Obama Road Blog

Video: Joe Biden Casts His Vote

Obama Road Blog — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:19:25 EST

Senator Joe Biden cast his ballot this morning, one block from his home in Wilmington, Delaware. As he threw open the blue curtains he gave the thumbs up and said, “That was great!”

He wouldn’t tell us who he voted for, and he told his mom not to either. His daughter Ashley beamed as she emerged from the booth, and wife Jill didn’t stop smiling the whole time. A huge crowd was waiting for their arrival, and everyone hushed as the family walked in. It was momentous and sweet, both. Imagine seeing your own name on the ballot. Happy election day. I can’t help but say it -- let’s go make history.

Hope E. Hall
November 4, 2008
Chicago, IL

Video: Barack and Michelle Vote

Obama Road Blog — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:48:36 EST

Shortly after 7:00 AM this morning Barack and Michelle, accompanied by their daughters Sasha and Malia, arrived at their local polling place -- Shoesmith Elementary School. This was the same school gym where Barack cast his ballot in the Illinois primary on February 5th, nearly nine months ago.

When they finished, Michelle left to take the girls to school and Barack dashed off to Indiana to help get out the vote.

Now the big question: Have you voted?

Find out your polling place now.

Arun Chaudhary
November 4th
En route to Indianapolis, Indiana

Road Blog: One Last Rally

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:59:45 EST

On his last day of campaigning before tomorrow's historic election, Barack Obama traveled from Florida to North Carolina to Virginia, working hard in states historically won by Republicans.

There were some impressive turnouts: 9,150 in Jacksonville (per Fire Captain Rick Embry), 25,000 in Charlotte (verified by David Dunn, UNC Charlotte Vice Chancellor) and well over 90,000 folks in Manassas (according to Fire Battalion Chief Matt Smolsky).

It was at this huge rally in Virginia that Barack held his last election rally:

"Let me start by noting that this is our last rally, Virginia. We've been doing this for nearly two years. We've gone to every corner of this country, from here in Northern Virginia to the rocky coast of Maine; from the open plains of Texas to the open skies of Montana. And I just want to say that whatever happens tomorrow, I have been deeply humbled by this journey. You have welcomed Michelle and me into your homes. You have shared your stories of struggle. And you've spoken of your dreams. Along the way, in talking with all of you about your own lives, you have enriched mine. You have moved me. You have inspired me. And you have filled me with new hope for our future. In the places I've gone and the people I've met, I have been struck again and again by the fundamental decency, and generosity, and dignity of men and women who work hard without complaint to meet their responsibilities every day."

But was also a day tinged with sadness, as Barack learned of the passing of his grandmother this morning, a woman who helped raise him. He took time out to remember her at the rally in Charlotte, and to tell the crowd a little bit about who she was and what she stood for.

Barack described Madelyn Dunham, a person not unlike many struggling Americans, as a silent hero:

The polls open in a few short hours. It is so important to remember why we are struggling so hard, and who and what we are fighting for. Please vote tomorrow, and remind your friends and family to vote as well.

Arun Chaudhary
November 3rd, 2008
Manassas, Virginia

Road Blog: Barack on John McCain's Economic Philosophy

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:43:50 EST

“I just have one word for you Florida: tomorrow.” – Barack Obama

One day before the presidential election, Barack held a spirited rally in Jacksonville, Florida urging people to vote. He traced the history of the last twenty-one months of the campaign, from the steps of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois onward. This campaign began with the belief that the American people were hungry for new ideas, new leadership, a new philosophy and a new kind of politics.

In his speech today, Barack pointed out that it was here in Jacksonville just six weeks ago that John McCain claimed that, "the fundamentals of the economy are strong" on a day when over 5,000 jobs were lost and more than 7,000 homes were foreclosed on:

Not only was John McCain fundamentally wrong, it sums up the fact that he's out of touch. This out of touch, on your own economic philosophy that says you should give $700,000 tax cuts to the average Fortune 500 CEO. Three hundred billion to the same Wall Street banks that got us into mess. A philosophy that says we shouldn't give a penny of relief to more than a hundred million middle class Americans. It's a philosophy that will end when I am president of the United States.

Sharon Barnes
November 3, 2008
En route to Charlotte, North Carolina

Road Blog: Sunday Night in Cleveland

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:55:16 EST

"I travel around the world. I occasionally play to big stadiums, crowds like this, just like Senator Obama does... I continue to find that wherever I go, America remains a repository for people's hopes, their desires. It remains a house of dreams." - Bruce Springsteen

With the election around the corner, a crowd of 80,000 gathered for a rally last night at the Cleveland Mall. It was the second of three stops in Ohio that saw a total of 165,000 people show up to hear Barack speak.

As the last light of the day left the sky in Cleveland, the crowd was treated to an acoustic set by Bruce Springsteen. Before launching into one of Barack’s signature campaign songs, Bruce told the crowd that, “Now is the time to stand with Barack Obama and Joe Biden, roll up our sleeves and come on up for the rising.”

Below is a video of Bruce's performance, along with his introduction of Barack and his family:

Peter Rubi
November 3, 2008
En route to Jacksonville, FL

Road Blog: Barack and Michelle in Ohio, Day in Pictures

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:38:03 EST

"The one thing more powerful than that kind of politics is the judgment and decency of the American people. Understand this Ohio, we are more united than our politics would suggest." - Barack Obama

Barack barnstormed throughout Ohio today, making several stops in the Buckeye state and making the case for change. It was a long day of events, but Barack managed to speak directly to over 167,000 Ohioans today -- no mean feat.

There were over 60,000 in front of the state house in Columbus (according to Lt. Wittich), 80,000 in the Cleveland Mall (per Marty Flask, Director of Public Safety) and finally 27,000 in the Nippert Stadium at the University of Cincinnati (verified by Fire Captain Chris Miller).

It was an exhausting day, but it was made lighter by the fact that Michelle and Barack's two daughters, Malia and Sasha, were able to come along for the first two stops. In Cleveland the girls watched as Bruce Springsteen performed, and they learned the words to, "This land is your land." Michelle was also able to take up some of the speaking burden with her inspiring introductions.

"Think about where we've come from over the last 21 months. I see all kinds of faces out in the crowd today," Michelle told the diverse crowds. "If we want a leader like Barack Obama, our job is to send him into the White House... This race is not about him, it never was. It's about all of us, all of you."

Barack took advantage of the crowds, explaining in detail his solutions for our nation: reviving the struggling economy, repairing our crumbling infrastructure, restoring our standing in the world. He also took this time, precious moments spent outside the echo chamber of television ads and robocalls, to decry the negative politics of cynicism and fear.

But none of it, the crowds, the energy, the excitement, or the desire for change means a thing if you don't vote. And not just you. Talk to your friends and neighbors, offer a ride to someone in need. There are so many ways to get involved in these last two days of the campaign.

Find out how you can help, and enjoy the day in pictures:

Arun Chaudhary
November 2nd, 2008
Cincinnati, OH

Road Blog: Joe and Jill Biden, Day in Pictures

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:31:33 EST

After a morning rally at Florida State, Jill and Joe Biden (accompanied by son Hunter and his daughter Naomi) jetted across Florida, stopping for rallies in Gainesville and Daytona Beach before packing it in for the night. Florida Senator Nelson introduced them at each site, and Biden-loving sunshine staters cheered them from start to finish, and often long after.

The Gainesville crowd was the biggest, having set the record last week for the biggest turnout for a Michelle Obama event. These University of Florida students, staff, and faculty also won the award for best costumes. We saw Santa, an old timey-looking jazz band (replete with suspenders), and a Republican for Obama who’d constructed a hat shaped like a model oil rig. They do love the Bidens here.

Enjoy the day in pictures:

Hope E. Hall
Kansas City, MO
November 2, 2008

Road Blog Recap: Barack, Michelle, Malia and Sasha on the Campaign Trail

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:19:48 EST

“All of you have been coming together and doing things you thought you would never do – like coming to a political rally on a Saturday night.” - Michelle Obama

Last night, forty thousand people attended the late night rally in Springfield, Missouri. Barack, Michelle, Malia, and Sasha appeared together as a family on stage three days before the election.

Michelle thanked the audience for their enthusiasm and support during their campaign journey of the last twenty-one months. She noted that, “We have seen young people finding their voices for the first time and stepping up. The not so young people have been stepping up too.”

She continued by saying that Barack is ready to be president. While she wants to give much of the credit to Barack, she noted that the race is not about him. It is about the American people who have decided to work for change.

After Michelle’s introduction, the audience enjoyed a rare opportunity of watching Barack walk to the stage with his two beautiful daughters, Sasha and Malia. Barack joked that he was not the most popular Obama there tonight -- the audience had come to see Sasha, Malia, and Michelle.

Earlier in the day, the family was in Pueblo, Colorado. You can watch highlights Michelle's introduction of her husband below:

Sharon Barnes
November 2, 2008
En route to Columbus, Ohio

Road Blog: Joe Biden in Tallahassee, "We cannot stay divided"

Obama Road Blog — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 15:22:55 EST

The are some serious Biden fans here in the sunshine state! Six of 12 Obama endorsements from Florida papers have singled out Joe Biden as a big reason for the endorsement. So it wasn’t surprising that so many Florida State University students chose to spend their Sunday cheering on Joe as he rallied supporters in Tallahassee today.

He explained that he and Barack are dedicated to reaching across the aisle, and urged the audience to do the same in their lives. In a nearby parking lot, McCain supporters had chants and a siren going. Joe addressed them as well, saying that he would try to talk loud enough for them to hear, and that he hoped the politics of division will soon come to an end:

We cannot regain our place in the world so that once again we can lead the world unless we do one more thing: We have to unite this country. We cannot stay blue and red, we cannot. We cannot stay divided. Ladies and gentleman we can't strengthen the economy if we are pitted one against another, we can't move past the politics of division unless after this election is over, if God willing we win, we reach out to the very people out in the outer parking lot... We've got to reach out. We've got to end this. Somebody's got to be big enough to stand up and end this.

You can watch an excerpt from Joe's speech below:

Hope E. Hall
November 2, 2008
Tallahassee, Florida

Road Blog: Day in Pictures: "We can't let up"

Obama Road Blog — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 01:35:31 EDT

Barack is working extraordinarily hard in these closing days, racing all over the country. Today alone he hit three states: Nevada, Colorado and Missouri -- all states that are crucial to this election.

The numbers of people coming out for the events are amazing. Fifteen thousand in Henderson, Nevada. Sixteen thousand in Pueblo, Colorado (verified by Sheriff Kirk M Taylor). Thirty-five thousand in Springfield, Missouri (per Leslie Ballew, Quality Assurance Manager Springfield Public Schools).

It's amazing to see the young folks who come out. Every year the pundits say young people never get involved. But this year, from the Iowa caucuses on, they have been proven wrong over and over again. But it's not just the young folks, as Michelle Obama said in Pueblo.

There is something so inspiring about seeing people in their 50's, 60's, 70's, saying, "I've never gotten involved before, but this time there was something different. I just couldn't sit it out."

It's going to take all kinds of people, not just coming to rallies but going to the polls. People are so fed up with the way things are, but there is something you can do. As Barack has been saying all over the country, "You don't have to boo, you have to vote."

There is more that you can do if you are able and willing. You can canvass, you can make phone calls, you can simply talk to your friends and neighbors. Are they planning on voting? Do they know where their polling place is? Try and find out. And don't stop whatever you are doing until the polls are closed Tuesday night. Barack told the crowd in Missouri tonight:

We can't let up, not when there is so much at stake, not when there is an election to win.

And we can win it. Enjoy the day in pictures.

Arun Chaudhary
November 1st, 2008
Springfield, MO

Road Blog: Joe Biden, Day in Pictures

Obama Road Blog — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 23:51:43 EDT

Jill and Joe Biden rocked the campus at Bowling Green State University in Ohio tonight. Jill got huge cheers as she talked of her life as an educator, but Joe quieted the 2,000+ Saturday night crowd, in the cold of the quad, when he drew parallels with the tumultuous times he graduated in to the difficult times these coeds face. But it was news of Vice President Dick Cheney's endorsement of John McCain today that drew the biggest reaction. As Joe explained:

If you ever had any doubt that John McCain would continue George Bush’s policies -- you can put those to rest. Just today, Vice President Cheney came out and endorsed John McCain. Do we need any more proof? I’m not surprised. Dick Cheney has been wrong on everything else the last eight years. He’s on a roll.

Enjoy today's photos, from Indiana and Ohio:

Hope E. Hall
November 1, 2008
Hwy 39 South, Ohio

Road Blog: Joe Biden, "Choose hope over fear"

Obama Road Blog — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 21:45:33 EDT

"We need to move beyond this politics of division, and politics of attack. Over the past few weeks, John McCain's campaign...has been trying to take the low road to the highest office in the land." - Joe Biden

Here at the seriously outfitted Marion High School Gym in Marion, Ohio this afternoon, Joe Biden spoke passionately about his feelings on the tactics of the McCain campaign. He expressed disbelief and disappointment in his friend John McCain, saying he honestly didn't expect this from him. "They're calling Barack Obama every name in the book," Joe remarked. He urged Ohioans to choose hope over fear, and stated his firm belief that in only a few days, "they will, all of us will, call Barack Obama something else -- Mr. President, President Barack Obama. It's our time, it's America's time, so get up Ohio!"

Hope E. Hall
Highway 23 North (Marion to Bowling Green)
November 1, 2008

Road Blog: Barack's Closing Argument in Henderson, NV

Obama Road Blog — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:52:34 EDT

Sgt. T Jenkins of the Homeland Security Saturation Team, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, counted nearly 15,000 folks who had turned out today in this small town outside Las Vegas. People still come out in droves to hear from Barack directly, without the filter of the cable media, of TV ads, or robo-calls. These are straight shooting people who want to hear solutions out of the mouth of the candidate. And no wonder, as Senate Majority leader and native Nevadan Harry Reid said in his introduction, "Nevada has been hit especially hard and Nevadans can't afford four more years like the last eight."

In these closing days of this election, Barack tries to make clear that he is the candidate who understands the problems folks are having on the ground. "People around here know about foreclosures," he told the crowd, many of whom are struggling to stay in their homes. Barack also took time to make sure disinformation about his plans are cleared up, including his tax plan. "The last thing you need his higher taxes," he explained. "You need relief!"

You can help make a difference and give folks the experience of visiting an event by forwarding this video to your friends and family.

There are only three days left.

Arun Chaudhary
November 1st, 2008
Henderson, NV

Road Blog: Friday in Pictures

Obama Road Blog — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:02:38 EDT

After landing in Las Vegas late last night, our road team sent in this report on Barack's day on the campaign trail yesterday . . .

Barack made stops in Iowa and Indiana Friday, as he continues to travel the country trying to bring his positions and ideas to as many people as he can before polls close on Tuesday night.

Barack finished the night off in Gary, Indiana, just down the road from his hometown of Chicago. "It's good to be so close to home," he told the crowd of 40,000 people (per Police Chief Peter T. Hojnicki ) who crowded into Highland Park.

Barack told the gathered crowd:

Indiana, I just have two words for you: "Four days." We are four days away from changing the United States of America... We can't let up, not for one day, not for one hour, not for one second.

We can't let up when so many workers have lost their jobs, when so many folks are struggling just to keep the electricity on or to keep gas in their tank. It's no mystery why the nation is in such dire straights. The culture of deregulation that has been in place for the last eight years has proved ineffective, even dangerous. "We've tried it George Bush's way, we've tried it John McCain's way," Barack told the Hoosiers who decided to spend their Halloween at his rally. We need something new. We need to bring change to Washington.

Enjoy the day in pictures.

Arun Chaudhary
October 31st, 2008
En route to Henderson, Nevada

Road Blog: On the Road with Joe and Jill Biden

Obama Road Blog — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 01:24:42 EDT

In Lima (pronounced like the bean, not the Peruvian capitol), Ohio, Kewpee burger flippers still wear those 50s-style, white tissue paper sailboat hats. Enamel tables, puffy booths, a long white counter and spinning stools made for the real deal here on a surprise stop for burgers.

Enjoy the day pictures from Joe and Jill Biden's trip through Delware and Ohio today:

Hope E. Hall
All Hallow's Eve
Dayton, Ohio

Road Blog: Barack Returns to Des Moines

Obama Road Blog — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 23:44:42 EDT

For the second time since his victory in the Iowa Caucuses, Barack returned to Des Moines today. It couldn't have been a nicer day in Iowa, with temperatures in the low 70's. Over 25,000 folks, as counted by Sergeant Misty Allison, came out for a late morning rally. The campaign spent so much time here last year that returning today felt like seeing old friends. Barack noted:

We started this campaign right here. We didn't have much money, we didn't have any endorsements, we had a steep climb... but I had confidence in America, and I had confidence in you, the people of Iowa.

But scattered amongst the familiar faces are newcomers; people hurt by the the economic downturn, disillusioned by business as usual, and turned off by the politics of fear.

The dishonorable campaigning, the nastiness and the name calling has reached a fever pitch with only four days before the election. But in this city, in this state, folks remember well the last time they had a chance to choose hope, and embrace the future. On a cold day in January they came out in record numbers to make their voices heard here, and as Barack said this morning, "What you started here in Iowa has swept the nation."

If November 4th, 2008 is anything like January 3rd, we'll know we are at last on the right track.

Arun Chaudhary
October 31st, 2008
Des Moines, IA

Road Blog: Joe Biden at the University of Delaware - "Hope and history"

Obama Road Blog — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:22:20 EDT

The quad filled with University of Delaware Blue Hens and their fans let out an epic roar at the sight of one of their own returning today. Joe Biden rallied his alma mater under autumn sunshine and falling leaves. Over 5,000 students, faculty and other Delawareans listened as Biden spoke about his days at the university. As an undergrad he struggled with the lead up to the Vietnam War, turning to his professors to help him sort out the turmoil of that time. He pointed across the lawn to the actual spot where he was standing when he first heard the news that John F. Kennedy had been shot. His speech was emotional and riveting, as he explained the role the campus here had played in shaping his life. You can watch the full speech below:

Hope Hall
October 31, 2008
Newark, Delaware

Road Blog: Day in Pictures, Five Days Out

Obama Road Blog — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:54:10 EDT

"I have two words for you Columbia: five days." - Barack Obama

It's a beautiful night here in Columbia, Missouri on the quad at the University. Much warmer than the amphitheater at Virginia Beach, or even the ball park in Sarasota Florida. But in rain, sleet, or snow folks still come out in droves, wanting to hear solutions to the mounting problems of our nation and looking for one thing: change. This country cannot handle four more years that look like the last eight.

There are only five days left to reach out to places like Missouri. Joe Biden is here in the Show Me State tonight also, campaigning in Arnold. But Joe and Barack cannot do it alone. They are going to need all of you in the next five days to in order to actually bring about the change this country needs.

What can you do to help you?

In the next five days you can knock on doors if you live in battleground state.

In the next five days you can travel to a swing state.

In the next five days you can make phone calls.

In the next five days you can make a contribution to the Obama campaign.

And most importantly, in five days, you can VOTE.

Find your polling place now, and then enjoy the day in pictures:

Arun Chaudhary
October 30th, 2008
Columbia, Missouri

Road Blog: Barack Obama on the Economic Crisis

Obama Road Blog — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:58:17 EDT

"George Bush has dug us in a hole and now he wants to hand the shovel to John McCain" – Barack Obama

On a bright and balmy morning in Sarasota, Florida 13,000 people showed up to the Ed Smith Stadium to hear Barack speak.

With five days until the election, Barack focused on the economic crisis, indicating that times have not been this tough since the Great Depression. This morning we learned that America’s Gross Domestic Product fell for the first time this year, and we are seeing the largest decline in consumer spending in 28 years. Barack explained that the serious situation we are in is a result of Bush Administration policies that favor Wall Street over the American public.

Barack asked the question, “What will our next President do to take us in a different direction?”

After 21 months, and three debates, John McCain has still not been able to tell the American people a single major thing that he would do differently than George Bush when it comes to the economy.

Sharon Barnes
October 30, 2008
En route to Virginia Beach, Virginia

Road Blog: Joe Biden on Rebuilding the Middle Class

Obama Road Blog — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:47:58 EDT

Over a thousand students, teachers, union workers, elected officials and marching band members filled the classically outfitted gymnasium of Arnold, Missouri's Fox High School this morning to see Joe Biden speak. The Fox Warriors have won many a state championship in their day, and they certainly seemed to be aiming for another victory on election day. This crowd was ready for Joe! He took time to give a shout out to the marching band and students, as well as walking them through the major issues of the day. Starting with today's news on the shrinking GDP and increasing gains for Exxon Mobil, he hit hard on the McCain-Palin economic plan, calling it "upside down" and accused the philosophy behind it of contributing to the shrinking of the middle class.

"They're not bad guys," he said in light of Exxon Mobil's record quarterly profits announced today. "They just don't need a tax break, that $4 billion dollars should go to middle class tax payers."

"Cut taxes for working people," Joe said. "Give them a chance."

Watch highlights from the speech below:

Hope Hall
October 30, 2008
Arnold, Missouri

Watch Barack on the Daily Show Tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern

Obama Road Blog — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:59:29 EDT

Barack will be the featured guest on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, tonight at 11:00 PM Eastern on Comedy Central. Check your local listing for channel and time in your area.

Road Blog: Barack On the Needs of the Middle Class

Obama Road Blog — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:50:31 EDT

"With six days left, it is very important for the American people to think hard on what a McCain presidency would mean for the middle class." - Barack Obama

On a crisp day in Raleigh, North Carolina Barack spoke to 28,000 people (verified by Police Chief Scott Hunter) about the change we need to bring to America.

The issues in this election can be clouded by all the rhetoric and doublespeak thrown around on television, on the radio, and all those crazy robo-calls. But when you get down to brass tacks, Barack's words from this afternoon in the Tar Heel state ring true: "Can you name one thing that John McCain is proposing to help the economy?"

Chances are you can't. You can name the subjects of his negative ads, but as for solutions to the struggling middle class, the backbone and bellwether or our economy...

Barack expands on this idea in the following video:

Arun Chaudhary
October 29th, 2008
En route to Sunrise, Florida

Road Blog: Joe Biden Florida Bus Tour, Day Two

Obama Road Blog — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:10:18 EDT

“Get up, Florida!” - Joe Biden

The season may be over for the Marlins, but their Spring training stadium came alive today for Joe Biden’s Early Vote Rally in Jupiter, Florida. It was a beautiful Florida day, full of sparkling sunshine and azure sky, a perfect setting for this rousing rally. Everyone was fired up, especially Joe. With only six days to go and early voting in full swing here in Florida, the energy was palpable. Joe spoke about all of the major issues of the campaign, as well as providing details on Florida’s extension of its early voting hours and the importance of voting early. He ending by exclaiming, “I know I’m ready, you’re ready, America is ready, Barack Obama is ready, so get up, Florida!”

Watch the speech here:

Hope Hall
October 29, 2008
Sawgrass Expressway, Mile 10, Florida

Road Blog: Closing Argument in Norfolk

Obama Road Blog — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:48:40 EDT

Last night in Norfolk, over 22,000 folks (per Megan Mensick, Event Coordinator) crowded into the Harborside Stadium, home of Tides AAA ball club. While that is a huge crowd for Norfolk, there are still many more people who are undecided in this election. You may know some of them. Forward them this video so they can hear straight from Barack himself the reasons why it is so important to vote for change in this election.

Arun Chaudhary
October 29, 2008
En route to Raleigh, North Carolina

Road Blog: Joe Biden's Florida Bus Tour, Day One

Obama Road Blog — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:52:41 EDT

“I’m an ice cream guy!” - Joe Biden

Senator Joe Biden got on the bus this morning and began a two day swing through Florida. He invited his son Hunter, as well as good friends Senator Bill Nelson a his wife Grace to come along for the ride. Starting in Ocala and ending in Melbourne, Biden made the case for early voting at every stop along the way. Just today, Governor Crist issued an order to extend the hours at all early voting locations in Florida, from 7 AM to 7 PM, effective immediately (note that as of November 1st hours may vary, so check fl.voteforchange.com or call 877-2FL-OBAMA to confirm your location and hours). Early voting is in full swing here in the battleground state of Florida, and over two million voters have already cast their ballots here.

Back to Biden. Today's first stop? Bob Walla’s gorgeous Dancing Horses farm in Ocala and an early vote rally for over 4,000 people. The scene was pure Americana -- Golden sunshine, fields of green, crowing roosters, and flags everywhere.

As he drove east across the plains and into the lake country, Biden got a hankering for sweets. He stopped at Kilwin’s, a small ice cream, fudge, and chocolate shop in the retirement complex of The Villages. By the time he made into the sweet shop, word had spread and he had quite a crowd waiting for him. Although this is typically thought of as a heavily Republican country, his visit packed the house. He talked to every one of the Villagers who came to greet him with hugs and autograph requests. When faced with the choice of fudge, chocolate, and ice cream, the Senator exclaimed without a second thought, “I’m an ice cream guy!”

Biden made a second stop between the two campaign rallies that bookended his day, this time to put himself to work. There are over 60 Campaign for Change offices in Florida, and today the Titusville office recruited one very special volunteer. In a cozy bungalow house on Palm Avenue, Joe talked to volunteers in the office and recruited even more over the phone. Many people couldn’t believe that they were actually talking to "The Joe Biden." One woman even asked him to say “Ladies and Gentleman,” to prove that it was really him, which got some chuckles out of Joe. Soon enough though he was off, apologizing to the 40 or so volunteers for interrupting their work.

Last stop: An evening Early Vote rally in Melbourne. Sunset in the Sunshine State is something to behold. Over 2,000 people were perched on a lush hillside in Melbourne to see Joe and Senator Nelson. Surrounding ponds reflected the deepening hues of twilight, as Senator Nelson gave a heartfelt introduction to his good friend and colleague from Delaware. Biden returned the praise with equal fervor. He also took time to detail Bill Nelson’s unequalled commitment to the space program and previous life as an astronaut.

Please enjoy the day in pictures:

Hope Hall
October 28, 2008
West Palm Beach, Florida

Road Blog: Barack on John McCain's Healthcare Plan

Obama Road Blog — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:30:03 EDT

"John McCain's own advisor said, 'If we keep talking about the economy we will lose.' That's why I keep talking about the economy." - Barack Obama

And talk about the economy Barack does, all across the country for the last two years. But often it's useful to break the economy down into smaller issues. Take healthcare, for instance. One real result of this struggling economy is that many Americans are just one illness away from bankruptcy. Many more are struggling under the costs of rising insurance premiums, having to make hard choices between medicine and food, or a doctor's appointment and a tank of gas.

John McCain just doesn't seem to get it. He rails against Barack's proposals, claiming that Barack wants bigger government, but as Barack told a crowd at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia today, "We don't need bigger government, we need better government."

In front of a crowd of over 8,000 folks (according to JMU Police Sergeant Frank Stilson) Barack laid out the differences between his healthcare plan and John McCain's. And as Barack said when some folks reacted negatively (and audibly) to McCain's plans for our healthcare system - "You don't have to boo, just vote!"

Don't forget to vote on (or before) November 4th.

Arun Chaudhary
October 28th, 2008
En route to Norfolk, VA

Road Blog: Joe Biden in Florida - "Every vote counts"

Obama Road Blog — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 02:36:05 EDT

"With early vote, now is the time to vote. We can't let happen this time what happened last time. Florida knows better than any other state: every vote counts!" - Joe Biden

Joe Biden kicked off a 48 hour bus tour through Florida tonight. He spent the evening in New Port Richey, North of Tampa, Florida, after a day and two rallies in North Carolina. Over 3,000 enthusiastic Floridians gathered at twilight on a warm fall night, a beautiful sky and Spanish moss in the trees rounding out a lovely welcome.

In the clip below, Joe stressed the importance of early voting and of every single vote being counted:

Enjoy the day in pictures:

Hope Hall
October 27th, 2008
Ocola, Florida

Road Blog: Barack's Closing Argument

Obama Road Blog — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:12:08 EDT

Today at the Canton Civic Center in Canton, Ohio Barack delivered his closing argument speech. With one week until what may be the most important election of our lifetimes (regardless of your age), Barack is trying to make absolutely clear the choice we have in this election, trying to reach those folks who are still undecided.

Later in the day Barack spoke again in Pittsburgh, but this message of change resonates throughout the country. The challenges we face, whether it be the struggling economy, affordable healthcare, or a new energy policy apply as easily to Tucumcari, New Mexico as they do to Ithaca, New York.

Do you know any undecided voters? Encourage them to check out BarackObama.com to find Barack's plans to bring change to this country, encourage them to attend Barack's events, and most importantly encourage them to vote.

In addition to his two major speeches today, Barack found time this afternoon to stop in at an OFA office on the South Side of Pittsburgh to make phone calls. It's the most basic form of campaigning, but that personal touch is still the most effective. It's also something that anyone can do to. You can help make calls over the next eight days, either at an office or from home.

Enjoy the day in pictures, and forward the video of Barack's closing argument to all those still on the fence.

Arun Chaudhary
October 27th, 2008
St. David's, Pennsylvania

Road Blog: Joe Biden - "Barack has a steady hand, and steel in his spine"

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:44:35 EDT

A diverse crowd of all ages braved impending rain and cheered on Joe Biden as he rallied for change in Greensboro, North Carolina, home to five colleges and universities. Today Joe turned to history for perspective on this divisive, and decisive, moment in the election. He pointed out that Jefferson, Lincoln, FDR & JFK were all subject to the same types of attacks on their character that John McCain has tried to level at Barck. He countered that the Barack Obama he has come to know, "has steel in his spine...a steady hand...and sound judgment." Barack, Joe said, "represents the real hope that we need right now."

"The status quo doesn't like change," Joe exclaimed, as he made the case that the Obama-Biden ticket would change the status quo. "Our problems are too big, and for too long our politics has been too small; it's time to change!"

You can watch highlight from the rally below:

Hope Hall
October 27, 2008
En route to New Port Richey, Florida

Road Blog Rewind: Barack Swings Through the Southwest

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:49:09 EDT

Yesterday Barack was in Nevada and New Mexico, before heading to Colorado for two giant rallies today. Here's a report from the road that came in late last night . . .

"For the last eight years we've tried it John McCain's way, we've tried it George Bush's way. It didn't work. It's time to try something new." - Barack Obama

Today was day one of Barack's two day swing through the Southwest, making stops in Nevada and New Mexico. Like everywhere, the faltering economy is on everyones minds. It's the 600 pound gorilla who shows up at every rally.

At the Peccole Stadium at University of Nevada-Reno, 11,000 folks were on hand (validated by Adam Garcia UNR Police Chief) to hear Barack speak to their problems and offer solutions. In Reno, housing is a particular problem. People are desperate to stay in their homes but are finding it harder and harder.

The story is the same in Las Vegas. Bonanza HS Assistant Principal Zane Gray counted over 18,000 people crowded onto Bonanza's football field. These people aren't just worried about staying in their homes, they worry about what happens to the value of their houses when neighboring houses get shuttered up and abandoned. It's hard to know what to do when the consequences one faces are so often due to circumstances outside your control.

Barack finished the day by addressing a crowd of over 35,000 (per Fire Marshall Vince Leonard) on a crisp New Mexico night. "Future generations are going to judge us on how we respond," Barack said. "Will they say this was on of those moments when America overcame?"

The easiest way to overcome, to make a difference, to be part of the solution, is to vote, and vote early.

Enjoy the day in pictures,

Arun Chaudhary
October 25th, 2008
Albuquerque, NM

Road Blog: Barack on the Bush-McCain Philosophy

Obama Road Blog — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:02:56 EDT

"It is so nice coming back to Denver, we have so many great friends here from all walks of life." - Barack Obama

Over 100,000 friends of the campaign came to Barack's downtown Denver rally today, according to Police Chief Whitman. And according to the show of hands when questioned by Barack, the overwhelming majority of this huge crowd had already early voted, a crucial step in winning Colorado and winning this election.

Today Barack made the choice between him and his opponent clear, even as John McCain has tried unsuccessfully to separate himself from George W. Bush.

We know that it's time for new ideas and new leadership in the White House, but Senator McCain voted with President Bush 90% of the time over the last eight years. Just the other day George Bush returned the favor, and voted early for John McCain. Well Colorado, George Bush isn't the only one who gets to vote early -- you can vote early too, and you can finally put an end to the Bush-McCain philosopy.

Arun Chaudhary
October 26th, 2008
En route to Fort Collins, CO

Road Blog: Joe Biden Campaigns Through Virginia from Morning Until Night

Obama Road Blog — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 21:01:34 EDT

“We all love our country. We are all American. We are one nation under God." – Joe Biden

Joe Biden tirelessly campaigned through Virginia yesterday and today, holding Change We Need Rallies in Danville, Martinsville, and Suffolk. His motorcade wound through the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains into regions of Virginia where Democratic presidential candidates have historically not campaigned.

So far, Barack and Joe have made nine visits to central, southwest, and southeast Virginia during the campaign, regions where John McCain and Sarah Palin have visited only twice. These are areas that have been hit particularly hard by economic policies of the last eight years. Five major plant closings between 1999 and 2002 cost the Martinsville area 9,000 textile jobs. This summer, American of Martinsville eliminated 400 jobs (mostly among production workers) at its Redd Level plant.

Joe invoked a number of standing ovations in Danville and Martinsville yesterday, where collectively 1,400 people showed up to hear him speak.

Below is a video of Joe's full speech from the Danville rally:

In Suffolk this morning, 975 people attended a Change We Need Rally at Nansemond River High School. Joe responded to the recent comment made by one of John McCain's advisors that only certain parts of the state constitute “the real Virginia”. Joe asserted that the level of a person’s patriotism does not depend on what part of the state they live in, noting that 6,800 people from Virginia served in Iraq, with 136 fallen soldiers who hail from every part of the state.

Please enjoy a video clip from the Suffok rally:

Sharon Barnes
October 25, 2008
En route to Wilmington, Deleware

Road Blog: Barack on Bush-McCain Economic Policies

Obama Road Blog — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:24:36 EDT

“We’re going to have to work and struggle and fight every single one of the next ten days to move our country in a new direction, we cannot let up, and I know we won’t.” – Barack Obama

On a sunny crisp fall morning, nestled along the foothills just outside of Reno, Barack held the first of three rallies today in front off 1,100 people at Peccole Park at the University of Nevada.

As Wall Street continues to struggle, and with our economy in turmoil, Barack spoke about the need to shift attention from the “say anything, do anything politics” that traditionally dominates campaigns in order to elevate the debate to focus on the issues that matter to all Americans.

Here in Nevada, and across the country, folks don’t want to hear politicians attack each other. What they want to hear is how their leaders are going to attack the challenges facing middle class families every day.

As Barack told the folks here, when it comes to the economy, “There’s not an inch of daylight between George Bush and John McCain.” The Obama-Biden administration plans to fundamentally change the Bush-McCain economic policies, which continue to give tax cuts for the wealthy instead of the middle class.

Here is Barack’s reaction to McCain’s most recent claims:

Peter Rubi
October 25, 2008
Reno, Nevada

You can find out how Barack's tax plans would affect you at TaxCutFacts.org.

Road Blog: Joe Biden in Charleston, West Virginia

Obama Road Blog — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:17:07 EDT

"Appalachia cannot afford to go with McCain, it must go with Obama." – Joe Biden

At the outdoor Change We Need Rally in Charleston, West Virginia this morning, 3000 people congregated on Capitol Street to hear Governor Manchin, Senator Byrd, and Senator Rockefeller introduce Joe Biden. It was an introduction wrought with feeling, as Senator Byrd spoke about Barack and Joe with a political elegance derived from another era.

Joe’s central message was that the Obama-Biden ticket believes that clean coal is part of America’s energy future, and part of their plan to invest in a new energy economy for the country. He noted that China is building one coal-fired plant a week, which is a danger to the environment. He implored the audience:

Instead of pouring our energy dollars into the sands of Saudi Arabia and the pockets of Venezuela, we should be exporting home-made technology, solving not only our energy problems and challenges, but helping the world solve the rest of them. We should become the engine of change.

Please enjoy a video from Joe’s speech in Charleston.

Sharon Barnes
October 24, 2008
En route to Greensboro, North Carolina

Road Blog: Joe Biden Campaigns Through North Carolina

Obama Road Blog — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:01:21 EDT

“These attacks don’t hurt Barack. They hurt you, because they’re an attempt to distract you from the issues that affect your lives.” - Joe Biden

With 12 days left before the election, Joe Biden campaigned through North Carolina today encouraging people to vote early.

The first Change We Need Rally took place in Charlotte. According to Brian O'Keeffe, Associate Director for Events and Programming, 1,300 people arrived at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte Halton Arena to hear Joe speak. A large, painted “Hope” sign hung to the left of the stage. Joe told the assembled crowd that the Obama-Biden ticket was aiming to achieve the largest voter turnout in North Carolina’s history.

Next, the motorcade drove to Wake Forest University where Joe conducted the second Change We Need Rally of the day in Hearn Plaza, outside of the grand Reynolda Hall. Four thousand five hundred people attended the rally on this brisk, fall day. Joe spoke about the dire need for the country to unite together across political lines to solve the problems that we struggle with today.

Joe ended the day at Meredith College’s McCiver Amphitheater in Raleigh. Seven thousand people gathered in the grass below the stage and fanned out in the amphitheater seats. Joe talked about campaigning through the United States and how American heroes are found in every region of the country. It was a cold night, but as one student excitedly said as she was leaving the rally, “That was really worth it!”

Please enjoy a video from Joe’s speech at Wake Forrest in Winston Salem and photographs from the day:

Sharon Barnes
October 23, 2008
En route to Charleston, West Virginia

Road Blog: Barack on Fairness in Our Economy

Obama Road Blog — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 20:15:35 EDT

Today Barack Obama held a rally on the American Legion Mall in downtown Indianapolis, the very same site of his rally in the spring just before the Indiana primary. Though the location was identical and the crowds were equally enthusiastic, the times are very different. Back then, few foresaw the economic crisis that would grip the nation so strongly, the sub-prime mortgage bubble and the credit crunch they've created. At that time, Barack was one of few people speaking out about the culture of deregulation that has since taken such a toll on America's finances.

In his speech, Barack highlighted the different approach he takes to taxes compared to John McCain. He made the choice we have in this election clear: To continue to give tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas or to give those breaks to companies that create jobs here in the U.S.

In the video below, Barack expands on this idea and find out more about his approach to the challenges our economy faces:

Arun Chaudhary
October 23, 2008
Indianapolis, IN

Road Blog: Joe Biden Campaigns in Colorado

Obama Road Blog — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:41:26 EDT

The light shined golden on the snow-capped mountains as Joe Biden continued his journey from Colorado Springs to Pueblo, Colorado to hold an Early Vote for Change Rally.

According to Fire Inspector Woody Percival, 1,500 people braved the cold to hear Joe speak outside in Pueblo Union Depot in Pueblo, Colorado this afternoon. A beautiful, building-sized “Hope” poster hung to the right of the stage. Once again, Joe thanked Colin Powell for his endorsement. He said for many people, the American dream is becoming more and more distant. It is imperative to give tax-cuts and financial relief to the middle class and strengthen the foundation of the country.

Please enjoy the photographs of the day from Colorado Springs and Pueblo, Colorado.

Sharon Barnes
October 22, 2008
En route to Charlotte, North Carolina

Road Blog: Joe Biden in Colorado Springs - "This is who we are"

Obama Road Blog — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:03:52 EDT

"Turn off your TV and get out and vote. We cannot afford to wait." – Joe Biden

On the second day of Joe Biden’s bus tour through Colorado, he stopped at Sierra High School in Colorado Springs to host a Community Gathering. According to Fire Marshal J.R. Trout, 1,350 people turned up for the event.

Colorado has one of the highest foreclosure rate in the country. At end of the day, Joe said, we want to strengthen the middle class. He noted, "We cannot unite this country and this world unless we unite this country politically. We are not red or blue, but purple - we have a purple heart."

Joe urged the audience to vote early, saying that this is the most important election in which they will have a chance to participate. He urged the people in attendance to board the busses waiting outside and head to the polls after the event. Joe said, "We are not taking a single thing for granted. The stakes cannot be higher."

Early voting in Colorado runs through October 31st.

Please enjoy this video clip from today's Community Gathering.

Sharon Barnes
October 22, 2008
En route to Pueblo, Colorado

Road Blog: Barack in Richmond, Virginia

Obama Road Blog — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:58:59 EDT

Barack returned to the Commonwealth of Virginia with a full schedule of events today. After meeting with his senior national security team in the Jefferson Hotel (inlcuding Joe Biden, who joined by phone), Barack moved over to the Richmond Collesium to address the 12,900 folks who had gathered inside, as well as the 7,000 people who couldn't make it into the event (both figures per Lt. Anthony A. Jones Asst Fire Marshall).

He was joined by some familiar faces. The governor of Virginia Tim Kaine gave a stirring introduction, followed by the former governor and current Senate candidate Mark Warner. Virginia hasn't been in play in a long time, but is now one of the most hotly contested swing states in the country.

In his speech, Barack returned to many of the same themes that launched this campaign, nearly two years ago. In the video below, Barack calls on all Americans to put aside their differences, to overcome their cynicism towards politics, and to work together for a common cause:

Arun Chaudhary
October 22nd 2008
Richmond, VA

Road Blog: Joe Biden Campaigns Through Colorado

Obama Road Blog — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:48:57 EDT

Today, Joe Biden flew from Seattle, Washington to Ft. Collins, Colorado to conduct an Early Vote For Change Rally at the University of Northern California in Greeley, Colorado.

Next, Joe drove through the beautiful Colorado countryside to Adams City High School where, according to Kevin Vencel, Deputy Fire Marshal of SACFD, 1,700 people attended the Community Gathering at the Krogh Field House in Commerce City, Colorado. Joe emphasized the importance of voting early and hit back hard on the misleading robocalls that the McCain campaign continues to use. Alison Camplin introduced Joe, describing her struggles with losing her job and complications with health insurance. She specifically mentioned Barack’s health care plan as a reason for her support of the Obama-Biden ticket.

Finally, the motorcade stopped at the Parker, Colorado field office where Joe spoke to volunteers. The office was the first Democratic field office to be opened in Douglas County. The volunteers were hard at work when Joe arrived, working at phonebanks and organizing neighborhood canvasses. Joe spoke for several minutes about how important their work is, and that they must continue to the very end. He took particular delight in the children who were in the audience, explaining that it was the slumber party between his granddaughters and Barack’s daughters that solidified his understanding of why he needed to work so hard for the next generation.

Please enjoy the photos of the day:

Sharon Barnes
October 21, 2008
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Road Blog: Barack in South Florida, Day in Pictures

Obama Road Blog — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:49:38 EDT

A very enthusiastic crowd gathered outside the The Neighborhood Unisex Salon in Ft. Lauderdale Florida today, waiting for Barack to step outside and shake their hands. The Senator made a quick stop to this local barber shop, chatted with the customers and congratulated the owner, Lester Jones - who was in the middle of cutting local Kirby Talley's hair - on the success of his small business. Eight months ago Lester had transformed the space from an abandoned building into his own barber shop.

After shaking the hands of the patrons and posing for a group picture, Barack popped next door to the local Obama for America office to surprise the volunteers. Barack thanked the group for their hard work, and urged them to keep it up over the next two weeks. The Senator smiled past the mob of volunteers to great the growing crowd outside as the the locals shouted "Yes We Can" in unison.

After a quick bus ride, Barack surprised the folks at Deli Den, also in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He ordered some food to go, including bagels, lox and cream cheese, and then shook hands with the patrons. One woman grabbed Barack's hand and stated "I was going to vote for McCain, but recently you have changed my mind." The Senator smiled and thanked her for her vote.

A Change We Need/Early Vote Rally in Miami was the last stop on the Sentor's two day tour of Florida. The large crowd of 50,000 cheered loudly as Michelle walked on stage to introduce her husband, who then spoke about the future of this country and the importance of all Americans coming together as one nation to bring about the change we need.

Enjoy the video and pictures from the day:

Kat Westergaard
October 21, 2008
En route to Virginia

Road Blog: Barack Obama's Economic Summit in Florida

Obama Road Blog — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:46:17 EDT

“I am making an executive decision, that anyone who wants to take off your jacket because it is hot, feel free to do so -- this is how we would do this in the White House, this makes common sense.” – Barack Obama

On a hot October day in Palm Beach, Florida Barack called upon a group of governors and business leaders to hold an Economic Summit at Community College Gymnasium. Gov. Ted Strickland (OH), Gov. Bill Richardson (NM), Gov. Jennifer Granholm (MI), and Eric Schmidt, Chairman and CEO of Google were among those who joined Barack to hash out their ideas on how to rebuild our economy. The idea is to not only create jobs, but create better jobs that embrace new technologies and ideas, with the goal of creating an economic environment that allows hardworking Americans families can afford to be successful.

Loss of jobs, home mortgage foreclosures, and the energy crisis – these are just three of the major factors that have resulted from our current economy condition, and in turn continue to damage it.

Barack spoke about the need for reducing the burden on homeowners in trouble, homeowners who are faced with paying rates they cannot afford in a time when more and more people are struggling to pay their bills. He believes that the government needs to play a common sense role in this re-adjustment between the lenders and the borrowers, so that both can benefit.

Gov. Ted Strickland from Ohio, added “I understand Wall Street needs assistance, but I am waiting for that effort to trickle down to homeowners.”

Americans are losing their homes, and they are losing their jobs. Nobody knows more about job loss than Michigan’s Gov. Granholm:

“We have lost 400,000 jobs… We have been proud of our history, but we have seen failure of leadership in Washington... We can have a robust manufacturing in this country, there is only hope if we have the right leaders.”

Gov. Bill Richardson from New Mexico echoed this thought: “Every American feels this anxiety and the need for new leadership.”

Eric Schmidt, Chairman and CEO of Google, told the folks here that he believes that the key to stimulate the economy is to create jobs in the United States with higher wages, and to create whole new industries that embrace the challenges of our rapidly changing world. “I remain optimistic. I think we are seeing a century transition,” he said.

Here is a clip of Barack’s opening remarks:

Peter Rubi
October 21, 2008
Palm Beach, Florida

New to the site or still undecided? Learn more about Barack Obama and his position on important issues. If you're already a supporter, find out what you can do to help between now and Election Day, and please consider making a donation to strengthen our field operation and help Get Out The Vote.

Road Blog: Barack in the Sunshine Swing State, Day in Pictures

Obama Road Blog — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:50:04 EDT

"When you see a White Sox fan showing love to the Rays and the Rays showing love back, we're onto something right here." – Barack Obama

It has happened before, and it could happen again.

This year’s general election could be decided by Florida. Both candidates and their respective running mates have campaigned vigorously here, so it comes as no surprise that Barack launched a two-day tour of the Sunshine State today. Old rivalries and ball team allegiances took a back seat to getting out the message: starting today, folks in Florida can cast an early vote in what may be the most important election of our lifetimes.

Barack’s first of two Early Vote rallies was held at the Yankee spring training facility, Legend’s Field. There, Barack was introduced by members of the Tampa Bay Rays, who secured a world series spot by defeating the Red Sox last night.

"We're here today to encourage you to get out and vote and vote early for Barack Obama. We can change the nation," said outfielder Fernando Perez.

For the second event, outside the Amway Arena in Orlando, Hillary Rodham Clinton joined Barack on stage to encourage folks to get out and vote early. According to Tammy Hughes, City of Orlando Fire Marshall, 20,000 folks were inside the event and 30,000 were gathered outside.

This is the first time Barack and Hillary have campaigned together since the summer. The Clintons have been campaigning for the Obama-Biden with increasing regularity in the past weeks, as the election draws near. Hillary and her husband Bill Clinton both appeared with Joe Biden at a Rally in Scranton Pennsylvania just last week. ‘This is a mad dash to the finish line,” Hillary said today.

Enjoy the day in pictures.

Peter Rubi
October 20, 2008
West Palm Beach, Florida

Road Blog: Phonebanking in Kansas City

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:45:23 EDT

Over the weekend, Barack held two rallies in Missouri on Saturday, which drew a record total of 175,000 people. After the rally in St. Louis, Barack took the time to stop by Obama headquarters in Kansas City.

Here’s a video of Barack’s unannounced visit, during which he joined volunteers to call supporters and undecided voters, encouraging them to make sure they get out and vote on November 4th:

Peter Rubi
OFA Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois

Road Blog: Barack on the Mortgage Crisis

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:32:30 EDT

"Each of us has to have a new ethic of responsibility. We have to act like grown-ups again." - Barack Obama

Barack returned to the Sunshine State today to talk economics with the people of Tampa. Floridians have been hit especially hard by the sub-prime mortgage crisis, and today over 8,000 of them (validated by Sargent Rick Ubinas, Special Operations Tampa PD) crowded into Steinbrenner Stadium to hear solutions to the current economic crisis, as many of them struggle to stay in their own homes.

Below, Barack speaks about his plan to stabilize the housing market:

Arun Chaudhary
October 20th, 2008
Tampa, FL

You can read more about Barack's plan to provide immediate relief for struggling homeowners, including a 90 day moratorium on foreclosures, a plan to prevent property tax increases and to provide a universal mortgage tax credit for homeowners.

Road Blog Rewind: Joe Biden on the Campaign Trail

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:09:01 EDT

Twenty four hours of campaigning can often take you from one end of the country to the other (and sometimes back again). Here's a report from the road that came in late Friday night, that we haven't had a chance to run until now. -- HQ

Thursday morning Joe stopped by the Ohio Democratic Party headquarters in Columbus, Ohio on his way to the airport. He greeted and then thanked 100 staffers who gathered around him in a U-shape. When asked where they were from, the volunteers gave answers that spanned the country -- Louisville, Kentucky, Chicago, Auburn, New York, Tampa, Florida, Georgia, Southern Ohio.

Painted campaign banners that read “Respect”, “Empower”, and “Include” hung in the bullpen space, which Senator Biden joked was like, "a bunker where volunteers could hide out from the Republicans."

Here a few photographs from the event:

Next, Joe flew to Los Angeles for a taping of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Before the show, he did a quick skit with Leno that involved Joe making gaffs. Leno expressed mock horror as Joe announced, “Live from New York, it's Saturday Night Live!”

Afterwards, the motorcade cruised down the palm tree studded streets to the Warner Brother’s lot to film an episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” Ellen asked Joe a range of questions, from his thoughts on California's Proposition 8 to “Joe the plumber”. She ended the show by encouraging him to throw a ball at a dunking tank with Julia Louis Dreyfus. He showed remarkable aim.

Here are photographs of Ellen and Joe working on a skit backstage in the green room:

On Friday, Joe flew to Las Cruces, New Mexico, for a rally at a gorgeous site flanked by white adobe buildings and a missionary style church. Joe spoke about rebuilding the middle class, affordable healthcare, creating jobs, and ending the war in Iraq -- all issues that affect many people here in New Mexico.

Please enjoy photographs from the beautiful Las Cruces, New Mexico rally:

Sharon Barnes
October 17, 2008
Las Vegas, Nevada

Road Blog: Barack on Colin Powell's Endorsement

Obama Road Blog — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 18:39:18 EDT

This morning on his way to a rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina Barack received the news that Colin Powell had endorsed his candidacy for president. General Powell is an extraordinary American, having served in our armed forces and in two presidential administrations with distinction.

Barack called the General to thank him and said that he looked forward to taking advantage of his advice in the next two weeks and hopefully over the next four years.

In his endorsement, Powell called for a politics of unity and spoke out against the politics of division. Barack expanded on these themes in front of the 10,000 folks who crowded into Fayetteville Coliseum (per Captain R.A. Sullivan of the Fayetteville Fire Department) and acknowledged what an honor it was to have the confidence of a man like Colin Powell.

Arun Chaudhary
October 19, 2008
Fayetteville, NC

Road Blog: Barack Obama in Missouri

Obama Road Blog — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:32:31 EDT

"Don't let up, run right through the tape, Missouri." -- Barack Obama

Barack traveled to the "Show Me State" today, holding two of the largest rallies of the campaign. Over 100,000 people streamed into St. Louis' Jefferson Park, according to Lt. Dotson of the St Louis Police Department. The crowd stretched from the mighty Mississippi river to the old court house. A few hours later in Kansas City, at least 75,000 folks watched Barack in Liberty Memorial Park per Mark Bowland, Central Region Manager for the Parks and Recreation Dept.

With all the double speak on talk radio and negative ads running on TV, inevitable at this stage of a presidential campaign, it can be difficult to know who or what to believe. But today in Missouri, from the base of the great arch that serves as the gateway to the west, to the tall obelisk that stands as a reminder of the sacrifices our troops made during the Great War, folks came directly to the source. They came to learn, first hand, what Barack thinks about the challenges facing our nation and the solutions he's proposed.

But it's not enough to just reach out to crowds at an event. That's why the ground game of any campaign, the people who knock on the doors and make the phone calls, are one of the greatest assets of this movement.

With this in mind, Barack stopped by his Kansas City headquarters to make a few calls alongside volunteers. A few folks had trouble believing it was really Barack on the other end of the line. "Test me on my position on nuclear weapons," he teased one caller. But most were thrilled to get a first hand account of the change Barack hopes to bring to America, directly from the comfort of their homes.

Enjoy the day in pictures, and find out how you can phone bank in your area, or even directly from your own home.

Arun Chaudhary
October 18, 2008
En route to Fayetville, NC

Road Blog: Joe Biden Hits Back on McCain Campaign Robocalls

Obama Road Blog — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 20:55:53 EDT

“Barack Obama is tough. He can take three more weeks of this, but you can’t take four more years of John McCain/Bush policies.” - Joe Biden

Last night in Henderson, Nevada, Joe Biden responded to the McCain campaign's new round of negative "robocalls." He vehemently stated that he and Barack both put their country first, and that these attacks are another example of the McCain campaign's attempt to distract the media and the American public from the real issues at stake in this election.

Sharon Barnes
October 18, 2008
San Francisco, CA

Road Blog: Barack on Middle Class Tax Cuts in St. Louis

Obama Road Blog — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:05:51 EDT

“It comes down to values – in America, do we simply value wealth, or do we value the work that creates it? For eight years, we’ve seen what happens when we put the extremely wealthy and well-connected ahead of working people.” – Barack Obama

A record crowd of over 100,000 folks (confirmed by the St. Louis Police Department) gathered on a beautiful fall day alongside the Mississippi river, under the Gateway Arch at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis -- the biggest rally Barack has held in the United States to date.

Missouri is an important battleground state, having voted for the winning president in every election since 1960. It has been a red state for some time. but by the looks of the incredible number of folks who showed up today, Missourians are ready for change.

That includes folks like Keenan Morris, a 6th grade math teacher at a charter school here in St. Louis, who was on hand to introduce Barack. After Keenan graduated college with a degree in engineering, he decided he wanted to teach. But his job teaching at the schools in St. Louis wasn't paying him enough to get by, so he started working the night shift at a pizza place in order to pay his bills -– all the while caring for an ailing parent.

Though this was a lot to balance, Keenan told the crowd here that he was proud to work hard to try to achieve his dreams, and that he supports Barack because he knows he has a plan to bring relief to hardworking Americans, and improve the prospects for a brighter future for his students.

Here’s a clip from today’s event, in which Barack talks about the details of his middle class tax cut in response to John McCain’s recent claims:

Peter Rubi
October 18, 2008
St. Louis, Missouri

Road Blog: Barack on Healthcare in Roanoke, VA

Obama Road Blog — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:46:26 EDT

The temperature inside the hockey rink at the Roanoke Civic Center was warm, if not balmy, from the heat of over 8,000 citizens who were on hand this morning (per Ronnie Campbell, the Assistant Fire Chief of Roanoke). The reason? Barack Obama's rally in Roanoke. After Congressman Boucher and Senator Jim Webb's introduction, Barack made the case for change in America.

Americans aren't just sick of the failed policies of the last eight years, they are worried about becoming literally sick. The lack of a coherent healthcare policy in this country puts many folks one illness away from bankruptcy. Barack took some time in his speech today to address the stark differences between his approach to healthcare and John McCain's.

First we found out that Senator McCain wants to pay for his plan by taxing your healthcare benefits for the first time in history... That was bad enough, but the Wall Street Journal recently reported that it was actually worse than we thought. It turns out that Senator McCain would pay for part of his plan by making drastic cuts in Medicare -- $882 billion dollars worth.
... Now, this should come as no surprise. It's entirely consistent with Senator McCain's record during his 26 years in Congress, where time and again he's opposed Medicare. In fact Senator McCain has voted against protecting Medicare forty times. Forty times he's failed to stand up for Medicare.

Arun Chaudhary
October 17th, 2008
Roanoke, VA

Learn more about the true costs of John McCain's healthcare plan, as well as Barack Obama's plan to provide affordable, accessible healthcare for all Americans while preserving Medicare for future generations.

Road Blog: Barack in Londonderry, New Hampshire

Obama Road Blog — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:50:13 EDT

"It's good to be back, I missed you guys." -- Barack Obama

Barack returned to the Granite State today for a rally at Mack's Apples. Folks come for the apples, but this time of year they stay for the amazing pumpkin patch. Around this same time last year, Barack's daughters Malia and Sasha carved pumpkins at this very spot.

Though the autumn beauty and spirit is the same, this visit to Mack's this time focused on different matters. The financial crisis gripping the nation is making itself felt in New Hampshire as it is everywhere.

Times are often the toughest for those suffering from medical ailments. Jane Lang is from Salem. She used to work at Brandeis University but had to leave her job when she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Since then Jane and her husband have had to give up the home they owned and have begun renting a smaller place that fits into their new budget. They can barely afford the rent, but what they can't afford is four more years of the same policies that have already hurt the Lang's and so many more like them all across America.

Today Barack made clear the choice we have in this election, and counseled folks to keep their eyes on the issues. He had this to say about last night's debate, and about what we all need to focus on for these final three weeks of the election:

Arun Chaudhary
October 16th, 2008
Londonderry, NH

Road Blog: Joe Biden in Ohio, Day 2

Obama Road Blog — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:45:54 EDT

“That’s what Americans are going do - change our luck! What generation has ever waited to let our luck change? What defines us is that we have never accepted circumstances for what they are.” -- Joe Biden

From morning until night, Joe Biden traveled through Ohio yesterday, stopping in Athens, Lancaster, and Newark to hold community gatherings. Between the three towns, he reached a live audience of over 4,250 Ohioans. Obama-Biden signs dotted the countryside as the motorcade passed through the vast landscape. From the windows of the bus, staffers watched tractors plowing wheat fields in golden light.

In each town Joe spoke to the audience about the final presidential debate, saying, “Barack Obama’s your guy”. He told them, “What you decide may ultimately determine what our country decides.” He noted that neither McCain nor Palin ever mentioned the middle class in their previous debates, promising “First and foremost we will rebuild the middle class. If the middle class goes, America goes, and that’s a fact”.

Joe ended the day with such incredible energy in Newark, that the crowd of 1400 people went from one standing ovation to another. People were especially compelled by Joe’s remark that the Obama-Biden ticket would re-establish respect for the United States in the world and end the war in Iraq.

Please enjoy this video from the Community Gathering at the Athens County Fairgrounds:

Sharon Barnes
October 16, 2008
Columbus, Ohio

Road Blog: Pre-Debate in Hempstead, NY

Obama Road Blog — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:41:47 EDT

The final presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York is less than three hours away, and Barack just finished his debate podium tour. Before each debate, Barack checks out the stage to get a feel for how the debate will run, where he'll be standing, how big the audience is and where the moderator will be asking questions. It gives Barack a chance to get the feel for the lay of the land before go-time tonight.

Outside the hall, folks are fired up for the debate, stocked with a sea of Obama signs. Way to represent!

If you want to watch with other Obama supporters, there is still time to find a debate watching party near you.

Lauren Thorbjornsen
October 15th, 2008
Long Island, NY

Road Blog: Joe Biden Day in Pictures: Ohio, Day 1

Obama Road Blog — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:40:07 EDT

Joe visited three towns today on the first day of his Ohio bus tour, where he was greeted with thunderous applause by over 6,500 people.

Joe held outdoor gatherings in Warren, St. Clairsville, and Marietta. This is a beautiful region of Ohio, with sweeping hills, fall colors, winding roads, and turn-of-the-century town squares. You can see scenes from all three stops below in the pictures of the day:

Peter Rubi
October 14, 2008
Western Ohio

Road Blog: Joe Biden in Warren, Ohio

Obama Road Blog — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:48:11 EDT

“We cannot stand four more minutes of this, forget four more years. I’m 79 years old. I’d like to go out a winner. And I sure as heck don’t want to see my family suffer through eight more years of this.” – Bob Walsh

Joe Biden began his two-day bus tour through Ohio this morning, holding his first gathering in front of 2,500 folks in a beautiful amphitheater in downtown Warren.

Bob Walsh, an ex-steel worker (and current fleamarket coin seller) from Warren who worked in metallurgical for 27 years, knows that there is a lot riding on this election. He sees that folks around here have been hurting and steadily their losing jobs for a long time now.

He believes that Barack and Joe’s promise to restore jobs in this country is one of the most important issues in this year’s election. Bob sees folks he knows trying to secure decent jobs, but they are struggling — because the jobs are simply not there.

“Anything they can get is better than nothing. That’s what they got now -- a bunch of nothing,” he told us.

Bob sees a lot of support for Barack and Joe, and feels pretty good about their chances around here.

“I don’t know about all of Ohio, but I know that Youngstown and Warren and Mahoning County should be very strong. And where I work at the fleamarket is strong. I’ve got 150 votes out there.”

How’d he get 150 pledged votes at the flea market?

“I sell coin. I have signs behind my counter. And I have a whole family of about 50 people and they are all voting for Barack and Joe.”

This is the second time that Bob has come out to see Joe speak here in Warren.

“When Joe got going toward the end there -- you know how he gets, all geared up? I love it when he does that. He really tells it like it is.”

Peter Rubi
October 14, 2008
En Route St. Clairsville, Ohio

Road Blog Rewind: Barack Rolls Through Missouri

Obama Road Blog — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:41:42 EDT

"The time is right for Barack Obama." -- Chris Phillips, Warsaw, Missouri

Barack is in Ohio today, preparing for the third and final debate tomorrow night. But in late July of this year, he took a bus tour through the heart of Southwest Missouri, rolling through the towns of Springfield, Rolla, Lebanon and Union.

The state of Missouri is a microcosm of America, and it has the distinction having voted for the winning president in every election since 1960, and all but once since the dawn of the 20th century.

Barack's message at the time was the same as it is now: our country cannot afford four more years of Bush's failed economic policies -- policies that have rewarded the wealthy, and put a strain on working class families.

On the tour Barack spoke about "Economic Security," and it goes without saying that we've seen our economy go from bad to worse since last summer.

Here's a video recap of Barack's town hall meetings and his trip through Missouri on Interstate 44, talking about the change this country needs:

Peter Rubi
October 14, 2008

Joe Biden: A Day in Pictures - Jefferson Jackson Dinner

Obama Road Blog — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:53:05 EDT

Joe Biden took a bus tour through New Hampshire today, holding community gatherings in Rochester and Manchester. In the evening, he flew back to his home state of Delaware in time to appear as the keynote speaker at the Delaware Democratic Party Jefferson Jackson Dinner. He was joined by his wife Jill, and his children Hunter and Ashley.

Here are Joe’s opening remarks from the dinner:

Enjoy the day in pictures:

Peter Rubi
October 13, 2008
Wilmington, Delaware

Road Blog: Joe Biden, "Barack wants to attack America's economic problems"

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:26:42 EDT

“John McCain wants to attack Barack Obama. Barrack Obama wants to attack America’s economic problems.” -- Joe Biden

After his rally this morning in Rochester, Joe hopped aboard the campaign bus and headed inland for a a community gathering at the Recreation Complex at the Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester.

Nine hundred folks gathered here, anxious to hear Joe talk about the problems they face in their everyday lives, such as struggling to pay energy bills to heat their homes in the winter. In New Hampshire, folks this year are paying an annual amount per household of $3,400 just to hear their homes— that’s 1/3rd more than they paid last winter, and nearly double what they paid two years ago. Folks around here are anxious to hear how Joe and Barack plan to address rising costs like these, especially in the face of our troubled economy.

Joe believes that we “have it in our capacity to turn this country around” and attack our nation’s problems head-on. In order to do that, we need an administration in Washington with the right priorities to lead our country in the right direction.

In the video below, Joe asks the folks here to look closely at the choice both candidates made today, after each of their respective campaigns announced that they would be giving a major speech this morning:

Peter Rubi
October 13, 2008
Manchester, New Hampshire

Road Blog: Joe Biden in Rochester, New Hampshire

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:35:12 EDT

“We need people of integrity. We’re dealing with the Titanic – and the last thing I read about the Titanic is they used cheap rivets. President Bush has been plunging on, staying the course, and the Titanic is going down, and we’ve got cheap rivets... That’s just wrong.” – NH State House Representative Larry Brown

As the New England leaves are turning, Joe Biden held his first gathering in New Hampshire at the American Legion Hall, Post 7 in Rochester. In attendance was Stratford District 3 Representative Larry Brown from Milton, New Hampshire.

After the event, Larry said that, “it is such a pleasure to hear someone speak without rancor, directly and positively to each of the complex issues we face.”

Every day, Larry sees the struggle that people are facing here in New Hampshire.

“I can go down any street in my district, and I can find somebody who has someone in their family who is looking at a gas tank they can’t fill,” Larry said.

Larry explained that the cost of living has increased so much that folks around here are “chopping wood as fast as they can” to keep up.

“We need clarity, we need change.”

Here’s a clip of the what Larry at 650 other folks saw this morning – Joe speaking about the steady hand that Barack Obama offers our nation as a leader, the steady hand our country needs right now:

Peter Rubi
October 13, 2008
Rochester, New Hampshire

Road Blog: The Bidens and Clintons in The Electric City

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:04:37 EDT

There was a whole lot of excitement amongst the 6,000 folks at the rally at the Riverfront Sports Complex in Scranton, Pennsylvania yesterday, as Joe and Jill Biden were joined by Bill and Hillary Clinton — for the first time since Joe joined the Democratic ticket in August.

The complex went electric when Joe and Hillary hit the stage -- and no wonder, as both Joe and Hillary have roots in Scranton. Joe lived in the area until he was eleven, and Hillary’s father, Hugh Rodham, was raised here.

Jill, Bill, Hillary and Joe each made remarks at the podium, speaking towards unity and victory for the Obama-Biden administration.

Jill Biden:

Bill Clinton:

Hillary Clinton:

...and Joe Biden:

Here are some of the photos from Joe and Jill’s day in Scranton:

Peter Rubi
October 13, 2008
Rochester, New Hampshire

Road Blog: Barack Canvasses in Holland, Ohio

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:21:28 EDT

Barack Obama flew from Chicago, Illinois to Toledo, Ohio today to begin his debate preparations for the final debate on Wednesday night. He stopped his motorcade along the way to canvass in the suburb of Lincoln Green in Holland, Ohio. It was a gorgeous day to walk through a neighborhood full of ranch-style houses and fall-colored trees to speak to middle class folks about the issues that were affecting them most.

Barack rolled up the sleeves of his white dress shirt and chatted with Kim Heretick, a 35-year old housewife from Swanton, who had been canvassing for him for six weeks. Kim accompanied Barack to the first house where a small gray haired woman in a pink shirt opened the screen door and greeted him with surprise. He told her that he just wanted to stop by to say hello.

The second door he approached was 312 Shrewsbury Street, where Sue Sekel, a 43-year old healthcare worker talked to Barack about the housecleaning she had been doing -- she had already voted early. After snapping a cell phone picture with her, Barack moved on to a group who had formed across the street. He asked the people congregating about what they did for a living, focusing primarily on how to fix their economic struggles and his plan for creating green energy jobs.

Shelly Kretz, a 38-year old Proctor & Gamble worker explained that she had been on the fence regarding which candidate she would vote for, but that Obama’s answers to her neighbor’s tough questions convinced her to vote for him. After snapping a photograph with Barack and her family she said, “It’s really awesome that he takes the time to talk to the middle class and answer questions,” adding that her brothers, who live in the neighborhood, were also swayed by Obama’s appearance.

Enjoy the day in pictures!

Sharon Barnes
October, 12, 2008
Toledo, Ohio

Road Blog: Barack's Barnstorming Tour of Philadelphia

Obama Road Blog — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:13:00 EDT

Barack returned to Pennsylvania today, barnstorming four Philadelphia neighborhoods in just a few short hours. Barack was blessed with beautiful weather and huge crowds during his visits to North Philly, Germantown, the Northeast and West Philadelphia this morning and afternoon.

The first step was Progress Plaza, a shopping center just a few blocks south of Temple University, where Obama's honest and inspiring assessment of the challenges facing America today were met with cheers by a 15,000-strong crowd. "We've always seen the mountaintop from the deepest valley," Obama told the crowd. "We can do it again."

The next stop was the Mayfair Diner, in lower Northeast Philadelphia. Obama addressed a crowd of 5,000, many of them proud union members.

Barack also visited Philadelphia's historic Germantown neighborhood and 52nd Street in the legendary West Philly commercial district where, were a crowed of over 20,000 had been waiting since morning. Standing in front of the Bushfire theater, Obama laid out a plan for America's future that was short on platitudes and long on specifics. After enthusiastic introductions from Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter (who grew up just a few blocks away), Obama spoke to the crowd about his plans for job creation, energy independence and accessible health care. "We can do this," Obama told the crowd. "We've done it before!"

Arun Chaudhary
October 11, 2008
Philadelphia, PA

Road Blog: Joe Biden, Day in Pictures

Obama Road Blog — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:58:31 EDT

Joe Biden held a rally in Springfield, Missouri today. The event was a great success, capping off a four-stop tour through the state. From the sheer numbers of enthusiastic people who turned out at these events to see Joe, things are looking good for the Obama-Biden ticket in Missouri.

Joe will return on Sunday to campaign with his wife Jill alongside Bill and Hillary Clinton at an event in his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

In the meantime, enjoy the day in pictures:

Peter Rubi
October 10, 2008
Wilmington, Delaware

Road Blog: Barack in Ohio, Day 2

Obama Road Blog — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:16:26 EDT

"The American people aren't looking for someone to divide the country -- they want someone to lead it." - Barack Obama

Barack Obama spoke those words today on the banks of the Scioto river, in view of the Columbus skyline. He continued to draw large crowds on the second day of his Ohio bus tour: 5,000 in Chillicothe according to Glenda Cornett, the City Fire Inspector and 12,000 in Columbus as counted by Lieutenant Mark L. McMurray, Columbus Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire.

The day started in front of the Chillicothe court house in Ross County, which was the first state house of Ohio. In this small town, struggling from the effects of the current financial crisis, Barack unveiled his new Small Business Rescue Plan. Small businesses are the powerhouse of our economy, where most of this nation's jobs are created. Unfortunately they are also often the hardest hit when times are tough. Even with the current federal government rescue plan there is a long way to go. We've all got a lot of work to do.

With this in mind, the end of the day was just as fitting as the beginning. Barack stopped by a meeting of Obama for America field organizers in Columbus, young people determined to make a difference in this election, determined to help bring change to America. He told them about his experiences as an organizer in the South Side of Chicago, helping rebuild communities that had been devastated by the closing of local steel plants. Like Barack back then, these folks are the ones who hit the streets, who knock on doors, who listen to people tell their stories and explain their problems. Sometimes it can be hard to get the specific answers from a TV commercial or at a rally. Who better to make the choice we have in this election clear than friends and neighbors? Find out how you can get involved in Barack's campaign in your state, or in neighboring states, and enjoy the day in pictures:

Arun Chaudhary
October 10th, 2008
Philadelphia, PA

Road Blog: Joe Biden in Springfield, Missouri

Obama Road Blog — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:56:27 EDT

“There is no way to rebuild this economy without rebuilding the middle class.” – Joe Biden

Joe Biden held a rally in Springfield, Missouri this morning, his fourth event in two days in the Show Me State. Three thousand enthusiastic folks gathered in the sunshine at Jordan Valley Park to hear Joe speak.

In this clip, Joe talks about some of the fundamental differences on economic policy between the candidates:

Peter Rubi
October 10, 2008
Springfield, Missouri

Road Blog: Barack in Chillicothe, Ohio

Obama Road Blog — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:05:51 EDT

"We meet at a moment of great uncertainty for America" - Sen. Barack Obama

Throughout his current bus tour through Ohio, Barack has been joined by Governor Ted Strickland and Senator Sherrod Brown. When you travel the country as frequently as Barack it's nice to see familiar faces, and very often these folks who know Barack so well introduce him at events. But today after the Senator and Governor spoke, a young man from Chillicothe took the stage. Not a politician, just an average American trying to make it through these tough economic times. His name was Matt Kendall.

In Chillicothe, like many places in Ohio, the economy has been struggling for a long time. Matt has been laid off several times since 2001 and is currently looking for a job. He lost his job at the Mead paper plant alongside a lot of other folks. He was let go from the Kenworth truck company when they hit a financial rough spot. Kenworth was able to help Matt attend nursing school, but 10 weeks before he graduated he took another job, badly needing the income. The mortgage and other bills piling up just became too much. It is hard to do the things you know you need to do to get ahead, when daily life becomes so demanding. People like Matt know this all too well. They aren't looking for a handout but they are looking for help up.

After Matt's introduction, it was Barack's turn. He laid out his plans to help America recover from this crisis and prosper again.

Watch this clip of the speech and remember to make sure you are registered to vote on November 4th:

Arun Chaudhary
October 10th 2008
Chillicothe, OH

Road Blog: Barack in Ohio

Obama Road Blog — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:20:06 EDT

"I ask you to believe, to believe in yourselves, believe in each other. If we believe we cannot fail" -- Barack Obama

It seems like there is no end to the bad financial news. Today was another hard day for the markets, both in America and abroad. But these new stats and figures are so much trivia to the people of Ohio -- they have been hurting for years. Ohioans came out in droves today to hear Barack: 8,500 in Dayton's Fifth Third Stadium, ("Thanks to Dayton Dragon's for letting us use their stadium") and 15,000 in beautiful Ault park in Cincinnati. Police Captain Ware of the City of Portsmouth estimated at least 8,000 folks at Shawnee State, the day's final stop.

Barack wasn't afraid to speak frankly about the bad news, saying that, "You've seen your 401k turn into a 101k." But such talk wasn't why they came today. They came to hear solutions, and they weren't disappointed. Barack presented his case for responsible and measured action in the face of the fiscal crisis and the bailout that Congress recently passed to help alleviate the worst effects.

The best stop of the day was an unscheduled visit to the Fireside Restaurant in Georgetown Ohio, where Barack got down to the brass tacks with folks about the specifics on the economy over a slice of coconut cream pie. "We've got to start focusing on the middle class," Barack told some diners. It turned out the Mayor was there as well, and when Barack asked "I bet your budget is getting a little strained?" the Mayor nodded solemnly. But the most interesting conversation Barack had at the Fireside was with William Seip, the owner of the restaurant and a diehard Republican.

It was a story he repeated later in the evening at Shawnee State. You can watch Barack tell the story of his meeting with Mr. Selp below, along with the day in pictures:

Arun Chaudhary
October 9th, 2008
Portsmouth, OH

Joe Biden: Day in Pictures, Rural Missouri

Obama Road Blog — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:32:30 EDT

Joe Biden held three fantastic events in rural Missouri today. You can read about and watch clips from the first two events in St. Joseph and Liberty. A third event was held outdoors this evening, underneath a rustic wooden alcove in Memorial Park in Jefferson City, in front of a crowd of 1,400 people (as reported by Detective Chuck Walker of Jefferson City PD).

Enjoy this collection of photos from the day:

Peter Rubi
October 9, 2008
Columbia, Missouri

Road Blog: Joe Biden, Fired Up in Liberty

Obama Road Blog — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:30:46 EDT

After Russell Tucker was laid off from his job at the GM plant in Kansas City this past summer, he was hanging around the house, watching T.V., when he found inspiration:

“It was the middle of July when I got laid off. I was laying around the house when I saw the Democratic Convention on TV, and I recorded, it. I was so taken by Barack Obama’s speech, I watched it twice the next day. I had to find out some way to get involved. I found 31st and Gillham (an Obama volunteer headquarters), and I came up with a little thought -- with John McCain we hope for change, but with Barack Obama, we change for hope. So I changed, I got involved. This is the first election in which I’ve done any volunteering.”

Now this Steel Metal Workers Union member works for the campaign full time, on a volunteer basis. He even traveled out of state last week, to canvas in Kansas. “That was interesting," Russell said. "I think we’re going to win Missouri, and I think maybe Kansas too.”

Joe Biden’s speech resonated with Russell today. “I really like what he said about the programs that he and Obama have planned, that will help me and average Americans, not just a few rich people.”

Here’s a clip of Joe fired up, speaking to Russell and 1100 other folks today in Liberty, Missouri:

Peter Rubi
October 9, 2008
Jefferson City, Missouri

Road Blog: Barack in Cincinnati

Obama Road Blog — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:06:53 EDT

"You are beautiful!" Governor Strickland declared, surveying the crowd of 15,000 in Ault park today (as counted by Will Jones, Cincinnati Fire Department District Fire Chief). "And I'm thrilled to introduce you to the next President of the United States."

When receiving such an introduction, Barack is quick to point out that he is a superstitious man and this election isn't over yet. But he does have firm ideas about leading this country through the economic struggles that lie ahead. "The next President is going to have to manage this recovery," Barack explained. "Will that President be looking out for you?"

The financial crisis and the competing plans to address it couldn't make clearer the choice we have in this election. Below is a video clip of Barack's speech today, in which he discusses the flaws with John McCain's most recent mortgage proposals, and the need for solutions that put working families first:

Arun Chaudhary
October 9th, 2008
Cincinnati, Ohio

Road Blog: Joe Biden in St. Joseph, Missouri

Obama Road Blog — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:41:49 EDT

Zack Craft, a 21 year old student here at the Missouri Western State University, was surprised to learn from one of his teachers that Joe Biden would be coming to campus today.

Zack has been a supporter of the Obama-Biden administration for some time now. He told us why:

First off it was the promise of change that they brought to the campaign – what we’ve been seeing in DC in the last eight years, with Bush and Cheney and their staff, it’s just made us go downhill. Our economy is in the toilet, things are going crazy, Wall Street is down… For Joe Biden and Barack Obama to come by and say, “Hey, we want to help the middle class” – as part of the middle class, that helps us out a lot.

Today, Zack had a chance to meet Joe Biden in person. Zack talked about the uncertainty that he and his classmates have about the future of jobs here in the United States, and he believes that Barack and Joe have the right idea to bring about a better future:

“I’m getting ready to graduate from college, and I’m going to have all these bills to pay, and I'll be trying to find a job and start a career here in the United States. They have promised to bring back jobs here to Missouri, and it’s going to be phenomenal for all the college graduates, to be able to say to them, “if you do well in college, you’re going to have a career and you’re going to have a better life.”

Here’s a clip of Joe speaking to Zack, and 700 other folks here in northwest Missouri. In this clip, we see Joe talk about how he and Barack want to shift the national discourse, and speak frankly about the issues and the needs of our country:

Peter Rubi
October 9, 2008
St. Joseph, Missouri

Road Blog: Joe Biden, Day in Pictures

Obama Road Blog — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:35:47 EDT

Joe Biden was back in the saddle and in good form today -- returning to the campaign trail to lead two spirited rallies in southern Florida. In both Tampa and Ft. Meyers, Joe saw some of his biggest crowds to date, with a total of over 7,500 folks at the two events.

Here’s a slideshow of Joe’s day in the Sunshine state:

Peter Rubi
October 8, 2008
Kansas City, Missouri

Road Blog: Joe Biden at the Sundome in Tampa, FL

Obama Road Blog — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:34:20 EDT

"Barack Obama showed again last night that he understands that these debates aren’t about me or Governor Palin, or Barack Obama or John McCain. These debates and this election are about you." - Joe Biden

Three thousand five hundred folks were packed into the Sundome at the University of South Florida today to hear Joe speak at his first event since last week's debate.

Joe spoke to folks here about the priorities that he and Barack have -- talking about the issues that matter most to Americans. In the midst of our worst financial crisis in over a generation, people here and all across the country are eager to hear about how we can help middle class families:

And that’s why all of our plans - from infrastructure, to energy, to education, to tax cuts, to healthcare - focus on one thing: jobs. Creating jobs. Keeping jobs in America. Making sure people have the skills to fill good jobs. And allowing you to keep the healthcare you have through your job.

For those of you who missed the livestream of today's event, here is a video of Joe's full speech:

Peter Rubi
October 8th, 2008
Interstate 75, en route to Ft. Meyers, FL

Road Blog: Barack in Indianapolis, IN

Obama Road Blog — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:16:46 EDT

Weather-wise, there has been only one word on the campaign trail since last night's debate: rain. It has been coming down in buckets, all the way from rainy Nashville to soggy Indianapolis.

But that didn't stop 21,000 Hoosiers (according to Robert L. Miller II from the Division of Fire & Building Safety) from crowding into the stands at the State Fair Grounds in Indianapolis to hear Barack Obama address the economic challenges that our nation faces. Things are bad now, and they could get worse. "Home heating prices may go up 30 percent," Barack told the attendees of the rally, "and the money you saved up for things like your kids' college education is disappearing faster than you can count."

But as bad as things look, Barack took time to remind us what makes America and Americans great, and why he believes we will succeed in the end.

You can watch a video clip of the speech below:

Arun Chaudhary
October 8th, 2008
Indianapolis, Indiana

Road Blog: Barack in Nashville Before the Debate

Obama Road Blog — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:30:03 EDT

Greetings from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, site of the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate. Folks from all over Tennessee have converged on this spot, not only to watch Barack Obama and John McCain spar over the issues but to ask their own question in this participatory format.

With each debate the choice we have in this historic election becomes clearer.

Barack arrived at the Curb Event Center earlier this afternoon to check out the stage and get a feel for the room. It's a ritual that both candidates do before each debate.

Check out some pictures of the walkthrough as we wait for the debate to start . . .

Arun Chaudhary
October 7th, 2008
Nashville, Tennessee

Road Blog: Virginians Share Their Views on Barack in Newport News

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:49:28 EDT

Saturday was a gorgeous day in Newport News, as thousands of people flocked to the water's edge in Victory Landing Park to hear Barack Obama speak. The rally overlooked the James River, with a Navy ship serving as an austere backdrop. The theme of the speech was healthcare issues.

Folks were energized by Barack's call to action to register and to vote. He proclaimed that Virginia has a chance to help change the course of the country -- to save the failing economic system and guard against the privatization of health insurance.

Please enjoy photos from the day and listen as four Virginians from the rally share their views on why it is imperative for people to vote for Barack.

Sharon Barnes
October 4th, 2008
Asheville, North Carolina

Road Blog: Barack in Asheville, North Carolina

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:59:04 EDT

Barack took a break from debate prep today to get lunch at the 12 Bones Smokehouse, a famous BBQ joint in the River Arts District of Asheville.

It was easy to tell this place was good. "There was a line even before I got here," Barack commented before ordering a mess of food, including the house specialty, blueberry ribs.

But on the campaign trail you never really get a break. Twelve Bones was full of voters, and though many of them had seen Barack at yesterday's rally at Asheville High, there were plenty of folks who wanted to share their thoughts and concerns.

A local doctor had seen Barack speak about healthcare at Sunday's rally. He was excited to have a chance to tell the candidate about his experiences up close. "That's why I'm talking about health care," Barack told him.

All too soon it was time to get back to work, prepping for tomorrow night's debate. There's still time to find a debate watching party in your area. For now, enjoy the day in pictures:

Arun Chaudhary
October 6th, 2008
Asheville, NC

Road Blog: Barack Obama in Asheville, North Carolina

Obama Road Blog — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:15:14 EDT

"When we are unified and not divided there is nothing that we cannot achieve." -- Barack Obama

Liz Allen is a registered nurse in the Cardiovascular Unit at Mission Hospital, here in Asheville. What Liz hates most is the waste. So many people who end up in the intensive care unit she works in are there because they don't have insurance. When people don't have health insurance they usually develop conditions that are far more dangerous -- and far more expensive to treat. It just doesn't make sense, especially at a time when Americans are suffering under the rising cost of everything in their lives, not just health care, but food and gas as well.

In her introduction at Asheville High School, home of the fighting Cougars, Liz made clear why she supports Barack. He is the only candidate looking out for needs the middle class.

She declared her support in from of about 28,000 folks (according to Captain Sarah Benson of the Asheville Fire Deptartment) and could not have been a better prelude to Barack himself.

So many people, like Liz Allen, are working hard to help others, even as they themselves are just scraping by. It's the only way this country can regain it's strength. More than that, as Barack says, it's who we are. Find out how you can help this movement for change across America.

Here is a clip from today's speech in Asheville, in which Barack pledged to keep on talking about the issues that matter and to continue fighting for the middle class.

Arun Chaudhary
October 5th , 2008
Asheville, North Carolina

Road Blog: Barack in Newport News, Virginia

Obama Road Blog — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:46:06 EDT

"It is time to do something different about health care." -- Sen. Barack Obama

Virginians came out en masse to Victory Landing Park in Newport News to hear Barack Obama discuss his plan for healthcare in America. It was an appropriate setting -- one of the origin stories for the name "Newport News" is that a group of original settlers who had been lost shared the "good news" on their return to settlement and safety.

The 18,000 folks who attended the rally today (according to Deputy Fire Marshal Captain Minga) were seekers of a different sort. They were looking for answers on healthcare, one of the most difficult issues of our time. Millions of Americans are currently left uninsured and millions more are paying more than they can afford for basic coverage.

Today's introducer, Kathryn Devocht, is on the front lines of the healthcare battle. Kathryn is an operating room nurse. She is witness to the dramatic increase in the numbers of patients who have been dropped from the care provided them by their employers, sometimes without even being told about it. She sees those who still have insurance unable to pay their premiums. Kathryn is supporting Barack Obama because she feels that Barack will be able to bring change to Washington and will make helping these struggling folks a priority of his administration.

Hear the speech in its entirety:

Arun Chaudhary
October 4th, 2008
Newport News, VA

Road Blog: Barack in Abington, Pennsylvania

Obama Road Blog — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:32:06 EDT

Barack returned to Pennsylvania today for a rally in Abington, a suburb of Philadelphia. According to Chief of Police Bill Relly, about 6000 folks stood on the field or sat in the bleachers at the Abington High School football field. Also in attendance were some familiar Pennsylvania faces: Senator Bob Casey and Governor Ed Rendell.

Bob Casey made it plain, saying "This is a very simple choice between change and more of the same. We can't have more of the same, we have to vote for Obama-Biden." Ed Rendell couldn't have agreed more. "Joe Biden and Barack Obama want to look to the future," he explained. "They are not scared, they are ready to lead, to roll up their sleeves."

But the best case for change was made by Bob Rupert, a local. Bob worked at an HVAC company until he was let go due to downsizing. He now works 45 hours a week refurbishing bakery equipment, and another 15 as a bartender.

How much would Bob and his family save under the Obama tax plan?

• $1000 Making Work Pay tax cut
• $4,000 refundable tax credit to help send their child to college
• Matching $500 tax credit for the first $1,000 of retirement savings
• Lowered healthcare costs by $2,500

It could make a real difference.

Hear is a video clip in which Barack discusses his tax plan:

Arun Chaudhary
October 3rd, 2008
Abington, Pennsylvania

Road Blog: Thursday in Pictures, Barack in Michigan

Obama Road Blog — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:53:15 EDT

(Last night, the spotlight was firmly fixed on Joe Biden and the Vice Presidential Debate. But Barack had a full day as well yesterday, with two huge rallies in Michigan...)

As dusk fell on the campus of Michigan State University, Police Lieutenant Scott Beckner couldn't quite put a number on the crowd that streamed into Barack Obama's rally. "18,000 people and counting," was the best he could do. Young students mixed in with older folks as they gathered to hear Barack Obama and their favorite alumna Senator, Debbie Stabenow speak.

"Michigan is hurting," Barack told the crowd.

Thirty thousand jobs lost and 104,000 foreclosures here since the beginning of the year. The unemployment rate, double many states. Home values are falling. Wages are flat-lining. And the cost of everything from gas to groceries is going up and up. That's what Michigan's facing. I know that. And it's time for a president who will fight for you.

Barack Obama campaigned across Michigan today from Grand Rapids to East Lansing, talking economic solutions to the challenges the nation is facing. The financial pain that the nation is focused on now has been felt for a long time here. The "18,000 people and counting" who assembled at MSU seemed glad that someone is finally listening.

Enjoy the day in pictures,

Arun Chaudhary
October 2nd, 2008
East Lansing, Michigan

Road Blog: Joe Biden, A Day in Pictures

Obama Road Blog — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:26:27 EDT

Here's a behind the scenes look at Joe, his family and his staff before, during and after tonight's debate . . .

Peter Rubi
October 2, 2008
En route to Wilmington, Delaware

Road Blog: Joe Biden at the Debate Site

Obama Road Blog — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:53:14 EDT

The air was still in the gymnasium as Joe Biden entered for a walk-through of the site before tonight’s debate. He took his place behind the podium, getting accustomed to the lights and feel of the room.

Standing in for Governor Palin was Julia Latash, a senior and International Studies major at Washington University. When asked to speak into the microphone for a sound check she simply said, "I just would just like to say, it is an honor to be standing here with you Senator."

Joe smiled, turned to his staff and said, "I like that, that was a good one."

Joe then held up two different ties to choose from.

"What do you think? I'm no good at these things," he said.

"I like the dark one," said Julia.

Someone on Joe's staff disagreed, suggesting that the lighter tie was much more appropriate. Julia quickly changed her mind. “The lighter one,” she insisted.

Danny Gaynor, a Poli-Sci major who was to stand in for Joe upon Governor Palin's arrival later in the day, had the chance to shake hands with Joe and talk about his home state of Massachusetts.

Danny was a bit flustered. “This is turning out to be one of the best days of my life.”

Here are some photos of Joe at the walk-through:

Peter Rubi
October 2, 2008
St. Louis, Missouri

Road Blog: Joe Biden Heads to St. Louis

Obama Road Blog — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:49:30 EDT

Joe Biden was joined by his family and staff early this afternoon, before boarding his plane in Wilmington to head to St. Louis for tonight's debate. He’s been prepping all week, but you’d never know it by looking at him on the tarmac -- he looked relaxed, and happy to be joined by his family on the flight.

Immediately after landing, Joe will do a walk-through of the debate set, which has been built inside the gymnasium at Washington University.

Peter Rubi
October 2, 2008
St. Louis, Missouri

Road Blog: Barack in Grand Rapids, MI

Obama Road Blog — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:51:30 EDT

The economy is in trouble. Folks in Michigan know it, they don't need to hear about job loss or rising gas prices. That's not why 15,900 folks crowded into Calder Plaza this cold fall morning (crowd count per Patrick Dean, Special Events Coordinator for the Grand Raids Police Department).

They came to hear solutions, they came to hear answers. They came to hear Barack Obama offer guidance and leadership in these unstable times. Barack explained the ramifications of the latest bailout bill and how the government can be a partner in job creation and prosperity under an Obama administration.

It is a message that is gaining traction here in Western Michigan. Take the Mapes for example:

Tony and Brenda Mapes are recent homeowners. Besides working full time at Grand Rapids Ink, Tony is currently taking classes at Montcalm Community College. Brenda is also studying to become a registered nurse. They are relying on financial aid to help achieve their dreams. But with four daughters, they find themselves stretched thin, especially in the face of rising costs.

How would Tony and Brenda fare under an Obama tax plan?

Under the Obama plan, Tony and Brenda would get:

• $500 Making Work Pay tax cut

• $4,000 refundable tax credit for when their kids go to college

• Lower healthcare costs by $2,500

• Matching $500 tax credit for the first $1,000 of retirement savings

They would also receive generous tax incentives to help make it easier for Tony to start up his small business:

• Zero capital gains on the investment in their business

• A 50% tax credit for health care that they provide to their employees

• Extension of the renewable energy production tax credit

This is why nearly 16,000 people came this morning, and this is what they heard:

Arun Chaudhary
October 2nd, 2008
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Road Blog: Barack in La Crosse, Wisconsin

Obama Road Blog — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:12:32 EDT

"I heard some of you camped out last night. That kind of dedication has to be rewarded." -- Barack Obama

Too often over the last eight years the wrong folks have been rewarded in our economy. So many people have done all the right things, acted responsibly, and yet are still hurting.

Nikki Brown, who introduced Barack this morning, is one of them. She is a department store manager in La Crosse and her husband Dan owns an auto repair shop. The Browns are just about stretched to their limit, paying two mortgages and struggling with the rising costs of gas and groceries. Many Americans who are in their position are just one medical bill away from ruin.

The Brown's are already facing that reality. One of their daughters has a kidney disease. No family should ever be put in the position of having to choose between food and healthcare, and yet this is where the Brown's now find themselves.

These aren't abstract problems, they are real. So how would Barack's healthcare plan affect the Brown's? Here is an overview:

Impact of the Obama plan for Nikki Brown:

· $1,000 "Making Work Pay" tax cut

· $4,000 refundable tax credit for when their children go to college

· Lower healthcare costs by $2,500

· Matching $500 tax credit for the first $1,000 of retirement savings

· Zero capital gains on the investment in their small business

· A 50% tax credit for healthcare that they provide to their employees

In his speech Barack said, "I understand that many of you are cynical and disappointed in your leaders," but in this election we have the choice to vote for plans that make a concrete difference in real folks lives.

Watch this clip of Barack explaining how he can make Washington work for you:

Arun Chaudhary
October 1st, 2008
La Crosse, Wisconsin

Road Blog: Joe Biden Bids Beau Farewell

Obama Road Blog — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:40:07 EDT

Joe Biden took a break from preparations for his upcoming debate with a trip to ”The Pit” yesterday. The Charcoal Pit is living Americana. It’s a Wilmington favorite, a classic highway diner complete with original vintage signage and the best milkshakes in town. It’s small and comfortable space where regulars like Senator Biden can catch up and joke around with lifelong friends and constituents.

Senator Biden met a warm welcome as he worked his way around the entire restaurant and took the time to speak with just about every patron in the lunchtime crowd. He then sat down for burgers and fries with his son Beau, Beau’s wife Halle and their four year old daughter Natalie. Beau, a Captain in the Delaware National Guard, deploys to Iraq on Friday.

Quentin Kruger
October 1st, 2008
Wilmington, DE

Road Blog: Barack in Reno, Nevada

Obama Road Blog — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:01:38 EDT

"Over the course of a few hours, the failure to pass the economic rescue plan in Washington led to the single largest decline of the stock market in two decades. Over one trillion dollars of wealth was lost by the time the markets closed on Monday. But while the decline of the stock market is devastating, the consequences of the credit crisis that caused it will be even worse if we do not act and act immediately." -- Barack Obama

Twelve thousand folks crowded into the quad at the University of Nevada in Reno (according to Thomas P. Lean, the Assistant Director of Facilities Operations) but they were not in a celebratory mood. They were looking for leadership and guidance.

In front of the beautiful red-brick buildings on the campus quad, Barack called for courage and confidence, and explained the need for quick action:

"If we do not act, it will be harder for you to get a mortgage for your home or the loans you need to go to college or a loan you need to buy a car to get to work. What it means is that businesses won't be able to get the loans they need to open new factories, or hire more workers, or make payroll for the workers they have. What it means is that thousands of businesses could close around the country. Millions of jobs could be lost. A long and painful recession could follow.
...This is one of those defining moments when the American people are looking to Washington for leadership. It is not a time for politics. It is not a time for partisanship. It is not a time to figure out how to take credit or where to lay blame. It is not a time for politicians to concern themselves with the next election. It is a time for all of us to concern ourselves with the future of the country we love. This is a time for action."

See the speech here:

Arun Chaudhary
September 30th, 2008
Reno, Nevada

Road Blog: Barack in Westminster, CO

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:07:47 EDT

Barack Obama was a half hour late this afternoon for his speech at the Mountain High School Gymnasium in Westminster, Colorado where 3,000 supporters waited patiently. As Barack explained once he had arrived:

I apologize for the delay... I was on the phone with Secretary Paulson as well as the Speaker of the House and the Congressional leaders because they are still trying to work through this, this rescue package, and obviously this is a very difficult thing to do. It's difficult, because we shouldn't have gotten here in the first place.

Barack emphasized that while both parties have come to an agreement, their members have not. "Things are never smooth in Congress," Barack remarked.

Barack told the folks here that our priority right now is to stabilize the markets so that job loss doesn’t get any worse than it already is, and he urged the public and the markets to remain calm. And while Barack remains confidant that a deal will come to pass, he said that, "It's going to be a little rocky. It's sort of like flying into Denver. You know you're going to land... but it's not always fun going over those mountains."

Here are two clips from the event:

Peter Rubi
September 29, 2008
Westminster, CO

Road Blog: Barack and Joe, Fired Up in Detroit

Obama Road Blog — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:57:16 EDT

“The reason I chose Joe Biden wasn’t just because he is one of the foremost foreign policy experts that we have in the country, not just because of the outstanding work he’s done on Judiciary passing the crime bill and Violence Against Womens’ Act -- it’s because of what he has in his gut, what he has in his heart. He’s somebody who hasn’t forgotten where he came from, and that’s why he’s going to be one of the finest vice presidents in our history.” -- Barack Obama

According to Wayne County Sheriff Warren C. Evans, 35,000 people were on hand yesterday to see Barack Obama and Joe Biden hold a rousing rally in front of the Public Library in Detroit, Michigan. They were joined on stage by Jill and Michelle, who both received an enthusiastic reception.

In each of their respective speeches, Barack and Joe expressed their outrage at the current administration for the state of our nation’s economy -- and neither of them pulled any punches.

Here are two videos we cut together from Sunday’s event:

Peter Rubi
Chicago, Illinois
OFA Headquarters

Road Blog: Barack in the Virginia Rain

Obama Road Blog — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:41:58 EDT

It’s been 40 years since Virginia voted for a Democratic president in the national election – but by the looks of the enormous crowd that showed up in Fredericksburg last night despite the pouring rain, history could be made here this year.

Here is Barack's full speech from yesterday's event, during which he called upon Virginia to stand alongside him and Joe Biden to change the course of the country:

Peter Rubi
September 28, 2008
En route to Detroit, Michigan

Road Blog: Fredericksburg, Virginia

Obama Road Blog — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:55:44 EDT

"I'm going to take off my jacket here, hope you don't mind." - Barack

Normally when Barack takes off his coat it's on account of the heat, but this evening in Fredericksburg it was because of the heavy rain that fell on the enormous crowd that gathered to watch Barack and Joe Biden at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Over 25,000 folks (according to Police Chief Jay Snipes) felt the mud churn under their feet as they listen to Joe and Barack explain their plans for changing this country.

"Try and take your partisan hats off and pretend you are in a political science class at this great university," Joe advised them before Barack spoke.

It was a heavy day of campaigning, from the J. Douglas Gaylon Depot, a beautiful old train station in Greensboro, North Carolina to the Congressional Black Caucus Awards dinner in the heart of Washington, DC. On the heels of his superb campaign performance in last night's debate, Barack has been eager to bring his message to supporters and undecideds wherever they may be. And from the looks of the sopping wet crowds that formed today, people are eager to hear it in all kinds of weather.

"I'd like to pay for everyone's dry cleaning tonight," Barack told stalwart listeners in Virginia. "But I can't, because we need the money for the campaign. Consider it a modest contribution."

Enjoy the day in pictures:

Arun Chaudhary
September 27, 2008
Washington, DC

Road Blog: Michelle Obama and Jill Biden in Tallahassee, Florida

Obama Road Blog — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 23:19:13 EDT

According to Cindy Dick, Fire Chief of the City of Tallahasse, somewhere between eight and ten thousand people gathered on a hot and sunny day at the campus of Florida A&M University to hear Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden speak. The two women showed great respect for each other and spoke highly of the presidential debate held last night.

The Rickards High School marching band opened the event with excitement. A giant “Change” banner was suspended in front of great white pillars. First Jill and then Michelle entered through double white doors, were swung wide open for their dramatic arrivals.

Jill talked about her experiences as a professor at the community college level. She explained that her students are her heroes, often juggling day jobs and caring for their children while still finding time to go to college. She described her dreams of a country in which college was affordable for everyone.

Michelle discussed Barack’s history and his promise to end the war in Iraq. She urged the students in the crowd to take action and help register Floridians to vote, noting that there are only nine days left to register here. In Florida, every vote counts, as it is a major swing state. She promised that she would personally call the parents and grandparents of the student on campus who registered the most voters and sing the praises of their child.

Please enjoy a video of the event.

Sharon Barnes
September 27, 2008
En route to Washington, D.C.

Pre-Debate: Barack Obama in Oxford, Mississippi

Obama Road Blog — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:00:22 EDT

Yesterday morning Barack Obama departed Clearwater, Florida and headed to Washington, D.C. to meet with President Bush, John McCain and other Congressional leaders. The goal was to reach across party lines to form discuss the proposed $700 billion financial rescue package. The rainy weather in Washington, D.C. contrasted starkly to the blue skies and palm trees back at the Belleview Biltmore Hotel in Clearwater where Barack had been preparing for the first presidential debate, focusing on foreign policy and national security.

This morning Barack boarded his airplane in Washington to travel to Mississippi for the debate. Once on board, he briefly spoke to the press regarding the economic bailout. He noted that he was optimistic about the progress that was made during his time in Washington and felt that in time they could get something accomplished. He added:

At this point, my strong sense is that the best thing that I can do, rather than to inject presidential politics into these delicate negotiations, is to go down to Mississippi and explain to the American people what is going on and my vision for leading the country over the next four years.

Hours later, after two days of uncertainty, John McCain announced that he would in fact attend the debate as well.

The University of Mississippi, nicknamed “Ole Miss”, was abuzz with excitement as the hour clicked nearer to the debate. Throngs of supporters grilled catfish and barbeque on the University lawn. Signs welcoming the candidates and audience members were strewn across buildings on Sorority Row, as crowds eagerly purchased t-shirts and buttons in support of their candidate.

Barack Obama and John McCain separately examined the stage of The Ford Center, where the debate will be held. Barack complimented the set designer for the simple arrangement of red carpet, blue backdrop and wooden podiums.

The two candidates will challenge each other in a 90-minute debate hosted by Jim Lehrer, executive editor and anchorman of “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” on PBS. The debate will be divided into eight 10-minute segments, with the first five minutes devoted to the question followed by two-minute responses from each candidate.

The town of Oxford has worked for over a year and a half to organize tonight's debate. This is the place where, on Oct. 1, 1962, James Meredith became the first African-American to attend the University of Mississippi, following the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling that made segregation in public schools illegal. Meredith is now immortalized in a bronze statue erected in 2006 on the University of Mississippi campus.

Sharon Barnes
September 26, 2008
Oxford, Mississippi

Road Blog: Joe Biden at the Friday Firehouse Fish Fry

Obama Road Blog — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:15:55 EDT

Joe Biden was in beautiful Milwaukee today. In the grand Mirror Room of the downtown Pfister Hotel, Joe met with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and Ambassador Vasil Sikharulidze to discus the recent events in their country.

After the meeting, Joe made his way to Cudahy Fire Station to speak at the Friday Firehouse Fish Fry. He was met by his wife Jill, who spoke about how indebted she is to firefighters, telling the story of how local first responders had come to her aid when a fire broke out in her home.

Joe took the stage and continued to speak about the respect and admiration he has for fire fighters and the importance of federal support for locally based first responders.

You can watch his speech below:

Kat Westergaard
September 26, 2008
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Road Blog: Joe Biden in Greensburg, PA "It's almost unbelievable"

Obama Road Blog — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:49:41 EDT

Joe Biden just finished giving a speech at the Greensburg Salem High School. Five hundred attendees filled this quintessential high school gym to hear Joe speak about the economy and Barack Obama's plan for change.

He was introduced by Dan Rooney, Pittsburgh Steelers owner and member of the NFL Hall of Fame and Norma Margonari, a local woman who comes from a family of coal miners. Norma is retired now, and after her husband passed away, she moved to Greensburg and got involved in various community organizations, including visiting nursing homes and teaching CCD. As a retiree, Norma is specifically concerned about her pension and future healthcare costs.

During his speech, Joe compared Barack Obama's tax plan for the middle class to John McCain's, explaining that McCain's plan would represent "the largest tax increase in the history of America for the middle class."

Here's a clip from Joe's speech, explaining John McCain's plan to tax healthcare benefits:

Kat Westergaard
September 25, 2008
Greensburg, PA

Road Blog: Joe Biden

Obama Road Blog — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:54:59 EDT

Joe Biden was in Ohio today, where he gave a foreign policy speech at the majestic Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. The impressive station was packed with 900 folks, backlit by the sun streaming in through the terminal windows.

On the rope line after the conclusion of the speech, Joe spoke with a young girl who was running for class president and was looking for advice. Joe hugged her and said, "You look too smart for politics," followed by, "no boys til you're thirty." Joe wished her luck with the upcoming election and then waved goodbye to the crowd.

After a very brief flight, Joe held a Change We Need Rally in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Despite the heat, 2300 attendees were waiting outside to greet him as he walked to the stage. He was introduced by Juanita Sneed, a local woman who spent 23 years working at the Colgate-Palmolive plant in Clarksville, Indiana. In 2005, Colgate-Palmolive decided that they would begin phasing out production in the Clarksville factory, and move most of the production to Mexico. The plant eventually closed, and as Juanita was too young to retire without much of her pension, she decided to pursue an Associates Degree in Office Administration in the hopes of getting a new job. She is scheduled to graduate in May of 2009, but at fifty years old she is nervous about finding work in these tough economic times.

In Jeffersonville, Joe spoke to the people about the change that needs to happen in Washington so that people like Juanita can feel confident in their economic future. He explained that Barack Obama is capable of making that change, and pointed out how Senator Obama had reached out to John McCain earlier today in hopes of implementing a bipartisan economic rescue plan.

You can see a clip of the event below:

Please enjoy the pictures of the day:

Kat Westergaard
September 24, 2008
En route to Pittsburgh, PA

Road Blog: Joe Biden in Virginia and the NJDC

Obama Road Blog — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:26:40 EDT

Senator Biden spent the day in Virginia and Washington D.C. First stop -- a community gathering in Woodbridge, VA. The gymnasium at the Veterans Memorial Park was quite small and the crowd of approximately 250 packed the space.

Barack Obama and Senator Biden have spent a lot of time in Virginia, so much so that Joe joked that he could almost claim residency here.

Joe was introduced by Kathy Cohenour, a local woman who is the full time caregiver to her daughter Leah, who is in a wheelchair. Her family lives frugally due to Leah's illness and recently Kathy's son, who works as a waiter, has moved home because he was not able to make ends meet. Kathy is not alone in her struggle. She has witnessed many of her friends in the community fighting these tough economic times and dealing with home foreclosures.

Senator Biden began his speech by saying, "We are here because you all are close enough to Washington to know that we need to change it." He continued to speak about the economy and the failure of the current administration, explaining that John McCain is out of touch with the middle class and American families like Kathy's.

Later in the day Joe returned to D.C. to speak at the Democratic National Jewish convention. He took stage with the NJDC chairs and co-charis seated on either side and spoke again about this country's need for change.

Please enjoy his speech at the NJDC.

Kat Westergaard
September 23, 2008
En to route Hebron, KY

Road Blog: Barack in Florida

Obama Road Blog — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:40:21 EDT

"This plan cannot be a welfare program for Wall Street executives." -- Barack Obama

Barack was in Florida today, and this afternoon he held a press conference to address the proposed $700 billion financial rescue package put forth by the Treasury Secretary in response to the growing instability on Wall Street. Barack expressed the need for action, but also voiced his concerns about the lack of detail and the absence of oversight in the plan.

Earlier in the morning, Barack took time to visit with some of the residents of Clearwater, many of whom shared these same concerns. He spoke to nurses and veterans and commended them for their service, but he also spoke to ordinary Americans who are worried about the current economic situation. As Barack explained, "The problem is, everybody knows the price tag. But nobody knows the details."

Watch the video of Barack’s remarks here:

Peter Rubi
September 23, 2008
Clearwater, Florida