From Meagan Gardner, the new West Virginia State Director for Organizing for America:
My name is Meagan Gardner, and I'm the new West Virginia 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 West Virginia, and starting this Wednesday, April 22nd, 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 West Virginia going forward. Your ideas will be used to write a West Virginia-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 West Virginian 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, Meagan Meagan Gardner West Virginia 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 West Virginia. Let us know how you'd like to see West Virginia organized.
My name is Meagan Gardner, and I'm the new West Virginia 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 West Virginia, and starting this Wednesday, April 22nd, 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 West Virginia going forward. Your ideas will be used to write a West Virginia-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 West Virginian 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, Meagan Meagan Gardner West Virginia 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 West Virginia. Let us know how you'd like to see West Virginia organized.
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 . . .
In West Virginia, polls are open today from 6:30 AM until 7:30 PM local time. Anyone who is in line by 7:30 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:
Most voters in West Virginia do not need identification.
Exception: First-time voters who registered by mail, need to bring ONE of the following IDs:
OR
6:30 am–7:30 pm
If a poll worker says you are not registered, you should confirm that you are in the right precinct or polling place. If you are at your polling place, you should ask the poll worker to call the county clerk’s office to see if you are on any other list. If you are not found on any list, vote a provisional ballot.
If your vote is challenged, you should answer questions but insist on voting. You can vote a provisional ballot if you are not issued a regular one.
Poll workers cannot ask you about personal financial matters. You have the right to vote even if you have unpaid bills, parking tickets, overdue taxes, or a home at risk of foreclosure or which has been foreclosed.
If you are in line when the polls close at 7:30 p.m., you can vote!
You have the right to request up to 3 paid hours off from your employer, if you do not have at least 3 hours before or after work when you can go to the polls to vote. Your request must be made in writing and be given to your employer at least 3 days prior to Election Day.
Disabled voters may receive voting assistance by anyone the voter chooses other than a current or former employer, union representative or candidate in the election.
Disabled voters may also vote from their automobile.
Jonathan Curley is a banker. He voted for George H.W. Bush twice and George W. Bush once. Here's an excerpt from his story on canvassing for the Obama campaign in North Carolina, from the Christian Science Monitor:
There has been a lot of speculation that Barack Obama might win the election due to his better "ground game" and superior campaign organization. I had the chance to view that organization up close this month when I canvassed for him. I'm not sure I learned much about his chances, but I learned a lot about myself and about this election. Let me make it clear: I'm pretty conservative. I grew up in the suburbs. I voted for George H.W. Bush twice, and his son once. I was disappointed when Bill Clinton won, and disappointed he couldn't run again. ...So you can imagine my surprise when my wife suggested we spend a Saturday morning canvassing for Obama. I have never canvassed for any candidate. But I did, of course, what most middle-aged married men do: what I was told. At the Obama headquarters, we stood in a group to receive our instructions. I wasn't the oldest, but close, and the youngest was maybe in high school. I watched a campaign organizer match up a young black man who looked to be college age with a white guy about my age to canvas together. It should not have been a big thing, but the beauty of the image did not escape me. Instead of walking the tree-lined streets near our home, my wife and I were instructed to canvass a housing project. A middle-aged white couple with clipboards could not look more out of place in this predominantly black neighborhood. We knocked on doors and voices from behind carefully locked doors shouted, "Who is it?" "We're from the Obama campaign," we'd answer. And just like that doors opened and folks with wide smiles came out on the porch to talk. Grandmothers kept one hand on their grandchildren and made sure they had all the information they needed for their son or daughter to vote for the first time. ...We knocked on every door we could find and checked off every name on our list. We did our job, but Obama may not have been the one who got the most out of the day's work. I learned in just those three hours that this election is not about what we think of as the "big things." ... I've learned that this election is about the heart of America. It's about the young people who are losing hope and the old people who have been forgotten. It's about those who have worked all their lives and never fully realized the promise of America, but see that promise for their grandchildren in Barack Obama. The poor see a chance, when they often have few. I saw hope in the eyes and faces in those doorways. My wife and I went out last weekend to knock on more doors. But this time, not because it was her idea. I don't know what it's going to do for the Obama campaign, but it's doing a lot for me.
There has been a lot of speculation that Barack Obama might win the election due to his better "ground game" and superior campaign organization.
I had the chance to view that organization up close this month when I canvassed for him. I'm not sure I learned much about his chances, but I learned a lot about myself and about this election.
Let me make it clear: I'm pretty conservative. I grew up in the suburbs. I voted for George H.W. Bush twice, and his son once. I was disappointed when Bill Clinton won, and disappointed he couldn't run again.
...So you can imagine my surprise when my wife suggested we spend a Saturday morning canvassing for Obama. I have never canvassed for any candidate. But I did, of course, what most middle-aged married men do: what I was told.
At the Obama headquarters, we stood in a group to receive our instructions. I wasn't the oldest, but close, and the youngest was maybe in high school. I watched a campaign organizer match up a young black man who looked to be college age with a white guy about my age to canvas together. It should not have been a big thing, but the beauty of the image did not escape me.
Instead of walking the tree-lined streets near our home, my wife and I were instructed to canvass a housing project. A middle-aged white couple with clipboards could not look more out of place in this predominantly black neighborhood.
We knocked on doors and voices from behind carefully locked doors shouted, "Who is it?"
"We're from the Obama campaign," we'd answer. And just like that doors opened and folks with wide smiles came out on the porch to talk.
Grandmothers kept one hand on their grandchildren and made sure they had all the information they needed for their son or daughter to vote for the first time.
...We knocked on every door we could find and checked off every name on our list. We did our job, but Obama may not have been the one who got the most out of the day's work.
I learned in just those three hours that this election is not about what we think of as the "big things."
... I've learned that this election is about the heart of America. It's about the young people who are losing hope and the old people who have been forgotten. It's about those who have worked all their lives and never fully realized the promise of America, but see that promise for their grandchildren in Barack Obama. The poor see a chance, when they often have few. I saw hope in the eyes and faces in those doorways.
My wife and I went out last weekend to knock on more doors. But this time, not because it was her idea. I don't know what it's going to do for the Obama campaign, but it's doing a lot for me.
It's not too late to volunteer. Click here to make a difference in the last few days.
We've reached the most important days of this entire campaign.
All of the voters we've registered, phone calls we've made, doors we've knocked on, friends and neighbors we spread the word to over the course of this campaign have brought us to where we are today: making Barack Obama very compettive in the race for the presidency of the United States.
Now we have to make sure all of that time and effort doesn't go to waste. It's time to once again take change into our own hands and get out the vote (GOTV).
As Barack explained in Nevada this morning:
Don’t believe for a second this election is over. Don’t think for a minute that power concedes. We have to work like our future depends on it in these last few days, because it does.
Join millions of Americans all over the country by volunteering in the last four days of this campaign. Everything we have worked for over the past 20 months will come down to what we do -- or don't do -- to help get out the vote.
Miss Laura from the DailyKos offered these words of wisdom from a veteran volunteer:
Before you hit your first door, or dial your first number...think about why you're doing it. Maybe it's your loved one in Iraq. Maybe it's wanting a Supreme Court that will preserve your right to control your own body. Maybe it's the healthcare you need and can't afford. Take a piece of paper and a pen and write your reason down. Keep it in your pocket, and if you have a hard conversation or string of them, take that piece of paper out of your pocket and read it. Remind yourself that this is not an empty chore, it's a way to something really, really important. Carry that knowledge with you to each door or each dial.
Before you hit your first door, or dial your first number...think about why you're doing it. Maybe it's your loved one in Iraq. Maybe it's wanting a Supreme Court that will preserve your right to control your own body. Maybe it's the healthcare you need and can't afford.
Take a piece of paper and a pen and write your reason down. Keep it in your pocket, and if you have a hard conversation or string of them, take that piece of paper out of your pocket and read it. Remind yourself that this is not an empty chore, it's a way to something really, really important. Carry that knowledge with you to each door or each dial.
So what can you do? Find a volunteer event near you and sign up to help between now and Election Day.
Early Voting in West Virginia ends on Saturday, November 1st.
The Bluefield Daily Telegraph reports:
By all indications, it’s going to be a busy day for poll workers on Tuesday, Nov. 4. That’s why early voting is providing some relief to voter registration officials across the country, including those here in the Mountain State.With thousands voting early, it’s our hope the voting — and the counting of ballots — will go smoother on Nov. 4. Early voting has proven to be a welcomed convenience for thousands across southern West Virginia.
By all indications, it’s going to be a busy day for poll workers on Tuesday, Nov. 4. That’s why early voting is providing some relief to voter registration officials across the country, including those here in the Mountain State.
With thousands voting early, it’s our hope the voting — and the counting of ballots — will go smoother on Nov. 4. Early voting has proven to be a welcomed convenience for thousands across southern West Virginia.
Are you one of the many that took advantage of early voting? Well if not, you can still vote early on the last day, Saturday, November 1st.
UPDATE: We now have updated information on this Saturday's event in Beckley with President Bill Clinton . . .
This Saturday, November 1st, please join President Bill Clinton in Beckley, where he will talk about Barack's vision for creating the kind of change we need. Change We Need Rally with President Bill Clinton Word Memorial Park Corner of Neville Street and Leslie Gates Place Beckley, WV 25801 Saturday, November 1st Doors Open: 9:00 a.m. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required; however an RSVP is strongly encouraged. For security reasons, do not bring bags or umbrellas. Please limit personal items. No signs or banners allowed.Vote for Barack today. Find your Early Vote location.
This Saturday, November 1st, please join President Bill Clinton in Beckley, where he will talk about Barack's vision for creating the kind of change we need.
Change We Need Rally with President Bill Clinton
Word Memorial Park Corner of Neville Street and Leslie Gates Place Beckley, WV 25801
The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required; however an RSVP is strongly encouraged.
For security reasons, do not bring bags or umbrellas. Please limit personal items. No signs or banners allowed.
Vote for Barack today. Find your Early Vote location.
Senator Jay Rockefeller has a message for the Mountain State:
This time of year, you can see it across our beautiful state: change is coming to West Virginia. At a rally in Charleston on Friday, thousands came out to hear Joe Biden talk about how we can bring that change home to the hard-working families that need it the most. For months, our friends and neighbors have been knocking on doors and spreading the word about this campaign in their communities and in neighboring battleground states. But with just 10 days to go in this election, now's the time to take the fight to John McCain right here in West Virginia. We can't afford to wait -- watch Joe Biden firing up the crowd in Charleston and sign up to volunteer now:
The Obama-Biden ticket understands the values that are important to all West Virginians. Like Joe said in Charleston, West Virginia's energy future is one of the most promising in the nation. Barack Obama's plans to invest in clean coal technology and energy infrastructure would create 12,000 jobs in our own backyard. West Virginia simply cannot take four more years of Bush-McCain economic policies - you deserve solutions that boost our economy and work for you. Now, there are just a few short days left to get involved and do everything we can to make sure we get the change we need. It's up to us to prove Joe Biden was right when he said: "We're gonna win West by-God Virginia." There's no time to lose -- find the Obama office near you and help us win today.John McCain and the Republicans didn't think they'd have to fight for West Virginia. We have 9 days left to make them wish they had. Thanks, Senator Jay Rockefeller
On Friday Joe Biden was flanked by West Virginia Senators Robert Byrd and Jay Rockefeller, and Governor Manchin at a festive rally in downtown Charleston. Early Vote is underway now and continues until November 1st, and Joe stressed how important is was for supporters to help the campaign by voting early.
As ABC News reported, Joe told the assembled crowd:
“We plan on competing right to the very end for every single vote here in this state and with your help — I want you to get out. You can vote early, so vote early. Get out there and vote,” he said.
On Saturday, the West Virginia Democratic Party sponsored a Block Party at Haddad Riverfront Park to help get out the vote for early voting as reported on CBS affiliate WOWK-TV:
"We just need to get all the Democrats out. We don't want them to take it for granted that It's going one way or the other. We want them to go out and vote," says Tom Vogel, State Director for Obama For America.
If you've already voted, we still volunteers to help get out the vote from now until November 4th. You can sign up for a volunteer shift now, or visit your local office to find out how you can help.
All year long, many residents in West Virginia have kept the faith that Senator Obama was the right choice to lead our proud country. And now that the final days are here, that determination and hard work have made this race competitive.
Early voting has been very active and this campaign continues to stress the importance of casting your vote early to avoid the potential long lines on November 4th and to help our field operation focus on undecided voters. November 1st is the last day of Early Voting and you can click here to find your nearest polling location.
Obama supporter Governor Manchin and guests attended a Pig roast in Summers County Friday night.
The State Journal reported on the event:
Summers County Democrats rallied with a pig roast. The executive committee shared the dinner table with the public this evening. Democratic supporters and politicians gathered at the Technology Center in Hinton. Several candidates spoke on behalf of the democratic ticket, hoping to gain some more votes. Governor Joe Manchin also traveled to Hinton to join in on the rally. Governor Manchin says the campaign trail is an exciting time for him to revisit with old friends.
Summers County Democrats rallied with a pig roast.
The executive committee shared the dinner table with the public this evening.
Democratic supporters and politicians gathered at the Technology Center in Hinton.
Several candidates spoke on behalf of the democratic ticket, hoping to gain some more votes.
Governor Joe Manchin also traveled to Hinton to join in on the rally.
Governor Manchin says the campaign trail is an exciting time for him to revisit with old friends.
John Porter, a grassroots correspondent for the Huffington Post shares his experience in West Virginia and his first phonebank event:
I can honestly say that the first day that I walked into the Campaign for Change headquarters for my first phonebanking event, I was walking blindly into a world that I had never experienced before. It has been just over a month since I first walked into the headquarters, and I can say that volunteering for the campaign has had a major impacts on my life. I must say that those who are volunteering for the campaign do so not only because they want to see change in the White House, but they also see the kind of enlightened, energetic leadership that they can believe in. It is refreshing to see the excitement in this campaign process and exciting to be a part of it.
I can honestly say that the first day that I walked into the Campaign for Change headquarters for my first phonebanking event, I was walking blindly into a world that I had never experienced before.
It has been just over a month since I first walked into the headquarters, and I can say that volunteering for the campaign has had a major impacts on my life. I must say that those who are volunteering for the campaign do so not only because they want to see change in the White House, but they also see the kind of enlightened, energetic leadership that they can believe in.
It is refreshing to see the excitement in this campaign process and exciting to be a part of it.
You can find phonebanking events near you this weekend, or you can make calls from home using our online tools.
"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 BarnesOctober 24, 2008En route to Greensboro, North Carolina
Early voting has begun in the Mountain State, and runs through November 1st.
Bibi H. from Berkeley Springs was very excited to get this election started in her hometown and was featured in this Herald-Mail article:
"We had an Early Voting Celebration at our Morgan County Democratic Headquarters and I got to be the first one in the county to vote for change 'cause it's my birthday! One I will never ever forget, and that I hope to tell my grandchildren about someday."
Early voting in West Virginia runs today through November 1st. Please visit our VoteForChange.com for more info on Early voting in your area.
Attorney William C. from Berkeley Springs does his part to raise awareness for Barack and Early Voting by hanging these signs on his law office building
Tom Vogel, West Virginia State Director of Obama for America sent out this email to remind us that the more supporters who make their voices heard now, the more energy and resources we can devote to our Get Out The Vote efforts between now and Election Day.
Every day is Election Day in West Virginia, where you can vote early. Early voting is fast, easy, and it could make the difference in this election. Show your friends and family that you've made up your mind and you're ready for change now. Take the first step today. Find your early voting location. Early voting is simple, safe, and convenient. It's also a vital part of our strategy. The more supporters who make their voices heard now, the more energy and resources we can devote to our Get Out The Vote efforts closer to Election Day. Vote early today and see if you can get five or more friends to vote early with you. All across the country, supporters like you are working together to grow this movement for change. We know that West Virginia families can't afford four more years of failed Bush-McCain policies. That's why we need you to help make sure we have an advantage in West Virginia before Election Day. Take a moment now to fill out some basic information and make your voice heard: www.voteforchange.com This is our chance to take America in a new direction -- so the next four years don't look like the last eight. We can't do this without you. Thanks, Tom Tom Vogel West Virginia State Director Obama for America P.S. -- The McCain campaign is running one of the most negative campaigns in history. In order for Barack to win West Virginia this November, we are going to need your help. Please find a canvass near you and help Barack and Democrats up and down the ticket.
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. Thanks, Jon Jon Carson National Field Director Obama for America
The deadline for to register to vote is quickly approaching in the Mountain State. October 14th is the last day to ensure that your are eligible to participate in this historic presidential election. You can visit VoteForChange.com to register to confirm your registration status in minutes.
Early Voting in West Virginia begins on October 15th and continues through November 1st.
These West Virginians have been doing their part to spread Barack Obama's message here in West Virginia, and will continue to do so until the last vote is in:
Early voting in West Virginia begins on Wednesday, Oct. 15, and continues through Nov. 1, including the last two Saturdays before Election Day where the local courthouses will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to accommodate early voting.Absentee voting is already underway. Voters who will be out of town, or are unable to cast a ballot on Nov. 4 due to a disability or other valid excuse, are qualified to cast an absentee ballot. More than 150 absentee ballots have already been mailed out to registered voters in Mercer County.
With less than four weeks to go, West Virginians are fired up and ready to help Obama win this election on November 4th. With the online tools on My.BarackObama.com, there are many ways to help. Supporters can phonebank from home using Neighbor to Neighbor, sign up to travel to neighboring battleground states as part of the Drive For Change program, host fundraisers, and more.
There was news this morning that tonight's presidential debate will proceed as planned, with both candidates in attendance. Last night, National Field Director Jon Carson sent out a message inviting supporters to attend debate parties, and explaining what comes next for the campaign . . .
The election is less than 40 days away, and the American people deserve to hear directly from the candidates about how they intend to lead our country. You're invited to join a Debate Watch Party in your community and discuss the issues that are most important to you and your family, friends, and neighbors. Find a Debate Watch Party in your area and RSVP today. These parties will allow you to to get to know folks in your community, and continue building this campaign from the bottom up by reaching out to even more supporters using our Neighbor to Neighbor tool. If you can't attend a party, you can still use our Neighbor to Neighbor tool to reach out to swing voters in a crucial battleground state who need to hear from you. It's an extremely powerful way to build support for Barack. Whether you can attend a Debate Watch Party or not, it's a great way to connect with fellow voters. Get your list of potential supporters right now and start making phone calls today. Neighbor to Neighbor gives you everything you need to get started. As Barack prepares for the presidential debate, we'll be preparing, too -- by laying the groundwork for victory on Election Day. Let's get to work. Thanks, Jon Jon Carson National Field Director Obama for America
One of the newest features of our Neighbor to Neighbor voter contact system is the online phonebanking tool. During the primary, thousands of supporters used our old online calling system to make literally millions of phone calls that made the difference in hard fought primaries across the country. In November, these phone calls will once again be a key part of our strategy.
Here is a quick tour of the new phonebanking tool:
The phonebanking tool provides you with lists of targeted voters in your community, a brief calling script, and an easy interface to enter your results. You can print off call lists and make calls offline, or you can make calls while at your computer.
When you’re done calling, report your results back to the campaign so we can update the system and let our staff and volunteers on the ground know where are supporters are and who needs more information.
In the coming days, we'll be adding more features and more calling campaigns that will allow you to make calls to key battleground states. In some areas, you'll be able to make peer to peer phone calls to talk to students, veterans, women, Latinos, and other important groups. If you're interested in making peer to peer calls, visit our People page and sign up for the constituency groups and demographics that apply to you.
No matter who you are or where you live, if you can make time during the coming weeks to help reach out to other voters, sign up now.
When campaign manager David Plouffe talked about a "persuasion army" he meant nothing more, and nothing less, than millions of volunteers doing their part talking to friends, family, and neighbors one person at a time.
From the earliest days of the campaign, Barack has closed his speeches not just with an ask for a vote, but with a call to action. From the beginning, this campaign has been built on the belief that ordinary people can make a difference in their lives and in their nation's government, but only if they act.
In his closing remarks in Daytona Beach this morning, Barack made this case as clear as ever:
I hope you'll join me. I hope you'll walk with me, so that we can turn the page on the failed policies of the past. And if you make that commitment, if everybody out here is getting registered, if everybody is out there volunteering, if all of you are doing a little community organizing, if you're making phone calls, sending out emails, knocking on doors, talking to folks at church, if you've decided that you want to roll up your sleeves and join with me and change this country, block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood, county by county, state by state, then I promise you this -- we will not just win Florida. We will win this general election, and then you and I together are going to change this country and change the world.
In his speech in Wooster, Ohio last Wednesday, Joe Biden referred to this moment as an "inflection point" on the issues of war, global warming, the economy and more.
But it is more than just that. This moment is a leverage point, in which the work you do over the next 45 days will have a greater impact than at perhaps any other point in your life.
Right now, this race is neck-and-neck. In over a dozens states, the margin between winning and losing -- the margin between a government that institutionalizes the policies and mistakes of the last eight years and an administration that brings real change to Washington -- will be the work done on the ground by ordinary people.
Over the course of the evening, we'll be showing you a number of ways in which you can get involved, no matter where you live or what your past political experience is.
This first step is simple:
West Virginia State Director Tom Vogel sent out the following email today, announcing the kick off of the official campaign presence in West Virginia:
My name is Tom Vogel, and I am the West Virginia State Director for the Obama campaign. I'm excited to announce that we're on the ground in West Virginia, and this Saturday, September 13th, the campaign is holding a Statewide Volunteer Day of Action. With less than eight weeks until Election Day, November 4th, we need your help on Saturday to knock on doors, make phone calls, and organize for change in your neighborhood. This is a great opportunity to find out how you can help elect Barack in November, meet campaign staff and fellow supporters, and learn the strategy for November. Find an office near you and join us this Saturday, September 13th. At the Republican Convention, John McCain and his surrogates attacked Barack Obama and mocked the power of community organizing. You can help prove their cynicism wrong by demonstrating the strength of this grassroots movement. Supporters like you are building a powerful organization in West Virginia that has already brought an unprecedented number of new voices into the political process. Turn your enthusiasm for Barack into action and sign up to join our Volunteer Day of Action: http://wv.barackobama.com/WVdayofaction No experience is required. Campaign staff will provide you with all the support you need to help Barack this November. Thank you for all that you do, Tom Tom Vogel West Virginia State Director Obama for America
