Michael Negron's Blog

We Are The Ones Project Hits Utah

Michael Negron — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:23:58 EDT

A message from Utah State Director Suzanne Gelderman:

Rachel and Rob are traveling across the country creating a photographic essay of grassroots Obama supporters called "We Are The Ones Project". They came to Utah Obama for America headquarters on September 1, 2008.

In their words: "Specifically, we're highlighting average citizens and grassroots communities as the real stars of this campaign, by giving them a celebrity-style photo shoot at Obama events. Selected portraits will be exhibited in a New York gallery show in November and eventually published in book form along with collected stories gathered at house meetings, rallies, and fund raising events throughout America."

Check out the photographs of Janet Lee and her dog with the giant Obama puppet she created; Bob and Malinda Bills, a couple that comes for Data Entry Night every Monday; Maggie Flanigan, a high school intern who is at our headquarters every day after school and on weekends, and her friend who came to volunteer for the first time ever that night.

Slideshow below:

You can find more photos on their blog at www.wearetheonesproject.com

Utahns Celebrate Barack's Acceptance Speech

Michael Negron — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 18:15:57 EDT

This past Thursday, Obama supporters gathered at Canyon Rim Park in Salt Lake City to watch Barack's acceptance speech under an open sky. ABC 4 News reported on the event:

On August 5, 2007, Obama spoke to an enthusiastic crowd at Park City’s Olympic Park. He admitted that he was a bit overwhelmed by the number of supporters who came out to hear him speak that day.
As 75-thousand people cheered on Obama in Denver, hundreds did the same in this east bench neighborhood.

Check out the slideshow below to see what you may have missed:

Utah Obama Supporters Flock to Salt Lake City Office Opening

Michael Negron — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:48:19 EDT

This past Saturday, the Obama campaign demonstrated its commitment to running a 50 state campaign and competing in every part of the country by holding an open house at its Salt Lake City headquarters that drew more than 700 people. The office opening not only fired up Obama-Biden supporters across the state, it also earned a lot of attention from the local media.

Matt Roth with Fox 13 Utah reported:

As far as our research can tell, it is something unprecedented in Utah politics. None of Utah's political veterans can remember a Democratic Presidential Campaign funding a fully-staffed Utah office leading up to the general election.

KSL/NBC observed:

Obama opened a campaign office here in Utah today. The opening of the office is part of his 50-state strategy -- an office in every state in the nation, even the Republican ones. "A long-time running, there's been problems with the Democratic Party in Utah. Anything we can do to break down those barriers is amazing," Kingery said.
Mathis says opening a campaign office in Utah is amazing. He said, "You're in a very Republican state, and you've got a line of people stretched down the sidewalk. People are really excited, enthusiastic, really wanting change."

Check out the slideshow below for a glimpse of what you might have missed!

Working on their Texas Two-Step

Michael Negron — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 19:55:53 EST

Our Austin office is filled with volunteers, calling Texans to remind them of the “Texas Two-Step” voting process in which Texans can cast primary ballots from 7am to 7pm on Tuesday, March 4th and then caucus at a convenient location starting at 7pm. Making sure Obama supporters from all corners of the Lone Star State do the Two-Step is a key to a victory here on Tuesday.

Texans like Karen know the stakes, and have been putting in long hours to ensure that voters know about the Two-Step.

“This is one of those times when it is so important to do something positive to improve our country,” said Karen, a postal clerk from Austin.

Karen’s daughter Amber serves as a mechanic in the U.S. Army and recently returned to the states after spending over a year in Afghanistan.

“I couldn’t watch the news, I was too nervous,” she recalled of her daughter’s time overseas, “I decided to work for the campaign because I wanted to stop complaining about the leadership that sent us into Iraq and wanted to take a stand.”

Karen was among over a hundred volunteers working the phones today. You can join her and other Obama supporters at our Austin HQ or any one of our 25 offices located across the state. You can also call Texan voters from home.

Find the office closest to you.

if you’re ready to support Barack by doing the Texas Two-Step, click here for information on the caucus location nearest you.

Tireless volunteers, getting out the TX Two-Step.

Baked goods a plenty in the Austin HQ kitchen.

Warming Up for Feb. 5 in Alaska

Michael Negron — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 08:45:37 EST

These days, Anchorage's town square is alive with ice skaters and science fiction fans drawn by the Gallery of Ice and its frozen renditions of Darth Vader, E.T., and other copyrighted likenesses from sci-fi films of yore. But over the course of these final five days before the February 5th Democratic Caucus, the center of energy in the Last Frontier will be a few miles away at our Alaska headquarters on 2602 Fairbanks Street.

The front door reminds us: in five days, Alaskans can play their part in our growing movement for change. Inside, you're likely to find a busy call room filled with volunteers working the phones to bring new caucus-goers into the process.

Over the past week, their hard work has paid off. In a state where the 2004 caucuses attracted only 600 attendees, organizational meetings across Alaska drew over 200 Barack supporters.

Anchorage

Fairbanks

I couldn't end this blog post without giving you a glimpse of the Gallery of Ice.

Don't phone home yet, phone potential caucus-goers!

Tonight Belongs To You

Michael Negron — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 01:41:55 EST

Barack took the stage to thunderous applause from the crowd of thousands, congratulating Senator Clinton and reminding his fired up supporters that the fight for real change is only beginning.

"We know the battle ahead may be long. But always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change," he said, adding, “I am still fired up and ready to go.”

For all the door knockers and phone bankers, the early morning sign holders and those entering data at night, Barack offered additional thanks.

“Tonight belongs to you,” he said.

Our campaign for New Hampshire began nearly a year ago, and after building momentum and just coming up short of shocking the world once more, it is clear that YOU are the reason we have been able to prove the cynics and pundits wrong. Barack thanks you, and we here in New Hampshire thank you.

On to Nevada, let’s go change the world.

Live from Nashua: The Doors Have Opened

Michael Negron — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:20:28 EST

The doors have opened and voters are filling the gymnasium.

I spoke with Marilyn, a precinct captain from Stratham, as she was waiting. Marilyn has been housing 10 volunteers for these past few weeks in addition to doing her part for the campaign.

“I’m very excited. I haven’t felt this inspired about a candidate since Bobby Kennedy,” she said. “I’m also really excited about all the young people involved in the campaign.”

Check later for an update.

Live in New Hampshire: The Crowd Builds in Nashua

Michael Negron — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:55:29 EST

This is the calm before the storm before tonight's Primary Night Rally. Soon thousands of Granite Staters hungry for change will fill this gymnasium.

Polls across the state are beginning to close and anticipation is beginning to build here in Nashua, especially in the crowd forming outside of Nashua South High School.

Check back later for an update.

Signs of Momentum

Michael Negron — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:55:55 EST

Change is only hours away, and there are signs of momentum everywhere.

Here are a few of my favorites.

I’ve learned that one good place to go for signs is Mack’s Apples in Londonderry. I arrived to a bustling staging area filled with dozens of volunteers.

The polls close as soon as an hour in some places. Find a location near you.

Report from the Front Lines: Concord GOTV

Michael Negron — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:36:50 EST

I’ve been dropping by some of our staging areas in Concord to watch our unprecedented grassroots movement in action.

Volunteers are pounding the pavement to get Barack supporters to the polls, making phone calls between shifts to persuade late deciders to vote for change.

One of these volunteers, 18 year-old Ariel from New York, will be casting her first ever vote for Barack Obama in her state’s February 5th primary. She traveled to New Hampshire to volunteer for Barack because she understands New Hampshire’s defining role to play in choosing the next president.

“I think people are really open to his vision around here. They’re really receptive,” she said, “We definitely worked hard, but I think it’ll pay off.”

At my second stop in Concord, I spoke with Gerri, a social psychologist and organizational consultant. She said that Barack’s Iowa victory speech moved her to tears, adding, “There’s an extra layer of passion here that I have not witnessed since Kennedy.”

From one staging area to the next, I am witnessing the same thing: everyone is fired up and ready to go as voter turnout in the primary approaches record levels.

Granite Staters Hit the Polls

Michael Negron — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 10:59:41 EST

The polls are open, and Granite Staters are taking their duties as First-in-the-Nation voters as seriously as ever.

Meet Kim, an 18 year-old college student who will be voting for the first time today. She’s voting for Barack because of his ability to inspire people of all backgrounds to get involved in the political process.

Meanwhile, across town, volunteers are waving signs and cheering to show their enthusiasm for Barack message of change.

Stand for Change: The Night Before in Concord

Michael Negron — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 02:03:29 EST

The energy of over a thousand people shaking off the influence of cynicism caused by decades of slash-and-burn politics seemed to explode into many rounds of thunderous applause at a late-night rally here in Concord.

Skeptics believed this day would never come, but the throngs of people who waited in line for hours are now showing the world that they believe in Barack and in themselves and are eager to enact his vision of a country healed and a world restored.

After years of talking about the importance of hope, Barack explained that his vision of hope is a vision of action.

He said:

Hope is not blind optimism. It is not ignoring the road blocks, the hazards, the hurdles that stand in the way of you and your dreams. Hope is just the opposite. I know how difficult it will be to bring about health reform in this country… I understand that we cannot expect to somehow fix our schools or reduce poverty just with the snap of a finger just because we hope for it… I have battled in the courts as a civil rights attorney. I have seen good legislation wither away because good intentions weren’t enough because they weren’t fortified with the political will or political power. I know how tough this will be.
So do you.
But what you and I also know is that… somebody, somewhere, decided to believe in something that was not obvious, that contradicted the conventional wisdom, that contradicted the status quo, that hadn’t been done before…
That’s how slaves and abolitionists resisted an evil system. That’s how a new untested president was able to plot a course to make sure we would no longer be half-slave and half-free.
That’s how the greatest generation defeated fascism and lifted itself up out of the Great Depression.
That’s how workers had the courage to take on the violence... to form unions so that all of us could benefit from the minimum wage…
That's how women got the right to vote...
That’s how young people traveled down south to Selma and Montgomery and they sat in and knocked on doors and registered voters and got assaulted… that’s what hope is.
That’s what hope is.

The crowd interrupted Barack with chants of “O-ba-ma” on several occasions, proving itself ready to answer his call for a reengaged citizenry.

Minutes after the rally ended, the very first poll in Dixville-Notch opened in this First-in-the-Nation Primary State and Barack won with 7 votes.

In the months since Barack launched this improbable journey, tens of thousands of New Hampshire voters have listened to him share his vision for hope and change. Now, thousands more, inspired by the outpouring of enthusiasm of Barack’s reception these past few days, will go to the polls to transform their own hopes into a movement that will sweep across the rest of the 48 states and transforms the country.

In a few hours, New Hampshire votes its aspirations. It votes for change we can believe in.

Report from the Front Lines: Portsmouth, 1 Day Out

Michael Negron — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:04:29 EST

I’ve moved on to one of our staging areas, set up at a supporter’s home here in Portsmouth. People were scurrying around the living room and kitchen, preparing to hit the streets to talk to voters about Barack.

Sarah Sewall, a senior foreign policy advisor to Barack, dropped by to provide suggestions to volunteers in anticipation of handling questions from voters.

“The world is changing quickly, but Barack has the right judgment to take on the unexpected. He’s made the right calls on the big issues like Iraq, Pakistan and Iran while his opponents were steeped in conventional thinking,” she said.

That advice resonated with one volunteer I spoke with. Carter spent large parts of her past 35 years living overseas before returning to New Hampshire to live in North Hampton. A career journalist, she has been volunteering for the campaign since Barack’s announcement because she believes that he will do the most to restore America’s standing in the world.

“I am not sleeping I’m so excited. It’s just so exciting,” she said. “Doing this door to door canvassing, when you see all these people who are so fired up--it’s incredibly inspiring.”

Before I left for the event in Rochester, I ran into David, a civil rights attorney in New York.

David worked with Barack on the Harvard Law Review, and the pair turned out to be the last two candidates standing in the race for president of the Law Review.

“Barack had this tremendous ability to speak to people across the ideological divide,” he recalled. “Many of the people that he worked with on the Law Review have gone on to be some of the leading legal minds in the conservative movement, but he found a way to get them to work together with the liberals.”

David added, “Barack is the same consensus-builder today that he was back then.”

Like so many of Barack’s supporters, David is working on a campaign for the first time. “I’ve done a few small things before, but this time, we have a once-in-a-lifetime candidate and I’m willing to do what it takes,” he said.

Stand for Change: A Full House in Rochester

Michael Negron — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 18:50:34 EST

You can tell that voting will start in less than 12 hours from the crowds and the energy. The Opera House in Rochester is packed, with voters straining to get a view of Barack.

A packed balcony.

With Barack’s momentum building, the hunt is on for remaining undecided voters.

Looking for undecided voters

Check back later for an update.

1 Day Out: Senator Durbin Kicks Off a Canvass in Portsmouth, NH

Michael Negron — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:04:44 EST

I could feel the energy on the streets of Portsmouth this morning as I followed Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois on a canvassing route with Portsmouth resident Joan Jacobs. Many of the houses we approached would have been listed as “threes” (undecided) on our walk sheets just a few days ago, but we found recently-added Obama signs in their windows.

At each door, Senator Durbin shared his reasons for encouraging Barack to run. He said, “This is a unique moment in history, and people are calling out for someone who can unite the country. Barack is the only candidate who can.”

At a canvass kickoff this morning at the Portsmouth office, Sen. Durbin said:

Barack Obama represents a new generation of leadership, the same kind of inspirational vision of the possible that we last saw with John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy.

The volunteers I spoke with at the Portsmouth office couldn’t have agreed more.

Helen from Stratham is a breast cancer survivor who lost a family member in the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. Now, she is looking for a leader ready for the gravity of the times.

She believes Barack is that candidate, and echoed Senator Durbin’s view of the historic opportunity we have in this election:

It’s time to bring this country together, I don’t believe any of the other candidates will do that to the same effect that Senator Obama will. He reminds me of John F. Kennedy when I was a young teenager in high school… There’s a lot of substance to him, he’s a very intelligent man. I believe that he’s going to do a great job in the White House.

I also spoke with two Vietnam veterans, Don and Richard, who have flown in from Virginia to speak with fellow veterans at stops in Rochester, Dover, Portsmouth and Exeter. Both agreed with Helen about the significance of this election.

Richard, a former Rhodes Scholar and Air Force Colonel, said, “As I listened to Barack speak, it became clear to me that he has the stature and judgment to be president. He got it right on the Iraq war.”

Don, a retired Navy Commander with experience advising the Defense Department on foreign policy issues, added, “I have always been impressed by his grasp of details and his ability to think outside of the box and defy conventional thinking.”

Closing the Deal in Bow, NH

Michael Negron — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:58:25 EST

With momentum building in the Granite State, voters are hearing from Barack’s “Closer”, Michelle, at house parties across the state.

Yesterday, one of these parties drew nearly 100 voters, many of them undecided, to Bow NH. Michelle urged the audience to vote their aspirations and imagine a country where people believe in their government again.

“We need inspiration right now. We need someone who can excite people enough to get involved in their government,” she said.

She added that Barack has demonstrated the ability to do just that, judging from the thousands of people across the country that he has inspired to enter the political process.

Stand for Change: 1,750 in Keene

Michael Negron — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 21:15:00 EST

Like every other crowd he spoke with today, the 1,750 Keene area residents that packed this high school on a Sunday night greeted Barack with enthusiasm and excitement.

When I arrived at Keene High School tonight, I rushed into the first room that sounded like a noisy auditorium. But while I found the crowded room I had been expecting, but it turned out to be our overflow room.

This was the overflow room.

I scurried over to the right location, spilling my coffee in my rush, and found an even bigger crowd waiting for Barack to arrive.

The Main Event.

Check back later for video highlights!

Stand for Change: Another Packed Event in Salem

Michael Negron — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 17:57:26 EST

I’m tucked away in the corner of the auditorium and Salem High School, in a room that is completely at capacity.

As they awaited Barack’s arrival, chants of “O-ba-ma!” and “Fired up, Ready to Go!” broke out. When Barack took the stage, the crowd jumped to its feet and provided him a standing ovation.

Check back later for a recap.

Stand for Change: 950 in Manchester

Michael Negron — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 15:01:16 EST

Another massive crowd turned out to see Barack speak in Manchester early this morning, and Barack continued to display the presidential demeanor that impressed so many at last night’s debate.

Watch this clip of his speech:

Fired up supporters and late-deciding voters alike filled the Palace Theater in Manchester to capacity.

Before the event, I spoke with Holly, a travel agent and Obama supporter from New London, who was holding a “Michelle Obama for First Lady” sign as she waited. She was able to get Barack to autograph her sign, and is hopeful that she’ll manage to get Michelle’s signature as well sometime before January 8th.

“I’ve been around the world through my job,” she said, “and it hurts me to see that our image has taken such a beating. Barack is our best hope for a return to respected leadership abroad.”

After Barack finished speaking, I caught up with Kate from Manchester. Kate had been wavering in her choice for president, but today she reports that Barack has left her “speechless.”

“His vision for hope and unity has completely won me over,” she said. “I see him and feel that he can lead the country to heal the wounds of the past few decades.”

Kate hastened to add, “A leader like this only comes around once in a generation, and I think we’ve found him.”

Stand for Change: Sunday Morning in Manchester

Michael Negron — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 09:59:33 EST

It’s a busy Sunday morning here in Manchester and throngs of Granite Staters line up outside of the Palace Theater to learn more about Barack’s vision for change. The line stretches around the block, onto Manchester’s Elm Street in the heart of downtown.

Check out these pics:

Inside, the Palace Theater is crowded as well:

Check back later for an update!

A Report from the Frontlines: Milford, NH

Michael Negron — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 08:33:43 EST

Two days out, our dedicated staffers are working with thousands of volunteers to ensure that New Hampshire takes advantage of this moment in history to bring about the fundamental change we need. Operating from staging areas in wards and towns throughout the state, our grassroots movement is hard at work to build on the momentum and energy as we approach the primary.

I dropped by our Milford staging area earlier on Sunday to visit with volunteers toiling throughout the weekend.

The group I met with had just returned from canvassing the neighborhoods of Milford, and my eyes immediately focused on the piping hot beef stew in the corner which had been prepared by star volunteer Joan. Joan is a Milford resident who has been involved in presidential campaigns before, but believes that Barack stands apart because of his ability to inspire so many others to get involved.

Joan chats with fellow volunteers.

“He is proving to be such an inspirational figure, getting so many new people interested in the political process,” she said. “At the same time, he is such a calm and collected leader, you can see him leading the nation through a crisis.”

I also spoke with Gail, another Milford resident, as she returned from her first canvass ever. Gail is inspired by Barack’s capacity to heal the country of the partisanship of the past two decades.

“I’ve heard a lot of people say one person can’t make a difference, but that doesn’t mean that I have to listen to them,” she said with a laugh. “I was scared to death about knocking on another person’s door, but I believe in him so much that I’m going to be doing it from today until Tuesday.”

Gail just left a job and her husband is self-employed, so she is feeling increasingly squeezed by rising health care costs. The couple pays over $1,100 a month in health insurance premiums, and Gail is worried that they will no longer be able to afford coverage if she can’t find a job soon.

“We’re going to need a president with the character and integrity to push back against the lobbyists and insurance companies, and Obama is the only one I see that can get the job done,” Gail said.

Hitting the Streets in Manchester, NH: 3 Days to Go

Michael Negron — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 14:13:15 EST

In addition to the throngs of still-deciding voters that packed Barack’s event in Nashua this morning, hundreds of canvassers filled our volunteer room today before hitting the streets to knock on doors with Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, while dozens more stuck around to work the phones.

Gov. Patrick has seen this kind of energy before: it was a massive grassroots movement that swept him into office in 2006. Today he offered some words of inspiration for the movement Barack has built here in the Granite State.

“Don’t see what you are doing today as a transaction that ends with Tuesday’s vote,” Deval urged. “What you are doing is building a movement of people that will remain involved in their government for years to come.”

Two veterans of Deval’s grassroots movement in Massachusetts, Sam and Tina of Boston, joined him on the streets of Manchester.

Sam is a city council member and former community organizer who believes that Barack and Deval have the right message for this moment.

“As a former organizer myself, I know that Barack will never forget what it was like to work with people to bring about change from the bottom up,” said Sam. “A president with this kind of experience will lead an awakening of civic consciousness that will sweep across the country.”

Tina agreed with her husband, adding, “This campaign is about the people in this room, and that’s just so refreshing.”

I also spoke with Pauline, a Manchester resident volunteering for the campaign for the first time this morning.

“It took me until a few weeks ago to make up my mind,” she laughed, “but judging from the energy in this room, I can see that there really was no other alternative… Barack is the only candidate inspiring people to do something to take control of their government.”

Congressman Patrick Murphy in Manchester, NH

Michael Negron — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 08:02:57 EST

Congressman Murphy addresses canvassers.

The Manchester office is bustling today with volunteers, fired up and ready to go with just days to go before January 8th. In these final days, our staff and Granite State supporters will be going door-to-door to spread Barack’s message of change we can believe in. Their efforts will be supplemented by volunteers from outside New Hampshire, many of whom will have traveled some distance to get here.

On Friday afternoon, one such out-of-state volunteer, Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy, shared his story before throwing on a heavy coat and leading dozens of volunteers out to knock on doors. Congressman Murphy is the only Iraq war veteran in the Congress and was motivated to enter politics because of the 19 members of his unit who were lost in the conflict.

“I became a witness to our foreign policy,” he told the spellbound volunteers, “and when I came back, I resolved to do something to help make sure we didn’t make the same kind of mistake again.”

Congressman Murphy won a grassroots-driven victory powered by his message of change. Now he’s knocking on doors for Barack, looking to do his part to bring this change to the White House.

Congressman Murphy reviews his clipboard during a canvass training.

While Congressman Murphy’s story is powerful, he wasn’t the only impressive Barack supporter I met that afternoon.

Charlotte is a Manchester ward captain who is working on a campaign for the first time in her life. Born in Congo, Charlotte moved to the United States in 1987. She had heard from relatives that, in this country, anyone could make a future for themselves through hard work. As a pharmacist, Charlotte now works with seniors who are struggling to pay for life-saving medications. Health care is her top issue at the ballot box, but she has never before been involved in politics.

“Congolese politics are corrupt,” she said, “so while I was eager to vote when I got to this country, I couldn’t help but feel skeptical about what I could do beyond vote. Obama has changed that.”

Charlotte is also driven by concern for her kid’s future. With both of her children just entering college, Charlotte is determined to protect their future.

“I don’t want them to lose faith in this country,” she said, “so I am doing everything I can to make sure they grow up believing in the American Dream.”

Stand for Change: The 100 Club Dinner

Michael Negron — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 23:21:29 EST

More than a thousand fired up Barack supporters joined their fellow Democrats tonight at the largest New Hampshire Democratic Party event of the primary season – the 100 Club Dinner. In the minutes before Barack took the stage to speak, I waded though a sea of supporters waving “O” signs and chanting “O-ba-ma!” and “Fired up, Ready to Go!”

Barack bounded to the stage and delivered an impassioned, inspiring speech that moved many in the crowd to tears.

I spoke with one emotional supporter right after Barack ended his speech.

“I’m so happy I don’t know what to say,” exclaimed JoAnn of Goffstown. “I’ve been participating in political campaigns for decades now, but I’ve never been this moved or excited by a candidate before in my life.”

JoAnn told me that she used to be a moderate Republican before becoming an Independent. But throughout her political experiences, she had never wanted to work this hard for a candidate’s election.

“This man is destined to be a great leader,” she said. "No other candidate comes even close,” she said.

Nearly as impressive as Barack’s speech was the passion and spirit shown by our volunteers outside the site in the hours leading up to the event. Watch the slideshow below.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR

Stand for Change: First Stirrings in Portsmouth

Michael Negron — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:58:06 EST

The morning after winning an historic victory by weaving together a coalition of men and women, young and old, first-time caucus goers and wily veterans, and Iowans of all political backgrounds hungry for change, Barack Obama is in Portsmouth to kick-off the final days of our primary campaign in New Hampshire. Hundreds and hundreds of Granite Staters have poured into a Pan Am hanger, bundled up to withstand the negative degree temperatures outside and chanting over and over, “We want change!”

Before Barack took the stage, I met a Portsmouth couple that personified Barack’s capacity to unite the country around a higher purpose. Connie and Dick have not agreed on a presidential candidate in 23 years of marriage.

“I’m a staunch Republican,” said Dick, “but I registered as an undeclared voter to vote for Barack.”

Today is also Connie’s birthday, and she says that she can’t think of a better birthday present.

“Last night was a magical night,” she exclaimed, “but now we’ve got some work to do here to win New Hampshire.

As an additional birthday gift, Connie’s son Andrew will be registering to vote for the first time later in the day.

Barack took the stage to raucous applause from a crowd that senses the defining moment before the country and the part they will play in making sure it doesn’t pass us by.

Check back later for a video clip from Barack’s speech!

Fired Up in the Freezing Cold

Michael Negron — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:56:13 EST

Just hours before Iowans of all ages and backgrounds made history by uniting around a new direction for the country and propelling Barack to a solid victory in the Hawkeye State, nearly three dozen fired up Obama supporters on New Hampshire’s Seacoast stood for change in single-digit degree weather in downtown Portsmouth.

Check out their enthusiasm and get ready to show your own over the next five days!

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Working Towards the American Dream—Claire Natola’s Story

Michael Negron — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:02:41 EST

“I’m just trying to find my way towards the American Dream,” said Claire Natola.

The Meredith resident has come a long way from her blue collar upbringing in Boston as the youngest of six children. Her academic excellence gave her the chance to attend an elite college preparatory school in Boston’s Back Bay, and those four years exposed her to diversity of ethnicities, classes and religions.

Claire went on to Boston University, but dropped out after 2 years because she did not feel ready to commit herself to one path of study. She joined a travel agency and traveled extensively across the United States and Europe. After a few years, she began taking night classes at BU and pursued a degree in art history. Finally, Claire completed an MBA program at UNH and went into business for herself.

Claire provides marketing and administrative services to small architectural firms and construction companies. Although Claire is optimistic about her business’s growth potential, she’s all too aware of the risks of independence. While self-employed, Claire is currently without health insurance and at risk of bearing the costs of an unexpected illness by herself. A recent gall bladder surgery has left her paying $200 a month out of pocket for the next two years. At the same time, she will be paying back her student loans.

“I feel optimistic about our ability to grow as a business,” she said, “but right now I am just an accident or sickness away from some serious financial trouble.”

Today, Claire is working to ensure that the next president has the interest of struggling entrepreneurs like herself in mind by volunteering for Barack Obama at our Laconia office.

“I want Barack Obama in office because Washington as a whole is going to need to change before the American Dream can be put back within reach for everyone,” she said.

Claire is also working for Barack because she has witnessed the damage done to America’s reputation abroad during her travels.

“Barack can make us respected in the world again,” she said, “and I want to feel proud of my government when I am overseas. He will change things on the day he takes office.”

Snow People for Change

Michael Negron — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:54:47 EST

You don’t need a meteorologist to tell you that we received a lot of snow in New Hampshire in December. You may be surprised to learn, however, that the state has experienced the snowiest December since 1876. While most of us struggled to unearth our cars and navigated icy roads to get to the office, a few Obama supporters expressed their hope for a better America.

Not fired up, but definitely ready to go.

Stand up when it’s risky! Stand up when it’s hard!

Given the weather forecast for January 8th, we aren’t holding our breath that these snow supporters will be here to help Get Out the Vote.

Ready to Move Forward—Shane Artsy’s Story

Michael Negron — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:37:42 EST

Full-time Peterborough volunteer Shane Artsy has spent much of his life abroad. The 18 year-old speaks four languages, and he received much of his education at an international school in Tel Aviv, Israel. Shane is a child of globalization, comfortable with a world that grows more interdependent by the day. He believes that Barack is the only candidate in the race who understands the global village we now live in on a gut level.

“Barack is such a complete break from the past that he would have an immediate impact on the way the world views us from day one,” Shane said. “The international perspective he brings because of his upbringing and heritage tells me that he’ll know how to leverage this positive reception we receive when he is inaugurated.”

Shane’s international perspective comes from growing up in the United States, Israel and France. While living in Israel, Shane witnessed first-hand the religious and class conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians. Errands that typify daily life in the United States took on a different color in Israel because of the vigilance required at all hours of the day. On one occasion, Shane and a classmate found themselves clutching the sidewalk as a firefight between Israeli security forces and Palestinian gunman erupted around them in the middle of an otherwise normal school day.

But in his Tel Aviv high school, Shane saw cause for optimism.

Inside the school, students from those same conflicting ethnic and religious backgrounds forged the easy friendships of youth, ignoring the prejudices of their parents to find common ground in their school activities and in pop culture. Seeing these members of the next generation transcend the fear and anger of their parents filled Shane with hope.

Shane now sees that same type of optimism in the support for Barack from young people of all backgrounds. He volunteers full-time in our Peterborough office because he believes that Barack can inspire his generation to play its part in bridging old divisions.

“My generation is ready to move past the conflicts of our parents and grandparents. We’re willing to get involved in politics and make our voices heard,” Shane said. “And Barack is the only candidate who can inspire us to live up to our potential.”

Granite State Office Tour: A Recap

Michael Negron — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 13:17:33 EST

The day after Christmas, I began a road trip across the state to visit and chronicle each of the 16 Obama campaign field offices in New Hampshire. After driving 900 miles through snow, sleet and rain, I have settled into my desk at the Manchester headquarters to put together a short visitor’s guide for those of you planning on joining us in New Hampshire in the final days before the primary.

Here are my travel notes.

You have just ONE more Friday to dig out that fedora, pillbox or fez you never thought you’d get to wear again and make phone calls from the Derry office on its theme day.
While your chance to meet Alfre Woodard has passed, you can still have all the chocolate you can eat while calling area voters from the Peterborough office.
If you find yourself working out of the Berlin or Conway offices, be sure to drop by the pizza place below, which provided energy I needed to complete not one, not two, not three, but FOUR blog posts.

Walking the Rochester office mascot is not recommended.
You never know what you’ll walk into if you drop by the Manchester office.

But the most important thing you will find when you come to New Hampshire is a grassroots organization unlike anything ever seen before in the state – and a movement of supporters and hope mongers poised to make history on January 8th.

Granite State Office Tour: Manchester

Michael Negron — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:18:03 EST

I returned to my final destination of Manchester last night just in time for yet another snow storm. Digging out my car this morning, I arrived at the Manchester headquarters as a sign making party with volunteers from across the state began.

Our state headquarters is typically filled with dozens of staff and volunteers at any given moment. This morning, most of this grassroots energy was devoted to preparing the banners and signs that will line the walls at Barack’s final events in the Granite State before the primary.

Nearly two-dozen volunteers filled the office, painting away under the supervision of Emerald, a full-time volunteer and recent St. Anselm’s graduate.

Emerald is working on a campaign for the first time, inspired by Barack’s vision for a politics that transcends red states and blue states.

“I’ve been living here in New Hampshire for the past 5 years and never got involved,” Emerald said, “but the stakes are too high right now to just sit and watch.”

Dotty, who flew in from Texas to volunteer, was one of our sign-painters. The birth of Dotty’s grandson in July turned a lifelong interest in politics into the desire to work now for change.

“I feel like we’re at a critical point in our history… We’re at war overseas and divided at home,” Dotty said. “Status quo politicians are not going to solve the problems we face. We need some serious change.”

Though the winter cold is at full force here in the Granite State, you can warm up by working for change at the Manchester office on the 2nd floor of 60 Rogers Street or give us a call at 603-668-2008.

Next stop: Victory on January 8th.

Granite State Office Tour: Portsmouth

Michael Negron — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 12:27:21 EST

The Market Square area of Portsmouth bustles with locals, tourists and shoppers on the weekends. On Sunday night, I braved the crowds and entered the Portsmouth office at the intersection of Congress Avenue and Fleet Street. Volunteers manned every phone, working full-tilt to convince Seacoast residents to vote for Barack.

As the first regional offices opened by the campaign in New Hampshire, the Portsmouth office has some of our longest-serving volunteers. Many are also veterans of Carol Shea-Porter’s people-powered victory in 2006.

Kathy, an early childhood educator from Rye, was one of Carol’s earlier supporters and joined the Obama campaign because of Barack’s vision of change from the bottom up.

“The energy on this campaign is very familiar,” Kathy said. “People here are inspired by the same sense of taking back our government.

Kathy added:

In 2006, so many of us worked to send Carol to Washington to serve as our voice in Congress. Now we’re working to finish the job and send Barack to serve as our voice in the White House.

Add your voice to Kathy’s. Drop by the Portsmouth office on 75 Congress Avenue or give us a call at 603-433-7001.

Next stop: Manchester.

Granite State Office Tour: Dover

Michael Negron — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 20:45:17 EST

Volunteers were busy on the phones as I entered the Dover office, located on the 3rd floor of an old mill on the riverfront.

I spoke with Hannah, a Lee resident and college student, who volunteered full-time over the summer and has returned to work through until Primary Day. Hannah is most concerned with environmental issues, and believes that people do not recognize the crisis we face. She’s giving her all for Barack because she believes that the upcoming election offered her an opportunity to make her voice heard.

“The next president will have an historic opportunity to exercise real leadership in making the environment a top priority,” she said. “Barack has the communication and consensus-building skills to unite the country behind taking effective action.”

Stop by Suite 315 on 2 Washington Place to pick up lawn signs, buttons, or more information about Barack, or give us a call at 603-740-0008.

Next stop: Portsmouth.

Granite State Office Tour: Rochester

Michael Negron — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:21:35 EST

I entered the Rochester office on Main Street just as Marade, an elementary school principal and frequent volunteer, returned from canvassing.

“It sounds like parade, except with an ‘M,’” she explained with a smile as we shook hands.

Marade is working on her first presidential campaign, motivated by her desire to move past the politics of fear she believes has gripped the nation since the attacks of September 11th. The attacks left a deep impact on her family’s life, as her sister’s fiancée died only 3 weeks before their wedding.

“While our family suffered a huge loss on 9/11, this administration has capitalized on the fear and uncertainty that followed to justify a radical agenda,” she said.

Marade added:

I really believe that Obama offers the greatest hope and opportunity for real change. He accentuates the positive and focuses on the things that unite us in this country… We have been living with fear for too long, and he can move the country past this and unite us around a common agenda.

I also spoke with Kyle, a 19-year old college sophomore, who is volunteering full-time. Majoring in international comparative politics, Kyle agreed with Marade’s desire to move the country past the fear-based politics of the past decade.

“Barack willingness to speak to our enemies demonstrated that he isn’t deterred by the politics of fear stoked by the Bush administration,” he said.

As I sat down to write this, I noticed 3 goldfish swimming around in a bowl at the end of the desk—the first office mascots I’ve encountered in my travels across the state.

Visit the Rochester office at 20 N. Main Street to make calls, canvass, and feed the official Obama goldfish, or give us a call at 603-330-0808.

Next stop: Dover.

Granite State Office Tour

Michael Negron — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 13:47:40 EST

With the First-in-the-Nation Primary fast approaching, I have hit the road on a quest to visit each of the 16 offices for the campaign across the state. Each office, whether in one of New Hampshire’s metropolitan areas or tucked away in a small town, is filled each day with volunteers doing their best to get Barack elected.

Let there be no doubt: from East to West and North to South, Granite Staters are pouring their hearts out to bring real change to this country.

Over the past few days, I have had my fill of diner food and battled my fair share of snow drifts as I’ve hopped across the state. Here’s some of what I’ve learned:

In the White Mountains, local ice cream lovers will know just where to find our offices in Berlin and Conway.
The Plymouth office is a great place to get a workout after you make calls.
You never know who might drop by the Peterborough office.
The Nashua office is one of the liveliest spots in town on a Friday night, while the social scene at the Derry office cannot be beat in the early mornings.
One of the campaign’s youngest volunteers works in the Concord office.
In Laconia, you can literally hear the momentum of our campaign in the Lakes region.

I’ve also learned a lot about the stories of these amazing volunteers who give so much of their time every day.

The conventional thinking in Washington that rushed the country into the Iraq war has had a tragic impact on the lives of Littleton volunteers Kevin and Shawn, who lost their son Jeremy in 2004. The couple is working for Barack because they believe he has the judgment to end the war responsibly and bring the troops home.

Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds filled the Lebanon, Keene and Claremont.

Point your browser to the New Hampshire page as I log the last few miles in my cross-state tour today and tomorrow.

Update 1/1/08: You can read updates from Rochester, Dover, Portsmouth and Manchester.

Granite State Office Tour: Conway

Michael Negron — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 12:34:25 EST

I kept my eyes peeled for moose as I made my nighttime drive from Berlin to Conway last night. Luckily for me, the moose stayed out of the roads and I pulled up safely into the small parking lot next to the Conway office. The office is located smack dab in the center of Main Street, across the street from the ice cream parlor that helped me rediscover my childhood love of soft serve ice cream back in May during Barack’s visit.

While the ice cream shop was clearly not going to be open on a Saturday night in December, the Conway office was filled with volunteers.

In the office making calls were Bob and Janet, a couple in Eaton who have opened their home to three volunteers.

Bob is a state representative for the area, elected in 2006 during the Democratic wave that gave Democratic majorities to the State House. He is working for the campaign because he believes that Barack represents a new generation of leadership.

“The other candidates seem to be playing by an old political playbook where you have to deliver bumper sticker slogans and avoid answering questions,” Bob said. “Barack is different. He is authentic and honest, and has a clear sense of his own fallibility… he will be willing to admit when he’s wrong or made a mistake, and we need that now.”

I also spoke with Cheryl, a registered nurse in Conway who echoed Bob’s description of Barack representing a new brand of leader. Cheryl has volunteered for a number of local and state campaigns, but the Obama campaign is the first presidential campaign she’s been involved with since she stuffed envelopes for John F. Kennedy as a high school student.

“I have never been this excited about a candidate,” she said. “Barack is charismatic and trustworthy, and would be a real breath of fresh air.”

If you live in the Conway area, stop by our office across the street from Froagies on 85 Main Street or give us a call at 603-447-4888.

Next stop: the Seacoast.

Granite State Office Tour: Berlin

Michael Negron — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:48:34 EST

Nestled in the Northern White Mountains, Berlin is a city with rich history. Long known as the City That Trees Built, Berlin has lately suffered from the closing of the paper mills that served as the economic engine for the region.

The location of our Berlin office has its own storied history, housing the Big Scoop Ice Cream Shop since 1993. Caroline, a Milan resident, Berlin High School student and regular volunteer at the Berlin office, was born that year.

“Barack can unite people, and partisan division has been holding up progress on so many fronts,” she said.

Donna from Gorham is an avid My.BarackObama.com user and a frequent volunteer.

Stop by the Berlin Office at 292 Pleasant Street or give us a call at 603-752-2208.

Next stop: Conway.

Granite State Office Tour: Littleton

Michael Negron — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:29:06 EST

Driving through the majestic Franconia Notch State Park was my reward for making the 2 hour drive from Manchester to Littleton this morning. But walking past the historic buildings along Littleton’s Main Street is a close second.

With canvassers already hitting the streets early on a Saturday afternoon, I spoke with Kevin and Shawn, frequent volunteers in the Littleton office. The couple lost their son, Jeremy, in Iraq in 2004 and had the chance to meet with Barack personally this May.

“He’s not a typical politician, he’s really down-to-earth,” said Kevin, “and I think it’s time we tried a non-politician for a change.”

Shawn added, “Our next president needs to be able to understand how people are living their lives at a gut level, and Obama is the only one in the race that does.”

When I asked why they were willing to give so much time to the campaign, Kevin said, “There are too many important issues on the horizon affecting us and our children and grandchildren to just watch from the sidelines.”

If you share the urgency Kevin and Shawn feel about this election, join them in the Littleton office at 76 Main Street or give us a call at 603-444-0808.

Next stop: Berlin.

Granite State Office Tour: Nashua

Michael Negron — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 13:20:08 EST

Volunteers poured into the Nashua office after a night of canvassing as I pulled into the parking lot.

The Nashua office is across the road from Main Dunstable Elementary School on 5 Merrit Parkway, at the intersection of Conant Way and Main Dunstable Road. For the past few weeks, the Nashua office has played host to a flood of volunteers every weekend, many of them crossing the border from Massachusetts.

With Get Out the Vote weekend fast approaching, the Nashua office is already bustling with activity as if the election were taking place tomorrow.

Fred, a retired engineer from Nashua, just returned from canvassing his neighborhood. A former registered Libertarian, he changed his registration to Democrat in order to vote for Barack because he’s looking for a new direction for the country. Knocking on doors during a presidential primary is not something that Fred thought he’d ever do.

“When I first signed up to volunteer, I told the Nashua staff that I would do anything but make phone calls or canvass,” Fred recalled with a laugh, “but they talked me into it, and I’ve been having lots of fun.”

Sarah and Meg are also having a blast working on the campaign. The college students are excited to be part of a movement, but their reasons for being here are quite serious.

“I lived in New York City, in Brooklyn, during the 9/11 attacks,” Sarah said. “That tragedy offered the country an opportunity to pull together. The Bush Administration didn’t make the most of that chance, but I think we will have that chance again if we elect Barack Obama.”

Meg’s reasons are also personal. With a brother enrolled at the U.S. Naval Academy, Meg is looking for a president she can trust to serve as her brother’s commander-in-chief.

“Barack’s demonstrated judgment and vision that no one else in this race can match,” Meg said.

Join Fred, Meg and Sarah in the Nashua office, which gets busier by the day, and see what the fuss is all about. Give us a call at 603-578-9007.

Next up: The North Country.

Granite State Office Tour: Concord

Michael Negron — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 18:12:18 EST

Situated several hundred feet from the oldest state capital still in use in the United States, the Concord office is right in the thick of things as January 8th approaches. Concord residents know how high the stakes are in this election, and the office is filled every night with volunteers hungry for change we can believe in.

This morning, the Concord office hosted so many volunteers that it ran out of chairs to seat them all.

Nick, a seventh grader at Armand R. Dupont School in Allenstown, feels the sense of urgency.

“My mom talks a lot about the state of the world and the importance of this election,” Nick said, “and that inspired me to do something about this on my own. I think helping elect Barack will put this country on the right track.”

Drop by the Concord office at 4A Eagle Square, or give us a call at 603-224-8004

Granite State Office Tour: Derry

Michael Negron — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:24:54 EST

I arrived at a crowded Derry office this morning in time for “Hat Day,” a weekly Friday tradition. Staffers and volunteers donned winter hats of every size and color to spice up a morning jam-packed with phone calls.

In the bedroom community of Derry, mornings and evenings are the busiest times for the office, and the office frequently uses all available phone lines to reach as many people as possible.

A number of volunteers previously featured on the NH Blog frequent the Derry office: Bill and Katy Gehling, Stacy Hinkley, and Andrew Mack, Jr.

Join them in the Derry office at 8 Birch Street, or give us a call at 603-437-2008.

Next stop: Concord.

Granite State Office Tour: Lebanon

Michael Negron — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 12:02:17 EST

After making the drive from Plymouth to Lebanon through the snow and icy roads, I arrived to find a bustling office filled with volunteers.

Hope mongers of all ages made calls from the phone bank room despite the snowfall outside. Allie, a senior at Lebanon High School, founded the Lebanon Students for Barack Obama Facebook group before the Lebanon office even opened. She has helped put together High School Nights on Mondays at the office.

“Barack stands apart from the rest of the field,” she said. “We really need to change direction in this country, and Barack is the only candidate untainted by influence of Washington insiders.”

With teenage children of his own, Jim from Hanover has been finding room in his busy schedule to volunteer for the campaign. Jim has never volunteered for a candidate before, but decided to work this year because he sees an historic opportunity to change direction.

“The country is in need of major change, and this time, it actually seems possible,” he said.

He added:

What is so unusual about Obama, apart from the fact that he is very smart and filled with great ideas, is he has the capacity to meet people where they are and lead them to a different place, even when they start off disagreeing with him… That’s the leadership we need for this moment in history.

Visit the office at 57 Mechanic Street or give us a call at 603-448-1108.

Next stop: Derry.

Granite State Office Tour: Plymouth

Michael Negron — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:58:56 EST

Campaigns sometimes must set up their offices in unusual and colorful locations. The Plymouth office is no exception.

First, it is tucked away down an alley off of Plymouth’s Main Street.

Then you make your way down the alley behind Biederman’s.

Then finally, you reach the Plymouth home of our grassroots movement for change.

Once you’ve made it inside the office itself, you’ll find some unusual ambience for a campaign office.

Before serving as home base for Obama staffers, volunteers and interns, the building housed a Karate school. With mirrors and dragon images on the walls and a lone punching bag remaining from the office’s days as a dojo, the Plymouth office symbolizes “ready to go” in a whole new way.

Fear does not exist in this dojo: full-time interns at the Plymouth office.

Pay us a visit to 5 Chase Street or give us a call at 603-526-4208.

Next stop: Lebanon.

Granite State Office Tour: Laconia

Michael Negron — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:19:51 EST

Freezing rain blanketed the roads as I parked in front of the storefront windows of the Laconia office. With a hand-made sign above the door showing the way, I entered the office to the sound of a ringing bell.

Eileen, a Belmont resident, had just secured her first supporter of the day and was ringing the office bell to announce her victory.

A political newcomer, Eileen is working for Barack because she believes the country is in need of “drastic change.”

“I am so extremely worried about the direction our country has taken,” Eileen said. “We need a president with the credibility to bring about real change.”

Eileen has been dropping by the office a few times a week to make calls and write postcards. She is also housing a volunteer, and hosted an environmental house party several months ago.

“As Senator Obama often says, the stakes in this election are too high to gamble on electing the same old Washington insiders responsible for the mess that we’re in,” Eileen added.

Lakes region volunteers like Eileen will be working day and night to make sure that New Hampshire doesn’t miss its moment to bring about real change for the nation.

Stop by the Laconia office at 664 Main Street in downtown Laconia or call us at 603-528-0008.

Next stop: Plymouth.

Granite State Office Tour: Keene

Michael Negron — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 13:33:57 EST

From the youthful enthusiasm of Keene State to its famously-wide Main Street, Keene is one of New Hampshire’s most distinctive towns. Obama campaign staffers, interns and volunteers have immersed themselves in the town culture. Keene supporters turned out in full force to local events like the Pumpkin Fest, talking to their friends and neighbors about their reasons for supporting Barack.

On any given night, you can find 15-20 volunteers making calls in the Keene office.

Keene volunteers leave their mark on a poster in the office.

Aaron is one of those volunteers, working full-time in the office until Primary Day. The native New Yorker is ready for a Democratic nominee who can win it all.

“His unifying message is the right message for the times,” Aaron said, “and I am going to give it my all to make sure he is the Democratic standard-bearer in this critical election.”

Visit the Keene office at 170 Emerald Street or give us a call at 603-355-2008.

Next stop: Laconia.

Granite State Office Tour: Claremont

Michael Negron — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 21:14:19 EST

After making the winding, cell phone signal dead-zone drive from Peterborough, I pulled up in front of the Claremont office, located downtown just off Opera House Square.

Allan, a Claremont resident and frequent volunteer, greeted me at the door. The retired doctor and Vietnam War veteran stops by the office five days a week, motivated by Barack’s emphasis on healing the country of its bitter partisan divides by bringing people together.

“It is important enough for me and my family to get involved now, even though I’ve never done this before,” he said.

The Claremont office is a frequent stop for Vermont volunteers, and I chatted with Barry from Weathersfield, VT. Barry was a 27-year veteran of the U.S. Navy and is volunteering on a campaign for the first time in his life.

Barry said, “The partisan fighting of the past 20 years has really wounded this country and is making it hard to move forward. We need a president who can bring us all together and remind of our similarities... Obama is the only one who can do this.”

Drop by our Claremont office at 2 Tremont Street off of Opera House Square or call 603-543-0820.

Next stop: Keene.

Granite State Office Tour: Peterborough

Michael Negron — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 19:20:15 EST

With only 13 days left before the New Hampshire primary, each of our 16 offices across the state are overflowing with volunteers who are working their hearts out to elect Barack as the Democratic nominee for president.

For the first stop on my tour, I drove up to the Peterborough office. Located next door to a chocolate shop, the office is constantly filled with the aroma of coffee and sweets, tempting staff, interns and volunteers alike.

Peterborough is a quintessential New England town with a vibrant civic culture. I’m writing this post sitting across from Elise, a high school music teacher in New Ipswich, who volunteers by making calls during the day.

Elise is joined by Emily, a senior at ConVal High School who will be casting her first vote for Barack in less than two weeks. Participation in the Girls Nation program whetted Emily’s appetite for politics. Since first volunteering in August, Emily has thrown herself into organizing students at her high school to canvass in teams.

“What I love about politics is the sense of possibility that comes with participation,” Emily says. “You can really just come from nowhere and make a difference.”

Dan, a retiree in Peterborough, has been producing handmade signs for the office, and he has doggedly obtained signed supporter cards from people in less-trafficked locations—like the local landfill.

Dan says, “Obama has the energy to inspire people like me to take action and get involved in the political system. I’m doing this because I’m convinced that I have the power to actually accomplish something.”

Dan had only been involved sporadically with political campaigns in the past because he never felt he could make a difference. But this grassroots movement for change has convinced him that his voice matters.

At an event at Noone Falls, Lori-Ann, a retired social worker, had a conversation with Michelle that convinced her to get involved. Lori-Ann is living with cerebral palsy and appreciated Michelle’s empathy.

“I never felt my vote made a difference,” said Lori-Ann, “But Barack is so different from any candidate I’ve seen before that I believe I can have an impact now… I feel like I’m part of a community in a way that I haven’t before.”

As I prepared to leave Peterborough for my next stop, the actress Alfre Woodard paid a surprise visit to the office. She offered to phone bank over the next few days while she was visiting family in nearby Dublin.

Visit the Peterborough office at the Grove Village Shops complex at 43 Grove Street, or call 603-924-0808.

Next stop: Claremont.

“This is an incredible time of life”—Lee Kass’s Story

Michael Negron — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:13:39 EST

“In the early sixties, I was perfectly happy being a wife and mother—the prototypical fifties housewife,” recalled Lee Kass, a town captain for Barack in Amherst. But after the birth of her second child, she began to feel a growing sense of independence, which prompted her to return to the working world. "I decided that if I didn't go back to work, I'd go insane," she said.

In 1965 Lee decided to go back to school. She completed a Masters in Special Education and taught emotionally troubled kids for five years. She also set up community programs for the mentally disabled.

In time, Lee earned her doctorate and became a practicing psychotherapist. While teaching adults at Empire State College in upstate New York, she grew particularly interested in the continued mental development experienced by adults. Now retired from psychological counseling, she teaches classes on “Conscious Aging” at the Rivier Institute for Senior Education.

Lee says, “My intention is to get students to open themselves to the possibilities that the later years in life present many opportunities for continuing growth and development.”

“This is an incredible time of life, and offers opportunities for doing things we didn’t have time for in earlier life stages.” she said. “At the same time, there are challenges in dealing with changing health, relationships with adult children, and the financial uncertainties of retirement.”

Lee admits that she shares the anxieties of many of her students, particularly on facing retirement. “Thank God for Social Security,” she said, “and thank God for my husband’s pension. We are comfortable, not wealthy, but we are able to live well enough.”

She is working for the campaign because she believes that Barack has an unmatched ability to understand and empathize with people from all walks of life. “Barack can relate to people of all ages, but I know he understands the challenges faced by seniors because of the role his grandparents played in his upbringing,” she said.

This ability to empathize, Lee believes, will enable him to inspire more Americans to enter the political process to reclaim politics from the special interests. As a result, she’s working on a primary campaign in New Hampshire for the first time.

She said:

I have never felt so passionate about a candidate, as I do about Barack Obama…I feel as passionate about him as I think my father felt about Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who was his hero.

Fulfilling the Law’s Promise—Frank Heffron’s Story

Michael Negron — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 12:51:48 EST

After working as a community organizer in Chicago, Barack went to Harvard Law School to learn how the law’s promise of equality could be fulfilled for people in struggling communities. Barack’s work as a civil rights lawyer built upon a foundation of public interest law first laid by the courtroom victories of lawyers like Frank Heffron. In 1962, Frank graduated from Columbia Law School and joined the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, where he participated in several high-profile desegregation cases at the height of the civil rights movement.

“It was quite a time to be involved in the movement,” he recalled. “Some of the most evocative images of the era—the fire hoses, the sit-ins, the freedom rides—occurred during my days at the Legal Defense Fund.”

Frank remembers the assassinations of Martin Luther King, John Kennedy and Robert Kennedy as a jarring end to a decade that had opened with a sense of optimism and possibility.

“The Watts riots in 1965 heralded the divisions that took root over the decades to come,” he said.

Frank moved into private practice after his years at the Legal Defense Fund, but he remained involved in politics throughout. The father of three traces his interest in politics back to the free magazine subscriptions his family received because his father worked in the advertising business. Frank read the newsweeklies cover-to-cover, and steeped himself in the issues and personalities of the day. This early exposure to politics led directly to his pursuit of a career in the law.

In 1989, the Heffron family moved to upstate New York, where Frank worked as a county attorney. A decade later, he retired and moved to Exeter, where he threw himself into the Granite State’s lively political culture.

Today, Frank is supporting Barack and serves as a member of our Seacoast regional steering committee.

Frank believes that Barack has demonstrated a capacity to work with others that is desperately needed today. The deep divisions that began to emerge during the sixties are paralyzing our politics, he said. He added:

“Barack has a pragmatic approach to problem-solving and an ability to speak to people across the aisle that makes him the right leader for our time. He can heal some of those wounds of the 60s and revive some of that lost sense of possibility for our country.”

An Independent Looking for a Leader—Jeanne Emmick’s Story

Michael Negron — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 11:57:23 EST

Milford resident Jeanne Emmick has spent much of her career fighting to increase investments in preventive health care. As an administrator with the California Department of Health Services, she played a pivotal role in convincing the California Legislature to appoint a task force assigned with developing a master plan to reduce deaths and disability from cardiovascular disease. Jeanne is a believer in taking a long-term approach to solving problems, and is supporting Barack Obama because she sees that same devotion in him.

“We need a president with the judgment and foresight to address long-term challenges before they become present-day crises,” Jeanne said, “and Barack has both the vision and ability to work with others and build consensus to do this.”

Jeanne, whose sons are both physicians, became interested in pursuing a career in health care when her mother, who had been depressed and ill for many years, moved in with the family. Jeanne researched mental health experts for her mother and, in the process, discovered that the mental health system was faltering, with thousands of people not getting the care and treatment they needed. Although medical research was providing new, innovative treatments, the system still failed people.

Jeanne began working at a psychiatric hospital, where she helped sponsor the first national education program on depression with the National Institute of Mental Health. This program, named Depression Awareness Recognition and Treatment (D/ART), was launched in Sacramento, California to educate physicians, mental health workers and the general public about depression.

Jeanne moved on to work in senior services and with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Throughout her working career, she followed politics but never worked on a campaign. Studiously independent, she has voted for Republicans and Democrats in national and local elections.

Today, Jeanne is working for a campaign for the first time as an active member of Souhegan Valley for Obama. She recently organized a postcard-writing effort that targets her fellow independents.

“Barack is the only candidate that has the ability to reach out and win support from people across the ideological spectrum,” she said.

She added:

Democracies are built on compromise. If the two parties cannot finally work together on critical issues, our form of government will fail. As a constitutional scholar, Obama knows that both parties in Congress need to reach some critical agreements. He is very right to see us as Americans first, and not just as Democrats and Republicans. Ultimately, the leader of this country will need to bring both parties together and not just perpetuate rivalries.

From Cynic to Believer—Phil Slagle’s Story

Michael Negron — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 17:38:07 EST

Born in a hospital just blocks away from the White House, Phil Slagle has always held a cynical view of politics. A diabetes diagnosis in 1999, however, prompted Phil to become an advocate for diabetes prevention and treatment, catapulting him into the public eye he had previously avoided. Working with the American Diabetes Association, Phil raised money and awareness through Tour de Cure, an annual fundraiser.

Even so, electoral politics remained far from his mind. “It always seemed like too much of an insider’s game for my tastes,” he said.

Barack has now made a believer out of Phil.

After avoiding political involvement for most of his life, Phil is working on his first campaign as a proud member of the New Hampshire Health Care Community for Obama.

An Inherited Sense of Justice—Barbara Miles’s Story

Michael Negron — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 19:53:46 EST

Barbara Miles’s parents met while working for the U.S. Bombing Survey, where her mother transcribed her father’s notes on photos he took of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during World War II. As a result, Barbara was raised with a deep appreciation of the consequences of war and violence. This upbringing inspired Barbara to embark upon a career of working towards social justice.

Today, Barbara is working as a ward captain for Barack Obama in Manchester. She believes that he has the vision and intellect to unite the country and address many of the social ills she has sought to correct throughout her career.

Reclaiming the American Dream: Denise Short’s Story

Michael Negron — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 15:04:14 EST

When Denise Short turned 40, she decided that she could not wait any longer to be a parent. She began the adoption process and traveled to China to adopt her daughter Eliza. Denise is now raising Eliza alone while working full-time, and she is shocked by the cost of quality child care.

Still, the Exeter resident and Obama supporter considers herself lucky. She says:

It is much easier for me than many single moms because I have a good job and a flexible schedule, but I am constantly amazed to see what families with working parents are going through. The logistical and financial burdens posed by balancing work and family are overwhelming.

Denise is an editor and writer for an energy engineering company, a job that affords flexibility in her schedule. This flexibility has not eliminated the anxieties of middle class life. Denise cites access to health care as a top concern.

“I paid three thousand dollars out of pocket for a procedure to repair Eliza’s cleft palate,” she said. “My insurer picked up the rest, which went over ten thousand. I am constantly worried about being able to continue to afford good health care coverage for my daughter.”

Raising Eliza on her own is also made easier by the strong support community for adoptive families that exists in Exeter. “This community is extraordinary,” she said. “It is diverse, cohesive and incredibly supportive.”

Today, Denise works to convince members of her community and voters throughout the Seacoast that Barack Obama is the only candidate for president who can bring the country together in these divided times. She is convinced that Barack’s belief in open and transparent government is the antidote for six years of a government that failed to respond to the needs of 21st century working families.

Denise says, “A president that can be trusted at the head of a more transparent government would give me much more confidence that our political system just might start representing the people it is supposed to serve.”

She added, “I trust Barack to be that president.”

Read more about Barack’s plan to reclaim the American Dream and make government work for middle class families like Denise’s again.

Retail Politics at its Best: House Parties in New Hampshire

Michael Negron — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:51:42 EST

Sometimes it’s tough to get people to come for a holiday party this close to Christmas. But yesterday, households in Derry and New Hampton offered party-goers an unbeatable incentive: the chance to meet the next President of the United States.

With snow falling quicky and deeply, cars lined the sides of residential streets for blocks as nearly 200 voters crowded into living rooms to meet Barack face-to-face and learn more about his vision for change.

As the crowds warmed up after making the winter trek, Barack explained his reasons for running this year, citing Dr. Martin Luther King’s notion of the “fierce urgency of now.” He said:

People of all walks of life are looking for something different, and are open to a new direction. I believe that our politics is up for grabs right now and that we can do better than the same old political textbook.

Undecided voters made up the bulk of the party-goers in Derry and North Hampton, and Barack made his case the New Hampshire way, on a person-to-person basis.

Straight Talk on the New Hampshire Seacoast

Michael Negron — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:18:04 EST

Barack ended his two-day swing through New Hampshire by providing straightforward, direct answers to voters at Meet the Candidate events in Portsmouth and Rochester tonight. Speaking to over one thousand Seacoast residents who traversed snow-covered roads to hear his vision for change, Barack promised to govern with the same commitment to openness that he has demonstrated throughout his career and campaign.

Before the next president can tackle the major challenges we face, Barack argued, that president will first have to restore our trust in government. He vowed to do so by bringing transparency and keeping the American people involved.

Openness matters. Secrecy, on the other hand, allows for politicians to pay more attention to special interests than to their constituents’ interests.

A closed process doomed health care reform in 1993, Barack reminded his audiences. He said:

[The Clinton Administration] closed off the process and didn’t even include some Democratic members of Congress… and the American people certainly weren’t invited into the discussions. And so by the time they released the plan, the insurance lobby, the HMOs and the drug companies were already mobilized. They convinced everybody that this was going to be socialized medicine… it was dead on arrival.

Barack described his process for reforming health care as one that would engage all interested parties, and most importantly, include the American people. He said:

The process that enlists the American people and instructs the American people about what the choices are… you are building a constituency for the plan even as you’re trying to get it passed… [and] that’s how you offset the power of lobbyists.

With a track record for government and ethics reform unmatched by anyone else in this race, Barack is the one candidate with the experience we need to open up government and ensure every voice is heard.

Barack takes a question in Portsmouth.

After the Barack wrapped up in Rochester, Sergio, an undecided voter from Somersworth, said, “With other politicians, you get the sense that they are trying to play a role. With Obama, it seems authentic.”

Restoring Trust in Government: Barack Meets With Independents in Exeter

Michael Negron — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:56:20 EST

Barack continued to share his vision for change with New Hampshire voters today, holding a roundtable discussion this morning with six independents to discuss the need to restore faith in government so that the nation can effectively take on the challenges we face. If people don’t believe that government can solve problems, Barack affirmed, the next administration will not be able to overcome lobbyist and special interest influence to bring about real change.

“I will run the most open and transparent Administration in history,” he said, “because when you shut the door on the people, chances are you’re not doing the peoples’ business, you’re doing someone else’s…Instead of doing business behind closed doors, we’ll bring democracy back to the people.”

By conducting government business in the open and inviting citizen participation, Barack said, he will be able to enlist the American people in breaking the special interest stranglehold on our politics.

Gail, a roundtable participant, told the group about a visit she made to the Vietnam Wall in Washington DC with her daughter. After recognizing several names on the Wall, she grieved and recited the Gettysburg Address, breaking down in tears as she reflected on her lost optimism about the future after the assassinations of the 60s.

She said, “I realized recently that I wept because I missed the feeling that anything was possible, and hoped to believe in our government and leadership once more in my lifetime.”

Gail added that, after watching Barack’s DNC speech and volunteering for the campaign, she felt “the same sense of hope about the future again.”

Fired Up in a New Hampshire Snow Storm

Michael Negron — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:14:12 EST

As they braced for yet another snow storm, Granite Staters filed into venues in Manchester and Nashua to hear more about Barack’s vision for positive change. At both events, Barack demonstrated his commitment to telling voters not just what they want to hear, but what they need to know.

Being straightforward about the challenges we face as a nation even when it’s not politically convenient is important, Barack said, because it will lead to better results:

"Part of what we need in the next president is somebody who can be straightforward and honest and clear about how we’re going to meet our challenges. Because one thing we have to do is enlist the American people to help solve the problems that we face."

By enlisting the American people to break through politics-as-usual and stand up against the special interests, Barack vowed that his administration would be able to make government work for everyday Americans in the fast-paced, global economy of the 21st century. Barack stressed that putting the American Dream within reach for everyone and ensuring that our children and grandchildren are prepared to compete in the global economy will require hard work and sacrifice, but that the sacrifice would be worth it because those values are essential to who we are as a nation.

Two members of these future generations, Ashley and her son Nate, took center stage as Barack told the story of Edith Childs and the origins of the “Fired Up, Ready to Go” chant. Nate, who canvasses with his mother in Nashua, couldn’t contain himself, shouting out “Fired Up!” and “Ready to Go!” every time Barack uttered the phrase.

Ashley and Nate

Ashley is a frequent presence at our Nashua office, inspired by Barack’s vision for change. She said, “He’s genuine and sincere, and always impresses me with his willingness to answer questions so honestly.”

It’s that sincere approach that’s driving Barack’s momentum here in New Hampshire and led one questioner at Barack’s Meet the Candidate event in Manchester to commend him for running the most positive campaign in the race.

Barack will continue to meet with New Hampshire voters and answer questions about his vision for America tomorrow.

Reclaiming the American Dream: Barack Meets with Voters in Concord, NH

Michael Negron — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:55:02 EST

Barack met with six New Hampshire residents today in Concord to talk about his plan to put the American Dream back within reach for all Americans. Before beginning their conversation, he delivered opening remarks, stressing that Americans are working harder for less. Even worse, their voices go unheard in Washington due to a broken political system.

Barack vowed to open up the process to scrutiny and fight for working families in Washington. He said that this was a fight that everyone has a stake in, adding:

America is the sum of our dreams. And what binds us together, what makes us one American family, is that we stand up and fight for each other’s dreams, that we reaffirm that fundamental belief – I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper – through our politics, our policies, and in our daily lives. It’s time to do that once more. It’s time to reclaim the American dream.

Matt, a state government employee from Concord, spoke of the challenges he and his wife face in raising two young children while caring for his elderly mother.

“We’re juggling a lot right now, and it’s getting tougher to deal with the costs and time pressures,” he said. “And that’s not even including saving for college, which is something we’ll need to start thinking about soon.”

Concord retiree Sandra shared a very personal story. The life-saving medication she takes costs $2,900 a month, quickly landing her in the “doughnut hole” of Medicare Part D—the prescription drug coverage deductible that kicks in between $2,250 and $5,100, and requires her to pay out of pocket for her drug expenditures. The financial burden is simply too much for Sandra and her husband to bear on two Social Security checks and has forced the couple to tap into their life insurance funds and sell their pick-up truck.

“We had a dream once,” Sandra said emotionally. “It wasn’t a big dream, but it was our dream. And now it’s gone.”

“It’s outrageous,” Barack replied, decrying a health care system broken by drug and insurance companies and their Washington lobbyists. But, he added, “I know I can fix it if I've got the American people behind me.”

Barack also outlined his plan to get prescription drug costs under control by closing the “doughnut hole,” empowering Medicare to negotiate down drug prices like the VA does, allowing the safe importation of drugs from Canada, and encouraging the use of generics.

He closed out the event by reaffirming that we if we want to bring about real change for working families, we have to star by changing the political system in Washington.

Check in later for updates on Barack’s trip to New Hampshire.

Our Massachusetts Headquarters: Ready to Go

Michael Negron — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:47:40 EST

As Massachusetts Congressman Tip O’Neil once famously said, “All politics is local.” The best campaigns take place at the person-to-person level—on the phone, at doorsteps and from neighbors talking to neighbors. Barack has made a number of trips to the Boston area, and is a frequent visitor north of the border in New Hampshire. Even so, he will not be able to meet with every voter in both states one-on-one.

This is where our grassroots volunteers come in.

Barack’s Bay State supporters have trekked up to New Hampshire by the busload throughout the fall. Their efforts have helped increase our momentum for the first-in-the-nation primary these past few weeks.

Now our Massachusetts volunteers have a place to call home.

Located in Davis Square in Somerville, the Obama office has already become a home for volunteers who gather every night, making calls to Get Out the Vote. They are joined by smaller phone banks all across the state.

Last night, I spoke with a Massachusetts volunteer who has been making calls for Barack for months. Carol, a Brookline resident, is an English professor at Suffolk University but has been making the time to talk to voters about her support for Barack. A writer herself, she became a supporter after reading his books.

“He really revealed his soul in his memoirs,” she said, “and someone who knows himself that well, who feels that comfortable in his own skin, can maintain the courage of his convictions and speak with candor regardless of the political expediencies of the moment.”

Join Carol and become part of our movement here in Massachusetts. Drop in on our Somerville office to introduce yourself to our staff.

Finding His Own Voice—Levey Saintil’s Story

Michael Negron — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:27:12 EST

For most of his life, Levey Saintil has felt like an outsider. As the second of eight children, Levey was forced to work at an early age as his family endured financial hardship and brief bouts of homelessness. Throughout his teenage years, the Portsmouth resident faced discrimination and ostracism because of his biracial background and sexual orientation. But the arts served as a refuge from his stress-filled life, and Levey threw himself into writing, dancing and performing.

Levey now lives with his mother, who is on disability, and taking care of her while starting college. He supports Barack for president because he believes that Barack has the diversity of background and experience to relate to all people, including those who feel like outsiders.

“I’ve been waiting a long time….”: Senator Harris Wofford Visits New Hampshire

Michael Negron — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:06:26 EST

Former Pennsylvania Senator Harris Wofford met with Manchester voters this morning to discuss Barack’s plan for encouraging service. Senator Wofford served as a special assistant on civil rights to President Kennedy and played an instrumental role in the formation of the Peace Corps. More recently, Senator Wofford held the post of Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which runs the AmeriCorps and other service programs.

At a meet and greet with members of ServeNext NH, Senator Wofford told his audience that the Kennedy Administration succeeded in fostering a spirit of service throughout the nation, a spirit that faded after the turbulence and domestic divisions of the 1960s. He is supporting Barack, in large part, to restore that lost spirit of service to the nation.

He said:

I’ve been waiting for a long time to feel as inspired as I felt during the days of John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. Barack Obama has picked up the torch that they lit and can rekindle that lost energy and passion for serving our country.

The country is ready, Senator Wofford said, to create a lasting culture of service in which all young people are expected to spend a few years serving the nation and the world as part of their overall education. He remarked, “We have a tremendous opportunity in electing Barack Obama to unite this country around common goals and revitalize the sense that we’re all in this together.”

Senator Wofford, whose special election victory in 1991 helped put health care on the national agenda in advance of the 1993 effort to overhaul the health care system, believes the leadership we need to achieve real change on a variety of issues requires a clean break with the past.

He said, “I am so afraid of going back to the polarization of the 90s, and I was right in the thick of things when I served in the Senate. Barack bears none of those scars and offers us a fresh start.”

Building Community Around Justice—Patricia Bass’s Story

Michael Negron — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:50:26 EST

Patricia Bass has volunteered for grassroots causes since the 1960s. The mother of two focuses these days on being a vocal advocate for environmental and social justice causes. She supports Barack because she recognizes an inherent sense of social justice in him, proven by the choices he has made in life and the content of his writings.

An active member of the Unitarian church, Patricia has sought to live her faith and actively contribute to her community. Patricia helped found both the New Hampshire Breast Cancer Coalition and the New Hampshire School Volunteers Program.

Today, much of Patricia’s focus is on environmental issues. She recently helped organize dozens of towns to prevent the construction of a landfill on the banks of the Merrimack River near Concord. Patricia and other leaders of the OxBow Initiative met with conservation commissions in all 27 towns that would be affected and led a petition drive that garnered over 4,000 signatures in opposition to the landfill.

Together, they spent 18 months on grassroots organizing against the construction. They were helped by a Spring deluge that heavily damaged the proposed site. Finally, the trash cooperative withdrew its plan. Patricia is now helping redirect the OxBow Initiative to participate in a larger dialogue across the state about improving waste disposal methods, reducing trash tonnage and increasing recycling.

Barack’s emphasis on active citizenship, combined with his commitment to the environment and social justice, makes him Patricia’s candidate of choice. She is particularly impressed with his years spent as a community organizer, and how thoroughly he absorbed the lesson that working with others for the greater good begins with listening.

“Being listened to is so much like being loved that most people can’t tell the difference,” she said, quoting one of her favorite sayings.

A Passion for Politics—Carlos Cardona’s Story

Michael Negron — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:41:53 EST

18 year-old Carlos Cardona has a passion for politics and believes in the power of coming together to solve the challenges of the day. But the Franklin resident also believes the political process can break down when people are unwilling to act as honest partners in solving problems. Today, Carlos supports Barack for president because he feels that Barack is never afraid to speak openly and honestly about the issues.

When Carlos looks at the news today, he sees that members of the LGBT community do not receive equal treatment in our society. He remembers a moment at his church when, before he came out to his friends and family, a fellow parishioner asked him to pray for God to “change the hearts” of the homosexuals.

Carlos never returned to that church, and looked to politics as means to combat the sentiment notion that the LGBT deserve anything less than equality.

“We are still fighting for our rights,” he said, “and this struggle is part of what draws me into politics.”

Carlos is also motivated by a broken health care system that has affected him directly. He lives on his own, and works two jobs in order to pay the bills and afford his own health insurance. Carlos’s mother is a three-time cancer survivor, and he vividly recalls the anxiety that greeted each set of bills that followed her life-saving procedures.

Fueled by his belief that the political system can still work to yield equality and help people like him, Carlos has thrown himself into campaigning for Barack, working out of the Laconia office every week. Carlos admires Barack because of his willingness to speak truths even when it challenges the listeners, and because Barack is serious about ensuring equal rights for gays and lesbians.

“I can tell that Barack is someone who feels in his heart that everyone deserves an equal shot in life,” he said.

“The difference between a campaign and a movement”

Michael Negron — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 12:44:37 EST

The strength and depth of our grassroots movement for change was on full display this morning as our supporters gathered in Concord and Raymond to select delegates. As a testament to Barack’s common appeal, 180 candidates, consisting of all genders, races, and ages – from 18 to 80 – ran to be a delegate for Barack at the Democratic National Convention in Denver in 2008.

Most of the candidates were newcomers to politics, inspired by Barack’s vision for change. Each candidate gave a 60 second speech, and those attending selected 14 delegates via secret ballot.

One of the candidates, 18 year old Sutton resident Shamus, ran for delegate for the Second Congressional District. Shamus was nervous about his speech, and kept it focused on his reasons for supporting Barack.

“People were really receptive and encouraging,” he said. “This was a great opportunity to share stories with other Barack supporters.”

Roy, a former Republican from Merrimack, ran for delegate at our caucus in Raymond and wrote a diary about it at Blue Hampshire.

Roy wrote:

The difference between a campaign and a movement is that when you work on a campaign, you become part of that campaign, but when you participate in a movement, it becomes part of you.
That's the common thread of the people I've met working on the Obama campaign. It's not just about the man, the candidate, the election. It's part of who we are, what we want this country to be, what we believe in the core of our beings. That's why you'll see people out canvassing in the lousy weather of the next 3 weeks, spending their Christmas season making phone calls, and getting around 24 hours of sleep in the next 24 days.

When Barack steps to the podium to accept the Democratic nomination for president in Denver next summer, it will be due to the tireless efforts of our grassroots leaders and the tireless efforts of Granite State volunteers.

"More Cowbell!":Concord caucus MC Paul Twomey (photographed with Deb Butler) maintained order with this cowbell.

Heather Fry at Countdown to Change: A Well-Earned Moment in the Spotlight

Michael Negron — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 16:17:33 EST

Heather Fry, a Dorchester resident, introduced Barack at the Countdown to Change event in
Boston on December 2nd. Heather joined the campaign in October after seeing Barack and Deval Patrick speak at Boston Common.

“I’ve always been impressed and moved by his integrity and sincerity,” she said. “Seeing Obama and Patrick together with so many people hanging on their words made me feel like I really needed to do more than donate money.”

Since joining the campaign, Heather has canvassed in New Hampshire for three of the last four weekends, and volunteers in Boston two nights a week. Her enthusiasm and ability to connect with voters earned her the attention of our Boston organizers, who suggested that she provide the introduction for Barack at the December Countdown to Change event.

While Heather has performed before audiences of hundreds during her theater days, she remembers feeling excited and overwhelmed when she first found out that she’d be speaking before a crowd of over 2,000.

“I woke up in a cold sweat at 3am the night before. It was intense!” she laughed. “But once I took the stage and started to feel the energy from the crowd, it became a lot easier.”

She says that she is working for Barack because she believes that he has the strength and character to clean up Washington.

She added, “When I’ve watched him at debates and other events, I think to myself that this is the kind of guy I want sitting at a table, making the important decisions that will determine the future of the country.”

Here’s Heather’s introduction, courtesy of BelowBoston.com:

Barack’s Plan for Rural New Hampshire

Michael Negron — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:55:29 EST

As a Senator representing a Midwestern state with a large rural population, Barack understands how communities across rural New Hampshire and the rest of the country are feeling squeezed. Family-owned and independent farmers worry about remaining competitive in an economic and regulatory climate that favors consolidation. Young people raised in rural communities are increasingly likely to depart in search of better opportunities, a trend that is threatening to make their vibrant culture a thing of the past.

Here in New Hampshire, these challenges have been exacerbated by the recent closures of the Fraser Mill in Berlin and Wausau Mill in Groveton. Barack has heard from concerned of residents of local communities across the country on the campaign trail, and has crafted his rural agenda in response to conversations with voters and policy experts.

Yesterday, Barack’s policy advisors unveiled his rural agenda via a conference call with New Hampshire voters.

“We have been burdened for many, many years with a federal farm policy that really makes no sense for agriculture here in the Northeast and in New Hampshire,” said Steve Taylor, former New Hampshire Agriculture Commissioner. “The Senator’s policy…addresses that concern… particularly with regard to expanding the opportunities that are right under our noses here.”

Taylor was joined on the call by Bob Sussman, former Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Mil Duncan, sociologist and Director of the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire.

Mil commented, “Rural communities are struggling with the transition to a global economy, and Senator Obama sees both the challenges and opportunities offered by this moment of great change.”

Bob added that an economy based on green energy holds promise for regions like the North Country, and said that Senator Obama has “an aggressive plan to wean America off of its reliance on foreign oil and create new jobs by supporting alternative energy.”

Yesterday, Barack’s policy advisors unveiled his rural agenda via a conference call with New Hampshire voters.

Obama’s agenda will support New Hampshire rural communities by:

Providing needed support for family farmers in New Hampshire;
Creating economic opportunities in New Hampshire’s rural areas including a focus on the state’s farming and forestry industries;
Enabling New Hampshire to take advantage of the growth of clean renewable energy in this country;
Supporting rural job growth through a Microenterprise Initiative that will provide training and tax credits to small businesses in rural areas; and
Improving rural education, providing incentives to attract teachers to rural schools, and ultimately seeking to retain young people in rural America.

You can read the full plan HERE.

A Natural Network-Builder—Nan Stearns’ Story

Michael Negron — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:11:56 EST

Nan Stearns introduces Barack's sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng.

Amherst resident Nan Stearns learned the importance of having a strong support network during her husband’s 30-year career in the U.S. Army. She lived all over the world, from Taiwan to Germany to Alaska, and during those travels learned to quickly put down roots and reach out to her new community. Nan has put those skills to use in the past few years, founding Women Making a Difference in New Hampshire and working to organize the Souhegan Valley for Barack.

Nan and Peter have been married for nearly 50 years. During Peter’s time with the Army Corps of Engineers, the Stearns family lived at duty stations across the country and the world. During these travels, Nan taught school and volunteered for organizations like the Girl Scouts and the Red Cross. This volunteering did not extend to politics until recently.

Until the 90s, both Nan and Peter considered themselves Republicans. They changed their affiliation to “undeclareds” when they concluded that the Republican Party had changed over the past and party had left them behind. Nan and Peter became active grassroots supporters in the Dean campaign, and that experience convinced them to continue to engage in New Hampshire politics.

In 2005, Nan helped found Women Making a Difference, a network of like-minded women advocating for change on issues including election integrity, childhood obesity, fair taxes, and global warming.

“It seemed to me that many women in the state felt their voices weren’t being heard,” she recalls, “and I have always felt that there is tremendous power to be found in networks of people who are willing to merge their voices with others.”

Nan met Barack at a house party and shortly after Labor Day decided to devote her abilities to building networks in her own community to support the campaign. Her reason for supporting Barack is simple. She said:

He is the only candidate who can bring the country together again at a time when unity is desperately needed. After eight years of division, he won’t waste this opportunity to heal the country by polarizing the electorate.

Looking to Renew Faith in Government--Jim and Angie’s Story

Michael Negron — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:54:23 EST

Jim and Angie Elberfeld of Nashua first joined the Obama campaign online at My.BarackObama.com. Years ago, they also met each other online, both newly single after recent divorces. This web-savvy pair of former Republicans, born and raised in Ohio, are experiencing a rekindling of excitement about politics that they haven’t felt since the early days of Ronald Reagan.

The couple remained solidly Republican until the current president took office. The “scandal and dishonesty” of the Bush Administration, exemplified by the president’s commutation of Scooter Libby’s sentence, convinced the Elberfelds that the nation needed a major course correction.

As the parents of two children with autism, the Elberfelds are particularly frustrated with President Bush’s unwillingness to consider the use of embryonic stem cells for research.

“We are passing up on potential life-changing treatments,” Angie shared with frustration, “for the sake of some black-and-white view of the world.”

The irrationality of the Bush Administration’s position on the issue is even more galling to Jim and Angie because they both work in the health care industry. For Jim, a medical researcher, the refusal to engage in embryonic stem cell research impedes scientific progress. Angie, a nurse, says that she has already experienced harmful delays in the treatment of her oldest daughter, whose autism wasn’t properly diagnosed until age 12. An Administration that stifles research into a cure for autism because of ideological reasons only increases Angie’s frustration.

The Elberfelds have lost faith in the Republican Party and believe that Barack will refocus government to protect the interests of middle-class families like theirs who feel squeezed by the costs of raising healthy, well-educated children while also saving for their own retirement. Jim and Angie are worried about the lack of available support services in New Hampshire for adults with autism. They look at the projected future of Social Security and Medicare and see a rocky path ahead for them if they can’t save as much as they’d like now.

The idea of a President Obama calms their anxieties.

“He can make this country move again and restore our optimism about the future,” said Jim.

Organizing Over Dinner in Cambridge

Michael Negron — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:37:36 EST

Thanks in no small part to the work grassroots volunteers in Massachusetts have done to help the campaign in New Hampshire, our movement has gained momentum in the first-in-the-nation primary state. Last night, the energy and dedication of our Massachusetts supporters was on full display at an organizing meeting and pot luck dinner in Cambridge, MA.

Over 40 people attended, bringing a dish with them to share with their fellow Obama volunteers. Everyone spoke enthusiastically about making the trek up to New Hampshire in the coming weeks, especially in such a tight race, and one with so much at stake. They were also happy that they would continue to play an important role on the campaign after New Hampshire -- now that Massachusetts has moved up to February 5th.

David, a Somerville resident, said, “I’m a gardener by trade, but now that the winter has come, I am going to devote myself to this campaign full-time.”

Meetings like last night’s are building a community that will sustain our hardy volunteers during the winter canvasses and visibility events to come.

Join them for the closing weeks of the campaign and volunteer with our Massachusetts office today.

“Judgment is the Key”: Ted Sorensen Visits New Hampshire

Michael Negron — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:24:05 EST

Ted Sorensen, speechwriter and special counselor to President John F. Kennedy, met with voters in Manchester, Amherst, Nashua, Rochester and Dover on Wednesday and Thursday to talk about why Barack Obama is the candidate in this race with the best judgment to face the challenges we face at this moment in history. The stakes are high, Sorensen believes. He declared the 2008 election to be the “most important election in my lifetime since 1932.”

In addition to serving in the Senate office and White House of President Kennedy, Sorensen has advised numerous presidents and would-be presidents, traveled the world and met with a number of foreign leaders. He emphasized the critical importance of good judgment in our leaders.

Sorensen said:

Judgment is the key. More important than ideology, more important than taking a particular position on a particular issue. Issues come and go. The issues five years from now won’t be the same issues they are today, I hope. That’s where presidential judgment is the key… I think Obama has those leadership qualities, and this is a country crying out desperately in need for new leadership, a break from the past.

John F. Kennedy’s judgment, said Sorensen, kept the country out of war during the Cuban Missile Crisis, which he called “the thirteen most dangerous days in the history of mankind.”

Sorensen believes that President Kennedy’s judgment developed in the years he spent traveling abroad to Europe, the Balkans, the Soviet Union and the Middle East during his father’s tenure as Ambassador to the United Kingdom, as well as his combat service in the Pacific Ocean during the Second World War. This judgment empowered him to resist the conventional, Cold War thinking that might have led another president to pursue a more aggressive path during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Sorensen believes that Barack possesses the same kind of crucial, presidential, crisis-ready judgment.

Life experience forged Barack’s superb judgment, said Sorensen, pointing to his time living overseas and his years spent on the streets of the South Side of Chicago as a community organizer. Sorensen believes Barack amply demonstrated this judgment by defying public opinion and opposing the Iraq war before it began. He added that Barack defied the conventional thinking in Washington about foreign policy when he advocated direct diplomacy with our adversaries – the opposite of the current Administration’s stance.

“Barack Obama reminds me of John F. Kennedy,” said Sorensen, “and he is the only candidate in this race with the judgment to be president during this important moment in history.”

After Sorensen’s visit to a house party in Amherst, Jack, a local resident and retired military contractor, said, “Sorensen cuts right to the point and gets to the heart of the matter. I can’t think of a better spokesman.”

A Real Change Agent in Her Community—Patty MacKenzie’s Story

Michael Negron — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:29:58 EST

“Life is unfair for too many,” said Patty MacKenzie, a founder of the Hampton Community Coalition (HCC), a nonprofit community action group that assists struggling families.

Born to a family of teachers, Patty followed in her parents’ footsteps and taught for 10 years. As a teacher, she encountered many students who were ill-prepared for school because they lacked the necessary support structure at home. Working with other community activists, Patty helped found HCC 15 years ago to address the root causes of the struggles faced by these students.

HCC focuses on helping families weather tough periods of transition, providing guidance for families facing foreclosures, coordinating projects such as gathering and distribution of food and household items, and organizing after-school programs to keep youth on the right track.

In addition to using her organizational abilities to benefit her community, Patty has volunteered for political campaigns for the past few cycles. This year, she is serving as a town captain for Barack because she believes he represents a new way of doing business in Washington.

“His background as a community organizer is particularly appealing,” she said. “He is intimately familiar with problems addressed by organizations like HCC which would make him a president with special insight into the social problems plaguing the country.”

Patty is confident that Barack would be able to translate his life experience into a governing approach because of his ability to reach across the aisle and bring people together. She first began thinking about Barack’s potential for unifying the country while going door-to-door for Carol Shea-Porter in 2006. She recalls:

As I canvassed, I met many independent voters who would cite Barack Obama as an example of the kind of political leader they would support… This gives me confidence that Barack will win over independents and bring unifying leadership to the White House.

Today, Patty and Congresswoman Shea-Porter are working together again, defying the same conventional thinking that told them they couldn’t win in 2006.

Patty said:

We shocked the pundits here in New Hampshire in 2006. Now, we can surprise the nation by electing Barack and bringing the change we fought for in the last election to its logical destination: the White House.

A Lifetime of Defying Conventional Thinking—Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter’s Story

Michael Negron — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:23:54 EST

It takes an independent thinker with inner strength and determination to press forward when respected voices are saying, “no, you can’t.” Carol Shea-Porter, the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives by the state of New Hampshire, has been defying conventional thinking for decades.

With her recent endorsement of Barack Obama, she’s ready to do it again.

Carol earned a BA in Social Services and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of New Hampshire. She has been a social worker and an administrator, and she also taught Politics. In these jobs, she saw how decisions made in Washington impacted people’s lives at home.

Carol’s inspiration to serve others came from a youth spent growing up in a large household. She lived with her parents and many siblings and her elderly relatives. Their home was always open to troubled teens.

Carol has volunteered for political campaigns throughout her adult life, but she became particularly involved in General Wesley Clark’s presidential campaign in 2004. During that time, she forged connections with other Granite Staters, who were looking for the same thing she was – to take our country back.

In 2006, when Carol ran in the Democratic primary, the Democratic Party establishment supported her opponent, even though he had given George Bush the benefit of the doubt on Iraq policy. Conventional thinking said that Carol didn’t have a chance to win a general election against two-term Republican Congressman Jeb Bradley. Carol ignored those who told her she couldn’t win. She ran a grassroots campaign fueled by the intelligence and passion of local activists, many with dozens of years of experience working on political campaigns. She overcame a huge financial disadvantage and the opposition of her own party – and she won the five-way primary by twenty points!

In the general election, she was again told that she didn’t have a prayer. The litany was the same – that she had no money, no professional campaign staff, little name recognition, no formal political experience. Yet she fired up her grassroots campaign and won a second stunning upset.

Today, Carol has cast aside conventional thinking again, announcing her support of Barack Obama for President. She believes that Barack’s campaign here in New Hampshire represents the same spirit of change that brought her to Washington. She said:

Sen. Barack Obama stands ready to lead our nation for the next eight years. He will heal our divisions at home and abroad. I know the Senator will use diplomacy before force wherever possible and will show intelligent restraint. After all, he was the one who turned a cold, sober eye on the Iraq evidence and accurately judged it, and wisely spoke against the war. That showed true leadership and courage.”

Carol knows that real change requires each of us to do our part. In joining the Obama campaign, she is joining many of her 2006 campaign supporters who are already working for Barack. Carol now adds her powerful voice to our growing movement in the Granite State.

With Carol’s help, we will continue to march toward the White House.

A Natural Skeptic Looking to Believe—Larry Phillips’ Story

Michael Negron — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 13:49:21 EST

Keene ward captain and undeclared voter Larry Phillips is a skeptic by nature.

After growing up in a small coal town with an upbringing he recalls as “culturally confined,” Larry describes his college years as eye-opening and transformative. As an English major, Larry learned to question his beliefs and the status quo. He became a campus contrarian at his small conservative college and a conscientious objector to the war. After graduation, Larry became a junior high English teacher in a suburb of Philadelphia, starting on the path of a career in education and counseling.

“There’s a vibrancy to working as an educator that comes from the energy young people bring to the classroom,” he said.

Larry taught his students to dissect the thoughts and emotions of the characters they read about. His own fascination with human behavior led him to pursue advanced study in psychology. He worked as a counselor for over a decade, ultimately becoming an Associate Professor at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, where he teaches counseling and psychology.

Throughout his career, Larry has encouraged his students to question everything. But today, Larry is moving past his cynicism to work as an Obama ward captain in Keene because he believes that with Barack as President, real change is possible.

“I’ve been disappointed in the past,” he admits, “but I want to believe that this time will be different… I have hope this time because Obama has a presidential stature that none of the other candidates can match.”

Larry adds:

Obama is authentic, which is big part of ability to reach across the aisle and reach across the ocean. This makes him a natural statesman, which I think will enable him to present an entirely different face to the world after an administration that has so much to damage our standing.

In Search of a Fresh Start—Carlton’s Story

Michael Negron — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:34:38 EST

Carlton, a New London resident and a former Republican, has a keen appreciation of history. The World War II veteran has authored and independently-published several historical books and formerly served as governor of the New Hampshire Society of Mayflower Descendants, an organization that helps trace one’s ancestry back to the early colonies. Carlton believes that the country is facing a historic opportunity to put the slash-and-burn partisan battles of the past few decades behind it by electing Barack Obama. To Carlton, Barack represents a sharp break from politics-as-usual.

“He can heal the nation of the scars from the last few decades of deep division,” he said.

Carlton can look back and recall less partisan times. Enlisting in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 during the Second World War, Carlton served as an X-Ray technician based out of Norfolk, Virginia. After his service, he married and studied science and engineering at UNH. He moved to Needham, MA to become a researcher for Harvard and MIT. A few years later, Carlton joined a research firm, working on a linear accelerator.

“The country’s politics knew comparative peace,” he recalls, “but the dawn of the 1960s brought with it turbulence and division.”

Carlton faced turbulence in his life when his wife died of a heart attack at the young age of 38. He sought to piece his life back together by changing careers and opening a book store in New London. The young widower remarried, and his business, the Kearsarge Book Shelf, provided him with 27 years of fulfilling work.

“Sometimes your life falls apart and you can’t conceive of what the future might bring,” he said. “I made a fresh start in a new place, which helped me heal and recover.”

In addition to the daily joys and challenges of overseeing the book store, Carlton also authored several historical and biographical books, and his artwork has been displayed at the New London Gallery. Carlton is a frequent volunteer at the Musterfield Farm, an 18th century homestead, working farm, and museum that commemorates the history of New Hampshire agriculture.

Carlton decided to support Barack after he read The Audacity of Hope and met him in person at a house party. A lifelong Republican, Carlton says that the Republican Party left him behind when the country grew more divided. He believes that Barack has the leadership skills and public demeanor to unite the country again.

“Barack has the honesty, openness and sincerity to appeal to people across the political divide,” Carlton said. “He can put us back on the path to recovering our sense of being in this together as a nation.”

Oprah and Barack in Manchester: The Personal Accounts

Michael Negron — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:45:42 EST

Last night’s appearance at the Verizon Wireless Arena by Oprah Winfrey, Michelle and Barack Obama earned rave reviews.

Gail, a Rochester ward captain, hadn’t worked for a candidate since the 60s. Last night’s event revived some old memories. She said, “I haven’t felt this kind of energy and excitement since I saw John Kennedy speak at the Boston Garden in 1960. What an amazing crowd!”

Turning to her daughter, Gail said, “You’re going to be telling your grandkids about this some day.”

Stacy Hinkley, a Londonderry resident, shared Gail’s sentiments about the historic nature of Barack’s candidacy and this event, writing for NH Presidential Watch:

I was able to experience the most amazing night last night, and was most grateful to be able to bring my daughter with me… I found the experience powerful and know in my heart my daughter had an experience, she will never forget.
Oprah spoke of why she is supporting this great man and how she feels now is the time, and this is the right candidate for these times we are now in. I share with Oprah these same feelings, and that is why this is the first election I have become involved in. I feel the urgency of now and see at the same time the right candidate for these times is Barack Obama.

On Blue Hampshire, in an excellent photo blog of the event, jhutson concluded:

By the end of the rally, Obama held thousands of people, mostly women, spellbound with his eloquence, humor, and vision. If Oprah had lured most of the audience members to the arena, it was Obama who sealed the deal.

Below Boston’s bowes3 live-blogged the event, later posting video clips, and writing:

Barack's commanding speech will most likely impress those undecided Democratic voters that were in attendance. The speech was a great mix of policy as well as reasons why he is running for President.

Over at Blue Hampshire on a post by Delegator entitled, “It’s O Night in Manchester”, Kelly Nordstrom commented:

I was there and it was amazing…. I literally looked Michelle, Oprah, and Barack in the eye as they spoke... got chills at several moments, and felt like it was a personal conversation amongst friends -- that is until Obama broke out in to his "sermon" preaching style at the end. Then everyone was really fired up.

And finally, Phillip Baruth at Vermont Daily Briefing blogged about our weekend of Obama and Oprah -- all within the context of a tightening race that is coming down to the wire in the final weeks before election day:

And 30,000 in South Carolina, 8,500 in Manchester — those numbers can’t be faked. That’s serious excitement, serious momentum. And many of those people will now go out and pass the experience on to their friends.

Powerful Voices for Change: Barack and Oprah in Manchester, NH

Michael Negron — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 21:40:04 EST

Like many of Barack's supporters, Oprah Winfrey is new to politics. While she has used the power of her stardom in the service of many causes, she's avoided the political arena because of her cynicism about the ability of politicians to deliver on their promises. But that cynicism ended when she met Barack Obama.

Back in May, Oprah endorsed Barack -- the first time she had ever done so for any politician. Tonight, she added her voice to those of thousands of Granite States hungry for a new direction for America.

After being introduced by Michelle, Oprah explained that she supported Barack because she wanted to see real change:

I have never done this before, but what I realized is that if you keep doing the same thing, the same way, you keep getting the same results. Now is the time for change we can believe in.

Oprah explained that she had never been involved in politics and had avoided having politicians on her show, because she had trouble penetrating the “veil of political rhetoric.

Barack is different, Oprah said, because he’s “a politician who has an ear for eloquence, and a tongue for the unvarnished truth.”

Oprah's passionate speech brought the crowd of over 8,500 to their feet several times, and they remained standing when she introduced Barack.

Barack strode onto the stage and demonstrated yet again why he is the one candidate who can bring about change we can believe in. And thevision he offered for that change was a compelling one -- a vision of a new governing majority brought together by a renewed sense of leadership and common purpose, and free of the baggage of the partisan battles of the past.

Though Barack's speech focused on the future, he reminded the rapt audience that his would not be the first movement of change to spring from the ground up.

As the crowd stood on its feet and offered deafening applause, Barack told voters that he wouldn't be in this position without efforts of millions of other. He said:

I know that the only reason I am standing here today, the only reason that Oprah Winfrey is here, the only reason that Michelle Obama is here… is because somebody somewhere stood up when it was risky, they stood up when it was hard, they stood up when it was unpopular. They stood up so women could have the right to vote, they stood up so unions could have the right to organize, they stood up so African-Americans could have a seat at the table, they stood up to bring an end to unjust wars… That’s what we need to do right now, we need to stand up for America, stand up for equality, stand up for justice, stand up for our children. That’s why I’m running. That’s why you’re here. Let’s take back America.

The Doors Have Opened: Manchester, NH

Michael Negron — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 18:42:54 EST

Our excited volunteers just started up the signature “Fired Up! Ready to Go!” chant. And with that, the doors were opened!

Thousands of Granite Staters are making their way to their seats and getting fired up for what is shaping up to be the biggest campaign event of the primary season. At the doors, volunteers are collecting cans of non-perishable food from attendees before they rush to nab their seats. Volunteers with supporter cards in hand are geared up for a busy night, with over 8,000 people expected to fill the arena.

Check here later for a final update from Manchester.

Setting the Stage: Manchester, NH

Michael Negron — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 17:34:28 EST

Over 150 fired up volunteers arrived four hours early at the Verizon Wireless Center for orientation, ready to do their part to make tonight's highly-anticipated event go off without a hitch.

Our volunteer army split into teams, each assigned with one of the critical tasks that will ensure a successful event. They're in position now to dispense signs, collect supporter cards, usher members of the press to the right location, and load the non-perishables donated to our canned
food drive.

Barb, a ward captain in Manchester, said, "I'm ready to do whatever the campaign needs me to do. This is going to be an amazing event."

Meanwhile, hundreds of excited attendees are already lined up outside of the Verizon Center to ensure they get choice seating.

We'll be updating from Manchester throughout the night.

Ready to Win on the Seacoast

Michael Negron — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 20:38:24 EST

This morning, more than 50 Seacoast-area supporters gathered for a regional organizational summit, ready to work for change in their communities and excited to plan the final 31 days before the primary. Each supporter made a commitment to help bring Barack to victory in New Hampshire.

After introductory remarks from our regional organizers and a campaign update from New Hampshire Co-Chair Jim Demers, the supporters divided into groups organized by town to map out the last few weeks in their own neighborhoods.

As she looked around the room, Charlotte of Newmarket said, “I’m excited by the breadth of our support here.”

Frank, an Exeter resident and retired attorney, told the group that he’s cleared his plate to help Barack: “With weeks to go before we vote, working on the campaign is a top priority of mine now.”

Join our campaign today!

Grassroots Organizing in Souhegan Valley

Michael Negron — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 14:34:01 EST

As voters begin to pay closer attention to the campaign, the race for the Democratic nomination has tightened in the past month. Organizations like Souhegan Valley for Obama, founded and led by volunteers in Amherst and Milford, play a big role in building the momentum of our campaign in neighborhoods and communities across New Hampshire.

The effort began months ago, when Soughegan Valley supporters set up their own small weekly phone bank at Jack McBriarty’s office. With only 31 days to go before the primary, that same phone bank is now filled to capacity every week.

Enthusiasm for the campaign grew over the summer and into the fall. At an organizational meeting on November 7th arranged by Nan of Amherst, the group elevated their support to the next level.

“Things just sort of took off from there,” said Nan. “It became clear to many of us that if we wanted Barack Obama to win, we needed to take some real responsibility for the campaign’s success.”

Supporters agreed to each commit to a concrete responsibility for the rest of the campaign. Howard Morse and Ruth Heden have turned their homes into yard sign distribution centers for Amherst and Milford. Frank Cinque and Lee Kass have directed their efforts to their peers—with Frank targeting high school students and Lee planning an information center for residents of a local senior living home. Other supporters, like Jeanne Ludt, have hosted house parties to offer their neighbors more information on Barack’s vision for change.

Eight years ago, Jeanne won an uphill race for the local school board thanks to a grassroots effort that began with house parties. In supporting Barack, she returned to the same house party model that worked for her.

She said, “People are willing to give their neighbors a fair hearing, so this is a good way of reaching out.”

Nan Stearns introduces Barack's sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, at a house party.

Mindful of the important role to be played by Independent voters in the New Hampshire Primary, lifelong Independent Jeanne Emmick started a postcard-writing operation to target her neighbors who are also unaffiliated with either party.

“We are trying to convey to other undeclared voters out there that, in these desperate times, we need someone who can talk to both sides of the aisle and bring people together,” she said. “And Barack is the only candidate in either party that can do that.”

Grassroots organizations like Souhegan Valley for Obama are about to take center stage as we work to seal the deal with New Hampshire voters and get out the vote for Primary Day. Join the campaign and help organize your communities.

A Writer’s Case for Change—Elissa Paquette's Story

Michael Negron — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:59:02 EST

Wolfeboro town captain Elissa Paquette is a born writer. The former English teacher believes that a person’s writing provides a glimpse into his or her character. Reading Barack’s two best-selling books inspired Elissa to join his presidential campaign—the first time she has worked for a candidate since the 1960s.

“This man is someone who can command the world stage,” she said. “He will completely change the way our country is viewed overseas because he brings a diverse range of life experiences that we have never seen in a president before.”

As an English teacher, Elissa helped her students express themselves through their writing, but she has also held a variety of jobs and worked for a number of different causes including working as a booking agent for a puppet theater, serving as president of the Parent Teacher Organization for her local grade school, and in 2004, she canvassed for America Coming Together, registering voters across the state. To top it all off, she’s played ice hockey with the Wolfeboro She-Wolves for the past five six years.

In June, Elissa retired from teaching and now is a volunteer for Barack Obama. She says, “No matter how discouraging the political process has been for the last eight years, I believe that individuals can make a difference.”

Barack’s books convinced Elissa that he possesses leadership qualities and life experiences that none of the other candidates can match. She is working as a town captain and convincing her neighbors that Barack has the courage and character the country needs right now.

“It has been amazing to take such an active role on this campaign,” she says. “People are stepping up to do things they haven’t done before.”

You can join grassroots leaders like Elissa and volunteer to help in our final weeks before the primary.

Answering Questions, the New Hampshire Way

Michael Negron — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:05:17 EST

This past weekend, New Hampshire Co-Chair Ann McLane Kuster met with voters at a house party in New London to provide those still mulling their options an opportunity to have their questions answered. Those attending appreciated the opportunity to quiz Ann on her choice of candidate – Granite Stater to Granite Stater.

Ann fielded questions ranging from Barack’s plan to end the war in Iraq to his background and policies. Having seen many political campaigns come and go in New Hampshire, Ann knows that New Hampshire voters appreciate honesty and direct answers to tough questions. Like her candidate, she answered all questions directly and honestly.

Ann explained her reason for backing Barack:

There are a terrific array of candidates, many with experience in political campaigns or in Washington, but there’s only one with the judgment I’m looking for. I’m going with the one with judgment, and I won’t look back.

The New Hampshire primary will be won or lost based on direct conversations like Ann’s. If you’d like to help us talk to your friends and neighbors about why you believe Barack is the one candidate who can bring about change we can believe in, volunteer today.

Science as Service—Morgan O’Neill’s Story

Michael Negron — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:30:17 EST

Morgan, at a summer research job in Poland.

UNH junior Morgan O’Neill chose to major in physics and minor in applied mathematics because she fell in love with astronomy in the second grade.

“I blame my dad for that,” she laughs. “We watched old Star Trek episodes every night when I was growing up.”

Morgan grew up wanting to study the stars for a living and, upon arrival at UNH, became a student researcher on the star sensor of NASA’s Interstellar Boundary Explorer. Yet this year she changed her career focus. She now believes her mathematical and scientific prowess is better put to use working on climate change.

“It is so pressing… I really want to contribute and help society,” she said. “I think, as a Physics major with that sort of technical training, the place I can best help is in atmospheric science.”

The 21-year old wants to put her abilities to their best use, and Barack’s message of change has inspired her to enter public service and work in government. Morgan can see herself working for the EPA during the Obama Administration once she completes a doctorate degree in atmospheric science. She is doing her part by serving as vice-president of the UNH chapter of Students for Barack Obama and by working to convince her fellow students to get to the polls on January 8th.

“I’ve always followed politics, but I had never even so much as showed up for a College Democrats meeting until Barack entered the race,” she said.

Morgan believes that the next president will need to repair America’s tarnished image abroad or face continued decline in the nation’s position as a global leader in science. She believes that the Bush Administration has cut back on research funds even as it dismisses climate change as backed by insufficient scientific support.

“Not only do we need a president who believes in science and wants students in this country to learn math and science,” she said, “but we also need someone who can inspire members of my generation overseas to come to the United States to research at our laboratories and universities.”

The aspiring climate change scientist believes that Barack is the only candidate with this ability to inspire young people across the world.

She said:

With his diverse array of life experiences and his multicultural background, he can understand, empathize, and truly imagine how life is lived in places across the world. This is the kind of experience that we need in a leader right now.

Morgan is the kind of young person ready to take answer the call to service that Barack issued this morning at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. As President, Obama will increase opportunities for Americans of all ages to serve their country.

Read more about Barack’s Call to Service.

Working Women Meet with Michelle in Portsmouth, NH

Michael Negron — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:06:08 EST

Michelle Obama joined six working mothers at a café in Portsmouth, NH this afternoon to speak about rebuilding a sense of mutual obligation in America. As Michelle said, “We’ve lost this notion that we have a responsibility to each other… we haven’t been asked, in a fundamental way, to sacrifice.”

Michelle explained that this lost sense of community particularly hurts the working families struggling to remain afloat in our global economy. In story after story, the roundtable participants felt that the message coming out of Washington was “You’re on your own.”

Several participants pointed out that stress of working harder and harder to provide for your family means less time for building a strong relationship to your community. As a result, the women felt less connected to the support networks in their own neighborhoods, and less like we as Americans have a common stake in each other.

Michelle said that restoring the American Dream will take a national commitment to providing families with more support.

“People are willing to sacrifice,” she said, “but we have to have leadership that can speak to that vision of community.”

Restoring this sense of national community, Michelle believes, will require all of us to sacrifice for the greater good, and that is going to require a new kind of leadership.

She added:

We are primed as a nation for someone who is going to tell us the hard stuff… We need some hard truth now, and someone who is going to ask us to be different. And then we need to be ready to be lead in that way.

The participants shared stories of how such a sense of community got them through difficult times. Halfway through the roundtable discussion, Kate from Hampton Falls and Diane from Lee discovered a striking commonality: they are both breast cancer survivors.

“You realize when you get in a network, whether it is breast cancer survivors or friendships, the power of the network,” Kate said.

She added:

It is infectious, and you realize how much you support each other. And it’s that kind of infectiousness that really strong leadership, inspirational leadership, can bring to us. And that’s why I’m so excited because, for the first time in as long as I can remember, I am inspired.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Michael Negron — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:48:01 EST

Tomorrow, Barack will deliver a speech about national service. In a recent interview with Time Magazine, Barack said:

One of the things I think I can bring to the presidency is to make government and public service cool again. There’s such a hunger among young people for some outlet for their idealism. That’s why you see these movements around Darfur or climate change. You don’t see it expressed in terms of people wanting to serve in the Justice Department or the foreign service. Why should they, when the core missions of those agencies have been gutted?

Barack’s forthcoming speech on greatly expanding youth participation in government and public service comes on the heels of efforts by his opponents to discourage Iowa college students with origins outside of the state from caucusing. At an event in Ames, Iowa that kicked off a college tour in the state, Barack made it clear why so many college students are supporting his candidacy:

Don’t let people tell you that you can’t participate. You are an Iowa student; you can be an Iowa caucus-goer, and I want you to prove them wrong when they say you’re not gonna show up.

Throughout this campaign, Barack has made youth participation in government and public service a central component of his message for revitalizing politics. At a recent event in Littleton, Barack reminded his school day audience at Littleton High School that all of the successful movements of the past—anti-slavery, woman’s suffrage, civil rights, and anti-Vietnam War—featured the energetic participation of young activists. The stakes in this election are so high, Barack said, that young people need to come together to make their voices heard.

As he told students at a “Meet the Candidate” event in Alton, “These problems we are talking about will affect you much more than they will affect me.”

New Hampshire students like Svea and Wes have responded to Barack’s call for greater political participation. They know that they can play a big role in selecting the next president if they take part in the process.

Add your voice to theirs and join New Hampshire Students for Obama.

Barack delivers the commencement address for SNHU class of 2007.

“I can’t just sit on the sidelines”—Stacy Hinkley’s Story

Michael Negron — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:55:45 EST

Stacy at Nashua tax fairness roundtable, seated 2nd from the left.

Stacy Hinkley recently had the opportunity to sit down for a roundtable discussion with Barack to discuss tax fairness. She said, “Barack just seemed to be listening really closely to what we were all telling him and absorbing our concerns about an economy that is leaving a lot of people behind.”

The Londonderry resident and mother of two believes that it is increasingly difficult to find jobs with full benefits. Stacy and her family moved from Maine over three years ago because Darren, her husband, changed jobs when his employer closed its Portland facility. Today, she works part-time to bolster the family income and is volunteering for a presidential campaign for the first time.

“I never had a reason to before,” she said, “but so much has gone wrong in this country thanks to the last two presidential elections that I can’t just sit on the sidelines.”

Barack’s positive vision has inspired Stacy to get involved in the primary this year. She believes that the special interests have a stranglehold on our government, holding back progress on issues affecting her family. Stacy also believes that the image of our country has taken a real beating during the Bush Administration.

Autumn, Stacy's daughter, poses with Barack.

Stacy makes time in her busy schedule to do her part to bring about change, canvassing and making phones calls whenever she can.

“Obama is committed to beating back lobbyist influence and putting the economy to work for everyone,” she said.

She adds, “And I’d love to see Barack become the face of our country overseas. He really listens to people, and I think that’ll do wonders for us both at home and in the world.”

Postcard-Writing During Brunch

Michael Negron — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:43:03 EST

Yesterday morning, as New Hampshire braced for the incoming snowstorm, Nashua-area Obama supporters gathered at the home of State Representative Cindy Rosenwald to write postcards urging their neighbors to support Barack. The smell of coffee and freshly-baked cookies filled the house as over a dozen people completed hundreds of postcards.

Melanie, a ward captain in Nashua, brought her son Reece, whose cuteness served as an occasional break from the task of inviting neighbors to join our grassroots movement for change.

You can help build our momentum in New Hampshire by writing to your neighbors. Contact your local field office to learn more.

Countdown to Change in Boston

Michael Negron — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:17:40 EST

Last night, despite feeling the first flakes of an overnight snowstorm, 2,100 people crowded the Park Plaza Castle in the heart of the Hub. They came to hear about Barack’s vision for the future--how to break free of the partisan gridlock of the past two decades and bring about real change in Washington.

The past few weeks have seen opposing candidates begin to step up politics-as-usual attacks on Barack, even as he has picked up steam in the early voting primary states. Barack reminded the crowd that his campaign is not about being a textbook politician. It’s about a grassroots movement for real change in this country.

“It’s amazing how you go from being D.O.A. to being a genius in about three weeks,” he said. “But right now, we’re going pretty good in Iowa, and we’re going pretty good in New Hampshire, because the American people are ready for change and this campaign is about change that you can believe in.”

Barack continued:

We have a chance in this election, because the American people are paying attention, to not just change political parties in the White House but to change how politics is done in Washington. To seize that moment… we can’t just run the same old textbook Washington campaigns that we’ve become accustomed to… If we are serious about changing this county, if we’re serious about winning this election, then we can’t live in fear of losing it.

Between the Red Sox, the Patriots and the Celtics, the Boston area knows how to cheer on a contending team, and the capacity crowd greeted Barack’s speech with raucous applause

After the event, David, a Cambridge resident, said, “Barack brings a common decency to the race that sets him apart from the other candidates.”

The graduate student first saw Barack speak in 2003 in Manteno, IL, and recalls being incredibly impressed with Barack’s stature and intellect.

“I could see then that he was on the path to assuming a national leadership role, but I never thought he’d be on the verge of becoming out next president,” he said.

“It just shows that people are really looking for a different kind of leader in this election.”

Building the Movement in West Hillsborough County

Michael Negron — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 15:34:56 EST

As voters in New Hampshire begin to follow the race more closely, our movement for change is picking up steam, and our grassroots organization is growing. Yesterday morning, over 50 citizen activists in west Hillsborough County gathered at Noone Falls in Peterborough to plan the final phase of organizing their area.

After receiving status updates on the campaign from New Hampshire senior staff, the area residents took ownership of the meeting. They signed up to volunteer by placing colored post it notes on a giant calendar. Sharon resident John, who came with his daughter Erin, lead the way in passing out post-its and making sure that everyone in the room had volunteered for at least one day.

“I was reluctant to volunteer at first because I’ve got a big family and lots of responsibilities,” said the first-time volunteer, “but this is really important and I’ve decided to give it my all.”

A Movement with Momentum -- Knocking Doors Throughout New Hampshire

Michael Negron — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:14:08 EST

Melissa and Patrick warm up after canvassing in Nashua.

Massachusetts residents Melissa and Patrick are 2 of the more than 50 volunteers who packed our Nashua office to knock on doors for Barack Obama on a day when the wind chill factor made the temperature feel like zero. Melissa and Patrick were part of a wave of over 500 canvassers, many of them native Granite Staters, who braved the cold to keep our momentum going in New Hampshire.

United by their belief that the stakes are too high in this election to wage another textbook campaign, this canvassing army went door-to-door, spreading Barack’s message of real change.

Like many supporters, Melissa is new to politics. She canvassed for the first time in her life today. Fortunately, Patrick is an old pro who has knocked on doors since his early teens. Both have spent considerable time overseas. Patrick worked in Dubai for a few years, and Melissa attended a predominantly Arab high school in France. The pair of MBA students supports Barack because they believe America desperately needs to repair its standing in the world.

“When he steps up to the podium to give his inaugural address,” said Melissa, “the world will look at us differently, and he’ll be able to speak effectively to those countries that are dominating the headlines today.”

Patrick agreed, adding, “The moment is so urgent because, as I saw when I lived in the Middle East, our influence is waning when it is needed the most… Barack is the right candidate for the moment.”

Melissa and Patrick returned to Massachusetts this evening with their fair share of stories. At one door, as the wind howled and beat against their faces, they received an impromptu lecture on the history of the earmuff, invented in neighboring Maine.

At another door, the stakes of this election on the domestic side became clear as they spoke with an undecided woman battling lymphoma. While undergoing costly chemotherapy treatments, she nonetheless is following the race closely and is looking for a candidate that can tackle rising health care costs.

“In talking to voters, you really begin to see how the outcome of this election will have a deep impact on the lives or ordinary people,” Melissa said.

Despite the cold weather, canvassers in Keene are fired up and ready to go.

We have another wave of canvassers taking to the streets tomorrow. Add your voice to theirs and help build our growing movement for change in the first-in-the-nation primary state.

Laying the Foundation for Opportunity—Eli Rivera’s Story

Michael Negron — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 17:57:34 EST

After a career in law enforcement, Keene prosecutor Eli Rivera knows the role that a strong community plays in keeping children out of trouble. A former Republican, Eli has switched parties because he believes that Barack shares his view of the importance of community in paving the road to opportunity.

“Prevention of crime starts in the home and neighborhood,” said Eli, “and as a government and community, there is a lot more that we can be doing.”

One Parent Postpones Retirement—Sheila Muse’s Story

Michael Negron — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:16:45 EST

“I feel very lucky. There are plenty of people out there in much worse situations than I am,” said Sheila Muse.

The modest single mother faces considerable challenges as she enters her sixties without much in the way of retirement savings. After raising four children and putting them through college, Sheila has only just begun setting aside part of her paycheck each month for savings. A saleswoman her entire life, the naturally shy Nashua resident expects to work into her early seventies.

In Sheila’s mind, her sacrifice of a comfortable retirement was well worth it.

“My children are successful and will have more opportunities than I had,” Sheila said, “so I am better off than a lot of other people out there.”

She will be casting her first vote ever in the upcoming presidential primary, going to the polls for Barack. Sheila also volunteers when she can, making phone calls for events and participating in morning visibilities on her way to work.

“I’ve never been inspired by a candidate before in my life,” said Sheila. She adds:

"When Obama speaks, he is talking from the heart… He says what he means, and I feel like he is sincere. This is the kind of person I want in charge of my country, someone who says what he thinks and sticks to it."

Sheila was a part of a small group of Granite Staters that met with Barack in Nashua on October 23rd to talk about Barack’s middle-class tax cut. After speaking with him in person, she came away convinced that Barack has the empathy and understanding to be a champion for all Americans.

Sheila is in the same position as millions of other Americans: she’s worked hard all her life, but is looking towards an uncertain and insecure future.

Barack has been fighting for working families like Sheila’s throughout his two decades of public service. He’s called for strengthening retirement security by providing additional incentives for Americans to save, automatically enrolling workers in portable retirement accounts, and protecting social security.

Read more about Barack’s plan for reclaiming the American Dream.

A Look Back and a Road Forward for Berlin, New Hampshire

Michael Negron — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:24:33 EST

Berlin, New Hampshire

Sunday night, right before the Patriots took the field, Barack’s visited Berlin Junior High School.

The drive up reminded me of my last visit to the City that Trees Built. On a trip to Gorham to meet with some of our grassroots supporters, another staff member and I took a detour so that we could stop at the Moffatt House Museum and learn more about the history of Berlin. We met with Paul Tardiff, a teacher at Berlin Junior High School, a lifelong resident of Berlin and author of a two-volume history of his home town.

“The log-runners used these boots to build the paper industry that built Berlin,” Paul said as Paul he dropped a pair of caulked boots on a table, marking the beginning of our history lesson.

The Judgment to Lead: The Portsmouth Foreign Policy Forum Wrap-Up

Michael Negron — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:37:44 EST

Barack’s senior foreign policy advisors gathered in Portsmouth this morning for a forum on the challenges our next president will face. Demonstrating Barack’s commitment to open and transparent decision-making and diplomacy, the three panels began with statements from the panelists but closed with questions from the audience. Barack and his team of advisors made a clear and convincing case that he will be ready to lead the nation in these troubled times from the moment he is sworn in.

Liveblogging “The Judgment to Lead”: A Clear Choice for America, The Obama Foreign Policy

Michael Negron — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 13:02:20 EST

This morning’s foreign policy forum in Portsmouth just closed with a final panel featuring Barack himself.

After making opening remarks about the importance of openness in foreign policy decision making, Barack joined his advisors at the table and took questions from the crowd.

One questioner, Jackie from Derry, asked him a two-part question about the crisis in Darfur. She sought his views on providing funding for United Nations peace-keeping and securing access for troops from Khartoum. Barack answered both questions, affirming his support for funding and the need for working closely with Sudan and countries in the region.

The UNH sophomore has asked the same question of several candidates and said, “He addressed both questions head-on, which already sets him apart from the other candidates I’ve asked.”

She added, “He isn’t taking the practicalities of having a commitment to human rights for granted. Obama understands that putting principles into practice is the toughest part.”

Jackie was also enthused by format of the forum itself. “Of all the campaign events I’ve attended this year, this is the one event where I can say that I actually learned something.”

We’ll have a full recap up later this afternoon.

Liveblogging "The Judgment to Lead": Strengthening America's Military

Michael Negron — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:30:00 EST

We're at this morning's foreign policy forum in Portsmouth. (You can watch it live at nh.barackobama.com/fpforum)

Our second panel consisted of former Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig, Faculty Director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy Sarah Sewall, retired Air Force Brigadier General James Smith, and Iraq war veteran and former Marine Ryan Gray. The panel discussed Barack's plan to repair an overstretched military and maintain our sacred trust with our veterans.

Concerned that other countries and regions of vital strategic importance to American interests are suffering from our involvement in Iraq, Doug from Durham asked the panel about Barack's views on refocusing our diplomatic and military assets.

"They answered my question and assured me that Obama and his advisors know that we have important interests outside of the Middle East that are being neglected under the Bush Administration," the UNH history professor said.

Doug added, "This panel is a great idea and provided a chance to pick the brains of high level advisors to a potential president."

Liveblogging "The Judgment to Lead": Restoring American Leadership

Michael Negron — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 10:42:26 EST

We're at this morning's foreign policy forum in Portsmouth. (You can watch it live at nh.barackobama.com/fpforum)

Former Clinton Administration National Security Advisor Tony Lake, former Clinton Administration official Susan Rice, former Judge Advocate General of the Navy John Hutson, and Harvard professor and Pulitzer-prize winning author Samantha Power have just concluded the first panel of the day on restoring American leadership. The distinguished panel engaged in a spirited discussion of the road the country must take to return to a position of respected leadership.

The panel took questions from the audience of nearly 200. Kevin from Stratham asked about Obama’s plan to repair our alliances and reengage with the United Nations. When three panelists jumped in to answer his question, Kevin was impressed.

"This struck me that the panelists are legitimately looking for solutions to these serious problems," Kevin said, "and are not just interested in earning votes for Obama."

Kevin said he asked about alliances and the United Nations because he is concerned with burden-sharing on the international stage and fearful that the United States increasingly lacks the resources to tackle important global challenges. He especially appreciated retired Rear Admiral John Hutson's discussion of the role interest the military has in repairing our frayed alliances.

"Hutson gave me something to think about that I hadn't considered before, and that is one reason why this panel is such an effective way to learn about a candidate's thinking on an important issue," Kevin said.

Stumping for Big Change in Littleton, NH

Michael Negron — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:09:34 EST

Barack galloped to the stage at Littleton High School and told the enthusiastic crowd that the stakes in this election were so high that “it’s not enough just to change political parties in Washington.”

Both at Littleton High and during a roundtable discussion with a small group of Independent voters at the Community Center in Littleton, Barack suggested that the times called for a president with a fresh perspective who could change the political system. He argued that we need to break free of the bitter partisanship of the past two decades and pointed to his track record of bringing Democrats, Republicans and Independents together to achieve progress on important issues.

Health care is one critical area in which Barack believes progress has been blocked by a combination of special interest dominance and partisan gridlock. In discussing health care with the roundtable participants, Barack pointed out that the last effort at reform in 1993 failed because:

[The Clinton Administration] did it in a way that enhanced the power of the pharmaceutical lobby and insurance companies and the HMOs. What happened was that they went behind closed doors, to try and create their plan themselves. That allowed the lobbyists and insurance industry to mobilize and organize. By the time they released their plan, you had a full-blown campaign against it… so it was really dead on arrival.

Barack affirmed that the next president will not be able to simply “shove one plan down people’s throats.” He said that he can deliver real progress on health care and insure all Americans because of his commitment to an open and transparent process and his history of standing up to the special interests.

“The best way to reduce the influence of money and lobbyists,” he told roundtable participant Martha of Littleton, “is to let the sunshine in, to actively invite the American people to be involved in how we’re going to move things forward.”

In Littleton High, Barack returned to this theme of opening up government to the American people. Transparency will only work to improve the process and deliver real change, he cautioned an audience filled with students, if the people are invited in and engage in the process.. After taking questions from the mixed age crowd, Barack ended with advice for the students in the audience.

He reminded the students that all of the successful movements of the past—abolition, woman’s suffrage, civil rights, and anti-Vietnam War—featured the energetic participation of young activists. The stakes in this election are so high, Barack said, that young people need to come together to make their voices heard.

Two of those young voices, Catherine (13) and Peter (16), attended with their father, Bernie. The Haverhill family supports Barack because they believe that he represents an entirely new direction for the country.

Bernie added, “Obama is the most eloquent speaker I have seen since I watched Jack Kennedy speak as a 14 year-old. He’s got a spirit of vigor and progress that I haven’t seen since the Kennedy years.”

Barack’s Sunday Night in Berlin

Michael Negron — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:00:47 EST

Tonight Barack returned to Berlin, a town in New Hampshire’s North Country that has deeply felt the sharper edge of globalization through the disappearance of its paper industry.

Barack entered public service as a community organizer working in an area on the South Side of Chicago reeling from the impact of the closure of steel mills. With the recent demolition of the 100-year old Fraser pulp mill in the heart of Berlin and the pending closure of the mill in nearby Groveton, Berlin’s recent economic history and its impact on the lives of its citizens is an all-too-familiar situation for Barack.

Barack displayed his familiarity with increased obstacles faced by middle class families, saying:

People are working harder for less, the costs of everything from college for your kids to health care to gas to heating oil have all gone up. It’s harder to save, it’s harder to retire. And you’ve lost trust that anybody is listening, that anybody is thinking of your situation… Nobody expects government to solve all their problems… and what they’re hoping is… that government should be able to do is knock down some of those barriers to their success. The problem is right now that Washington is not responding, it is not thinking about what ordinary Americans are going through.

He added, “That’s the reason I’m running for president, because I want Washington to be

responsive to you. And if it is, there’s no problem we can’t solve.”

Sharon from Whitefield recently endured foreclosure on her house and bankruptcy—an increasingly frequent occurrence in the Bush economy. She asked Barack about his views on predatory lending. Barack answered by highlighting how the lending industry has become emblematic of an economy rigged against the interests of working families striving for the American Dream.

He talked about his sponsorship of the Stop Fraud Act, his support for ending the unsavory relationship between lenders and ratings agencies, and his priority of reforming the ill-conceived 2005 bankruptcy reform law.

After the event, Sharon told me that she had been leaning towards another candidate but added, “Now, I think I may have found my guy.”

Sharon’s friend and fellow Whitefield resident, Sam, echoed her sentiments.

“I can see in his eyes that he is a real honest guy,” she said, “and I want a president willing to tell me when he screws up and when getting something I’d like to see done will be tough.”

A Health Care Near-Miss—Diana’s Story

Michael Negron — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 19:51:16 EST

Diana cringes when she thinks of life for the uninsured. The Merrimack resident and anesthesia technician is a cancer survivor of 10 years—thanks to the high quality health insurance she had when originally diagnosed at age 42. Diana underwent tests and procedures that would have ended up costing her thousands of dollars were it not for her insurance.

Diana admits:

If I hadn’t had insurance coverage, I’d be dead by now. If I was in an area with substandard health care, I’d be dead by now… Had it been discovered after symptoms manifested themselves, the outcome would have been bad, and it would have cost the system much more money.

Diana, insured with access to high quality care, survived her battle with a terminal illness. She knows that many aren’t as lucky. She knows that many who are uninsured, underinsured, or who live in areas with low quality care aren’t as lucky.

She knows how bad things can be. A friend of hers went through the ordeal of fighting breast cancer without insurance and now owes thousands of dollars in medical bills. Diana’s friend also suffers from painful arthritis, which goes untreated due to cost.

Diana believes that real progress during the next administration in health care is a must, and she believes that Barack Obama can bring about that change.

Diana believes in Barack so much that, although a lifelong Republican, she has switched her party affiliation in order to vote for him in the primary.

She says, “He took a Republican and converted me.”