From Anna Gustina, the new Montana State Director for Organizing for America:
Since Inauguration Day, Organizing for America has been dedicated to making real the change we fought for during the election. But to be successful, we need to hear from you -- your effort and commitment are the backbone of this movement and this organization. That's why I'm so excited to announce that we're back on the ground in Montana, and starting this Monday, April 27th, we'll be hosting Listening Tour Town Halls across the state.Will you make your voice heard and join us on the Listening Tour? At Listening Tour meetings, you'll get a chance to meet new state staff members, hear about some lessons learned during the general election, and offer your thoughts on how we can organize Montana going forward. Your ideas will be used to write a Montana-specific plan for Organizing for America in 2009 and beyond. The campaign brought an unprecedented number of new voices into the process -- we need to make sure those voices remain at the center of the debate as the President and Congress work on providing solutions for our economy. But these meetings are not just for folks who were involved in the campaign -- we're hopeful that every Montanan will get involved. We can't stop growing our movement now. We've never had a better opportunity to shape our future -- and just like during the election, we'll do it from the bottom up. Sign up now to attend a Listening Tour event. I look forward to seeing you, Anna Anna Gustina Montana State Director Organizing for America P.S. -- If you can't make it to a Listening Tour event, you can still get involved with Organizing for America in Montana. Let us know how you'd like to see Montana organized.
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Billings Get-Out-The-Vote Canvass KickoffObama’s Campaign for Change Office – Billings906 Broadwater Avenue9:00 AM – 9:30 AMSign upCrow AgencyTribal Council Meeting and ForumMultipurpose Building9882 S. Heritage Road 11:30 AM – 12:00 PMSign up
Bozeman Get-Out-The-Vote Canvass Kickoff35 N. Bozeman Street3:00 PM – 3:40 PMSign upWelcome Back MSU CanvassStrand Union Building (SUB), Room 2344:00 PM – 4:30 PMSign upBozeman Campaign for Change Phone BankObama’s Campaign for Change Office19 N. 10th Avenue5:00 PM – 5:40 PMSign up
Get Out The Vote (GOTV) has started. Over the next four days, we’ll be knocking on doors and calling supporters, reminding them to go vote on Tuesday, answering their questions, and arranging rides. Recent polls show Senator Obama virtually tied with Senator McCain here in Montana, which means that a good GOTV effort will absolutely be the difference between winning and losing. Don’t wake up on the 5th and wish you’d done more.
Sign up for a GOTV shift right now, or stop by your local office anytime and help out.
Have questions about Senator Obama’s stance on the second Amendment? Barack Obama is completely committed to your right to bear arms. Watch this video of Senator Obama in Virginia to learn more.
Learn about the NRA’s misleading smears of the Senator, and forward this video to a friend.
Obama supporters in Billings enjoyed elk chili and pheasant stroganoff to help turn Montana blue on Election Day. Billings’ wild game feed, coming a couple days after the 150th anniversary of President Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, is part of a week of Sportsmen for Obama game feeds that began Monday in Missoula and ends Thursday in Great Falls.
"Barack Obama is the only candidate who shares our conservation ethic--one that is critical to maintaining Montana's outdoor heritage for generations to come. For hunters and anglers, the choice is clear," said Rep. Kendall Van Dyk of Billings, one of the hosts of the lunchtime feed in Billings.
Join Montana Sportsmen for Obama.
Today, supporters in Bozeman will be enjoying elk burgers in order to help turn Montana blue on Election Day. Bozeman’s wild game feed, coming one day after the 150th anniversary of President Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, is part of a week of Sportsmen for Obama game feeds that began Monday in Missoula. All around the Treasure State, hunters and anglers are spreading the word about their support for Sen. Obama and preparing their favorite wild game dishes, such as venison chili, elk enchiladas and pheasant stroganoff.
"I hunt, I fish, and I vote,” said Missoula sportsman Land Tawney, one of the hosts of today’s feed. “Barack Obama is the clear choice to ensure future generations in Big Sky country have the same world class opportunities we enjoy today. This week, we clean out our freezers of wild game to make room for a bountiful fall. Tuesday, November 4th, we vote for Barack Obama, protecting our heritage to hunt and fish."
Bozeman - Tuesday, Oct. 2812:00 PMWild Game Feed with author Jim PosewitzEmerson Grill207 W. Olive StreetBozemanFeaturing: Elk burgers and local sides prepared by game chef Don MacArthurBillings - Wednesday, Oct. 2912:00 PMWild Game Feed with author Jim PosewitzHome of Kendall Van Dyk16 Alderson AvenueBillingsFeaturing: Elk chili and locally famous pheasant stroganoff Great Falls - Thursday, Oct. 3012:00 PMWild Game Feed with author Jim PosewitzHome of Bryan Dunn 3625 StagecoachGreat FallsFeaturing: Elk chili All are welcome to attend. Learn more and join sportsmen for Obama.
Senator Baucus today said Barack Obama is the right choice to help cut taxes for working Montanans, noting under the Obama plan 95 percent Montana's working families will get a tax break. Baucus is in a key position to help cut taxes for middle-class Americans. He's chairman of the powerful U.S. Senate Finance Committee, the panel that will consider Obama's tax plan.
"Senator Obama is the clear choice to provide tax relief to the middle class and turn our economy around. I know a thing or two about cutting taxes, I passed the largest tax cut in a generation. And I know Barack Obama. I'm here to say that Obama is the right man for the job. At times like these, we need a real leader to stand up for working Montanans and change America." Said Senator Baucus at an event today in Billings where he helps citizens enter their information into the Obama Tax Calculator.
Under Obama's plan, 98.7 percent of Montanans keep the tax cut they got under Bush, and 95 percent of working families get an additional tax cut under Barack's plan. Try out the tax calculator at taxcut.barackobama.com.
This Saturday morning, many county election offices will be open to encourage early voting. In Bozeman, Billings, and Missoula Barack Obama’s Campaign for Change will be providing free breakfast on campuses and free rides to go early vote. In Missoula, Senator Tester will join voters and speak about the importance of early voting.
You can even register and vote at the same time.
Come have breakfast and early vote in Bozeman, Billings, or Missoula (with Senator Tester).
Not in those cities? Find your early vote location and vote today.
Billings resident Dorothy Baltrusch has been recognized by the Obama campaign as a "Super Volunteer" for her tremendous efforts to spread the word about her support for Sen. Obama through phone calls, neighborhood canvasses and events at her home.
At 89-years-old, Baltrusch calls herself the chair of Really Old Women for Barack Obama. She says she supports Obama because of his plan for the economy and on issues important to seniors.
"The strength of our economy comes from the bottom and the middle, not from the top," said Baltrusch. "Obama promises no tax increase for families making less than $250,000."
Get involved, sign up to volunteer today.
Senator Obama joined volunteers at the Obama headquarters in Kansas City to call some folks to make sure they get out and vote.
Sign up to make phone calls and knock doors to Get Out The Vote.
Today, a group of young Obama supporters who had not yet been born when John McCain last visited Montana lent a hand to help Barack Obama. Many of these young supporters have met or seen Barack Obama in person during one of his five trips to the state during this campaign. None of them, however, has even had the chance to see Sen. McCain, since they were all born after his last stop in the Treasure State.
"He's going to protect kids. He protects kids from bad guys" - Maggie Marie Luckey, 6 Maggie's Mom Sandi, "She was so excited to come here today. I went to get her from school and she was telling everybody, 'I'm going to a party for Obama!'"
Sign up to volunteer today.
Today, Firefighters for Obama will be making phone calls from the Campaign for Change office in Billings to voters in the region to discuss Senator Obama's new wildfire plan and his plans to bring real change to Washington, D.C.
The Wildfire Plan is just one reason why Billings-area firefighters are supporting Sen. Obama and urging voters to cast their ballots early, but for firefighters, it is an important element of Obama's platform. Obama recognizes the heroic efforts of America's local, state and federal wildland firefighters who risk their lives to battle massive wildfires that have endangered communities throughout Montana.
Learn more about Senator Obama's wildfire plan.
Today, the Obama Early Vote Truck Tour finishes its two-week tour around the state. The Obama Early Vote Truck Tour will feature Early Vote rallies in Thompson Falls, Ronan, Stevensville, Hamilton, and Missoula to finish off a 40-stop journey around the state to raise awareness about the early vote option in this year's election and encouraging Obama supporters to cast their ballots prior to Election Day.
The final rally in Missoula this afternoon will feature former Congressman Pat Williams, Sen. Carol Williams, Rep. Michelle Reinhart, Sen. Dave Wanzenried, and Sen. Carolyn Squires. All are invited. The rally will take place at the Campaign for Change office at 218 Front Street at 3:30pm.
Find your county election office now, and early vote today.Already early voted? If you're a member of Facebook.com, join our facebook group.
Tomorrow, Thursday, October 16 at 1pm, actor Kal Penn, star of Harold and Kumar, The Namesake, and "House," will be in Missoula to talk to students about how Barack Obama will bring the change we need to Washington D.C.
Penn will speak at an early vote rally about Sen. Obama’s plans to address the pressing issues facing our country and the importance of early voting in Montana. After the rally, Penn will chat with students on the Oval and encourage them to join the "Votercade" of cars and vans heading over to the Missoula county courthouse to cast their ballots early for Sen. Obama.
Attend the Rally. And find your early vote location and vote today.
This week Senator Jon Tester will join the Obama Early Vote Truck Tour for Early Vote rallies in Great Falls, Fort Benton, Rocky Boy, Havre, Browning, and Cut Bank. In Fort Benton, Sen. Tester will cast his ballot early with other Obama supporters at the Chouteau County election board offices. Find the Early Vote Truck Tour stop near you.
At each stop, Sen. Tester will talk about the critical issues in this election and the importance of electing Barack Obama in order to bring the change we need to Washington, D.C. He will also provide details about early voting in Montana.
"There's just no reason to wait until Election Day to cast your vote for change," said Sen. Tester. "That's why I encourage all Montanans to take advantage of early voting. All you have to do is go down to your county elections office and cast your ballot today. It's easy, convenient, and it ensures your vote is counted.
Find your early vote location and vote today!
Tomorrow, October 14th, Montana's First Lady Nancy Schweitzer will walk with Jag and a group of early voters and their dogs from the Obama Campaign for Change Office to the City County Building to cast their ballots.
Given Jag's popularity in Montana as both First Canine and a celebrated author, he decided to lend a paw to Sen. Obama's campaign by gathering a group of friends who would all make sure their two-legged friends made their voices heard by voting early. Jag and a group of other dogs will gather with their owners at the Obama Campaign for Change Office in Helena around noon for some short remarks before heading up to the elections office.
Any eligible voter can early vote in Montana by visiting their local county elections office from October 6th to November 3rd. People who have not yet registered to vote can also register and cast a ballot in one stop at their county elections office during the early voting period. Most offices are open Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm, but certain counties have extended hours. To find your local county election office, visit MT.voteforchange.com or call 877-MT-EARLY (877-683-2759).
All are welcome to attend and bring their dogs. The Early Vote Dog Parade will leave at 12pm on Tuesday from 34 N. Last Chance Gulch.
The Early Vote Truck Tour stopped in Billings on Wednesday, encouraging citizens to vote early at their county election office. State Representative Kendall Van Dyk and County Commissioner Bill Kennedy spoke at the event. This week, the Early Vote Truck Tour stopped in over 21 cities and towns around Montana to rally Obama supporters and encourage them to make their voices heard by voting for change - early.
"It's getting to be more and more every year. In fact, I was talking to our chief election officer the other day, and I was in his office, and he believes in Yellowstone County alone we're going to exceed 50 percent or near 50 percent absentee and early voters," Van Dyk said.
