Lincoln, Nebraska is Nebraska's capital city and principal city of Lancaster County, Nebraska. Here are the results:
President and Vice PresidentLancaster County, Nebraska 223 of 223 precincts (100%) counted.Total Registered Voters - 178,982 peopleTotal Ballots Cast - 125,180 votesVoter Turnout - 69.94% Votes Cast: Barack Obama/Joseph Biden (Democrat) 63,675 votes 51.32% John McCain/Sarah Palin (Republican) 58,125 votes 46.84% Nader/Gonzalez (By Petition) 855 votes 0.69% WRITE-IN 508 votes 0.41% Barr/Root (Libertarian) 379 votes 0.31% Baldwin/Castle (Nebraska Party) 324 votes 0.26% McKinney/Clemente (Green) 218 votes 0.18%
Source: Lancaster County Nebraska Election Commissionerhttp://www.lincoln.ne.gov/cnty/election/results/resul08n.htm
Election Day is the culmination of months of work – not only by Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and more than 2,000 staffers around our nation, but by countless volunteers who come out to help simply because they want to see our country taken in a new direction.
This campaign truly is about you, and people like you all across America.
Consider Tonya Medley.
Tonya moved to Omaha after living for a time in California and Washington, D.C., where many of her family still live. She works full-time at Baker’s grocery store in Omaha.
Back in August, when Campaign for Change organizers arrived in Omaha, Tonya was one of the very first people in the office, ready to help. For weeks, Tonya spent almost as much time making phone calls for Barack as she did at the store; and she did all of her work for the campaign as a volunteer.
When Hillary Clinton came to rally for Barack two weeks before Election Day, Tonya was there to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Today, she’s working to set up and manage staging locations for get-out-the-vote efforts across the Second Congressional District.
“This has been great,” she said. “I’m planning to finish this all the way through November 4. For me, this has been an awesome experience.”
Tonya hopes to become a community advocate for people with disabilities – she lives with cerebral palsy, and wants to show those around her what hope can mean in a single life.
“[People with disabilities] don’t have a voice. I’m living it. That’s going to give them some inspiration,” she says.
“Just like Barack being President.”
Tonya is courageous. She’s this campaign here in Nebraska. Everyone who has come out over the past 21 months is this campaign in Nebraska. Today, the thousands of hours you’ve spent on the phones and at the doors, every conversation you’ve had with your friends and neighbors about Barack – all of that comes down to today.
First, vote.
Second, remind everyone you know to vote.
Third, show up at any Campaign for Change field office, any time today, and help get out the vote. It’s going to be close in Nebraska’s Second Congressional District. Losing by 200 votes because there were 10 too few volunteers at the phones simply is not an option.
You can still vote early at the Douglas County Election Commission in Douglas County, or the Sarpy County Election Commission in Sarpy County. Early Voting ends at 4:30 p.m. today.
This is it. In 81 hours, the polls will close in Nebraska.
Every Obama-Biden supporter can do something between now and then. You can stop by any Omaha-area Campaign for Change office to make phone calls or knock doors for Barack. If you live in Western or Central Nebraska, you can use Neighbor to Neighbor to make calls into Nebraska's Second Congressional District.
To be successful in Nebraska, we must have volunteers, and there is no more time to wait. Luckily, people are as fired up as ever. Check this out: Last night, as the phone banks were wrapping up and Campaign for Change staff were getting ready for the biggest get-out-the-vote push of the campaign, a Millard North High School junior named Courtney Swanson sent a message to members of the Nebraska for Obama group on MyBarackObama.
Hello, I'm Courtney Swanson, a 16 year old Junior at Millard North High School. I've been avidly watching the news for 4 years now, and have followed this election very closely. I am, of course, for Barack Obama. Though I'm too young to vote, I can proudly proclaim that I have done a lot for the campaign. I've donated portions of my paycheck to the campaign, took a day off school to attend the Hillary Clinton rally (and bought a ton of merchandise there as well, all of which goes straight to the campaign), and today, I did my first bit of volunteer work.It couldn't have been easier. All I did was show up, get handed a phone, a list and free refreshments, and began calling a list of mostly Obama supporters. I won't lie in saying that there were several rude responses; 99% of them from McCain supporters. Still, all it takes is a simple "sorry to bother you" and they're gone, you're the better person, it's all over. I encourage you all to volunteer if you haven't already. It's easy, time go es by fast, you get free food and snacks, and you'll do your part in putting America back on its tracks. Every bit counts, even mine.
This is the attitude that will deliver a Nebraska electoral vote for Barack.
U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson met up with volunteers at a canvass training this afternoon, on the first day of Get-Out-The-Vote in Nebraska's Second Congressional District. After listening to Campaign for Change intern Teia Goodwin explain the canvassing process to volunteers, Nelson fired up the group before it spread out across the District to knock doors for Barack Obama.
He explained why these last eight days are so important, and outlined the need for "transformational change."
"That means making things the way we want them for the working families, the middle income families," he said.
Nelson explained that this need for a real change that will benefit real, hardworking Nebraskans, brought him out to volunteer for the campaign this afternoon. "There's never been a better time to get results than right now," he said.
And as for the fall wind and a daily high temperature of around 50 degrees?
"It's a little chilly out," Nelson noted, "so you'll just have to walk faster."
This is just the first of eight days of Get-Out-The-Vote work leading up to and through Election Day. You're encouraged to simply drop by a Nebraska Campaign for Change field office for a shift of canvassing or phonebanking. For more information, call 402-502-1858.
Nebraskans of all backgrounds have turned out to volunteer over the past few months, and Mick is no exception. A returned Peace Corps volunteer and an Omaha architect, he brings a unique perspective to the race and to his support for Barack Obama and Joe Biden; he was invited to blog as a guest about his experience volunteering for the campaign.
When I heard Senator Obama speak a couple of years ago concerning the Iraq war, I agreed with him when I heard him declare that he was not the “change that we were looking for," but that it was us! I decided to volunteer for his campaign. I am married with two daughters and the owner of a small business. My wife teaches high school; we served as Peace Corps Volunteers in the Dominican Republic (1988-1990). I'd like to tell a story about an experience that my wife and I had while we were assisting a community construct a school in the Dominican Republic. We were determined never to be the only ones working on the project; it was important that the community took ownership of the school if it was ever to be maintained long after we were gone.Our community was located in a remote mountain area where there was no electricity or running water. All of the concrete had to be mixed by hand and water was brought up from the river by young men on donkeys. To say the least, it was very physically demanding work, and the volunteerism was dwindling. Once a month a priest would come up to hold mass in the community, and one day we pulled him aside and asked him if he could say something motivating to the people to encourage them to volunteer. He agreed. For his sermon, he told the families that he was going to perform a “miracle”. Eyes opened wide, ours included as he claimed to everyone that he was going to lift a table up and over his head while using only his index finger. People got very excited and we all gathered around to see a miracle take place. Father held up his finger and prepared to lift the table over his head, but then he paused and asked us all to do the same and with each of us doing our small part we helped to make father’s “miracle” come true. I am happy to report that our family visited the school this past summer and that after eighteen years, and one small “miracle," classes are still being held.The time is now for all of us to work together and to take ownership of our future. Please lift a finger, by volunteering for Barack Obama’s Campaign at one of the three Campaign for Change offices here in Omaha.- Mick McGuire, Omaha
When I heard Senator Obama speak a couple of years ago concerning the Iraq war, I agreed with him when I heard him declare that he was not the “change that we were looking for," but that it was us! I decided to volunteer for his campaign.
I am married with two daughters and the owner of a small business. My wife teaches high school; we served as Peace Corps Volunteers in the Dominican Republic (1988-1990). I'd like to tell a story about an experience that my wife and I had while we were assisting a community construct a school in the Dominican Republic. We were determined never to be the only ones working on the project; it was important that the community took ownership of the school if it was ever to be maintained long after we were gone.
Our community was located in a remote mountain area where there was no electricity or running water. All of the concrete had to be mixed by hand and water was brought up from the river by young men on donkeys. To say the least, it was very physically demanding work, and the volunteerism was dwindling. Once a month a priest would come up to hold mass in the community, and one day we pulled him aside and asked him if he could say something motivating to the people to encourage them to volunteer. He agreed.
For his sermon, he told the families that he was going to perform a “miracle”. Eyes opened wide, ours included as he claimed to everyone that he was going to lift a table up and over his head while using only his index finger. People got very excited and we all gathered around to see a miracle take place. Father held up his finger and prepared to lift the table over his head, but then he paused and asked us all to do the same and with each of us doing our small part we helped to make father’s “miracle” come true. I am happy to report that our family visited the school this past summer and that after eighteen years, and one small “miracle," classes are still being held.
The time is now for all of us to work together and to take ownership of our future. Please lift a finger, by volunteering for Barack Obama’s Campaign at one of the three Campaign for Change offices here in Omaha.
- Mick McGuire, Omaha
Saturday night in Lincoln, hundreds of Obama-Biden supporters rallied at the State Theater with Sen. Ben Nelson and a number of local bands.
"If you haven't volunteered," said Nelson, sign up to volunteer, because we're going to need your support. You can't rely on the polls; you can't sit on a lead."
Andrea Wright was visiting from Omaha and dropped by the event. "[The election] is exciting," she said. "It's the first time in Nebraska that I feel my vote is really going to count. It's a big deal."
Anna Hopkins hosted her first house party for Barack in January 2007 - and last night, she volunteered to hand out lapel stickers outside the theater.
"We had a wonderful rally here earlier in the summer," she said, "and we have quite a few more people here tonight."
Perhaps best of all, the Nebraska Campaign for Change signed up hundreds of Get-Out-The-Vote shifts in Omaha this week, as the final push begins to win in Nebraska for Barack Obama. You can sign up here to be part of the effort.
This is it. With less than two weeks to go, it's time to Get Out the Vote in Nebraska. Watch this quick message from State Director John Berge, and sign up for as many volunteer shifts as you can:
Here are some more shots from Sen. Clinton's rally for Barack Obama in Omaha this week; these photos come to the Nebraska Campaign for Change from volunteer Jared Hanner. Look forward to the full video of Hillary's wonderful address soon, courtesy of local CFC volunteer Michael Machian.
This photo was taken this afternoon around 5:30 -- half an hour after the Douglas County Election Commissioner normally would close for the day.
The commissioner's office remained open late to accomodate at least 300 people who were still in line to register to vote on the last day of registration, and cast their early ballots.
Barack Obama promises real change that hardworking Nebraskans need. He and Joe Biden will work for a fair approach to health insurance, and they'll govern over an economic policy that puts the needs of the middle class ahead of the super-rich and big corporations.
That's why you're seeing this picture.
Nebraskans are ready for a president who will restore America's place in the world, and they want a government they can trust in Washington. They want to wake up and be free from worry about their retirement funds and Social Security, and they want to know their children will not be denied a college education for simple lack of money.
That's why people are lined up out the door at the Election Commission; and with enough volunteers behind them, Barack and Joe can turn this excitement into a real change for Nebraskans.
There are 11 days left. Although registration has now closed in Nebraska, you can cast your early vote until November 3; you can cast your vote for Barack, and then come down to any of the Nebraska Campaign for Change offices in Omaha to volunteer as part of a massive GOTV effort. With your help, Barack will win in Nebraska.
For the first time in 14 years, Democrats outnumber Republicans in Douglas County. Read this story from the Associated Press:
Democrats outnumber Republicans in Douglas CountyBy Anna Jo Bratton More Democrats than Republicans are registered to vote in Douglas County — the first time in 14 years that’s happened.Douglas County Election Commissioner Dave Phipps said Thursday that 126,139 Democrats were registered, versus 123,174 Republicans. That was as of Wednesday.The difference in each party’s increase from Oct. 1 is stark — Democrats have added more than 6,300, while Republicans have added about 1,590.Friday is the last day to register to vote.The numbers are good news for the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who has three offices in Omaha, with paid staffers and volunteers trying to register thousands of new voters.Obama is trying to shave off the electoral vote tied to the state’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes Omaha.Nebraska and Maine are the only states that can split their electoral votes, although it’s never happened.READ MORE
Today, Sen. Hillary Clinton headlined a Change We Need rally for Barack Obama here in Omaha. More than 3200 people packed the hall to listen to Senator Clinton explain the many ways in which Barack will help ordinary Nebraskans. Everyone in the crowd seemed to have a story that resonates with Barack's commitment to bring change to Nebraska -- and every one of them listed diverse reasons for coming to the rally in support of Hillary and Barack.
Steve, an Omaha resident, took the day off from work to come to the event. "Barack just has a lot of fresh ideas," he said. "[He'll be] a president who will restore our standing in the world."
Ellen was a precinct captain for Hillary during the primary season. She was ecstatic that Sen. Clinton had come to speak in Omaha, and was enthusiastic in her support of Sen. Obama. "After Hillary was out it was a no-brainer," she said. "I early voted [for Barack] last week.
Check back for more photos of the event -- and video of Sen. Clinton's rally address -- soon. In the meantime, you can still vote early at your county election commission, and sign up for a GOTV shift in the days leading up to the election.
Diane Nelson (second from right), Senator Ben Nelson's wife and an ardent supporter of Barack and Joe, joined the Nebraska Campaign for Change this morning and braved some biting autumn cold to canvass an Omaha neighborhood.
"I just feel ... we're in the last two weeks of the campaign. It's a close race. I wanted to do everything I could to elect Barack Obama on the 4th [of November]," Nelson said.
Although she said she's made plenty of phone calls helping with Ben's campaigns for U.S. Senate, Diane said this morning was her first canvass. And even though this may be the chilliest weekend yet in the campaign, she was fired up and ready to go after field organizer Anna Wolf's quick training.
"I think it'll be fun," Nelson said as she headed off to knock doors.
Today, as Campaign for Change organizers and volunteers are canvassing across the Second Congressional District, thousands more are spread out across America, bringing Barack's message of real change to doorsteps across the country. There are only 16 days until Election Day; this is not the time to be complacent or pledge to do something some other time.
Sign up now for as many shifts as you can, and help the Campaign for Change get out the vote here in Nebraska.
In Omaha last night, more than 100 supporters of Sen. Barack Obama -- as well as some undecided voters -- gathered to watch the third and final presidential debate at Clancy's.
Barack laid out his proposals for America in a detailed fashion that connected with Lilia, an Omaha resident who moved here from Venezuela 30 years ago.
"Obama is more specific," she said. "He gave me specific points and answers that were very complete."
The rest of America agreed, according to a national poll released immediately after the debate by CBS. The poll showed Obama as the clear debate winner, as well as the candidate to whom voters can trust to share their values.
"Before the debate, fifty-four percent thought Obama shared their values. That percentage rose to sixty-four percent after the debate. For McCain, fifty-two percent thought he shared their values before the debate, and fifty-five percent thought so afterwards." READ MORE
Mary Pierce came to the debate watch party as an undecided Republican. It was Barack's ability to speak directly to the problems of America's families that swayed her to the Obama-Biden ticket by the end of the debate.
"[Obama's performance] was exemplary," she said. "I think he was talking to every American."
Don Hoes of Elkhorn, who said he's voted "50-50" between Republicans and Democrats over past years, agreed.
"I think Barack is going to unify the country," Hoes said. "He'll bring America together like we want to be brought together."
"I think Obama is going to be an incredible president," he said.
Less than 20 days away from the election, it's the job of every Obama supporter to do work on the ground to be sure Barack has the chance to be that incredible president, and to bring the change that America needs.
Sign up now to work to Get Out the Vote with Nebraska Campaign for Change field organizers, knocking doors and making phone calls to deliver a historic electoral vote from Nebraska.
Join the Nebraska Campaign for Change to watch the third and final presidential debate at Clancy's West, 777 N. 114th Street. Campaign for Change organizers and volunteers will be there at 7 p.m.; come share some food and conversation before the 8 p.m debate.
Click here to RSVP.
Campaign for Change field organizers were joined last night by more than 150 supporters and volunteers to open the third field office in Omaha at 144th and Center (the other two field offices are located at 76th and Cass, and 50th and Ames).
The office was full last night, and field organizers based in West Omaha reported lots of activity early this morning. As the campaign enters the home stretch, the West Omaha field office will be a valuable resource for outreach.
This video was taken at the Nebraska Campaign for Change office opening last week in North Omaha.
Bursting at the seams, a 3rd Obama campaign office opens this weekend at 144th and West Center Road in Omaha. Nebraska's second congressional district is in play, because like Maine we split our electoral votes by congressional district. It is not winner take all.
There are no campaign offices in Nebraska for McCain.
This is the first time that a presidential campaign has opened offices in Nebraska in four decades.
Over 600 people attended the 50th and Ames 2nd campaign office opening.
The campaign is responding to the great number of grassroots volunteers interested in making phone calls and knocking on doors throughout the second congressional district.
