HQ Update

Vote For Change Continues Nationwide

HQ Update — Fri, 30 May 2008 20:58:13 EDT

In the past week, voter registration drives nationwide were held as part of Vote for Change. William organized an event that met at Coffee Zone in Columbia, Missouri, before going out to the community to find unregistered voters.

"The best part was that Wendy Noren (left), our fantastic County Clerk in Boone County, gave a 30 minute presentation on voter registration here in Missouri," William said. "I think that was incredibly helpful."

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Lawrence organized a registration drive at the Atlanta Caribbean Festival. Twenty-five volunteers attended and registered 125 voters, and educated many more on voter rights and opportunities to help with voter registration efforts in the future.

"Everyone was excited and ready to do it again this Thursday at the Olympic Centennial Park Movie on the Green' Night and on Saturday in East Atlanta," said Lawrence.

A volunteer at the carnival named Kimberley explained: "It was a wonderful event. It was the first one for me and my husband, and we really enjoyed it. It felt really good to think that we will have an impact."

This weekend, supporters across the country are working to build on Lawerence, William, and Kimberley's success. Here are some events of the many events taking place tomorrow:

In Pittsburgh, PA, Barack supporters will meet up at the Trinity Greek Church at noon to register voters at the Greek Food Festival.
In West Palm Beach, FL, supporters will be registering voters downtown at CityPlace as part of an ongoing series of voter registration drives.
Down in Marietta, GA, supporters will be throwing strikes and registering voters at Brunswick Zone Bowling.
An Atlanta voter registration drive is scheduled to start tomorrow at 10:30am in Midtown.
In Virginia, supporters will be registering voters around Centreville. Shifts will begin tomorrow at 10am and Sunday at noon.
In St. Louis, MO, supporters are meeting outside of Vintage Vinyl at 11am, before spreading out around Delmar to register voters.
Supporters will be registering new voters at the Market Pavilion in Little Rock, AR starting at 1pm.
Out west in Prescott, AZ, supporters have planned four hours of fun in the mile-high sun. They'll be meeting up tomorrow at 10am outside of Wal-Mart.
And in Orange, CA, supporters are meeting at 9am at Orange Circle at Glassell & Chapman before heading out to register voters.

If you're free and near one of these areas tomorrow, come join in! No matter where you are, you can search for events in your own community or even hold your own voter registration drive by signing up online.

Vote For Change: Stories from Last Weekend

HQ Update — Wed, 21 May 2008 22:24:54 EDT

This past weekend, Barack Obama supporters continued the work of registering voters as part of Vote for Change, a nationwide voter registration drive that will last through the November 4th general election.

On Saturday, Angelica set up a booth at the Asian Heritage Street Fair in San Francisco. "The highlight was the great number of volunteers of diverse backgrounds who came out to share their enthusiasm," Angelica said. "I really thought it was important for our campaign to be out in full force to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with the Bay Area."

One experience particularly stuck with Angelica:

Larry and Sumie have been eligible to vote for some 40 years, but Larry told me that he's never felt like it was important until now. 'The reason is because of Senator Obama,' he told me. Larry is from Hawaii and truly believes that Barack is a once-in-a-lifetime leader. He signed up to volunteer, and after we spoke, he came back to the booth later in the day to tell me that he was sending more people our way.

At the Pennington Day Community Celebration in Pennington, NJ, volunteers handed out about a dozen forms -- and perhaps more impressively, signed up seventy new volunteers. Catherine, one of the volunteers, recounted her experience.

Making eye contact, smiling, saying hello, being enthusiastic, and offering people campaign "button" stickers were all we needed to do to get people to come up to our table, engage in conversation, and sign up to help out with the campaign. We offered stickers to everyone interested, regardless of age. If a family came up, all members went away with stickers. One mother told me that her young daughter became an Obama supporter when she heard that he reads to his daughters. A few stickers ended up adorning the foreheads of family dogs that had been brought along for the dog show.
A number of Obama supporters thanked us for being there. And even a few people whose demeanor clearly indicated that they weren't supporters nonetheless cracked a smile.

Ed joined three other volunteers at the Lilac Festival in Rochester, New York. Despite torrential rain that cut the registration event to under two hours, the team of four still found success:

I was able to have some interesting dialogue with individuals who were not registered and not interested in voting. I found some success in explaining to them that they did not have to vote if they registered. Being registered would just allow them the opportunity to vote should they want the option at some future date. We received a great many "thank you's," both from registered and unregistered voters.
All in all, I think it was a rewarding experience for those who participated. I have set up another Voter Registration Event for next weekend at our town's Memorial Day Services.
The final results from the festival: 44 new voter registrations and 25 people who took forms for a family member or friend who needed to register.

Lisa set up at the Farmer's Market in Hercules, CA. She found that organizing the event was easier, more rewarding, and even more fruitful than expected:

When we had more volunteers than people who were being registered, a few went off to a local Starbucks and came back with the registration cards. I learned that The Farmer's Market was a better venue than I had even anticipated. It was a severely hot day, but we still did well in registering people (double what we registered at our assigned spot on the kickoff weekend). We're hoping to build off this success and even have a table at our big 4th of July event here.

Join this nationwide grassroots movement for change. Find a voter registration event near you, or create your own.

A Family for Barack

HQ Update — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:45:32 EDT

Their backgrounds are diverse: most are Catholic, but not all; some have not gone to college, while some have Masters degrees; they range in age from eight to 65; and they live all across the country.

But what this family has in common is its support for Barack Obama. So when the family got together in Paducah for Arlene's in-laws' 70th anniversary, it was only natural that they spent their time making calls for Barack.

Arlene (behind couch, center) lives in Murray, Kentucky, the county seat of Calloway County in Western Kentucky. She was born in Michigan, but lives in Kentucky and will vote for Barack tomorrow.

Jesus and Tiffany (on couch, left and middle) live in Illinois, and took their daughters Amarantha and Samantha with them canvassing in Northwest Indiana before the Indiana primary. Jo Ann (on couch, right) and her son Ben support Barack from Bradenton, Florida. Kristi and Mike (behind couch, left) support and vote for Obama in Indiana, while another Mike (behind couch, right) does so from Michigan. And Katy and John support Barack from Nampa, Idaho.

Arlene explains: "Barack Obama is not just the best candidate for Mid-Americans but for All Americans." And volunteering their time to convince their neighbors of this has brought the family even closer together.

This family has come together to support Barack, and they're not alone. Across the country, families, friends, and perfect strangers have come together, in person and online, to work together for change.

There's still time tonight to make calls to Kentucky and Oregon before tomorrow's primaries. The Kentucky calling campaign runs until 9:00 PM EDT, and the Oregon calling campaign runs until 9:00 PM PDT.

Canvass Today in Oregon

HQ Update — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:40:34 EDT

Across the state, Oregonians have organized canvassing efforts leading up to tomorrow's primary. Follow the links below for details about how to join a meeting near you.

Let's get out the vote! Yes, we can!

Kentucky 'Grandmama for Obama'

HQ Update — Sun, 18 May 2008 14:49:44 EDT

Mary won't take no for an answer.

One of the many ways Mary helps the Obama campaign is by calling ministers in Kentucky and encouraging them to endorse Barack. When one hung up on her, she called right back and told him she had to go see him. She headed over, and by the end of the meeting not only had landed his endorsement, but had him telling his congregation on Sunday how important it was for them to vote for Barack.

A self-proclaimed "grandmama for Obama," Mary was called three weeks ago by another volunteer in the campaign and asked to volunteer. She immediately agreed, and has since become a tireless volunteer and a precinct leader in Louisville. Perhaps what's most remarkable is that Mary hasn't always been involved in the political process: at the age of 59, she's a first-time voter.

"I felt [politicians] couldn't touch me," Mary explains. "But something about Barack Obama inspires me. He explains things to me and works for me. He's the real deal."

Besides going to churches and calling ministers, Mary canvasses, recruits volunteers, and makes phone calls: on her day off this week from her part-time job working in child counseling, she made 92 phone calls.

Mary wishes she could help even more. "I love it! I wish I could do it all day, every day," Mary says. "I think he's wonderful and special." She says there is nothing like "seeing everyone so excited and enthused."

We don't all have the energy of this extraordinary grandma, but we can all help in our own way. For the next three days, local volunteers like Mary will be going door to door to help Get Out the Vote throughout Kentucky. No matter where you are, you can help right now by making calls to undecided voters in Kentucky. The Kentucky calling campaign runs until 9:00 PM EDT tonight.

Kentucky Volunteer: Renee in Louisville

HQ Update — Sat, 17 May 2008 15:26:55 EDT

What makes the Obama campaign so special are the immeasurable contributions of its thousands of volunteers all across America. At the Louisville, Kentucky office, Renee is a perfect example.

“I started out slowly: buying a t-shirt, making my first donation ever to a political campaign, calling voters from the early primary states,” Renee says. “However, I wasn't satisfied. I was consumed by the ‘fierce urgency of now,’ and realized I needed to do everything within my circle of influence to enable Barack Obama to become our next president. I knew I couldn't live with the regrets of ‘what if I had done more, talked with just one more person.’”

Since then, Renee has been unstoppable. Renee holds weekly volunteer training meetings at the Derby City Espresso Coffee and Beer Bar, coordinates volunteers for Derby voter registration and visibility projects, and works the field herself to register voters. Her work has been invaluable in getting volunteers prepared to help the campaign and getting voters to the polls.

Renee’s work online has also been extremely important for the campaign. Under her direction, the online Louisville for Obama group has grown from 250 members to nearly 550 members. She emails each person individually when they join the group, thanking them for joining the group and inviting them to participate in local volunteer activities.

The amount that Renee has given to the campaign is matched only by the satisfaction she’s gained from her volunteer efforts. “I've met the most incredible people, each with their own special talents and gifts, and each asking how they can make a difference,” Renee says. “They speak of how to assist the Obama campaign, but also of how we can give back to our community. I've heard the most amazing discussions of how we need to work together, the realities of race in this country, the sense of hope for a better future for our children.”

Right now, volunteers like Renee are working all across Kentucky to Get Out the Vote for Tuesday's primary. If you live Kentucky, you can sign up now to help, and no matter where you are you can help by making phone calls to undecided Kentucky voters.

Vote for Change: Asian Heritage Street Fair in San Francisco, CA

HQ Update — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:55:54 EDT

It’s expected that 100,000 people will attend the fourth annual Asian Heritage Street Fair in San Francisco. As part of the Vote for Change nationwide voter registration drive, a group of grassroots volunteers from Asian Americans for Obama and South Asians for Obama have raised money to host an Obama booth to register voters, pass out Obama stickers, and share information about Barack.

The effort is being led by an extraordinary Obama supporter named Angelica. As part of the kick off for Vote for Change last Saturday, Angelica led a group of 124 volunteers in registering 273 voters, not to mention the countless other registration forms that volunteers handed out. The motivation for her dedication for Barack is simple.

After eight years of failed policies, I’m hungry for a leader that I can be proud to call my president. I could not be more certain that Barack Obama is that leader, a responsible steward for the future of my niece and nephews—and my own children one day. And I look forward to telling them and whoever else will listen that I—a woman of color, a daughter of Filipino immigrants, a young and hopeful civil rights lawyer—helped turn the pages of history to make an Obama presidency happen now.

If you’ll be around the San Francisco Bay Area tomorrow, you can join Angelica and help register voters. And no matter where you are, you can find a voter registration event near you.

Vote for Change: Fairs, Festivals, Fun Fests

HQ Update — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:56:56 EDT

Tomorrow, local volunteers will help to register voters at fairs, festivals, and fun fests as part of our national voter registration drive, Vote for Change.

Liz will register voters at Pennington Day, the annual street fair in downtown Pennington, NJ. She posted the event on my.barackobama.com a few days ago, and already has more volunteers than chairs at the booth. Liz is extremely excited to observe and be a part of a fundamental change in the political landscape of her hometown. As Liz explains:

Hopewell Valley, where Pennington is located, is a beautiful part of New Jersey. There's still lots of farmland there, and a feeling of an old fashioned small town. It used to be heavily Republican, but sentiments have changed due to the war in Iraq and the faltering economy. Obama carried both Pennington and Hopewell by big margins in the Feb. 5 primary, and we're optimistic that Obama will win big here in November as well... especially with all the new voters we'll be registering on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Ed, a retired teacher, has organized a small group of volunteers who will comb for voters at the Lilac Festival in Rochester, NY. Like so many volunteers, Ed has been inspired by Obama's grassroots campaign.

Knowing little or nothing of Barack Obama and never having been active with any campaign, I picked up a copy Dreams of My Father. I was immediately intrigued by this man and his personal story.
I went to his website and found a semi-local group that was organized and campaigning for the NY primaries. I made a few calls with the group and decided I could do the same thing in my own county. When the NY primaries were over I knew I needed to continue doing something to promote Obama.

Last weekend I was involved in a voter registration kick-off event in Rochester, NY. The next step will be to set-up a few weekends in my own county and see what we can accomplish between now and the November elections.

Robyn, a grassroots supporter in Florida, is quick to point out that you don't need to wait for a large local gathering to register voters. Robyn will be registering voters tomorrow at the Foster Park Fun Fest in Hallandale. But she's also planning a "Barack The Vote Beach Drive" in June. "We have found that our beaches are a gold mine for younger voters," Robyn said.

Get involved. Find an event in your community. And if you'd don't find one, you can take initiative and create your own.

Kentucky Blue Grassroots

HQ Update — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:32:01 EDT

What makes the Obama campaign so extraordinary is the unprecedented groundswell of grassroots support across every state in America. In particular, things have really begun to kick into gear in Kentucky. We now have over a dozen offices, in addition to grassroots groups throughout the state.

Check out pictures from the openings of the Covington and Paducah offices:

There's still an incredible amount of work to do leading up to the Kentucky primary on May 20. We need your help. Stop by or call your local headquarters to find out the best way for you to get involved. Make phone calls from your home. Sign up for news and information about the campaign. And if you're ready to take an even bigger step, sign up to become a precinct leader and lead the way for Obama in your neighborhood. Together, we can make a difference.

Obama Speaks in Louisville

HQ Update — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:46:06 EDT

Yesterday, Barack made his first campaign stop in the Bluegrass state at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville. He spoke in front of a raucous crowd of 8,000 people.

Check out some pictures from the event.

From the Courier-Journal:

In Sen. Barack Obama's first Kentucky campaign appearance of the year, he preached his message of change last night to a huge and enthusiastic crowd.
Change from President Bush's economic policies. Change from his foreign policies.
Change that will come about, he said, only if Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, is defeated in November.
"Understand that John McCain is running for George Bush's third term," Obama told the crowd during a rally at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, a week before the state's May 20 primary.
...So enthusiastic was the crowd that at times Obama could hardly be heard as he repeatedly criticized the Bush administration for high gas prices, rising education costs and a lower standard of living.
He ripped into McCain for saying that Bush's economic policies are making great progress.
"Now, I don't know who he's talking to," Obama said. "He's not talking to the people at the Ford plant."
The Obama campaign said 8,000 people crammed into the convention center last night and 2,000 more had to be turned away. The line to get in snaked around the center and about half a dozen blocks down Jefferson Street.
Twice during Obama's 40-minute speech he had to call for emergency personnel to tend to people who became ill while standing in the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd. Once, he tossed a water bottle into the crowd to help someone overcome by heat.
Before he took the stage, U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-6th District, gave a stemwinder in which he shouted to the crowd, "What do you want?"
They replied with one word: "Change."
Said Chandler: "I am thoroughly convinced that Barack Obama will be president of the United States because I know I endorsed a winner."
...He panned McCain's plan for a three-month "holiday" from the federal gas tax -- an idea also endorsed by Clinton -- saying it would save the average person just $28. Instead, he promised to cut middle-class taxes by $1,000 per family and pay for it by closing corporate tax loopholes and imposing a windfall profits tax on oil companies.
...[H]e criticized an atmosphere that he said lets corporate leaders earn many times what middle-class workers make, then reap large severance packages when the company goes under or moves jobs overseas.
He called for changing bankruptcy laws that allow failing companies to shirk their responsibility to make good on pensions.
And he promised to reform the nation's health-care system by the end of his first term.
Julie Johnson of Louisville said she was thrilled with Obama's message. "I'm ready for some change," she said. "My son has been to Iraq four times, and I'm ready for it to end."

Join the movement. Help get out the vote and make some phone calls from home. And if you're ready to take a big step, become a precinct leader.

Obama Campaign Unveils "Real Leadership for Rural South Dakota" Policy Agenda

HQ Update — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:26:42 EDT

SIOUX FALLS, SD – South Dakota rural leaders said today that Barack Obama is the best leader to increase economic opportunities and improve the quality of life for rural Americans. In a conference call with reporters, members of Obama's Rural Leadership Committee outlined the policies that Obama will advance to grow our rural economy and stand up for family farmers.

"When Barack Obama set out to put together a rural agenda, he didn't do it by meeting with lobbyists in Washington. He did it by talking to people all across rural America, by asking us about our concerns and listening to our ideas – and it shows." said former South Dakota Farmers Union President and Rural Community Innovations founder Dennis Wiese. "His plan is exactly what we need to jumpstart our economy and reclaim our quality of life here in rural South Dakota."

As a Senator from a rural, Midwestern state, Obama has worked to ensure rural America's prosperity and vitality. As President, he will help family farms and rural small businesses find profitability in the marketplace and success in the global economy. He will:

· Ensure Economic Opportunity for Family Farmers and Ranchers

· Promote Rural America's Leadership in Developing Renewable Energy

· Support Rural Economic Development

· Improve Rural Quality of Life

· Protect the Rights of Sportsmen

"For too long the voices of hard working family farmers and ranchers in South Dakota and across the country have been drowned out by the special interests in Washington. As a Senator from a rural state, Barack Obama has a proven track record of making real change for rural American families. As President, we can trust him to take on the special interests, stand up for rural Americans, and put forth an agenda that will grow our rural economy," said Dallas Tonsager, who served as the U.S. Department of Agriculture's South Dakota State Director for Rural Development during the Clinton Administration and is formerly President of the South Dakota Farmers' Union.

Some specific policies outlined in Obama's rural leadership plan include:

· Making disaster assistance permanent so that farmers do not have to rely on the whims of Congress to get assistance.

· Ensuring rural populations have access to affordable health care and helping rural hospitals recruit physicians and nurses in order to keep their doors open as well as expanding community clinics and investing in health information technology and telemedicine.

· Providing incentives for talented individuals to enter the teaching profession, including increased pay for teachers who work in rural areas.

· Encouraging rural areas' leadership in renewable energy such as biofuels and wind energy by requiring 25 percent of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025.

· Immediately implementing the Country of Origin Labeling law, to allow consumers to know where their food comes from and American farmers to distinguish their products.

· Improving rural water and sewer systems.

Obama Opposes Punishment of the Cherokee Nation

HQ Update — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:59:42 EDT

From The Hill:

Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, has weighed in against legislation proposed by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) that would punish the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.
CBC lawmakers have proposed a number of provisions this year that would cut off federal funding to the tribe because of its decision in March 2007 to remove the Freedmen — descendants of freed slaves once owned by tribe members — from Cherokee membership.
But Obama disagrees with those measures. In a statement to The Hill provided by his Senate office, the Illinois Democrat said that although he opposes unwarranted tribal disenrollment, Capitol Hill should not get involved.
“Discrimination anywhere is intolerable, but the Cherokee are dealing with this issue in both tribal and federal courts . . . I do not support efforts to undermine these legal processes and impose a congressional solution,” said Obama. “Tribes have a right to be self-governing and we need to respect that, even if we disagree, which I do in this case. We must have restraint in asserting federal power in such circumstances.”

Derby Week Recap

HQ Update — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:41:30 EDT

From Thursday to Saturday, Obama supporters stormed Churchill Downs with clipboards, signs, and stickers. An influx of Kentucky staff and volunteers successfully signed up hundreds of volunteers and supporters and energized Kentuckians about Barack.

We still need more help. Help us get out the vote.

Check out some photos below, including several with Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear. More to come soon!

Help Barack Win in Oregon

HQ Update — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:08:07 EDT

After tonight, all eyes will turn to Oregon.

The North Carolina and Indiana primaries are being held today, but it's the next few weeks that could decide this election. The primary in Oregon is one of the biggest remaining contests and an important chance to show that our movement is going strong from coast to coast.

This weekend, seasoned veterans and first-time volunteers alike are traveling to neighborhoods all across Oregon, talking to voters about why they support Barack. This is our last, best chance to make a difference for Barack in the Pacific Northwest -- will you come lend a hand?

Sign up to come to Oregon this weekend and go door-to-door for Barack:

http://or.barackobama.com/CometoOR

Because of the way Oregon's vote-by-mail primary works, you can have an especially big impact when you come talk to folks in person.

In Oregon, not a single vote is actually cast in a voting booth on Primary Day. Instead, everyone has been sent a ballot in the mail, and they have until May 20th to make their choices and return their ballots.

Eligible voters already have their ballots in hand, and most people will return them in the coming days.

That means every single person you contact this weekend could be another vote for Barack. And you'll feel the impact of your work immediately as the folks you talk to mail in their ballots right away.

Thousands of supporters like you from nearby states have come to Oregon in the past few weeks and had a powerful impact on voters here. But with only two weeks before ballots are due, your help is needed more than ever.

Even if you never thought you'd get involved in politics in your lifetime, you'll be able to make a difference just by spending a day or two in Oregon this weekend:

http://or.barackobama.com/CometoOR

After more than 40 contests, we've won more votes, more delegates and twice as many contests as Senator Clinton because people like you have taken ownership of the largest grassroots campaign our country has ever seen.

I hope you'll join us in Oregon to keep this momentum going.

Thanks for all your support,

Jack

Jack Shapiro
Oregon Field Director
Obama for America

Attend a South Dakota Watch Party Tomorrow!

HQ Update — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:51:15 EDT

Tomorrow, the eyes of the country will be watching the outcome of the crucial Indiana and North Carolina primaries.

But here in South Dakota, we'll be watching for a different reason.

After tomorrow, there are only 6 contests left in this election -- and with just four weeks to go before the June 3rd primary here, we need to be organized.

Tuesday evening, all across the state, supporters are coming together to watch the May 6th primary results come in. These Watch Parties are a perfect opportunity to organize before the spotlight turns to South Dakota, so it's crucial that as many people as possible attend.

There are Watch Parties all across the state, so find the one near you and come join in the excitement.

What happens tomorrow will set the stage for the remainder of this campaign.

And as one of the final 6 states to vote, South Dakota is playing an increasingly vital role.

In the coming weeks, we'll have the chance to show that our movement is strong all across the country -- and secure some of the last available delegates for Barack.

That's why I hope we can count on you to join us at a Watch Party tomorrow -- we'll discuss ways to get organized in South Dakota, and you'll learn how you can be effective in spreading the word for Barack in your community.

Hope to see you tomorrow,

Nathan

Nathan Peterson
South Dakota State Director
Obama for America

'Minnehaha County Reaches 100,000 Voters'

HQ Update — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:41:51 EDT

Congratulations to Minnehaha County, which recently reached 100,000 registered voters. The milestone was reached in large part due to the excitement surrounding the Democratic primary on June 3. If you're from South Dakota, you have until May 19 to register to vote (or change your political party) or to register and vote early all at once.

From the Yankton Press & Dakotan:

Minnehaha County Reaches 100,000 Voters
The number of active registered voters in Minnehaha County now exceeds 100,000, giving South Dakota's most populous county nearly 20 percent of the state's active registered voters.
A report posted on the secretary of state's WEB site Thursday showed that South Dakota has 504,327 active registered voters, and 100,596 of them are in Minnehaha County.
Republicans make up 46.8 percent of South Dakota's registered voters, while Democrats account for 37.6 percent. Independents make up 15.2 percent of registered voters, and the others are members of minor parties.
Democrats have gained more voters than Republicans have recently, most likely because South Dakota's June 3 primary could play a role in the closely contested race between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.
In the past two years, Democrats have gained 3,857 registered voters, while Republicans have gained 2,779. Independents have gained 7,760, which is more than half the total 15,046 increase in registered voters.
In addition to the 504,327 active voters, South Dakota has nearly 47,000 inactive voters, defined as those who have not voted in the past four years or have not updated their registration information or responded to mailings in that time.
State Election Supervisor Kea Warne said May 19 is the last day to register for the June primary. Registration forms must be presented to county auditors' offices or other offices designated to handle the forms by 5 p.m. on May 19, she said.

South Dakota and the Gas Tax Holiday

HQ Update — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:32:10 EDT

Barack Obama has the courage to oppose the "Summer Gas Tax Holiday." Such a tax could particularly hurt the state of South Dakota: federal money typically pays for 75% of highway construction in the state.

Check out Barack's recent commercial on the truth about gas prices.

From KX News:

The campaigns of the two Democrats vying for delegates in South Dakota's June 3 presidential primary sparred today over the worth of a summer vacation from the 18.4-cent-a-gallon federal gas tax.
Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton favors suspending the federal gas tax for three months this summer.
Her rival, Barack Obama, has called it a gimmick.
An Obama supporter, state Senator Alan Hoereth (HARTH) of Aberdeen, says federal trust funds to South Dakota could drop 28 percent from a gas tax holiday.
Another Obama backer, Federico Pena, who was Transportation and Energy secretary in the Bill Clinton presidency, says the federal gas tax amounts to about 30 cents a day for the average driver. He says if the gas tax is dropped, consumption and demand will rise as will oil prices.

If you support real change rather than gimmicks, you can sign up for news and information from South Dakota.

Meet Shari from Tualatin, Oregon

HQ Update — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:10:47 EDT

We're rapidly approaching our goal of 1,500,000 donors to the Obama campaign. Meet Shari from Tualatin, Oregon, one of the million and a half. Like many donors to the campaign, Shari had never before contributed to a national campaign, but she knew Barack was special.

"I learned about Barack Obama from Time Magazine [in October 2006]," Shari says. "Immediately following that article, I bought The Audacity of Hope, finished it right after Christmas, then made my first campaign contribution to his 'Presidential Exploratory Committee' in January 2007. I've been committed to seeing him become President ever since."

For the last twenty-five years, Shari has worked for a foundation that raises money to pay for those who cannot afford health care. As someone who understands the needs of struggling families, Shari believes Barack's Health Care plan will best help to alleviate the problems with health care costs that Americans face. "For the sake of the country," Shari says jokingly, "I hope Barack Obama can put me out of a job."

Aside from health care, some of the issues most important to Shari include keeping jobs in America and ending the war in Iraq. But perhaps more importantly, Shari believes that a man of great integrity is necessary to regain respect from the rest of the world and to serve as a true role model for her five year-old son, DL.

Join Shari and donate to the campaign. If you're from Oregon, help out by becoming a community organizer, and be sure to vote on May 20. Together, we can end the politics of old -- ran by corporations, special interests, and those of privilege -- and usher in a new era in Washington, where all of our voices matter.

'Guam Will Be Heard'

HQ Update — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:54:14 EDT

Growing up in Hawaii, Barack Obama understands firsthand the unique concerns of the Pacific Islanders. As president, he will make sure these issues are addressed with the full commitment of the federal government. Obama has built a record in the U.S. Senate of support for Pacific Islanders – from advocating for Guam War claims to addressing the health care challenges that face Pacific Island communities, to recognizing the status of Native Hawaiians. Obama recognizes the U.S. has a special relationship with Guam and the Chamorro people.

You can look up your local polling site online, and be sure to vote this Saturday, May 3. And you can sign up now for news and information about the upcoming caucus.

From the Pacific Daily News:

Obama: Guam will be heard: Candidate says he'll re-examine Medicaid cap, prioritize veterans
Health-care reform, including a re-examination of spending caps on Medicaid funding for Guam and other territories, will be priorities during the first year of the Barack Obama administration, the Democratic presidential candidate said during a phone interview yesterday with the Pacific Daily News.
...Obama yesterday morning said Medicaid spending caps for the territories are unfair. Guam's annual cap on federal Medicaid funding is $5.4 million, according to Pacific Daily News files, but the local government spends an additional $25 million for Medicaid patients.
"We've got to make sure that our Medicaid spending, generally, is designed more effectively, so that we can save money, waste less, and that way we can make sure that Guam and the territories are adequately funded," Obama said.
Guam residents with no health insurance or not enough insurance also will benefit from his health-care plan, he said.
"We're going to set up a system of universal health care, and people will be able to either keep the insurance they have or they can buy into an insurance plan similar to the plan I have as a member of Congress -- be part of a pool -- and we'll subsidize those who can't afford it," Obama said. "We also recognize, though, that we have to have more providers on the island of Guam, and that's something that I would work with local officials to help implement."
...Obama said Guam will have access to top federal decision-makers during his administration -- interagency meetings between Guam and cabinet officials will continue -- and the island's concerns about the military buildup here will be heard.
The military plans to transfer 8,000 U.S. Marines and their dependents from Okinawa to Guam by 2014, to a new Marine Corps base that will be built in Dededo. A new Army base also has been proposed, in Barrigada, to provide missile defense for the island. There also are plans to beef up the existing Navy and Air Force presence.
The additional military spending is expected to benefit the local economy, but there also are concerns about the effect on local infrastructure.
"I understand the genuine concerns many people have about the military buildup, and under my administration the voices of the people of Guam will be heard, their needs considered as part of any increased military investment," he said. "Social, cultural concerns, environmental concerns have to be taken into account, and I think it's also important that any military buildup benefits the economic development of Guam, and that we are looking at ways that it creates jobs for local residents and business opportunities for local residents."
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"Kentucky Matters"

HQ Update — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:39:38 EDT

On May 20, Kentuckians have the opportunity to make a difference in the 2008 election. Help Barack by becoming a Precinct Leader in Kentucky, or simply signing up for updates.

From the Fort Mill Times:

Observers say Ky. could matter in presidential race
For Kentuckians, especially around Kentucky Derby time, the only thing better than a good horse race is two.
They've got just that with the Kentucky Derby on Saturday followed shortly later by a race of a different sort - the neck-and-neck scramble for the Democratic presidential nomination between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
"They're always enthusiastic about the Kentucky Derby, but this is the first time in a long time that Kentucky could play a significant role in the presidential race," said Kendra Stewart, a political scientist at Eastern Kentucky University.
Traditionally, because its primary falls late in the cycle, Kentucky has fallen to the back of the pack when it comes to the national presidential scene. But this year, as one of the last states holding a primary, Kentucky is finding itself increasingly in the spotlight.
What in the past has rendered Kentucky voters essentially voiceless in picking the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees could this year become a blessing in the campaign's final stretch. At least for Democrats.
Not since 1988 has Kentucky had much of a voice in choosing a presidential nominee. That's the year the state joined with others in the South for a Super Tuesday vote.
While other states rushed to hold early primaries this year, Kentucky election officials chose to keep the traditional May balloting, saying that doing so could strengthen the state's political muscle in a tight race. Maybe it has.
Kentucky's primary is May 20.
...Jennifer Moore, chairwoman of the Kentucky Democratic party and a superdelegate, predicted there would be a higher turnout than usual in this year's primary. And, more people [in] Kentucky seem to be getting enthusiastic about the presidential race, Moore said.
"We're one of the last primaries and that is going to [be] a significant factor in who becomes the Democratic nominee," Moore said. "And Kentuckians have the opportunity to make their voices heard loud and clear on May 20."