[Gina] Smith, 56, of Janesville is among hundreds of volunteers across the state who are spending several hours each week making phone calls and going door-to-door in their communities, talking to voters about Obama. "(The local campaign headquarters) is the up-close and personal connection between the campaign and the community," said Phil Walzak, communications director for the Obama campaign in Wisconsin. "It's the vehicle by which our campaign talks to voters on a one-on-one basis. It's the home base for activity." The Obama campaign is "robust" in Wisconsin with 50 offices across the state, not only in areas that are Democratic strongholds but also in areas that are staunchly Republican, he said. And the success of the campaign in a battleground state such as Wisconsin depends on volunteers who week after week spread the word about Obama, he said.
Earlier, while waiting for [Gov.] Doyle to appear, Obama volunteer Brent Nance of Caledonia said the grass-roots organization working on Obama's behalf will be active even beyond Nov. 4. "Obama is taking his training (as a community political organizer) and spreading it nationwide," said Nance, an Obama "team member" for a segment of Caledonia. Each city has a set of teams, he explained, that work together and become acquainted with each other during the campaign. "When the election is over, we'll still have a network," Nance said. "So when the next election happens, we don't have to start all over. You will see them more active on local issues."
Democratic Governor Chet Culver spoke to nearly 50 people at the Rhinelander District Library this afternoon. Culver emphasized Barack Obama's concern for Wisconsin's agriculture, small communities and renewable energy. The Governor says the last 18 days of the election are important here in Wisconsin. "We've got work to do. And that's why I'm crisscrossing Iowa and criss crossing Wisconsina and working with my fellow Governors like Jim Doyle and others who are so excited about Barack Obama's candidacy." Obama supporters at today's event say it's important to have other politicians endorse the candidates in smaller communities. Alan Vanraalte, an Obama supporter, says, "I think it's absolutely vital that they do. if it weren't the candidates would be spread pretty thin and they need to go to where the population centers are."
This post really says it all.
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/09/breaking-obama-campaign-organizers.html
Margot has been working for change for over a year now in her hometown of Viroqua. That's her above with Barack during the recent barbecue Obama attended in Eau Claire. The photo Barack's holding was taken by Margot's father and is a family heirloom she wanted to share with Obama.
Here's Margot's story in her own words:
I helped canvass in Minnesota before their caucus and I held a "honk for Obama" sign on the main drag for 2 weekends straight before the primary here in WI. I felt very alone during the primaries but thankfully, that has changed!I am now a volunteer at the Crawford/Vernon Democratic Headquarters here in Viroqua. I have become a state-wide voter registration deputy, registered 27 people so far, and have helped plan Convention watching parties, house parties, and recently a large fundraiser. And I am not alone anymore. Now that we have our own office, I get to talk to people from all walks of life on a daily basis and I am so elated and encouraged by the response we are getting.Because of my involvement I recently had the opportunity to help at a small gathering in Eau Clair with Governor Doyle, Senator Feingold and Senator Barack Obama. I had the great pleasure of speaking with Senator Obama and have my picture taken with him. He took the time to connect with me one day before the Democratic Convention began and I was overwhelmed by the kindness he showed me. I know that I am working for the right candidate and that he appreciates everything volunteers are doing on this campaign's behalf.
I helped canvass in Minnesota before their caucus and I held a "honk for Obama" sign on the main drag for 2 weekends straight before the primary here in WI. I felt very alone during the primaries but thankfully, that has changed!
I am now a volunteer at the Crawford/Vernon Democratic Headquarters here in Viroqua. I have become a state-wide voter registration deputy, registered 27 people so far, and have helped plan Convention watching parties, house parties, and recently a large fundraiser. And I am not alone anymore. Now that we have our own office, I get to talk to people from all walks of life on a daily basis and I am so elated and encouraged by the response we are getting.
Because of my involvement I recently had the opportunity to help at a small gathering in Eau Clair with Governor Doyle, Senator Feingold and Senator Barack Obama. I had the great pleasure of speaking with Senator Obama and have my picture taken with him. He took the time to connect with me one day before the Democratic Convention began and I was overwhelmed by the kindness he showed me. I know that I am working for the right candidate and that he appreciates everything volunteers are doing on this campaign's behalf.
There are thousands of fantastic volunteers across Wisconsin just like Margot. Stop by your local Campaign for Change field office and learn how you can make a change for America today!
Joe Biden's campaign stop to Green Bay yesterday made a lot of headlines around Wisconsin and the country. Here are just a few:
From Katie Rosenberg at the Newsline 9 blog in Wausau:
Everyone was pumped up by the time Joe Biden came out. The enthusiastic crowd drowned out the speakers with cheers and clapping. Biden jumped right on the theme of the day, "Barack and I know why we're running," he said. "...we're going to restore the middle class and restore our place in the world." He also jumped on the republicans chiding, "This is not your father's republican party." At the Republican National Convention, Biden admonished, republican lawmakers ignored the issues. "The silence was deafening," he scolded. He attempted to paint a picture of an out of touch GOP that disregards the middle class by not talking about energy assistance, health care and college assistance.Veterans sat in the seats directly behind Biden and if there was an audience theme, I think it was the war in Iraq. The crowd went absolutely wild when he talked about the war. "We will end this war in Iraq," he asserted. "We'll protect those who are going and take care of those coming home." Biden called veterans' benefits a sacred government obligation.
Everyone was pumped up by the time Joe Biden came out. The enthusiastic crowd drowned out the speakers with cheers and clapping. Biden jumped right on the theme of the day, "Barack and I know why we're running," he said. "...we're going to restore the middle class and restore our place in the world." He also jumped on the republicans chiding, "This is not your father's republican party." At the Republican National Convention, Biden admonished, republican lawmakers ignored the issues. "The silence was deafening," he scolded. He attempted to paint a picture of an out of touch GOP that disregards the middle class by not talking about energy assistance, health care and college assistance.
Veterans sat in the seats directly behind Biden and if there was an audience theme, I think it was the war in Iraq. The crowd went absolutely wild when he talked about the war. "We will end this war in Iraq," he asserted. "We'll protect those who are going and take care of those coming home." Biden called veterans' benefits a sacred government obligation.
From ABC News:
The Green Bay Packers kick off their season tonight at Lambeau Field, so Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., stopped off this afternoon at Kroll's West, a restaurant & bar just across the street from the not-yet-frozen tundra. "You guys start early, huh?" Biden remarked when he walked into the crowded scene just after noon local time.With ESPN showing highlights of former Packer Brett Favre's debut Sunday with the New York Jets, Biden toured the restaurant, regaling the Cheesehead faithful with the tale of how he - a Pennsylvania native - became a Packer fan himself. As the story goes, Biden took a liking to the green-and-gold back when he was a student at Wilmington's Archmere Academy, a Catholic school where a lot was riding on the outcome of Green Bay games..."If the Packers won, we got out early," he told fans. "If the Packers lost, we got extra homework. We were all Packers fans. And back in those days, that was Jimmy Taylor, Paul Hornung, Bart Starr and those guys…"[...]One Packer fan in particular stood out, a gentleman five weeks away from his 100th birthday. Biden greeted the man just before exiting, leaving the fans free to enjoy their butter burgers, brats, cheese curds, and cold beverages...
The Green Bay Packers kick off their season tonight at Lambeau Field, so Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., stopped off this afternoon at Kroll's West, a restaurant & bar just across the street from the not-yet-frozen tundra. "You guys start early, huh?" Biden remarked when he walked into the crowded scene just after noon local time.
With ESPN showing highlights of former Packer Brett Favre's debut Sunday with the New York Jets, Biden toured the restaurant, regaling the Cheesehead faithful with the tale of how he - a Pennsylvania native - became a Packer fan himself. As the story goes, Biden took a liking to the green-and-gold back when he was a student at Wilmington's Archmere Academy, a Catholic school where a lot was riding on the outcome of Green Bay games...
"If the Packers won, we got out early," he told fans. "If the Packers lost, we got extra homework. We were all Packers fans. And back in those days, that was Jimmy Taylor, Paul Hornung, Bart Starr and those guys…"
[...]
One Packer fan in particular stood out, a gentleman five weeks away from his 100th birthday. Biden greeted the man just before exiting, leaving the fans free to enjoy their butter burgers, brats, cheese curds, and cold beverages...
From the Appleton Post-Crescent:
Biden found two fans in Gayle Vannes, a Minneapolis resident from Green Bay, and Green Bay resident Diane Dobberstein who promised the senator he had their vote when he stopped at their table."There was no hesitation at all," Dobberstein said. "I think we all want a change."
Biden found two fans in Gayle Vannes, a Minneapolis resident from Green Bay, and Green Bay resident Diane Dobberstein who promised the senator he had their vote when he stopped at their table.
"There was no hesitation at all," Dobberstein said. "I think we all want a change."
More after the jump...
Read More!
http://news.yahoo.com/story//ap/20080906/ap_on_el_pr/candidates_sept11
Word from the local organizers is that phone banking and canvassing will also be halted on the 11th. Kudos to Sens. Obama and McCain both.
Barack Obama certainly fired up the crowd of union brothers and sisters that gathered at the Marcus Amphitheater yesterday at the Rally for America's Workers, but he might have had some help warming up the crowd from the dedicated staff and volunteers of the Milwaukee Campaign for Change Office.
Last Thursday supporters in Milwaukee got together to witness Barack's historic acceptance speech from the Democratic National Convention at the Pabst Theater downtown.
About 800 fired up Milwaukeeans packed the auditorium and provided it with an "electric" atmosphere.
See for yourself -- here are some beautiful photos of the event taken by Gary in Milwaukee:
Just after 6:00 p.m. Barack Obama took the stage of the Marcus Amphitheater to a crowd that greeted him with a standing ovation while erupting into a chorus of "Yes we can!"
Barack told the audience that he planned on coming here to talk about organized labor and the contributions made by the labor movement to building America's economy. He called the labor movement "the backbone of our economy and the backbone of America."
"Sometimes people ask me, 'Why do you support unions so strongly?'" Barack said. "And I have to ask them, 'Why don't you?' … Even if you're not a union member, you've benefited from a union."
Obama announced that he had planned on speaking about this plans to "promote policies that honor the dignity of work," but that the hardships faced by the people of the Gulf Coast on the day when Hurricane Gustav made landfall should be foremost on the minds of all Americans.
"So tonight is not a night for political speeches. It's a day for all of us to come together as Americans and send our thoughts and prayers to our brothers and sisters who worry in this hour about losing their homes and their livelihoods and their loved ones."
Barack encouraged the crowd to see what they could do by contacting the American Red Cross.
"In times of need there are no political parties. In times of need there are no red states or blue states -- in times of need there is only the United States of America."
More after the pics...
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,566841,00.html
Wasn't it John McCain who accused Obama of being naive about the situation on the ground in Iraq? Pffft.
Just over a month from now Barack Obama will formally accept the Democratic Party's presidential nomination at a historic and open convention in Denver (… and if you make a donation to the campaign between now and the end of July you might find yourself in possession of one of the best seats in the house!)
But if you can't score backstage passes, don't let that deter you from making the trip out west.
Not long ago I got a message from Moe in Madison through one of the mutual MyBO groups we share. Moe's looking for companions to help ease the cost of making a trip out to Denver for the DNC.
Chances are there are more than a few Wisconsinites with the same idea, so we've created a MyBO group for folks from the state looking to enjoy a good old-fashioned road trip to the Rockies with a few of their neighbors. Wisconsin Representing in Denver is a great place will serve as the unofficial gathering place for Badgers from around the state to meet and organize trips to Barack's historic acceptance speech in Denver.
Stop by, find a fellow traveler, enjoy the sights and sounds of the Mile High City, then come back fired up and ready to put Barack in the White House:
We have officially put together our first group meeting. Check out the right pane or the link below for details.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/442z9
Hope to see you all there. Bring family, friends, and neighbors, too!
Here's campaign manager David Plouffe with a short update on the state of the race right now:
Click here to send this video to your friends.
A link to the video was sent out in an email this morning:
Ian -- The McCain campaign is bragging that they are out-raising and out-spending us. They had their best month ever in June, and combined with the Republican National Committee, they now have more than $95 million in cash on hand. With this massive fundraising effort, they claim they've been out-spending us 3-to-1 on TV ads over the past couple months. Unfortunately, when it comes to collecting giant checks from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs, McCain and the RNC do have a lot to brag about. They are raking in huge donations from those who want to keep Washington just the way it is. And they are pulling ahead in the money race. To compete against these big money interests in all 50 states, this campaign is relying on you. We need to respond to the McCain campaign and show them how presidential campaigns should be funded -- by ordinary people like you giving only what you can afford. I recorded a short video in my office about what we are up against and why now is the time to step up and make your first donation. Watch the video and make a donation of $25 now: https://donate.barackobama.com/stepup As much money as they already have, this is just the beginning. On top of their current $95 million in cash on hand, the campaign has said they expect to raise another $95 million by the end of the summer. Based on their record so far, they're good for it. They know that the big money interests will continue pouring millions into McCain's campaign, the RNC, and shadowy outside money groups -- whatever it takes to stop our movement so they can hold on to their influence in Washington. It's going to take unprecedented resources and organization to compete against this broken, entrenched system. Together, we've created the largest grassroots movement in history, and your efforts have put us in a position to build a campaign for change in all 50 states. Now, we need your help to keep us in a strong position at this crucial moment. Watch the video and make your first donation of $25 to help this movement take on John McCain and the RNC: https://donate.barackobama.com/stepup
Ian --
The McCain campaign is bragging that they are out-raising and out-spending us.
They had their best month ever in June, and combined with the Republican National Committee, they now have more than $95 million in cash on hand.
With this massive fundraising effort, they claim they've been out-spending us 3-to-1 on TV ads over the past couple months.
Unfortunately, when it comes to collecting giant checks from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs, McCain and the RNC do have a lot to brag about.
They are raking in huge donations from those who want to keep Washington just the way it is. And they are pulling ahead in the money race.
To compete against these big money interests in all 50 states, this campaign is relying on you.
We need to respond to the McCain campaign and show them how presidential campaigns should be funded -- by ordinary people like you giving only what you can afford.
I recorded a short video in my office about what we are up against and why now is the time to step up and make your first donation.
Watch the video and make a donation of $25 now:
https://donate.barackobama.com/stepup
As much money as they already have, this is just the beginning.
On top of their current $95 million in cash on hand, the campaign has said they expect to raise another $95 million by the end of the summer.
Based on their record so far, they're good for it.
They know that the big money interests will continue pouring millions into McCain's campaign, the RNC, and shadowy outside money groups -- whatever it takes to stop our movement so they can hold on to their influence in Washington.
It's going to take unprecedented resources and organization to compete against this broken, entrenched system.
Together, we've created the largest grassroots movement in history, and your efforts have put us in a position to build a campaign for change in all 50 states. Now, we need your help to keep us in a strong position at this crucial moment.
Watch the video and make your first donation of $25 to help this movement take on John McCain and the RNC:
"Having a Democratic president and particularly Barack Obama should allow us to change this mistake. Barack Obama believes in the Constitution. He's a constitutional scholar. I believe that he will have a better chance to look at these powers that have been given to the executive branch and even though that he will be running the executive branch, I think he will understand and help take the lead in fixing some of the worst provisions. So this is a huge setback and it would have been much better for Democrats to stand together and not let it happen in the first place ‘cause it's much harder to change it after the fact. But I do believe that Barack Obama is well positioned both in terms of his knowledge and his background, and his beliefs, to correct this. And so I do think that people have a right to be disappointed but I also think they have the right to hope for change on this issue in particular starting in January."
Personally, I couldn't agree more, which generally I find myself saying 99% of the time when Senator Russ speaks. While extremely disappointed in Obama's vote, it ironically makes me want to work harder for his election because I trust his calm, even temperment and don't want to imagine the damage of another 4 years of Republican rule with these new expansive executive powers at their disposal. I firmly believe that a President Obama would ultimately do much to reign in the "unitary executive" runaway train created by the current administration.
From Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), via his mailing list, regarding the Dodd-Feingold amendment:
Do you remember the excitement when we first stopped retroactive immunity in the Senate last year?
We earned that moment together -- both the victory and the feeling that we had made a difference.
That hard-earned success felt so good because collectively we made our voices heard in the well of the Senate and in offices across DC.
On the eve of another vote, it's time for us to speak up again.
Please use the call tool created by our friends at Firedoglake and ask your Senators to vote "YES" on the Dodd-Feingold Amendment to strip retroactive immunity from FISA
http://tools.advomatic.com/7/fisa
We had a lot of great allies that first time around, and together we were able to stop a bad bill: bloggers, Electronic Frontier Foundation, DFA, MoveOn, the ACLU and more ... Once again, we're going to need every last hand on deck today and tomorrow if we're going to stop this bill one more time.
Our fine Senator's message on FISA. I have been firmly behind Senator Feingold's and Senator Dodd's stances against the bad FISA bill currently making the rounds, and have been very disappointed in Senator Obama's backtracking on it. No better time than the 4th of July to stand up for the constitution and to politely urge Senator Obama to keep his prior pledges to stand against telecom immunity and the Bush administration's dismantling of the rule of law. The FISA system in place since 1977 has been very successful in balancing civil liberties with keeping us safe. Remembering that the issue with 9/11 wasn't a lack of dots, but rather a failure to connect the dots.
To be clear, this in no way detracts from my support for Senator Obama's Presidential campaign. But no politician is perfect. The only way we can make government work for us instead of big money interests is to make our voices heard and let them know we are engaged on the issues.
http://obama.senate.gov/contact/ to politely register your opinion
http://feingold.senate.gov/contact_opinion.html likewise
We need Volunteers for our massive volunteer Drive on
July 3rd at the Milwaukee Lakefront. 4-8pm
We are setting up on the north east side of the lagoon and doing a major push to get voters registered. We could use your support. Log on to the Event Here
or paste this in your browser
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/447d2
If you are not deputized or with the family and want to seclebrate the Fireworks with us join us at our base camp and hang out with the Obama Organizers !!
Jon Gustavson
South Milwaukee
Obama 08'
414.333.8653
