Today David Plouffe sent out the following message to supporters, inviting them to attend one the many grassroots house meetings taking place throughout the country later this month:
Exactly one month ago, you made history by giving all Americans a real opportunity for change. Now it's time to start preparing and working for change in our communities. On December 13th and 14th, supporters are coming together in every part of the country to reflect on what we've accomplished and plan the future of this movement. Your ideas and feedback will be collected and used to guide this movement in the months and years ahead. Join your friends and neighbors -- sign up to host or attend a Change is Coming house meeting near you. Since the election, the challenges we face -- and our responsibility to take action -- have only gotten more urgent. You can connect with fellow supporters, make progress on the issues you care about, and help shape the future of your community and our country. Learn what you can do now to support President-elect Obama's agenda for change and continue to make a difference in your community. Take the first important step by hosting or attending a Change is Coming house meeting. Sign up right now. To get our country back on track, it will take all of us working together. Barack and Joe have a clear agenda and an unprecedented opportunity for change. But they can't do it alone. Will you join us at a house meeting and help plan the next steps for this movement? Thanks, David David Plouffe Campaign Manager Obama for America
"I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to – it belongs to you." - Barack Obama, Election Night 2008
Read the full speech, as prepared for delivery . . .
Right now, while volunteers work to Get Out The Vote in key states, thousands of grassroots supporters across the country are helping out from home by using our online voter contact tools to call voters.
Our target today is to make 1,000,000 calls to voters in battleground states before the close of polls tonight. As of 1:00 PM Eastern, we've made 214,187 calls. However, our staff on the ground are telling us that we need to reach the 500,000 call mark by 3:00 PM Eastern Time.
These calls provide our supporters with information about when, where and how to vote today, and by helping identify which voters have already cast a ballot, we can dramatically reduce the number of houses our volunteers on the ground need to reach before polls close.
If you have even thirty minutes to spare in the next three hours, when can use your help. Simply select the state you want to call from the map below, and we'll provide you with an easy to use script and a targeted list of voters to call.
The largest voter contact operation ever attempted is underway right now. This is your chance to be part of it.
In Utah, polls are open today from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM. Anyone who is in line by 8:00 PM will be allowed to vote. You can find your polling location now.
For additional information or for any issues you may have with voting visit our Voter Information Center or call 1-877-US-4-OBAMA (877-874-6226). Answers to some of the most common voting questions are below:
Do I need to bring ID with me when I go vote?
What time will the polls be open on November 4?
Utah polls are open from 7 AM - 8 PM.
What about voters with disabilities?
After two years of hard work and dedication, we have three days left before America chooses the next president. We've come too far to let up now. Real change will not come easy, so we need everyone to pull together and get involved in our Get Out The Vote efforts happening all across the country.
In a speech on Monday in Ohio, Barack clearly defined what's at stake in this election, and asked all of us to stand and fight with him during these final days.
Don't believe for a second this election is over. Don't think for a minute that power concedes. We have a lot of work to do. We have to work like our future depends on it in this last week, because it does depend on it this week. In one weeks time, we can choose an economy that rewards work and creates new jobs and fuels prosperity from the bottom up. In one week, we can choose to invest in health care for our families and education for our kids, and renewable energy for our future. In one week, we can choose hope over fear, and unity over division, the promise of change over the power of the status quo. In one week, we can come together as one nation and one people and once more choose our better history.That's what's at stake. That's what we're fighting for. And if in this last week you'll knock on some doors for me, and make some calls for me, and talk to your neighbors and convince your friends, if you'll stand with me and fight with me and give me your vote, then I promise you, we will not just win Ohio. We will win this general election and together we'll change this country and we will change the world. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. Let's get to work.
Barack needs our help in order to bring about the change we need. So, sign up now to make calls from home, attend a phonebanking event near you, or travel to a battleground state.
If you live in a non-battleground state you can play an important role in deciding this election in key battleground states. Especially tonight.
The campaign will be airing a 30-minute special tonight called Barack Obama: American Promises from 8-8:30pm EDT.
Tonight supporters are gathering at Last Call for Change phonebanks across the country, calling voters in swing states to tell them where their polling location is.
There are only 6 days left to bring the change we need.
Barack is counting on your incredibly important phone calls. You can make sure Obama supporters know where to vote on Tuesday. Their polling location may have changed, or they may have never voted before.
No experience is required. You'll have a script to work from, and our staff will help you every step of the way.
On a special conference call last night, we challenged the Utah Call Team to make 5,500 calls in seven days to help get out the vote in Colorado, where early voting has already begun.
Your calls from out of state allow in-state staff and volunteers to focus on face-to-face, door-to-door voter contact. If everyone can find even an hour each night to make calls, Utah could help make the difference in this historic election.
On Monday night's conference call, Colorado's Deputy GOTV Director Graves Spindler talked about how you can help Barack win in Colorado using Neighbor to Neighbor to make phone calls from home. You can listen to a highlight from the call below:
A million people still have ballots sitting on their kitchen table, or at work or wherever, that they haven't returned and we have seven days to make sure that they do so. So, a big part of what Utah and California can do for us, a big part of what you guys can do on the phones for us every day and every night, is make sure that people are mailing in their ballots. So when you log into Neighbor to Neighbor, you are literally talking to people who are sitting at their dining room table, have their ballot in their hand, and have the ability to just mail it in... So you're making a real difference with each of these calls.
Sign on today to help Utah reach their goal. The work we do in this final week will decide what direction we take this country in the next four years. We have seven days left to make a difference.
This Monday, October 27th, at 8:30pm MDT, Utah supporters are encouraged to join an official conference call with campaign staffers to learn more about Neighbor to Neighbor and how they can make a huge impact for Barack in this historic election.
In addition to learning the basics of Neighbor to Neighbor, you wil hear from special guests who will talk about our ground game in the battleground states you'll be calling into.We'll be doing a conference call and a webinar (an online seminar), so you can follow along with the training on your own computer and ask questions. Don't worry though if you're not able to join the webinar - you can still listen in on the conference call!Here are the details:
Phone Number: 718-709-0659
Access Code: 343-851-151If you can join us for the webinar, RSVP now:http://my.barackobama.com/webinar23I hope you can join us!
If you can't make this special conference call, learn more about Neighbor to Neighbor by watching these training videos. Then, make sure you are signed up so you can start making calls as soon as possible. Every call plays a part in this campaign and puts us one step closer to our goal in November.
As Election Day draws near, Utahns for Obama continue to work their heels into the ground throughout the state of Colorado. They are knocking on doors as part of our Drive for Change canvassing trips, and their hard work and determination are making a huge difference on the ground.
Colette, from Salt Lake City, UT, and her new friend Chris recently canvassed about 150 homes over the course of a weekend. This was Colette's first time canvassing, and she felt so inspired in the work she was doing.
First of all, it is really easy to canvass, even if you have never done so before. We were provided with everything we needed, and you don't need to be a policy wonk. We encouraged people to mail in their votes and we asked if they had any particular issues. Getting an undecided voter to talk was a great experience, and I just discussed what I care about most, which is health care, and why I was spending my time knocking on their door. I care about middle-income families like the ones we were canvassing... Meeting people who are so dedicated to this election was a source of tremendous inspiration! When we arrived in Fort Collins and went to headquarters, Max Kennedy, Robert Kennedy's son, was giving a pep talk to the dedicated folks volunteering in Fort Collins from far and wide.
Colette also enjoyed meeting fellow Obama volunteers who are giving everything they can to help Barck win in November, including her host family in Colorado.
Our host family was fantastic. This picture is of Jeanne and Jim who gave us a key to their house, left us a note on Saturday night saying "Obama loves you, help yourself to the refrigerator," and then Jim played the banjo as we were leaving... We met a management consultant from Austin who quit her job at Deloitte to "contribute to this once in a life time opportunity" for six weeks. We met a couple from California who, with their dog in tow, were taking their entire three weeks of vacation to volunteer. Their pooch wandered around and kept everyone cheerful. We met Ed, an incredibly dedicated Park City-ite who went through Camp Obama training and exudes the best of leadership and dedication. He is a family man who has inspired many others to get involved and has traveled to Fort Collins the last three weekends, and he is going back for more.
Sign up today for a Drive for Change canvassing trip to help out in Colorado. Providing extra help on the ground is the the most valuable thing you can do right now.
If you can't take a trip, sign up to make phone calls using our Neighbor to Neighbor phonebank tool. The information we gain from these calls plays a crucial role in helping field organizers on the ground.
Barack Obama believes that real change must happen from the bottom up, as ordinary people stand together to do extraordinary things. In this election, simple voter to voter contact will make the biggest difference in helping elect the next president.
The most effective way to spread Barack's message of change is through ordinary people reaching out to their neighbors and talking one on one about the issues we face in America. Our Neighbor to Neighbor tool makes it easy to get in touch with voters in crucial battleground states:
No matter where you live, you can make a huge impact in this election. If you can make calls anytime between now and Election Day, sign up now and make a commitment to join this grassroots movement for change.
Jon Carson, the National Field Director, is urging supporters across the country to get together for the final presidential debate this Wednesday. Sign up today to host a Debate Watch Party - or attend one near you.
The final presidential debate is this Wednesday, October 15th, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. It's the last chance for undecided voters to see Barack and John McCain side-by-side and determine who will bring the change this country needs. And it will be the final time before election night to come together in this way with your friends, family, and fellow supporters. Make the most of this opportunity by signing up to host a Debate Watch Party -- or attend one near you.If you've joined us for an event before, you know how powerful they can be to help build support and grow our movement. If you haven't, it's a terrific way to connect with fellow supporters and folks who may just be making up their minds. If you can host an event, we'll make sure you have everything you need to make it a success. We're having a special conference call for Debate Watch Party hosts on Tuesday, when we'll give you ideas for how to get your guests involved in the rest of the campaign. In these final weeks, each of us needs to do whatever we can to keep strengthening this campaign and encourage undecided voters to cast their votes for change. Sign up to host or attend a Debate Watch Party now: http://my.barackobama.com/debate-watch-party Thanks, Jon Jon Carson National Field Director Obama for America
Earlier today National Field Director Jon Carson sent our this important email to supporters in Utah:
This weekend, Obama supporters in your community are coming together to call voters in key battleground states. People are already casting early ballots in a number of states, which is why they need to hear from you now. You can make a big difference in states where the race is neck-and-neck by sharing crucial information about early and absentee voting. Sign up to join a Last Call for Change event near you. With just 25 days left before the election, time is running out to make direct personal contact with potential supporters. And there is no more powerful way to sway an undecided voter than a one-on-one conversation with a supporter like you. That's why we're organizing Last Call for Change events all over the country this weekend. As the McCain campaign tries to smear Barack's character and distract voters from the issues that matter, your phone calls are more important than ever. No experience is required, but please bring your cell phone. Staff will give you everything else you need to succeed. Attend a Last Call for Change event near you. And please tell your friends about the Last Call for Change event this weekend. Bring them along. The more voters we reach, the better our chances on November 4th. Thanks, Jon Jon Carson National Field Director Obama for America
Jim, 57, has been traveling from Utah to the neighboring states of Colorado and Nevada to knock on doors as part of our Drive for Change canvassing trips, working tirelessly week after week in extreme heat to help elect Barack Obama President in November.Colorado has been shaping up as one of the key battleground states, and we need as many volunteers knocking on doors as possible to win this crucial state. Sign up to join this grassroots effort and make a huge impact for this campaign. Jim understands just how important this type of work is for bringing about real change, which Barack has always said happens from the bottom up.
As a long time community organizer myself, I know that change starts from the ground up. I first went door to door and asked people to recycle in 1974. By 1985, a nationwide recycling industry had emerged. Having a president who also understands how to organize change at the local level can serve us well by creating more relevant and effective solutions.
In one weekend, Jim knocked on 100 doors in Durango, CO, walking block after block in less than ideal temperatures, saying, " Imagine hot, dry, windy, sweaty - and that's what it was like. Not fun..."
I walked for Obama because I believe he has the judgment and the wisdom to lead this country. [He is] full of fresh ideas, and I'm confident he'll surround himself with the brightest people in the country as he leads us in a new direction.
Jim also offered some words of encouragement to anyone thinking of getting involved.
Call your local campaign office and ask what you can do, or you can go to my.barackobama.com and set up a personalized website and then use the Neighbor to Neighbor tool to identify people near you to call.I think of the famous quote - 'If not you, then who? If not now, then when?' - in urging you not to let others decide this election. If you support Barack, then let your voice be heard.
Three weeks ago, I asked Utahns to make a serious commitment to our campaign and sign up to become Deputy Field Organizers. Since then, many of you have answered that call, graduated from Camp Obama, and have been doing the work that will help us win this election. But now with less than 28 days before November 4th, we need your help -- our existing group of of Deputy Field Organizers have done a fantastic job, but they can't do it alone. Camp Obama is a great program to learn the basic organizing principles that our movement for change is based on. And it's a great way to take a leadership role in this campaign -- you'll become a Deputy Field Organizer and help Barack win in Colorado, a crucial battleground state.Apply now to attend a Utah Camp Obama session near you. Thanks to supporters like you, we've built the largest grassroots movement in the history of presidential politics. And it's only because of your energy and efforts that we've come this far. We know that families can't afford four or eight more years of disastrous Bush-McCain economic policies. Every day we hear more troubling news about the current financial crisis. But it's going to take all of us working together to help elect Barack and bring about the change we need. Sign up for Camp Obama and help grow our movement in Utah:http://ut.barackobama.com/UTcampobama Thanks, Suzanne Suzanne Gelderman Utah State Director Obama for America P.S. -- As an Obama supporter in Utah, you can make a huge impact by traveling to Colorado to talk with Colorado voters about the change we need. If you can't attend a Camp Obama, sign up now to Drive for Change this weekend:http://ut.BarackObama.com/CometoCO
This Thursday, October 9th, at 8:30pm MDT, Utah supporters are encouraged to join an official conference call with campaign staffers to learn more about Neighbor to Neighbor and how they can make a huge impact on this election over the next 30 days.
In addition to learning the basics of Neighbor to Neighbor, you wil hear from special guests who will talk about our ground game in the battleground states that you'll be calling into.We'll be doing a conference call and a webinar (an online seminar), so you can follow along with the training on your own computer and ask questions. Even if you're not able to join the webinar, you can still listen in on the conference call.Here are the details:
Phone Number: 703-259-9001Access Code: 684577109If you can join us for the webinar, RSVP now:http://my.barackobama.com/webinar8I hope you can join us!
Last weekend, about 80 Utahns traveled to Colorado as part of a Drive for Change canvassing trip. Fifty people went to Ft. Collins – the biggest toss-up county in the state – and another 30 walked the streets of Grand Junction. By the end of the trip, they had knocked on nearly 15,000 doors!
Ed, one of the volunteers, is working hard this year to avoid the feeling of remorse that he felt the day after the 2004 election.
I was "active" in the 2004 election, talking to friends and urging people to vote, but I didn't volunteer... Then, I woke up to the news that we had four more years of Bush/Cheney, and that feeling of remorse has been with me ever since. I can't handle having that experience again this year. We may still end up with "Four More Years", but I won't be awake to hear the news. I'll be too exhausted from helping the campaign.
Ed understood the difficulty of living in Utah and trying to have an impact on the national election. So, when Colorado turned out to be a key battleground state this year, he couldn't wait to sign up and volunteer.
When I heard about Drive For Change, I had to get involved. Drive For Change is all about giving Utahns a chance to really affect the election this year. So, last Friday I hopped into a car with some new found friends for a weekend of canvassing.
For anyone considering making the trip, Ed provided some strong words of encouragement, as he reveals the power of face to face contact in this movement for change.
Canvassing is a blast! You probably wouldn't think that if you hadn't done it before, but the energy you feel when you talk directly to voters is incredible. My favorite part was registering people who had never voted before. Many of these folks were almost shocked that somebody cared enough to knock on their door and help them participate in democracy. Their gratitude was so genuine and powerful, I knew I was doing something truly important. It kept me energized as I walked the neighborhoods.
Sign up today to make a trip to Colorado, where you can help make a huge difference in bringing the change we need this November.
If you can't make the trip, join our Neighbor to Neighbor phonebanking campaign and make phone calls to undecided voters. Every call, no matter the outcome, helps our field organizers do their job more effectively and brings us one step closer to our goal.
Here is a video highlighting all the amazing work Utahns are doing to help elect Barack Obama the next President.
Finally, if you still need some motivation, here are some more photos from recent trips to Colorado.
This weekend, supporters from Wyoming and Utah drove to Greeley, CO to knock on doors as part of a Drive for Change canvassing trip.
Sky, a volunteer from Denver who helped organize the trip, admired the dedication of his fellow canvassers from out of state, some of whom drove nine hours from Salt Lake City, UT.
Having folks from Wyoming & Utah come to Colorado to help win this battleground state for Senator Obama is personally inspiring. As a one-time resident of Wyoming, I understand just how conservative the culture can be there. But right now, there is a great opportunity to have our voices heard and make a huge difference in Colorado.
Sky, pictured below talking to a voter, and about 20 other volunteers met at a staging location to get some training before spreading out across Greeley. They knocked on doors, registered some new voters, and helped people with mail in ballots so they can avoid the long lines on Election Day.
Volunteers are needed all across Colorado, and Sky had some words of encouragement to anyone thinking about making a Drive for Change trip.
Folks that are willing to act upon what is in their hearts and do something concrete to support Senator Obama are my heroes. The difference between what could have been and what will be are those people that take action now.
Sign up today to lend Colorado volunteers like Sky some support and help make a difference in the last few weeks of this election.
If you can't make it down to Colorado, sign up to make phone calls sometime between now and the Election through our Neighbor to Neighbor phonebank tool. The information we gain from these calls plays a crucial role in helping field organizers on the ground. Every call, no matter what the outcome, brings us one step closer to our goal.
Barack is reminding Utahns to make sure they're registered to vote before the October 6th deadline.
The last day to register to vote in Utah is next Monday, October 6th. Are you registered? Are your friends and family? If you only forward one email to your friends, family, and neighbors today -- make it this one. Each and every vote in Utah is absolutely crucial to victory on Election Day. Visit VoteForChange.com, our one-stop voter registration website, and register before the Utah deadline. Supporters like you have built the biggest grassroots movement in the history of American politics. But in just 8 days, the time for bringing new voices into the political process will be over. You need to be certain that you, your friends, and your family are registered by the deadline -- it's a small step that will have a huge impact on our Election Day results. This election is too important to leave anything to chance. Make sure your voice is heard. Thanks, Barack
If you have friends or family who support Barack but might not be registered, you can use our online email importer to send them a message about VoteForChange.com in less than a minute. Don't worry -- we won't hold on to any of the email addresses you share. By bringing more people into the process, we can have a huge impact on elections up and down the ballot in November.
Last week, Utah for Obama supporters got together for a Yes We Can Party to talk about important issues and whip up some enthusiasm for Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Park City resident and party organizer, Hilary, brought together voters of all ages and welcomed Democratic Statehouse and Summit County Council candidates. Hilary especially wanted to highlight the younger generation and their role in this election.
We wanted to organize an event that appealed to younger voters in Summit County and give them a forum to talk about the issues that matter to them. I thought of the event after attending a convention watch party to see Barack accept the Democratic nomination. There was a great turnout with a lot of older voters in town, which gave me the encouragement to do something for the younger voters.
Attendees voiced overwhelming support for the change that Senator Obama represents while discussing issues of open space, affordable housing, the economy, healthcare and education.
I think he speaks to issues that are of concern to me, such as the environment and the economy, and I think he is really in touch with younger poeple. I see younger people get excited about him like I haven't seen in the past. He's somebody I can relate to.
As Hilary explained, the State Director for Utah for Obama, Suzanne Gelderman, spoke to the crowd about how supporters can make a difference in the traditionally Republican state of Utah.
Suzanne spoke about ways that Utah residents can make a difference. One is turning out to vote and not getting discouraged. It's important to vote for local Democratic candidates because they do affect our daily lives. She also talked about going to Colorado. A group of 60 residents knocked on 10,000 doors two weeks ago.
If you can't make the trip, you can join our Neighbor to Neighbor phonebanking campaign and make crucial phone calls to undecided voters right from your own home.
