CT HQ Blog

Time to Deliver today in Connecticut and around the country!

Jennifer Just — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:26:38 EDT

Good morning, Connecticut!

Today is the day to make your voice heard on meaningful health reform. Please call your Representatives in Congress, even if you know that they support it! I have heard from all district offices that they are getting many more negative calls than positive ones, so every call helps.

To get your Representative's phone number, enter your zip code here:

http://advocacy.barackobama.com/healthcare/campaigns/13/call_scripts/33/call_sessions/new?source=fbshare

and have your name added to the thousands calling today!

Thanks for all you do!

Cheers, Jen

The Next Step: Attend a Change is Coming House Meeting Dec. 13-14

Christopher Hass — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:59:59 EST

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

Thank You, Connecticut

Christopher Hass — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:42:20 EST

Video: Election Night Speech in Grant Park

Christopher Hass — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:06:36 EST

"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 . . .

Obama Wins Connecticut

Christopher Hass — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:30:27 EST

The networks are now projecting that Barack Obama will win the state of Connecticut.

Polls have closed on the east coast and results are starting to come in, but we still have work to do. Polls are still open in the west and we need to Get Out The Vote in Nevada and Montana:

It's Not Over Yet

Bradley Portnoy — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:06:28 EST

The polls are now closed in the east, but the election isn't over yet. We've come so far, we've come this close, because of our volunteers like you around the country. Until the polls close everywhere, we can't let up for one second, not when there's so much at stake.

Now we have to race the sun across America and call into states where the election is still being contested. This is our chance to change America, and we can't stop until there's nowhere left to fight. Please select a state to call now.

Polls Are Closing - It's Now or Never for the Change We Need

Bradley Portnoy — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:38:19 EST

In just hours, polls will close in the northeast. Already, millions of Americans have gone to the ballot box to stand up and make their voices heard.

If you haven't voted yet, it's now or never. The window hasn't closed, but time is running out. Find your polling place and head out now:

http://www.voteforchange.com

If you've already voted, you can still help the campaign make history. The last polls in the lower 48 states don't close until 11pm, and you can make calls into essential battleground states until then:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/phonebankmap/

We can't let up for one second until the polls are closed everywhere. We've almost crossed the finish line - let's sprint until we do.

GOTV Calling Update

Christopher Hass — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:24:15 EST

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.

Don't Miss Your Chance To Make History -- Vote, Then Volunteer

Bradley Portnoy — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:11:14 EST

Across the country, Americans have already gone to their polling locations in droves to elect Barack Obama. They know that he’ll work hard to bring the change we need to Washington, from ending the Bush-McCain economic policies to giving a $1,000 tax cut to 95% of families.

Time is running out fast – there are only a few hours left before the polls close. If you haven’t yet, it's time to get to your polling place and cast your ballot.

Find your polling place here:

http://www.voteforchange.com

Then help the campaign get out the vote. Find out what you can do:

http://my.barackobama.com/november

Connecticut: Polls Open 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Erik Weber — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:01:33 EST

In Connecticut, polls are open today from 6:00 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?

If you are not a first-time voter and you did not provide proper identification when you registered, you must either:

Show proper identification.
Acceptable forms of ID at the polling place are: government-issued photo identification, a social security card or any other preprinted form of ID that shows name and address, name and signature or name and photograph.
Sign a one-line affidavit at the polling place.

The affidavit form requires your name, residential address, date of birth, and signature.

What time will the polls be open on November 4?

Connecticut polls are open from 6 AM - 8 PM.

What about voters with disabilities?

All polling places must be accessible. If you require assistance to vote by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to write or to read the ballot, assistance may be given by a person of your choice. This person may accompany you into the voting booth. This can be a person of your choosing but cannot be: an employer, an agent of such employer, or an officer or agent of your union. A disabled person may, at any time, request a paper ballot for electors with disabilities.

"We Have A Lot of Work To Do"

Bradley Portnoy — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:14:53 EST

"Don't believe for a second this election's over. Don't think 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." - Sen. Barack Obama

Here it is, our moment - the election is tomorrow. In 35 hours, the polls will be closed across the country. Watch this message from Barack:

Can you knock on some doors for Barack? Can you make some calls? Will you talk to your neighbors and convince your friends? Will you give Barack your vote? Together, we can win this election and change this country and change the world. We only have 35 hours. Let's get to work.

SNL's Rachel Dratch to Speak at NH Colleges

Alex @ NH HQ — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 19:34:31 EDT

Unprecedented numbers of young voters have joined the political process this year, inspired by Barack Obama's message of change. The vote in New Hampshire - and the election - could be decided by the participation of this crucial voting bloc.

In order to encourage college students to help get out the vote, Rachel Dratch, star of NBC's Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock, will hold rallies at Colby-Sawyer College and Dartmouth College (her alma mater) on Sunday, November 2nd.

Drive to New Hampshire in order to see Rachel. Then, hit the pavement, knocking on doors and making sure that the Granite State goes blue on November 4th! After voting yourself, getting out the vote in New Hampshire is the most important contribution you can make in this election.

10:45 AM - Colby-Sawyer College, Best Hall. New London, NH.
12:45 PM - Dartmouth College, Hinman Forum/Rockefeller Center. Hanover, NH.

"The Office Was Hopping"

Bradley Portnoy — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 19:13:52 EDT

Cassandra, a volunteer from Connecticut, just sent this e-mail to the Connecticut Drive for Change group:

My carpool just dropped me off from our trip to Claremont and the office was hopping! Perhaps hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers! Ran into people I know. Small world. Walked over to the Republican office and IT IS NOT MANNED! Nary a soul was there. EMPTY!!! zip! NADA! Best of all, undecideds appear to be deciding for Obama.

Join the thousands of supporters who drove to New Hampshire and canvassed today - we need all hands on deck for our get out the vote operation. Sign up here to come to New Hampshire, and then check out the rideshare board to carpool with other supporters.

Connecticut Call Team: We need 15,000 more calls

Erik Weber — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:39:58 EDT

On Wednesday, the Connecticut Call Team reached their 10,000 call goal by making over 13,000 calls in seven days. This is an impressive achievement, but we have a lot of work left to do as we had into the most important weekend of the election.

From now until Election Day, we are asking Connecticut to make at least 15,000 more calls to help Get Out the Vote in battleground states. This means that we need everyone to step up and try to make more phone calls than ever before during these last five days.

In a recent conference call, New Hampshire's Out of State Volunteer Coordinator, Mike Cassel, talked about why your calls are so critical as we try to bring this election home for Barack. He also stressed the fact that we've come too far and worked too hard to assume that this race is over. You can listen to this highlight below.

Join President Clinton to Get Out the Vote in NH!

Alex @ NH HQ — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:30:04 EDT

Tomorrow, President Bill Clinton will rally voters in New Hampshire by telling them how an Obama/Biden White House will bring the change we need. This campaign has been based on bringing more people into the political process than ever before. Now, with only three days left before Election Day, it's time to make sure that voters - new and old - make their voices heard. Aside from voting yourself, the best way for you to have an impact on this election is to travel to the New Hampshire and get out the vote. Come join President Clinton and Jeanne Shaheen, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, at one of their three in-state appearances and get involved by calling voters and knocking on doors.

Rochester Opera House, Rochester - Doors open at noon. Map.
Greely Park Bandstand, Nashua - Doors open at 2:30 PM. Map.
Manchester Central High Gymnasium, Manchester - Doors open at 4:00 PM. Map.

You can RSVP for any of the events here.

"Let's get to work"

Erik Weber — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:29:12 EDT

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.

McCain's Counting on New Hampshire: New Hampshire is counting on YOU

Anne Marie @ NH HQ — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:22:38 EDT

New Hampshire is very much a battleground - it went to George Bush by 1% in 2000 and John Kerry by 1% in 2004.The polls are tight once again this year, but we have a very real opportunity to take away John McCain's hopes of winning New Hampshire by Getting Out The Vote and making sure every single supporter is going to the polls on Election Day.
We have come too far to let up now. If you don't have plans this weekend, or if you can rearrange them, we're asking again for you to come to New Hampshire.

We only have FOUR days left to elect Barack. We need to work as hard as we can this weekend.

Sign up to help with GOTV this weekend in New Hampshire. Every voter you talk to can make a real difference in this close race.If you don't have a ride, don't worry. We have a ride share website, NH.BarackObama.com/NHride that can help you find a ride with another supporter in your area.

"American Stories and American Promises"

Anne Marie @ NH HQ — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:05:57 EDT

Last night, the Obama campaign aired a 30 min special about American stories - stories like yours, of families talking around the dinner table about the tough choices they are facing and their dreams for the future. This country was formed by stories like these - parents who moved to get a better schools for their children, men and women who have to go back to work after retirement to support their families, and young people seeking to better their future through work and education.

Barack's message tonight speaks to these American stories, and to the commitment that he makes to all Americans to address these concerns.

In case you missed any part of it, or want to watch it again, or share this with your friends - you can watch Barack's message here:

The election ends in five days, and we need your help to get out the vote in New Hampshire. You can find a volunteer opportunity near you right now.

Ned Lamont Visits Manchester Office

Anne Marie @ NH HQ — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:26:46 EDT

This afternoon Ned Lamont, former Democratic candidate for Senate in CT against Joe Lieberman, stopped by the Campaign for Change office to show his support, thanking volunteers and making phone calls to help Get Out the Vote in the last week of the campaign.

In 2000 we were out hustled. In 2004 we were out muscled with the Swift Boat attacks. Now, with the power of our volunteer base, we won't be out hustled or out muscled this year.

Lamont, who endorsed Barack during the primaries, is the Chairman of Connecticut for Obama. His CT group has sent over a hundred volunteers to New Hampshire every weekend for months, and Lamont has been acting as a surrogate for the campaign at local Chamber of Commerce debates.

"Everyone has their eyes on New Hampshire," Lamont said.

Join Lamont's efforts: come to your nearest New Hampshire office to help Get Out the Vote.

Watch Ned Lamont's message of support from January here

Tonight: Last Call for Change

Amanda Scott — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:02:24 EDT

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.

Get together with fellow supporters in your community and attend a Last Call for Change phonebank near you tonight.

It's Time to Get Out The Vote

Bradley Portnoy — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:45:58 EDT

Change happens because the American people demand it. Because they rise up and insist on new leadership and new ideas, a new politics for a new time. - Sen. Barack Obama

Six days until the election - six days to join us in making history. This isn't the time to let up and rest on our laurels, it's the time to push forward to victory. This is what happens if we get complacent:

Don't let it happen. Sign up to help get out the vote in New Hampshire. It's the only state that was red in 2000 and blue in 2004, and both elections were decided by less than 10,000 votes. It's time to rise up and demand the change we need. Please sign up to get out the vote in New Hampshire.

Want more info? Visit NH.BarackObama.com. Need to share a ride to NH? Check out our ride share page.

Connecticut Call Challenge Update: 700 Calls to Go

Erik Weber — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:51:47 EDT

Last week, we challenged the Connecticut Call Team to make 10,000 calls in seven days to help get out the vote in Pennsylvania. After five days, Connecticut has made over 9,200 calls and is just 700 calls shy of reaching the goal.

Your calls 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, Connecticut could help make the difference in this historic election.

Joan from Mystic, CT is leading the way by making over 412 calls in the last seven days. Now is the time to follow Joan's example and make that extra effort during this final stretch.

The work we do in this final week will decide what direction we take this country in the next four years.

Connecticut Call Challenge Update: 8,000 Calls to Go

Erik Weber — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:33:45 EDT

On Wednesday, we challenged the Connecticut Call Team to make 10,000 calls in seven days to help get out the vote in Pennsylvania. Your calls from out of state allow in-state staff and volunteers to focus on face-to-face, door-to-door voter contact.

So far, Connecticut has made almost 2,000 calls in just two days. This is a great start, but we can't afford to let up now. As we head into the final week of this historic election, it's time to work together and push each other across the finish line at full speed.

On Thursday night, Montana's Field Director Carrie Glenn gave an inspiring call to action for all the callers out there using Neighbor to Neighbor to make phone calls from home, or for anyone still hesitating to pick up the phone.

You can listen to it below:

If you haven't done calls before, I'm gonna ask you to pick up the phone and make a couple more than you really think you have time to do. 'Cause no one's even woken up on November 5th and said, 'I wish I'd done less.' We've got less than two weeks right now to actually make this happen and it's got to be a little bit more than you think you can do. If you've been doing a hundred calls a week, that's incredible, thank you so much for that. We need you to do 200. If you've never made a phone call before, we need you to make 100...

Almost two years of work comes down to these last two weeks, but we know what we need to do to win.

Barack Needs You in New Hampshire

Anne Marie @ NH HQ — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:30:52 EDT

Dear Anne Marie,

When I endorsed Barack last January, I was endorsing a candidate with the power to transform America.

Now it's less than two weeks until Election Day, and this movement has expanded beyond anything we could have imagined.

Hundreds of thousands have volunteered, and millions have registered to vote for the first time. Now we need to make sure that this incredible enthusiasm translates into votes.

I am reaching out to you today to ask you to do still more to change this country. The most important work over the next 11 days will be done by voters like you knocking on doors and reaching out to undecided voters in battleground states.

That's why I'm asking you to take the short trip to New Hampshire and make a difference in the final days of this campaign. To double your impact, bring a friend.

Our neighbor is once again a key battleground state. In 2000, Al Gore lost New Hampshire by just 7,000 votes. Four years later, John Kerry won by just 9,000.

It's going to be incredibly close this year, too. That's why I need you to help Barack.

The last few days before Election Day, November 4th, are the most crucial of the campaign. Barack is counting on supporters like us to make our get out the vote efforts as effective as possible.

Whatever you can do and however much time you can give, there's a job for you. We need people to canvass, make phone calls, help with visibility, and drive voters to the polls.

And given the rising negativity and attacks coming from the McCain campaign, it's more important than ever that New Hampshire voters learn more about Barack -- who he is and how he'll bring about the change we need.

Sign up now to spend a day in New Hampshire and volunteer in this crucial battleground:

http://my.barackobama.com/cometoNH

This campaign is about turning our backs on the politics of division, and returning to a politics that embraces hope and creates real change in our country and in our world.

Together I know we can help elect Barack Obama and bring the change we need.

Sincerely,

Senator Edward M. Kennedy

P.S. -- The best way to help out in New Hampshire is to call the Obama state hotline at (603) 657-4494 to schedule your trip and connect with other supporters in your area who are headed to New Hampshire. Check out NH.BarackObama.com if you have any questions.

Join Actor Jeffrey Wright in NH Tomorrow

Anne Marie @ NH HQ — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:49:37 EDT

Jeffrey Wright, an actor in films such as "W", Casino Royale, Syriana, Cadillac Records and The Manchurian Candidate, will be in Nashua and Manchester this Saturday, meeting Granite Staters to hear about the issues on their mind this election and speak about his support of Sen. Obama.

Wright is no stranger to politics. A native of our nation's capitol, Washington, D.C., Wright studied Political Science as well as acting while attending Amherst College.

Wright will encourage all eligible voters to participate in this historic election and bring about the change we need by voting for Barack Obama and Democrats up and down the ticket.

This is a great opportunity to get your friends who are undecided or unregistered involved in the political process. If you have time between knocking on doors and calling your neighbors this weekend, join us for a block party in Manchester or a meet and greet in Nashua this Saturday.

Join Actor Jeffrey Wright in Manchester
Block Party at City Hall Plaza
Food, Music, Canvassing and Fun
Starts at 10 a.m. RSVP at My.BarackObama.com

Join Actor Jeffrey Wright in Nashua
Meet and Greet Party at the Adult Learning Center, 4 Lake St.
Food, Music, Canvassing and Fun
Starts at 10 a.m. RSVP at My.BarackObama.com

Connecticut Call Team: Pennsylvania Needs Your Help

Erik Weber — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:09:14 EDT

With less than two weeks left in this election, one of the best ways supporters in Connecticut can help is to make calls into the key battleground state of Pennsylvania.

These calls provide essential support for field organizers on the ground, as they go door to door to Get Out The Vote.

In yesterday's GOTV strategy call with the Connecticut Call Team, Pennsylvania's Field Director, Paulette Aniskoff, talked about the ground operation in Pennsylvania and explained why your calls are so essential for this campaign. Also, veteran caller Sue Shimer offered some helpful advice on making calls using the Neighbor to Neighbor tool.

The Connecticut Call Team has set a goal to make at least 10,000 calls in the next seven days. This means we need everyone to step up their efforts and make a commitment to reaching out to as many voters as possible.

We'll be updating you on our progress here on the Connecticut blog throughout the week. By working together, you can make a huge impact in Pennsylvania and bring Barack that much closer to victory on November 4th.

Jill Biden Wants You to Make Calls

Erik Weber — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:22:57 EDT

Last week, Jill Biden stopped by the Obama-Biden Headquarters in Chicago to make calls using our Neighbor to Neighbor online tool.

After contacting voters in Pennsylvania, Jill urged everyone to sign up for Neighbor to Neighbor and make calls into key battleground states.

These calls will play an essential role here in these final two weeks, as they provide important information to field organizers and volunteer team leaders on the ground in battleground states.

To help you encourage your friends and family to get involved, click here for information on how to host your very own phonebank event. You can find links to training videos, as well as plenty of other tips to help you host a successful event. Making calls with others is a fun and effective way to maximize your impact.

With just two weeks left until Election Day, we need everyone to get involved and start calling voters and make sure people get out and vote for change this November.

Now or Never: Register by Mail Today

Erik Weber — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:45:47 EDT

Jon Carson, the National Field Director, just sent the following reminder to register by mail before today's deadline.

You may already be registered to vote, but you probably know several people who are not.

Today is the final day to register by mail.

This election is going to hinge on unprecedented voter turnout.

Visit VoteForChange.com, our one-stop voter registration website, and register before the Connecticut deadline.

Then encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to do the same.

Together, we can make history and bring about the change we need.

Thanks,

Jon

Jon Carson
National Field Director
Obama for America

P.S. -- Please let your friends, family, and neighbors know about today's deadline, and make sure they register today.

If You Can't Join Them, Beat Them: Be Involved in NH From Home

Anne Marie @ NH HQ — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 16:24:22 EDT

Do you want to be involved in a battleground but don't have the time to drive for change or go into your local office? You can still make a direct impact in New Hampshire, a critical battleground state, by using Neighbor to Neighbor to make calls or get canvass lists right from your home computer.

Our Neighbor to Neighbor tool makes it easy to get in touch with voters in your community. Recently, Jill Biden visited our office in Chicago and used Neighbor to Neighbor to contact voters in a battleground state near her. Check out this short video of her experience:

We need your support now, and Neighbor to Neighbor helps you be involved no matter where you live, on whatever schedule that is convenient for you.

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 battle for every vote with us.

Drive for Change: Nashua, NH with Sen. John Kerry

Bradley Portnoy — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 19:58:00 EDT

It was a crisp New England morning in the parking lot of Hope High School, where nearly 200 volunteers met before sunrise to travel to New Hampshire. Spirits were high -- they knew that with only 17 days to go until the election, every hour counts in the battle to keep New Hampshire blue. Chaz traveled to Rhode Island from Mystic, Connecticut on the advice of a good friend.

I wanted to be part of the team - to help get out the vote for Barack because I know that New Hampshire is a crucial state.

Chaz was joined by Danielle, the co-president of the Salve Regina Democrats, and a native of Warwick, Rhode Island. After starting Salve's chapter of the college Democrats last Spring, she knew that it was important for them to come out and work for the change we need in New Hampshire.

We know that Rhode Island is a blue state, and we know that New Hampshire is at stake. We had a bunch of us that had fire in our bellies, and said let's go up there and make a difference. We've been really fired up coming in this year, having Barack as our nominee and being able to do things like this.

After spending the morning knocking on thousands of doors, the Rhode Island volunteers met up with volunteers from across the Northeast at the Nashua field office to hear some words from Congressman Paul Hodes and Senator John Kerry.

Congressman Hodes spoke to the crowd about the importance of canvassing: "Every single contact that you have will make the difference in this race...we're counting on you to help turn America around." Senator Kerry spoke about the power of persuasion that person to person contact carries.

We need every single one of you to use every ounce of your persuasive power...when you do, you're going to make the difference of a lifetime. Let's go out and make the difference.

The volunteers then headed back out into the field -- they're only just now returning from their second round of canvassing. There are 17 days left before election day, and our battleground is expanding across the country. Even if you don't live in a battleground state, there's one within driving distance. Sign up today to drive for change to a nearby state - every single volunteer makes a difference.

17 Days out: Join John Kerry to Campaign for Obama in NH

Anne Marie @ NH HQ — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:31:25 EDT

What are you doing this weekend? Can you join Sen. John Kerry at a canvass kickoff in Nashua or Manchester? Here are the details:

Kerry Will Denounce McCain Campaign Smear Tactics; Discuss Sen. Obama's Judgment and Plan to Bring Change to Washington

MANCHESTER-- With less than 20 days left until Election Day, U.S. Senator John Kerry will travel to New Hampshire this Saturday, October 18th to reach out to Granite State voters about the Obama-Biden plan to bring change to Washington. As someone who experienced firsthand the Republican smear tactics that were used with voters during the 2004 presidential election, Sen. Kerry will discuss Sen. McCain's decision to mislead voters with vicious and false information instead of address the real issues impacting American families. Kerry will be in Nashua and Manchester.

"The phone calls that Sen. McCain is using in the Granite State and across the country to scare voters and spread misinformation about Sen. Obama are incredibly offensive and demonstrate McCain's desperate attempt to distract from the economy," said Sandra Abrevaya, New Hampshire Communications Director. "We're thrilled that Sen. Kerry will be in the state this weekend to combat these false claims about Sen. Obama and discuss why Sen. McCain represents more of the same failed Republican leadership.

CANVASS EVENT with John Kerry IN NASHUA

SATURDAY, October 18 at 1:30 pm

306 AMHERST ST.

NASHUA, NH

VETERANS TO VETERANS VOTER CONTACT EVENT with John Kerry IN MANCHESTER

SATURDAY, October 18 at 3 pm

359 ELM ST.

MANCHESTER, NH

Join John Kerry this weekend and drive for change in NH.

You can also help us to fight against smear campaign tactics. To report a robo call and help the campaign respond to these desperate attacks faster please visit www.fightthesmears.com/report.

From Barack: Why New Hampshire Needs YOU

Anne Marie @ NH HQ — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:09:48 EDT

Barack drew thousands of people to Mack's Apple's today in Londonderry, NH to listen to him speak about the Obama-Biden plan for change, the day after the final presidential debate. He spoke of the dire need for change in this country, and why we must keep fighting to make this change happen.

Well, New Hampshire, last night we had a debate. I think you saw a bit of the McCain attack strategy in action. But here's what Senator McCain doesn't seem to understand. With the economy in turmoil and the American Dream at risk, the American people don't want to hear politicians attack each other - you want to hear about how we're going to attack the challenges facing middle class families each and every day. You want to hear about the issues that matter in your lives. You want to hear about how we're going to bring about the change that we desperately need for our country. That's what the American people want to hear.

Barack spoke to the serious concerns of voters - addressing the economic crisis, creating jobs for the American middle class, fighting for families and working tirelessly for you in Washington.

John McCain thinks this campaign is all about me - but the truth is, this campaign is about you. Your jobs. Your health care. Your retirement. Your children's future. That's what this election is about. That's what I'm fighting for. Because I can take 3 more weeks of these attacks from John McCain, but the American people can't take four more years of the same failed policies and the same divisive politics.

New Hampshire, we are 19 days away from changing this country. But for those of you who are getting a little cocky I have two words for you: New Hampshire. I learned right here that you can't let up or pay too much attention to the polls. We've got to keep making our case for change; we've got to keep fighting for every vote; we've got to keep running through that finish line. This election is too important to take anything for granted. The future that you and I seek for our children is too important to let up now. The time for change has come.

We need you to help us win New Hampshire. Can you sign up today to join Barack Obama to fight for every vote, every step of the way? Sign up now to help win NH for Obama-Biden and our democratic candidates. If you already signed up and you need a ride, find one here.

Let's make change happen.

Neighbor to Neighbor: Reach Out and Make a Difference

Erik Weber — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:13:34 EDT

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.

Final Debate Watch Parties

Erik Weber — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:27:26 EDT

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

Sunday: Join in a Conference Call with Campaign Staffers

Erik Weber — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:27:08 EDT

This Sunday, October 5th, at 3:00pm EDT, Connecticut 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 in 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: 718-709-0655
Access Code: 333098537

If you can join us for the webinar, RSVP now:

http://my.barackobama.com/webinar3

I 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.

The Debate and What's Next

Christopher Hass — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:19:44 EDT

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

Phonebank for Change: Cos Cob, Connecticut

Erik Weber — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:11:13 EDT

Every Thursday evening in Cos Cob, CT, Lyda holds a phonebank at her business, the Language Center, which serves as a classroom during the day for 15 different language classes. This week, she reached out to supporters who hadn't volunteered before, and the response was exceptionally positive.

"They felt empowered," Lyda said. "I do this every Thursday, and every week we get new people."

In addition to making phone calls, they also wrote personalized messages to the voters they spoke with. For volunteers who weren't comfortable on the phone, this became a creative and personal way for them to express their support and hopefully earn some votes.

We have someone who is an artist, and she created these beautiful postcards for us to write about why people should support Obama. Then, we send them out to the people on our list who are on the fence in hopes of changing their minds.

Lyda has been organizing grassroots events since January when she decided to sign up on my.barackobama.com and take the initiative in this amazing movement for change. Today, she came up with a brilliant idea for getting seniors involved who couldn't make it to the phonebank.

I got all these phone calls from the elderly who wanted to help, but couldn't because they can’t always come to us. So they all got together today, and then they started writing little letters on pieces of paper saying why they support Obama. And tomorrow, we’re going to pick those up and send them to voters over age 65. We believe senior to senior contact is a good way to reach out.

If you can help make calls sometime between now and November, sign-up today and you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference for Barack in this election. We're going to need as many volunteers as we can find, so be sure to tell your friends and family about our Neighbor to Neighbor tool so they can get involved.

Ridgefield Democratic HQ Opening in Connecticut

Erik Weber — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:15:43 EDT

This past weekend, supporters in Ridgefield, CT launched a new volunteer office. Betsy, one of the lead organizers, was thrilled with the turnout and enjoyed meeting some new faces from her community.

On Saturday, we had 120 people that signed up to volunteer. And out of those 120, I would say almost 75% were folks we had never known before. They were brand new people, and this is all from the excitement for Barack.

Initially, they could barely handle all the people coming through the door. But there were plenty of sign-up sheets for volunteer activities to keep everyone busy.

We had sign-up sheets on the wall for phonebanking, letter writing, and the Drive for Change trips to New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. We've had more people sign up for the Drive for Change trips than anything else. We are already coordinating some trips to help out in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Phone Call by Phone Call

Christopher Hass — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:26:57 EDT

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.

"Now it's our turn."

Christopher Hass — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:24:43 EDT

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:

Marc in Connecticut: "We believe that we are making a difference"

Erik Weber — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:45:22 EDT

Along with the launch of our Vote for Change tool, which can help you get registered to vote this November, volunteers across America are out on the streets registering new voters. After attending several meetings and events around the Stamford area, Marc decided it was time to start organizing for Obama in his own town near Bridgeport with a voter registration drive.

I wanted Obama to have a presence where I live. So first I posted a voter registration drive event on my.barackobama.com, then I stopped by my town registrar's office and grabbed some voter registration cards. I got some Obama bumper stickers and buttons, I was armed with an easel stand, a table... Then I was ready to try my first drive on my own. I picked a grocery store for its visibility and chose Saturday morning from 10:00am to noon, since I figured most folks in my area grocery shop on the weekend... It was a good day. We registered a few folks and gave away a lot of Obama bumper stickers and buttons.

Not satisfied with his first event, Marc got right back to work registering more voters in another part of town.

There was a lot of excitement about Obama, and I was full of joy. During the registration process, I managed to get some folks to volunteer for our campaign and made a few friends along the way. I had posted a couple of events for the weekend after the Democratic National Convention, and I was getting so many email confirmations from people who wanted to come help that I thought that our site had gone nuts. And to my surprise, I had over 10 folks who showed up and wanted to get involved. They were from many surrounding towns and we had a great time.

Marc also shared some valuable insight into why these grassroots events have meant so much to him and his community.

What is so great about voter registration? I get to meet new folks in my own town and from surrounding areas. But more importantly, there is a sense of purpose and that we are part of something greater than ourselves. We believe that we are making a difference. I have seen folks who can barely walk, folks of different ethnicity and age groups came out to help and pledge to do the same in their own towns. They were college students heading back to school and plan to do the same on campus. Others pledged to register their coworkers. I have a sense that we are reconnecting, that we are interdependent. It has been a great experience... I am planning some more events in Bridgeport, Fairfield, and Wilton in the coming weeks.

Sign up today to help register voters in your own community, or find what you need to know to host your own event at the Voter Registration Action Center.

Here are some photos from Marc's efforts help bring change to America this November.

Message from David Plouffe: How we're going to win

Amanda Scott — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:27:27 EDT

Campaign Manager David Plouffe just sent out this email...

Amanda --

Want a look inside our strategy to win the battleground states?

I recorded a video on my laptop yesterday to brief you on the plan -- including details that haven't been shared publicly before.

Our fight in the battleground states is going to be tougher than a lot of you may think. Take Florida, where George Bush won by just 381,000 votes in 2004. The campaign we're running there is going to cost more than $39 million.

That can only come from supporters like you -- unlike John McCain, we don't take money from Washington lobbyists or special interest PACs.

To reach our goal, we need 50,000 new donors by Friday at midnight.

You can inspire a fellow supporter to make their first donation -- and make your donation go twice as far.

Will you watch the video and double your impact with a donation today?

This race has come down to a matter of weeks, and it could pivot on a few tremendously important swing states.

Supporters like you are strengthening this campaign in amazing ways -- voter registration efforts, organizing in your communities, and bringing folks into the political process like never before.

Barack and Joe can't win this without you.

Make a donation of $25 or more right now to provide the resources we'll need to make victory a reality:

https://donate.barackobama.com/promise

This campaign is committed to winning in every state we can. But it's the support of folks like you that will decide this election.

Thanks for everything you're doing,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

Women Back Obama-Biden on the Issues

Amanda Scott — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:32:56 EDT

While John McCain has been distracting from the issues at hand with the sleaziest campaign Americans have ever seen, Barack Obama and Joe Biden are traveling the country discussing the issues that women and families care about, such as ensuring women are paid the same as men for equal work, the right for women to make their own family planning choices, reforming our health care system, and rebuilding an economy that strengthens the middle class.

This week the Obama campaign is highlighting the stark differences between McCain-Palin and Obama-Biden on the issues women and families care about with events across the country and new advertising. A new ad - called “Burden” - highlights John McCain’s failure to stand up for equal pay for women at a time when more and more families depend on the income earned by working women.

Watch “Burden” below....
The ad will air in key battleground states on Tuesday and DC/Northern VA markets. The ad will run during programming with large female audiences, including morning shows, soap operas, daytime TV, cable channels like Lifetime, Oxygen, E!, HGTV, and Bravo and during the fall premieres of several prime time shows. There will be a companion radio spot that goes up on Tuesday that will be in similar markets and a web ad appearing on sites that women frequent such as iVillage and magazine sites.

To kick-off the week of activities, the Obama campaign announced an impressive list of national women leaders who stand with the Obama–Biden ticket because of their record of fighting for women and families and the change they will bring to all Americans. On Tuesday the National Organization for Women and Feminist Majority endorsed the Obama-Biden ticket for the change women need.

On Wednesday, the Obama-Biden campaign received the endorsement of Lilly Lebetter at an event with Michelle Obama and Jill Biden in Virginia. On Wednesday night, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton will participate in one of the largest women’s web forums, reaching tens of thousands of women in their living rooms.

On Friday, Barack Obama, Joe Biden & Jill Biden will hold women’s rallies in battleground states and over the weekend women leaders will be joining with Obama supporters to hold Women for the Change We Need events in all 50 states.

There’s a reason why 53% of women voters believe that Obama-Biden better understands the issues and concerns important to women, compared to 35% for McCain-Palin, according to a September poll for Emily’s List. While Obama and Biden have a record of fighting to strengthen families and provide women with the rights and support they deserve, John McCain and Sarah Palin offer just more of the same.

Continue reading to see where Barack and McCain stand on women's issues...

Obama Directly Addresses America in Two-Minute Ad: Plan for Change

Sam Graham-Felsen — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:35:26 EDT

CHICAGO, IL – The Obama campaign today released a two-minute advertisement in which Senator Obama will speak directly to the nation on his view of the state of the economy and what he would do to fix it if he is elected president. The ad will begin today nationally and in battleground states around the country.

Watch the ad...

Visit BarackObama.com/plan to read Obama's plan for the economy now.

Please donate now to help put this ad on the air and help deliver this important message to voters across America.

Continue reading for the script of the ad...

Vote For Change

Christopher Hass — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:44:23 EDT

As we gear up for an historic election, we've launched a new website designed to simply the voting process and make it easy for voters across the country to participate. VoteforChange.com is a new voter registration tool that allows you to verify your registration status, register to vote for the first time, or get the relevant absentee voting information for your state – all online.

As deputy campaign manager Steve Hildebrand told the Boston Globe:

We think the turnout will be beyond record turnout, and if we're effective, we will have done two additional things -- brought in millions of new people who are registered to vote and we will increase the percentage of registered voters who will turn out.

This race is too close and too important to stay home on Election Day. Often the reason that people don't vote is because they don't understand how easy it is to register to vote. VoteforChange.com simplifies the process. It allows voters to register, check registration status, or find a polling location – all at the click of a button.

Grassroots for Obama: Huge Turnout in Connecticut

Erik Weber — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:17:53 EDT

Yesterday, a crowd of nearly 2,500 people joined together in Hamden, Connecticut to begin organizing for change. Though much of the media attention has been focused on two dozen or so battleground states, volunteers in Connecticut showed their energy and enthusiasm, as well as their determination to make an impact on the outcome in November.

In addition to speeches from Senator Chris Dodd and other state Democratic officials, the rally saw almost 800 new volunteers sign up to help with voter registration, phonebanking, and canvassing, including trips to Pennsylvania and New Hampshire as part of the Drive for Change campaign.

The event's success also gained some attention from the local newspaper. The New Haven Registar reported today:

“It was a great turnout,” said Hamden’s Democratic Town Committee Chairman Joseph McDonagh, who added that the crowd packed the auditorium and overflowed into the cafeteria and outside.

...Nancy DiNardo, chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, emceed the event. After a warm welcome and standing ovation from the crowd, DeLauro reiterated emphasis on Democratic platform themes: ending the war in Iraq, making the country energy independent, improving the economy and creating universal health care.

“When we elect Barack Obama, we will have the opportunity to put the middle-class first,” she said. Blumenthal echoed the economy theme in his speech and called out Republicans on their new message of change. He said: “There was a lot of talk about change at the Republican convention, but there wasn’t a lot of talk about the middle class. What we have seen over the last eight years is a contempt for the middle class.”

...Mike Patrikios of Milford said Republicans have let the country down. “I think this country is in very bad shape,” he said, “and we need change. Obama has the charisma and leadership to bring about that change.”

Unite for Change: Riverside, Connecticut

Amanda Scott — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:14:41 EDT

Susan and her friend Annie met during the Primary season. After hosting a voter registration drive at their local high school, they decided to continue the tradition and host a Unite for Change event. Residents of Riverside, Connecticut, they have never been involved in a political campaign before, but that has all changed…

Annie and I had never done anything like this before but I must say we were a great team and we had about 10 other people who showed up early to volunteer to help us and that was wonderful. Between posting the event on the Obama site, putting a notice in our local paper, getting flyers out around town and my son’s friends spreading the word through Facebook, we had at least 150 in total.

The whole evening was amazing.

We had several tables set up as people arrived. One table had sign up forms for people to volunteer for different activities – Voter Registration Drives, Canvasing, House Parties, Phonebanking, Visibility, etc. Another table had t-shirts, buttons, signs, bumper stickers, mugs and posters for sale – to help them be more visible. We also had a table with pre-made packets of 25 voter registration forms and instructions for people who wanted to get out and register voters right away.

At the door we had a sign in sheet for everyone to fill out when they came in and we gave them each a “tips sheet” to take home with them. It listed all the amazing things on the Obama website and we also included other websites to help them get the information they need when talking to people such as fightthesmears, snopes, factcheck, etc.

The presentation was great! After welcoming and introducing ourselves and a few of the local delegates who arrived to share the evening with us, we then showed the DVD. One woman who recently retired told me that she wanted to use her time to do activities to help the campaign but had felt a little intimidated until she saw the DVD and heard us describe doing each of these activities and realized that she could do this! We shared anecdotal stories and the crowd loved hearing them.

Because we were such a large group we really couldn’t have everyone introduce themselves so instead we asked the group some questions such as: “Raise your hand if this your first time at an Obama Event”. Three-quarters of the room raised their hand! It felt so great that we had brought so many people into the process by hosting this event.

As we talked about each activity we asked people to hold up their hands if they had done voter drives, phone calling, canvassing, etc. – so that people in the room could look around and see who they might want to ask questions of later. At the end we suggested that people go up and meet at least 4 people before they leave so they can start to network.

It was such a great group of friendly, enthusiastic, appreciative people and we felt that the night was a great success. As most of the older people filtered out and most of the younger people filtered in, my son’s band provided an hour of great music for us to dance and celebrate to while a Yes We Can sign hung over their heads!

We’re now planning to do one of these per month until the General Election!

Susan and Annie's event raised over $2,000 for the campaign last night. Here are some pictures from the event...

If you attended or hosted a Unite For Change event, let us know how it went in the comments below. If you have photos from the event that you'd like to share, you can email them to photos@barackobama.com.

Inspired to Bring Change

Amanda Scott — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:15:59 EDT

Susan from Riverside, Connecticut is more excited about this election then any of the other nine elections that she had voted in. It started as a desire to get a Democrat into the White House, but since then, her excitement has moved her to take action. She says she hasn’t been inspired like this before.

Part of Obama’s appeal is that he doesn’t just think about himself as so many politicians do, but he includes all of us in every single step. This has enabled people like me, who always felt anonymous in the political process and perhaps on the outside, to feel and be part of the process, part of the campaign, part of the future…and it’s been really exciting!

My husband and I love the fact that as the campaign began, each time Obama spoke our 20-year-old son rose out of political apathy and had the audacity of hope in his heart; my parents, ages 78 and 84, became passionate campaigners communicating about Obama to people they knew and didn’t know through emails, on the phone and on NYC buses and street corners. My 16-year-old daughter has watched every debate and even my 22-year-old autistic son who has not recognized past presidents, recognizes Obama and when asked who will be the next President of the United States he enthusiastically shouts “Barack Obama.”

Together we became a family of “Obamamaniacs” – and we’re proud of it!

Susan visits the website daily to catch up on news, has written op-ed articles to her local editors and and has made get out the vote phone calls. She recently read a blog post about doing a voter registration drive at a high school graduation rehearsal and decided to do one in her town.

She was persistent when she got resistance, but it her efforts payed off when she got permission to be at the rehearsal. Her daughter made posters for the table, and a friend, Annie, she met during the Primary Season offered to help.

They registered over 50 students and handed out over 75 absentee ballot instructions. Students can request absentee ballots once they know their housing address if they are going to college in a different county. Susan recommends calling your town clerk’s office for instructions on getting absentee ballots since every state is different.

After the success of her voter registration drive, she received an email about hosting Unite for Change events on June 28. Susan and her friend decided to host a party together and Annie posted the event on my.barackobama.com.

We are so excited about what we have planned. We are so appreciative to have gotten the use of a very nice, cozy coffee house in our neighborhood to use for our event and we’re calling our event: BA-ROCK THE VOTE! My son, a junior in college, has a band of his old high school friends, which is quite popular in our town, and they are going to do a concert following the meeting.

We’ve got bumper stickers, buttons and an amazing new t-shirt for the event. We are having the young generation spread the word through Facebook, while we spread the word through the Obama site, local newspapers, flyers, emails and good old word of mouth! This is so much fun and so exciting.

Obama has really inspired my family and I to step up and take action with him to change this country. I really hope that one day I can meet him face to face to thank him and give him a huge hug to let him know how much we appreciate him and his family for what they are offering our country....

Unite for Change events will be going on across the country next weekend. You can join people like Susan who are getting involved to make a difference. Sign up to host an event and or click here to learn more about Unite for Change house parties.

Video: Senator Dodd endorses Obama

Sam Graham-Felsen — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:53:06 EST

Senator Chris Dodd endorsed Barack Obama today. Watch his endorsement remarks from Cleveland, Ohio...

Senator Chris Dodd Endorses Barack Obama for President

Sam Graham-Felsen — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:58:33 EST

A major endorsement today: Senator Chris Dodd is throwing his support behind Barack Obama...

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Sen. Christopher Dodd endorsed one-time presidential rival Barack Obama on Tuesday and said it is time for Democrats to join forces to defeat the Republicans in the fall campaign.
"I don't want a campaign that is divisive here, and there's a danger in that," Dodd said, although he denied he was nudging Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to end her candidacy.
Dodd said Obama was "ready to be president and I am ready to support him in this campaign."
The two men appeared together at a news conference. Dodd is the first of the Democratic campaign dropouts to endorse another candidate.
He said Obama "has been poked and prodded, analyzed and criticized, called too green, too trusting and for all of that has already won" more than half the states and millions of votes.
"It's now the hour to come together. ... This is the moment for Democrats and independents and others to come together, to get behind this candidacy," he said.

Here are Senator Obama's remarks (as prepared for delivery) in response to Dodd's endorsement...

It has been my pleasure to serve alongside Chris Dodd in the United States Senate. It was a privilege to share the stage with him during his principled run for the presidency. And it is an honor to stand here with him today, and to accept his endorsement of my candidacy for President of the United States of America.

I say that because Chris Dodd loves his country – and believes in the ideal of public service – as much as anyone I know. From his years as a young Peace Corps worker in the 1960s to this very day, Senator Dodd has devoted his life to building a stronger, fairer, healthier America; and a more just and secure world.
Whether it was his work to protect voting rights; his long, determined battle for the Family and Medical Leave Act; his leadership on U.S. relations with Latin America; or his defense of our Constitution – Chris Dodd has been at the forefront of some of the most important issues of our time. He has worked hard to preserve the right of workers to organize despite an onslaught from a hostile administration. He has been an advocate for our children, and no one has fought harder to improve our schools. He has been a voice for unity amid the often bitter debate over immigration reform. And I have seen firsthand on the Foreign Relations Committee his commitment to restoring our standing in the world.
But as passionate as Chris Dodd is about the causes he champions, he also has that rare ability to disagree without being disagreeable. He is respected on both sides of the aisle for his authenticity, reason, and civility. And that is how, time and again, he's been able to bring Democrats and Republicans together to make a real difference in the lives of the American people.

He conducted his campaign for President with that same character. He resisted the cheap and easy shots, and elevated the debate with important ideas about how to address the great challenges we face. He and I share a deep commitment to take our country in a new direction.
We know it's time to end the war in Iraq. This war has not made us safer, it has overstretched our military, it has cost us precious American lives, and it is costing us billions and billions of dollars that could be better spent finishing the fight in Afghanistan and bringing relief to the middle class here at home.
We know it's time for an energy policy that ends our addiction to oil. We can't keep buying oil from dictators while our planet is in peril and Americans are paying more at the pump. It's time to embrace a clean energy policy that enhances our national security, while creating green jobs right here in states like Ohio.
We know it's time to reclaim the American Dream for the middle class. Instead of giving tax breaks to companies that ship our jobs overseas, it's time to put a tax cut in the pockets of working people and seniors. Instead of giving hundreds of millions to well-connected contractors in Iraq, it's time to put America back together again by investing in our infrastructure – an issue that Chris Dodd has shown real leadership on in the Senate. And instead of standing by while there's a squeeze on the middle class, it's time to expand the Family and Medical Leave Act so no American has to choose between a job and their family.
We know it's time to time to restore our Constitution and the rule of law. This is an issue that was at the heart of Senator Dodd's candidacy, and I share his passion for restoring the balance between the security we demand and the civil liberties that we cherish.
The American people must be able to trust that their president values principle over politics, and justice over unchecked power. I've been proud to stand with Senator Dodd in his fight against retroactive immunity for the telecommunications industry. Secrecy and special interests must not trump accountability. We must show our citizens – and set an example to the world – that laws cannot be ignored when it is inconvenient. Because in America – no one is above the law.
It's time to reject torture without equivocation. It's time to close Guantanamo and to restore habeas corpus. It's time to give our intelligence and law enforcement agencies the tools they need to track down and take out terrorists, while ensuring that their actions are subject to vigorous oversight that protects our freedom. So let me be perfectly clear: I have taught the Constitution, I understand the Constitution, and I will obey the Constitution when I am President of the United States.

Finally, it's time to once again inspire this nation to rally behind a common purpose – a higher purpose. Throughout his campaign, Senator Dodd spoke eloquently about the need to turn the page to a new era of public service. That is the legacy of his own family – the legacy of a father who stood up to the Nazis at Nuremberg, and a young man who enlisted in the Peace Corps after he heard President Kennedy's call to service on a cold Inauguration Day.
I am running for president because I believe deeply in the promise of America – without that promise, I would not be here today, because my story is not possible anywhere else on earth. I believe that each of us has an obligation to do our part to extend that promise – not just for ourselves, but for our country. That's why I share Senator Dodd's commitment to dramatically expand public service programs like AmeriCorps. That's why I will give all Americans more opportunities to serve their communities and their country. And that's why I will work to put an end to the division and distraction in our politics, so that we can finally come together to meet the great challenges we face.
I know that it will not be easy to deliver the change that we seek, but I know that the road will be easier with the support of Senator Dodd and the millions of voices who have joined our call for change. With his help, I know that we can unite our Democratic Party, and build a coalition that brings together Democrats and Independents and Republicans behind a mandate for change. Together, we can keep America's promise in the 21st century.

Obama Wins Connecticut!

Sam Graham-Felsen — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:10:29 EST

CBS just called Connecticut for Obama!

17,000 showed up in Hartford yesterday

Remember, two weeks ago, we were down by 14 in Connecticut!

CBS calls it...

Ned Lamont has a message for you...

17,000 Strong in Hartford, Connecticut

Sam Graham-Felsen — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:53:33 EST

Wherever Barack goes, the lines seem to wrap around block after block, and the crowds tend to fill up stadiums...

This afternoon in Hartford was no different -- 17,000 showed up to stand for change with Barack, Senator Ted Kennedy, and Caroline Kennedy. Look at that crowd...

'Penn, Politicians Rally For Obama'

Christopher Hass — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:54:35 EST

From the UConn Daily Campus:

About 300 students, faculty and local residents rallied with local politicians for democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama at the Student Union Friday.

The guest speakers, including TV and movie star Kal Penn, Stamford Mayor and former Senate candidate Ned Lamont and Connecticut Senate Pro Tempore Donald Williams, endorsed Obama and spoke of the need for change in this coming presidential election.

… "Young people can change the course of history," Williams said. "And Obama has the widespread support of the youth vote."

The Obama campaign is active on five Connecticut college campuses, including UConn, Southern Connecticut State University, Wesleyan College, Quinnipiac University and Yale University, according to Max Rothstein, director of Connecticut Students for Obama and a student at Wesleyan. There is also a small amount of Connecticut high school students involved with the campaign.

… At the time of the rally, Obama and Clinton were in a dead heat in Connecticut polls, Rothstein said.

Get Out the Vote with Senator John Kerry

Emily Bokar — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 10:23:28 EST

Senator John Kerry will be joining Obama supporters today to help Get Out the Vote in Connecticut! Please join us for two special canvasses in Bridgeport and New Haven today.

Obama leads in latest Connecticut poll

Christopher Hass — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 23:31:36 EST

From the Hartford Courant (Connecticut)

Barack Obama leads Hillary Rodham Clinton, 48 percent to 44 percent, in a poll of Connecticut Democratic voters released today by WTNH, Channel 8, and the website, Connpolitics.tv.

… The poll is first of Connecticut voters since John Edwards left the race, leaving a two-way contest between Clinton and Obama. It also is the first showing Obama edging ahead of Clinton. A Rasmussen poll earlier this week had them in a dead heat.

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro to endorse Barack Obama

Christopher Hass — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 21:41:08 EST

From the Hartford Courant:

U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, whose job before Congress was helping to elect Democratic women as the director of the influential feminist group EMILY's List, is endorsing Barack Obama.

… The endorsement by DeLauro, D-3rd District, is part of a flurry of last-minute moves that will culminate in Connecticut appearances by Clinton and Obama on Monday, the day before Democrats vote in Super Tuesday presidential primaries and caucuses here and in 21 other states.

Obama will be joined late Monday afternoon by Sen. Ted Kennedy at a rally in downtown Hartford at the XL Center, the new name of the Civic Center.

… With rallies and help from high-profile surrogates, both campaigns are focusing on a get-out-the-vote effort for Connecticut's earliest presidential primary. Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz said she is expecting a record turnout.

"Registrars of voters across the state have reported a surge in voter registration," Bysiewicz said. "Moving Connecticut's primary date from March to February gives candidates a real stake in Connecticut, and the lively, close race for the White House has energized voters."

Obama Rallies Tomorrow and Monday: Sign Up Now

Sam Graham-Felsen — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:35:16 EST

Tonight, Obama has another rally in St. Louis, Missouri -- we'll keep you updated.

And tomorrow, Obama continues to cross the country with his message of change and unity. Sign up for these events now...

Wilmington, Deleware...

Stand for Change Rally with Barack Obama
Rodney Square
Corner of 10th and Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19801

Sunday, February 3
Gates Open: 11:30 a.m.
Program Begins: 1:15 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public; however an RSVP is strongly encouraged.

Hartford, Connecticut...

Stand for Change Rally with Barack Obama
XL Center (formerly known as Hartford Civic Center)
One Civic Center Plaza
Hartford, CT 06103

Monday, February 4
Doors Open: 3:30 p.m.
Program Begins: 5:30 p.m.

For security reasons, do not bring bags. No signs or banners permitted.

Boston, Massachusetts...

Stand for Change Rally with Barack Obama
and Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Senator John Kerry, and Governor Deval Patrick

Seaport World Trade Center
Commonwealth Hall
200 Seaport Blvd.
Boston, MA 02210

Monday, February 4, 2008
Doors open: 8:00 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited and an RSVP is strongly encouraged.

Please note: RVSPs do not guarantee admission. Admission is on a first come, first-served basis.

For security reasons, do not bring bags. Please limit personal items. No signs or banners permitted.

AP: Rep Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) endorses Barack Obama

Sam Graham-Felsen — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:05:15 EST

The AP reports...

Connecticut Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro says fellow Democrat Barack Obama's bold policies, energy and optimism are just what the country needs and she's endorsing him for president.
The longtime New Haven area representative announced her support of the Illinois senator Saturday. She says she feels the power of Obama's messages of optimism and change, and she has faith the country can end the Iraq war, make health care affordable and improve the economy.
The endorsement comes before Connecticut's presidential primary on Tuesday, and a visit to the state by Obama on Monday. Obama's chief rival, New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, will be in Connecticut on Sunday.
Connecticut Democratic Congressmen John Larson and Christopher Murphy are also expected to endorse Obama. Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, an independent, is backing Republican Arizona Senator John McCain for president, while Democratic Senator Chris Dodd is remaining neutral.

Kit in Connecticut: "Obama embodies the values we need"

Sarah Ramey — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:00:40 EST

Meet Kit -- one of the hundreds of thousands of new Obama supporters to make a donation in the last month. As you might have read in today's New York Times, these are the small contributions that are, one by one, elevating this campaign to historically unprecedented fundraising heights.

Kit is a civil rights lawyer, much like a certain Senator.

She was born in Brooklyn where her parents moved after her father returned from the Second World War. Her parents were Rockefeller Republicans, but Kit has always been a Democrat. In fact, in 1968 she marched with her college classmates at the Pentagon, while her brother, a Marine, was called up from Camp LeJune to push demonstrators back.

Living in Connecticut, the stark disparities between poverty and wealth are all around. The suburbs are among the richest in America, and next to them are some of the country's poorest urban areas. As a civil rights lawyer, she represents many people without economic opportunities or adequate resources for their children.

As she says:

I see the personal cost of our country's social safety net being cut away. Well designed social services help families and children; they ultimately reduce the financial burden to taxpayers.

Obama, to me, represents an opportunity to elect a great leader, not just a President. Though Hillary Clinton is my age and gender and also a lawyer, Barack Obama's vision for our country is straightforward, honsest, and closer to my own vision, and this is why I will vote for him.

Obama is smart, pragmatic, not an ideologue, but he also possesses enough integrity not to settle for short-term political fixes.

Obama personifies the values we need to project to the rest of the world and he would be the first leader in a long time to be respected inside and outside our country. He will address our broken health insurance system. He will use our military rationally, as a force of necessity rather than a force of pre-emptive aggression. He is inspiring.

Kit lives in the crucial Feb 5th voting state of Connecticut, and knows that Barack Obama is going to win only if everyone goes the extra mile -- by donating, making phone calls, and spreading the word -- to push him over the top next Tuesday.

As one fundraiser said of Barack Obama's stunning fundraising numbers in today's Times: "[I]t is not because you have bundlers working, it is because you have an avalanche of small donors operating online. It's a revolution."

You can be a part of it.

Please donate today by clicking here.

The moment has come to act -- make a contribution and then sign up to help in your area this weekend -- there's no time to lose!

If you're in Connecticut, you can start right now by going to CT.BarackObama.com.

Endorsement: Yale Daily News

Christopher Hass — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:04:19 EST

From the Yale Daily News:

… Democrats across Connecticut and the nation should embrace Barack Obama as the next president of the United States on Tuesday.

… Forty-eight years ago, John F. Kennedy, whose daughter endorsed Obama this week as “a president like my father,” visited the New Haven Green in the hours before the election. Thousands came. Hope filled a depressed town.

Electing Barack Obama — another candidate who could surely fill the Green — would reclaim part of that era. But it would achieve more. An Obama presidency promises a reassertion of the natural, American optimism for which JFK stood, but also new reforms of which he could only have dreamt.

Let us not let this moment slip away.

Connecticut Congressmen John Larson and Chris Murphy Endorse Obama

Sam Graham-Felsen — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:15:43 EST

AP reports...

HARTFORD, Conn. --Connecticut Congressmen John Larson and Chris Murphy threw their support to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Thursday ahead of his planned visit to the state next week.
Larson, whose 1st District includes Hartford and the surrounding towns, is vice chairman of the House Democratic caucus. Murphy, whose 5th District covers the western part of the state, is a freshman House member.
The two plan to formally announce their endorsements at a Saturday rally. Obama's campaign said he will visit the state Monday, the day before Connecticut and 21 other states hold their Super Tuesday primaries.
Challenger Hillary Clinton, who is backed by Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Comptroller Nancy Wyman, held a double-digit lead in the state in a University of Connecticut poll last week, but polls now show Connecticut to be a battleground.
Clinton campaigned in Hartford on Monday, and Obama's wife, Michelle Obama, attended a round-table forum Wednesday in Stamford before attending an evening fundraiser.
Larson's endorsement was first reported by the Journal Inquirer of Manchester on its Web site.

Endorsement: Norwich Bulletin

Christopher Hass — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:39:00 EST

From the Norwich Bulletin:

The purpose of primaries is to select the candidate that best represents the goals of the political party for the general election. With that purpose in mind, we offer the following endorsements for Connecticut's presidential primary elections on Tuesday.

The Democratic Party primary is an historic moment for the country.

... Sen. Obama has built his candidacy on a message of hope, and elicits a sense of inspiration we as nation can do better. Although his lack of experience is a concern, we find his message refreshing and unifying. And we believe that a leader who can inspire would indeed be a change.

We endorse Sen. Obama in the Democratic primary.

Endorsement: The Day

Christopher Hass — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:42:13 EST

From The Day:

Sen. Obama … has said he would search for unity in his presidency, seeking the counsel of independents and even Republicans. He has responded when unfairly attacked, but we see no evidence that he has tried to distort the records of his foes in the primary. Sen. Obama is blessed with immense oratory skill, but he has not used it to demean political foes — Democrats or Republicans.

For too long, our national political debate has been focused on discrediting the opposition and seeking political leverage, rather than on pursuing collective solutions to the serious challenges the U.S. faces. Some may see Sen. Obama's desire for a change in the political discourse as naïve. We view it as inspiring.

… The Day urges Democratic voters to select Sen. Barack Obama in the Feb. 5 primary.

Be Heard: Write a Letter to the Editor

Christopher Hass — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 18:00:17 EST

Getting the word out about the movement for change growing behind Barack Obama requires reaching out to people that haven’t been involved in politics before.

One of the ways you can help us keep our movement growing is by writing a Letter to the Editor of your local paper. Your letters will play a crucial role in inspiring other supporters to get involved with our campaign to change America. It's one of the most powerful ways to make your voice heard in your community and share your hope with your neighbors.

You can use the link below to submit your letters online to the Hartford Courant:

Hartford Courant

Hope in Newhallville

Christopher Hass — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:29:56 EST

From the New Haven Independent:

Jahmal Henderson, who's 30, grew up in the neighborhood. Late Saturday morning, when the streets were still quiet, he returned to ring doorbells there in support Obama's presidential bid, peddling hope in a neighborhood that traditionally has found little reason to believe in the redemptive power of politics.

… A dozen UNITE HERE!-clad enthusiasts joined about 70 Obama volunteers in New Haven Saturday as they gathered for a morning meeting, then fanned out across the city with lists of registered Democrats in a coordinated canvassing push.

'Ads for Obama Will Appear on TV in Connecticut'

Christopher Hass — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:00:06 EST

From the New London Day:

The Barack Obama campaign strikes first blood in Connecticut, with a TV advertising campaign set to begin tomorrow on Hartford-area stations.

Obama is the first candidate of either party to begin buying advertising time on Connecticut television, campaign manager David Plouffe said today in a conference call with reporters.

… Staff for the Obama campaign are at work in the state, he said, and roughly 80 volunteers manned a phone banking operation for the candidate Thursday night.

…"We're going to reach a lot of voters over these next two weeks," Plouffe said.

Why I'm Supporting Barack Obama

Ned Lamont — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:45:42 EST

When I decided to run for Senate, I did so because I deeply believed that the citizens of Connecticut were yearning to see fundamental changes in our politics - changes that would make government work for them again.

Today, with our Presidential primary in Connecticut less than a month away, I am announcing my support of Barack Obama for President because I am convinced that his forward-looking, progressive vision provides the best chance to enact meaningful reforms in the way Washington works.

Sen. Obama has the tone and temperament to bring out the best in our people and our nation, and to bring new coalitions together in support of the progressive policies we all want to see enacted. His campaign has already reflected this, not only by bringing hundreds of thousands of new voters of all ages to the polls, but by inspiring so many who are new to politics to become activists as well.

Ned Lamont's diary

Making healthcare affordable for all Americans, rebuilding our aging infrastructure, and ending our dependence on foreign oil are all problems that require more than a tax credit here or an earmark there. Barack is the candidate best able to enact these big changes necessary to getting our country moving again.

We have seen that Sen. Obama has the wisdom and judgment to get the big decisions right - as he did on Iraq more than five years ago. And when President Obama steps out of Air Force One in countries around the world, he will represent a fresh start with friends and allies. He will end the war in Iraq, work for a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, and start investing in America again - and we will be safer and stronger for it.

We Democrats are fortunate to have had many strong candidates running for President. As you may know, I was proud to work hard for Chris Dodd during his campaign. I have the deepest respect and admiration for Sen. Dodd - especially for his powerful calls to defend our constitutional freedoms by restoring habeas corpus, closing Guantanamo, and living up to the spirit of the Geneva Conventions. I know that Sen. Obama, a former professor of Constitutional Law, has been and will continue to be Chris' ally in fighting to protect our Constitution.

As Barack often says on the campaign trail these days, "with the challenges we face at this moment, the real gamble in this election is playing the same Washington game with the same Washington players and expecting a different result."

It's time to change the game.

(Cross-posted at NedLamont.com.)

Video: What Inspires Val McCall

Sam Graham-Felsen — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 18:07:09 EDT

Val McCall is one of our most active volunteers in Connecticut. Recently, she helped coordinate forty volunteers to spend their Saturday sharing Barack's message outside of the UCC Convention in Hartford.

Val's son is active duty military and she has several other relatives who are in our armed services. For her, the war in Iraq is personal, and she believes Barack will bring the troops home.

if you're inspired, please give before 11:59 pm tonight.

Video: What Inspires Victor Jarvis

Sam Graham-Felsen — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 15:26:26 EDT

Victor Jarvis of West Harford, Connecticut has been an active volunteer and donor to the Obama campaign. He's taken part in the movement because he believes Barack will bring about sweeping health care reforms and lower costs for people like him, who have insurance but are drowning in high premium costs.

What's inspiring you today?

Video: What Inspires Steve Wilmarth

Sam Graham-Felsen — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:52:14 EDT

Steve Wilmarth of Westbrook, Connecticut was one of forty volunteers who tabled all day for Barack outside of the Hartford Civic Center on Saturday. He has given numerous times and says he does so because he believes Barack will restore America's image in the world.

"I think the thing that appeals to me about this campaign is that it is grassroots," says Steve. "It's people reaching out to people."

What was it that inspired you?