of the sites that we as students have come to rely on, whether Facebook, Pitchfork, or others, may never have been able to get off the ground if bandwidth were regulated.

He called on his audience not to be content with the already-existing miracles of the Internet, but rather to continue to strive towards innovation and seek “the next Google.” Much of what makes stories like Google’s possible is the maintenance of a free playing field on which great ideas have the opportunity to succeed rather than be stymied by the interests of the status quo.

Regarding the ways that new technology can improve America’s democracy, the Senator offered these inspiring remarks:

Together, we could open up government and invite citizens in…I'll put government data online in universally accessible formats. I'll let citizens track federal grants, contracts, earmarks, and lobbyist contacts. I'll let you participate in government forums, ask questions in real time, offer suggestions that will be reviewed before decisions are made, and let you comment on legislation before it is signed.

To read more about Senator Obama's new technology agenda, click here.

Obama Sees Technology as a Tool for Growth and Transparency

Alex DeGolia — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:22:22 EST

Barack Obama traveled to Google Headquarters today and met in a rather unconventional town hall to unveil an agenda for allowing new technology to help the American people. At the event, he described technology as an important mechanism for making political engagement easier for all Americans and thus improving government accountability, which has been so lackluster in this administration. Moreover, he advanced the belief that investment in technological innovation now will pay huge dividends in both our very near and more distant futures by helping achieve universal health care, improving energy efficiency, and providing strong economic opportunities for the next generations of American workers.

In the speech, he affirmed his full commitment and belief in the importance of net neutrality, noting that “the internet is perhaps the most open network in history” and that we cannot allow that to change. Net neutrality, which the Senator has strongly supported in proposed legislation as well as future presidential plans, involves preventing broadband discrimination between different providers, e.g. websites. This is extremely important for all of us who rely, for example, on media sources other than the largest and thus most powerful.

Regarding the ways that new technology can improve America’s democracy, the Senator offered these inspiring remarks:

Together, we could open up government and invite citizens in…I'll put government data online in universally accessible formats. I'll let citizens track federal grants, contracts, earmarks, and lobbyist contacts. I'll let you participate in government forums, ask questions in real time, offer suggestions that will be reviewed before decisions are made, and let you comment on legislation before it is signed.

To read more about Senator Obama's new technology agenda, click here.

Reclaiming the American Dream

Alex DeGolia — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:59:04 EST

Below are pieces of a speech that Senator Obama gave on Wednesday, November 7 in Bettendorf, IA. The speech outlines Senator Obama's plan to help working families reclaim the American dream:

What is unique about America is that we want these dreams for more than ourselves – we want them for each other. That’s why we call it the American dream.

We’re tired of more Americans going without health care, of more Americans falling into poverty, of more American kids who have the brains and the drive to go to college – but can’t – because they can’t afford it. We’re ready for the Bush Administration to end, because we are sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Every American has the right to pursue their dreams. But we also have the responsibility to make sure that our children can reach a little further and rise a little higher than we did. When I am President, we will stop passing bills called No Child Left Behind that leave the money behind, and start making real investments in education. That means early childhood education. That means recruiting an army of new teachers, and paying them better, and supporting them more so they’re not just teaching to test, but teaching to teach.

It also means putting a college education within reach of every American. That’s the best investment we can make in our future. I’ll create a new and fully refundable tax credit worth $4,000 for tuition and fees every year, which will cover two-thirds of the tuition at the average public college or university. I’ll also simplify the financial aid application process so that we don’t have a million students who aren’t applying for aid because it’s too difficult. I will start by eliminating the current student aid form altogether – we’ll use tax data instead.

And I’ll tap the tremendous resource of community colleges, which educate half the undergraduates in this country, by creating a new Community College Partnership Program. We’ll help schools determine what skills and technical education are needed to help local industry; we’ll expand new degrees for emerging fields; and we’ll reward schools that graduate more students. That’s the change we need so that our young people can achieve their dreams.

This is what we must do to reclaim the American dream. We know it won’t be easy. We’ll hear from the can’t-do, won’t-do, won’t-even-try crowd in Washington; the special interests and their lobbyists; the conventional thinking that says this country is just too divided to make progress.

Well I’m not running for President to conform to this conventional thinking – I’m running to challenge it. There is too much at stake. Too much at stake for the family that can’t get ahead; the elderly worker who faces a retirement filled with worry; the kid who doesn’t believe America has a place for her dreams. To stand up for these Americans, I don’t want to settle for anything less than real change, fundamental change – change we need – change that we can believe in.

To read the entire speech, or to see a video of the speech, click here.

Get the Scoop08

Alex DeGolia — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:38:17 EST

Sunday marked exactly one year from the 2008 general election, and with it came the launch of Scoop08. As described on the front page of its website, Scoop08 does not begin with an agenda, but “with a request: Get involved.” It is a site for student journalism intended to represent the interests of young voters as they continue to become a larger age cohort, more involved and thus more politically influential.

Co-founder Alexander Heffner, a 17 year old high school student, told the BBC last week, “we noticed there was a void when it came to national, grassroots, student journalism that really could have an impact on issues of importance." They begin with over 20 members of the editorial board and ask students to either join the staff as regular columnists or simply write when they’d like. The project, which Heffner’s co-founder Andrew Mangino called “the first national student newspaper,” has over 300 student journalists in the U.S. and internationally already. As described on its website,

With its team from across the world, Scoop08 will focus its coverage on new and unusual beats — whether fashion or terrorism, the Constitution Party or Stephen Colbert — as well as all the national and global implications connected to the election.

More than that, Scoop08's launch marks the opening of a conversation between the reporter and the reader, an effort to engage all young Americans in the electoral process and to report on how and why this election is significant — to everyone.

Research from the University of Maryland’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement has found that the youngest voting cohorts continue to increase in size, as 4.3 million more under-30 voters came out in 2004 than did in 2000. Moreover, under-30 voters are expected to make up 25% of the electorate in 2008, up 4% from the 2006 mid-term elections, thus increasing youth influence in the 2008 elections to a level greater than it has ever been.

This all means that students matter more than ever, and the issues that we care about, which Scoop08 intends to address where other media has failed, will become the nation’s issues more than they ever have been in the past. So, as Scoop08 says, get involved.

At an Iowa Summit

Alex DeGolia — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:14:07 EST

Written by Sierra Gladfelter

Eric Newcomer, a senior at Central High School in Macon, GA had the
opportunity recently to attend a summit in Des Moines, Iowa to plan
for the upcoming months of Barack Obama's presidential campaign. The
event was by invitation only and open to all Students for Barack Obama
high school coordinators. Eight chapter coordinators attended along
with two national SFBO high school coordinators.

Eric, who first heard of Senator Obama when he saw 'The Speech' at the
Democratic National Convention in 2004, began supporting Obama towards
the end of his junior year. He went on to work for the campaign over
the summer in Nevada.

He is editor of the 2007-08 Telegraph teen board of Fresh Ink, "a
gathering place for Middle Georgia Teens," and you can find his
description of the experience at the summit on his blog:
Click Here for Blog

Debate Preview

Alex DeGolia — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:07:13 EDT

The Democratic candidates for president will engage in a two-hour debate tonight at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. It promises to be one of the most exciting debates thus far, as the campaign has definitely heated up in recent weeks. The movement of the Iowa Caucus to January 3rd means that it is just two months away.

It will be aired live on MSNBC at 9pm EST (6pm Pacific). It will also be available through live streaming video on MSNBC.com and rebroadcast by Telemundo in Spanish at 11:30pm. So check your local listings and tune in to watch Senator Obama showcase his oratorical prowess.

To check out the logistical side of setting up for the debate, see this article .

Stepping Up to the Plate for G.I. Benefits

Alex DeGolia — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 18:29:47 EDT

As reported by the Des Moines County Register last week, Barack Obama joined all of Iowa's members of Congress on both sides of the isle and others in demanding answers and action from the Bush administration and Defense Secretary Robert Gates for allowing the educational benefits guaranteed to returning soldiers from Iowa's 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry to slip through the cracks. Obama stated that the soldiers had done everything asked of them, and that "at a minimum, we owe them educational benefits that are accessible and commensurate with their noble service."

The mistake was particularly unfortunate because of the circumstances surrounding denial of benefits. These particular servicemen and women had served 17 months in Iraq, the longest continuous deployment of the war. That they were the ones to be denied benefits was, as Iowa Senator Tom Harkin said, "absurd". But that is exactly what happened.

The immediate concern is whether the 1,200 returning soldiers will be eligible for their G.I. Bill benefits in time for the spring semester. However, Senator Obama pondered the possibility that it may not be an isolated event, but that this type of administrative mistake happens with some amount of commonality. In a letter that Senator Obama wrote to Secretary Gates, he asked the administration to look at the problem broadly so as to prevent it from continuing to happen in the future and perhaps rectify similar problems that have occurred in the past.

A Letter from Iowa

Alex DeGolia — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:46:25 EDT

Kim Barker, a student at Iowa Central CC, recently sent this letter to The Messenger, the local paper of Fort Dodge, Iowa.

To the editor:

(Recently) in Fort Dodge, I participated in a canvass in support of Barack Obama’s bid for president. While I knocked on doors in my neighborhood to talk about Sen. Obama’s plan to end the war in Iraq and bring our troops safely home, thousands of other Americans did the same in cities across the nation. Before the canvassing, we spoke about Sen. Obama’s experience in bringing people together to make progress on big problems like health care, government reform and making education more affordable for students like me.

I believe Sen. Obama is exactly right in his belief that Americans need to come together to solve our problems, and this sentiment shows me that he is the only candidate for president who has the experience and vision to unify us to change our nation.

I carried Sen. Obama’s message of hope in what we can accomplish together to every door I knocked on Saturday, and I know from the people I spoke to that Barack does bring new hope to Iowans for creating the change in Washington that we deserve.

In Case you Missed It: Change in Jersey

Alex DeGolia — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:15:18 EDT

Senator Obama was in Newark, New Jersey for a Countdown to Change event on Monday, Oct. 22. It was another of the many low-dollar fundraisers that the Senator has made a trademark of his campaign throughout the country. The event, which only cost $15 for students, had strong student turnout in the crowd and among volunteers. The campaign has a lot of work to do in the state, and much of that work will fall on the shoulders of enthusiastic students, as it has in other parts of the country already.

To read more about the Countdown to Change event in Newark here are a few articles that covered the event: here, here.

To learn more about upcoming events throughout New Jersey and to get in touch with the newly established New Jersey Field Office, click here.

The High School Vote

Alex DeGolia — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 14:06:15 EDT

Barack Obama courts youth voters—including high school students who won't be eighteen until long after the caucuses and primaries end and the Democratic nominee has been selected. And the Obama campaign has built considerable infrastructure to target these youngest of voters.

The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that students and teachers in Iowa say they have been contacted by the Obama campaign more than any other candidate; the campaign invited seniors in Storm Lake on a field trip to see the Senator and a field organizer came to an American government class in Des Moines to talk about the candidate and American politics:

Craig Lyon, a Storm Lake social-studies teacher, says the field trip did more to interest his students in government than anything else that happened this semester.

The Obama campaign looks to the youngest voters as an essential constituency for Barack to succeed in Iowa and around the country. Each of the 31 Iowa field offices holds a weekly "Barackstar" night for teenagers to learn about the candidate, learn how to become involved, and receive campaign material to bring back to their schools. Students in Iowa are clearly excited by Barack's vibrancy and message of change. The goal going forward must be to continue to build the movement and encourage young voters to show their enthusiasm on caucus night, even if they won't be eighteen until 4 November 2008.

Introducing...Sierra Gladfelter

Alex DeGolia — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:40:58 EDT

We are excited to announce that we have another blogger joining the team. Sierra is a senior in high school from Pennsylvania:

As a teenager beginning to explore the world of politics, I am often appalled by the corruption that goes on among many of the men and women who lead our country. I watch as my peers give up on our government and drift away from politics altogether.

Last year, I was actively involved in my community's campaign to fight the spreading of improperly tested bio-solids in the fields surrounding our homes. This was my first experience with the ways that some are able to cripple democracy. Month after month the fight dragged on as the whole community continuously and ineffectually encouraged our town supervisors to act on our behalf. It was disturbing--what other purpose do our governmental leaders speak but to speak and act for the people they are supposed to represent?

For a long time I struggled with what I had experienced during and extended these feelings to the functioning of government generally. And then I read an article in Newsweek about Senator Barack Obama. He spoke of change not as rash revolution but as a natural progression when things are going wrong and people choose to sit down and listen to one another. I finished the article and ran to the library to get his book.

I was excited to discover someone strong in their beliefs, yet willing to adjust if discussion and reflection should shed new light on an issue. I am anxious for our country to cool down and start talking again. I believe we need leaders like Barack Obama, who have a bigger plan for politics than just partisanship and maintaining the status quo as well as their jobs. He ignited a spark of hope in me, and I am excited to participate in this election as a first time voter.

Breaking Down the Door

Alex DeGolia — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 13:10:08 EDT

Last Saturday, September 29, students in Rock Hill, South Carolina participated in the state's second Walk for Change of the campaign season. They canvassed door-to-door, risking annoyed or angry residents in order to spread our campaign's message of hope. Janelle Dunlap, a Winthrop University senior majoring in political science, said of the experience:

"I know how crazy it is knocking on random doors. I believe that this candidate can make a change, so risking a door slam is important."

The campaign has made door-to-door canvassing a priority precisely because this form of engagement allows for the kind of inclusive, bottom-up civic change that Barack Obama represents. It gives citizens the opportunity to spread Obama's message in a localized way between friends and neighbors within their own community.

Janelle joined with C.J. Murphy, another senior at Winthrop studying sociology, to knock on 100 doors. Asked about why it is so important, as a student, to be involved in the movement, C.J. replied,

"People our age are under the impression that our vote doesn't matter. From what I've seen, we're some of the loudest voices saying there needs to be change. We need to stand by our word."

This type of activism is not done simply to let people know that there is a movement going on—it is the movement.

NYC Rally Today 5pm

Alex DeGolia — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:56:37 EDT

Barack Obama will be heading back to his old stomping grounds later today to lead a much-anticipated rally in New York City. The event will be downtown in Washington Square Park, where large crowds are expected.

With the rally literally right next door to the NYU campus and promoted by SFBO groups throughout the area, the campaign continues to seek and obtain youth support, and students should be well represented among the crowd. Numerous students from NYU and other nearby high schools and universities plan to help the rally by volunteering in various ways including supporter signups, crowd control, and collecting tickets, among others.

You can RSVP here for a rapid-entry ticket and to see Barack speak briefly about the event. The rapid-entry ticket should provide easier access to the event but is not mandatory. The gates open at 5 p.m. and the rally should continue into the early evening.

Students Spend a Weekend on the Bay

Alex DeGolia — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:56:14 EDT

Last weekend, students from numerous colleges around the Bay Area spent their weekend as many of us often hope to—at a music festival packed with great artists. These students, however, were not there to listen to musicians, but to make their own voices heard.

A small group of students from UCSC, UC Berkeley, Stanford, and Evergreen Valley College spent their last Saturday and Sunday in the middle of San Francisco Bay, where they offered anyone entering the Treasure Island Music Festival campaign literature and good conversation. They spoke with people who were both enthusiastic about current political goings-on and Senator Obama, and those that were simply struck by curiosity. Andrea San Miguel described some particularly rewarding moments:

"When people were sitting to the side, probably waiting for a friend and just watching the group of us, and after a while came up and said 'Yeah, I'll take one' and sat and read the whole thing, as though our energy was creating an interest they wouldn't have had otherwise."

Andrea described the very source of such energy when asked by one particularly interested festivalgoer why she was voting for Senator Obama and not other Democratic frontrunners like Hillary Clinton or John Edwards. She replied,

"His life experience makes him a diplomat like our generation has never seen…everyone can find something about Obama that they personally connect with, so that most of the time even people who would never vote for him, at least respect him."

OSU Students Show Support

Alex DeGolia — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:20:39 EDT

In another example of the (in this instance, literally) overwhelming support our chapters are enjoying around the country, the Buckeyes for Obama at Ohio State University held a successful day of new signups yesterday. Michelle Dolgos writes about the response from students,

Today was the Student Involvement Fair at OSU and the Buckeyes for Obama were able to get a table at the event. I thought we had enough gear, but after the four hours was over, we were out of every button, rally sign, bumper sticker, and flyer that we had to offer. The response was overwhelming really. Being the slightly jaded 27 year old graduate student that I am, I knew we would sign up new members, but I wasn't really expecting that much. Boy was I wrong. We ended up signing up 329 new members of the OSU chapter of Students for Barack Obama in four hours! It really was an amazing experience to see so many young people so excited about Obama and ready to help bring about change! Thanks to everyone that helped at the table, and a special props to all the OSU students who took another step closer to change today!

Congratulations to Michelle and all the Buckeyes for Obama. Students for Barack Obama once again display an ability to encourage optimism and support for the kind of change that Senator Obama can bring to the nation. Keep it up!