KS HQ Blog

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

Christopher Hass — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:02:21 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, Kansas

Christopher Hass — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:08:07 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 . . .

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.

Kansas: Polls Open 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Kevin Flynn — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:18:40 EST

In Kansas, polls are open today from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM. Anyone who is in line by 7:00 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 the identification requirements for registration are not met or, if the information you provide is not verified, you must provide identification the first time you vote in the county. You must show some form of ID with your name and address, such as a utility check, paycheck, Kansas driver’s license or non-driver’s license, bank statement, government check, or other government document.

What time will the polls be open on November 4?

7:00 am–7:00 pm

Most polling places are open 7am–7pm, but it varies from location to location. All polling places must be open for 12 hours on election day.

What about voters with disabilities?

Any registered voter may request an advance ballot. Voters have the right to vote in an accessible voting place and request assistance if needed. Each polling place is required to have an electronic voting machine equipped to allow voters with disabilities, including visually impaired voters, to vote in secret.

Monday: Last Day for Early Voting in Kansas

Kevin Flynn — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:49:36 EST

Monday, November 3 is the last day for early voting in Kansas. Kansas is one of 31 states that have early voting, and turnout across the country has been high so far.

On Sunday, Governor Sebelius described this election as "the most important election of our lifetime."

If you haven't voted yet, click here to find your early voting location. Vote early through Monday, November 3rd.

It's not too late to volunteer. Click here to make your mark on history.

Voices for Change: Eli in Fairway, Kansas

Molly Claflin — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:35:06 EST

After 10 years in the Air Force flying a C-130 Hurcules, Eli in Fairway, Kansas, got back from his fourth tour in Iraq and went right to work on the ground for Obama.

“When I got out of the Air Force, I was hungry get politically involved and to push ethics back into government. That’s a big thing Barack Obama was talking about.”

Eli, 33, and his new wife Erin had intended to take some time to travel after his Air Force service. But instead, they soon found themselves going full throttle organizing Kansas for Obama.

They first became precinct captains, then volunteer organizers, and eventually both were elected regional delegates. Eli was even elected as an alternate delegate to the National Convention. There goes his vacation time.

But for Eli, it’s all worth it.

It’s a lot of work, but I’ve gotten a lot out of it – the people I’ve met in my community and neighborhood have been amazing, and many have become good friends. It’s cool to get people out of their houses and off their front porches to actually go out and make a difference.

He first realized this election was different during the caucus:

The caucus here in February was during a blizzard. But in my location, we had more people show up in one caucus location than had showed up statewide in 2004. We re-registered over 1,000 Republicans to vote for Barack. There was a line a mile long to get in but no one complained. People don’t usually show up for Democratic functions in Kansas.

The enthusiasm he saw for Barack made Eli want to get even more involved.

I’ve never been politically involved in my life at all. I wanted to serve the military out of patriotism. But later I was disturbed that there was no justifiable reason for being in Iraq. I started questioning our politicians and I wanted answers. I think voters have a responsibility to demand that from our leaders.

The military decisions affect my family in a huge way. While dating my now-wife, I was deployed four times. The effect of the war on our military families is something we really need to consider. The role of the commander and chief is to set the tone and the mission for the military. I think Obama understands that and will provide strong leadership. There is no easy solution in Iraq, so good leadership is crucial. I like Obama’s stance on Iraq and the integrity he has shown on the issue.

Eli says that public service is something we should definitely look for in a commander and chief.

I respect McCain’s service, but Obama’s community service is important as well. One of the things I will try to teach my kids is to do some sort of service out of high school or college. It could be helping out in neighborhoods like Obama. The idea of giving two years of service to serve your community or that country is a great way to help people pay for college. I went right into the service out of college, and I really respect that Obama returned to serve his community.

Eli is also concerned about veterans benefits for those he served alongside.

We need to take care of the veterans and the families of wounded servicemen. It affects out county for generations. We need to learn from Vietnam and take care of the wounded veterans who need our help. Obama has some good ideas.

As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Obama has a strong record of working for veterans, including passing legislation to improving care and backing the 2008 G.I. Bill. Barack Obama and Joe Biden have a plan to take care of America's veterans. From expanding and strengthening VA care, to improving mental health and traumatic brian injury treatment, the Obama-Biden plan puts veterans first. Learn more about the Obama-Biden plan to help veterans.

If, like Eli, you’re hungry to get involved in the political process and bring strong leadership back to Washington, join our grassroots movement and volunteer to make a difference.

Voices for Change is a series featuring profiles of Barack Obama's grassroots supporters from across the nation. The people who make up this movement come from all different backgrounds, but they share a common goal of helping bring about fundamental change in Washington.

"I've learned that this election is about the heart of America"

Kevin Flynn — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 15:30:24 EST

Jonathan Curley is a banker. He voted for George H.W. Bush twice and George W. Bush once. Here's an excerpt from his story on canvassing for the Obama campaign in North Carolina, from the Christian Science Monitor:

There has been a lot of speculation that Barack Obama might win the election due to his better "ground game" and superior campaign organization.

I had the chance to view that organization up close this month when I canvassed for him. I'm not sure I learned much about his chances, but I learned a lot about myself and about this election.
Let me make it clear: I'm pretty conservative. I grew up in the suburbs. I voted for George H.W. Bush twice, and his son once. I was disappointed when Bill Clinton won, and disappointed he couldn't run again.
...So you can imagine my surprise when my wife suggested we spend a Saturday morning canvassing for Obama. I have never canvassed for any candidate. But I did, of course, what most middle-aged married men do: what I was told.
At the Obama headquarters, we stood in a group to receive our instructions. I wasn't the oldest, but close, and the youngest was maybe in high school. I watched a campaign organizer match up a young black man who looked to be college age with a white guy about my age to canvas together. It should not have been a big thing, but the beauty of the image did not escape me.

Instead of walking the tree-lined streets near our home, my wife and I were instructed to canvass a housing project. A middle-aged white couple with clipboards could not look more out of place in this predominantly black neighborhood.
We knocked on doors and voices from behind carefully locked doors shouted, "Who is it?"
"We're from the Obama campaign," we'd answer. And just like that doors opened and folks with wide smiles came out on the porch to talk.

Grandmothers kept one hand on their grandchildren and made sure they had all the information they needed for their son or daughter to vote for the first time.
...We knocked on every door we could find and checked off every name on our list. We did our job, but Obama may not have been the one who got the most out of the day's work.
I learned in just those three hours that this election is not about what we think of as the "big things."

... I've learned that this election is about the heart of America. It's about the young people who are losing hope and the old people who have been forgotten. It's about those who have worked all their lives and never fully realized the promise of America, but see that promise for their grandchildren in Barack Obama. The poor see a chance, when they often have few. I saw hope in the eyes and faces in those doorways.
My wife and I went out last weekend to knock on more doors. But this time, not because it was her idea. I don't know what it's going to do for the Obama campaign, but it's doing a lot for me.

It's not too late to volunteer. Click here to make a difference in the last few days.

Time to GOTV - Find a place to help make change

Kevin Flynn — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:39:25 EDT

We've reached the most important days of this entire campaign.

All of the voters we've registered, phone calls we've made, doors we've knocked on, friends and neighbors we spread the word to over the course of this campaign have brought us to where we are today: making Barack Obama very compettive in the race for the presidency of the United States.

Now we have to make sure all of that time and effort doesn't go to waste. It's time to once again take change into our own hands and get out the vote (GOTV).

As Barack explained in Nevada this morning:

Don’t believe for a second this election is over. Don’t think for a minute that power concedes. We have to work like our future depends on it in these last few days, because it does.

Join millions of Americans all over the country by volunteering in the last four days of this campaign. Everything we have worked for over the past 20 months will come down to what we do -- or don't do -- to help get out the vote.

Miss Laura from the DailyKos offered these words of wisdom from a veteran volunteer:

Before you hit your first door, or dial your first number...think about why you're doing it. Maybe it's your loved one in Iraq. Maybe it's wanting a Supreme Court that will preserve your right to control your own body. Maybe it's the healthcare you need and can't afford.
Take a piece of paper and a pen and write your reason down. Keep it in your pocket, and if you have a hard conversation or string of them, take that piece of paper out of your pocket and read it. Remind yourself that this is not an empty chore, it's a way to something really, really important. Carry that knowledge with you to each door or each dial.

So what can you do? Find a volunteer event near you and sign up to help between now and Election Day.

Kansas Call Team Continues Phone Challenge for GOTV

Kevin Flynn — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:53:39 EDT

In the final days of this historic campaign, the Kansas Call Team has set a new goal of making 1,800 calls into battleground states between now and election day to help get out the vote (GOTV).

If you haven't started making calls yet, it's not too late. It only takes a minute to find a phonebanking event near you or to get started calling from home. You'll be provided with lists of targeted voters and a call script.

We only have a few days left to contact millions of voters. We've been gearing up for this moment for a long time, and now it's here. What we do in these next few days will make the difference.

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.

Kansas Call Team - 218 Calls to Go

Kevin Flynn — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:31:08 EDT

Last week the Kansas Call Team set a goal of making 1,200 calls into Missouri by October 30th. As of today at 9:30 AM CDT, 982 calls have been logged, putting us nearly on course to meet, if not exced, our original target in the next few days.

But as Barack explained yesterday in Canton, Ohio:

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.

If you haven't started making calls yet, it's not too late. The Neighbor to Neighbor phonebanking tool allows anyone to get involved without any previous experience. It just takes a few minutes to set up and get started calling. You'll be provided with lists of voters and a call script. Watch this instructional video on how to use the make calls from home, or you can join an organized event and enjoy the company of other supporters.

You can also attend a Last Call for Change house party tomorrow, October 29. Invite everyone you know to watch Barack's 30-minute presentation and make important phone calls to voters in key battleground states. Click here for more details.

Wichita Gets Out the Early Vote

Kevin Flynn — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:41:54 EDT

Clarissa Unger sent in these pics and report from Wichita:

Today (in addition to our phone banks) we had an Early Vote Rally in Wichita. There were between 250-300 people at the rally, and afterwards we bused everyone from the rally over to the Election Office. The speakers at the rally included State Director Samantha Finke, Former U.S. Congressman Dan Glickman, U.S. House Candidate Donald Betts, U.S. Senate Candidate Jim Slattery, and Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

Early Voting continues in Kansas until November 3rd, and you can look-up your ealy voting location now.

ABC's KWCH-TV reported:

Voters know what they want and aren't waiting for election day make their voices heard. Advance voting numbers are setting records across the country, including right here in Kansas.
There is no hiding the enthusiasm. November 4th, 2008 is days away. It's the political parties' last push to get you to the polls.
The Sedgwick County election office says more than half of the 72,000 it mailed have come back.
"Reminding them that none of this counts unless people go out and vote," Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D) said at a rally Saturday.
The Democrats nudged voters at a rally in Riverside Park..and provided bus rides to the election office.
Sebelius says, "It's pretty right now and lets take advantage of it. Try to beat the crowds, go vote, make sure that people get their votes cast."

Kansas Call Team - Friday Night Progress Report

Kevin Flynn — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:22:37 EDT

The Kansas Call Team has set a goal of making 1,200 calls into Missouri this between October 23rd and the 30th, and tonight we have a progress report. As of this writing on October 24 at 10:30 PM CDT, 271 calls have been logged, putting us right on course to meet the target. Altogether over 20,600 calls have been made by this team of dedicated grassroots supporters from every corner of the state.

The most important thing to remember now is to not let-up. The past 20 months of hard work by millions of Americans comes down to these last few crucial days. The goal is 1,200 calls, and Kansas should strive to shatter that goal to show that this election is too important to leave to chance.

If you haven't started yet, it's not too late. The Neighbor to Neighbor phonebanking tool allows anyone to get involved without any previous experience. It just takes a few minutes to set up and get started calling. You'll be provided with lists of voters and a call script. Watch this instructional video on how to use the make calls from home, or you can join an organized event and enjoy the company of other supporters.

You can also Host a Last Call for Change house party next Wednesday, October 29. Invite everyone you know to watch Barack's 30-minute presentation and make important phone calls to voters in key battleground states. Click here for more details.

Wednesday: Join in a Conference Call with Campaign Staffers

Kevin Flynn — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 09:34:50 EDT

This Wednesday, October 22nd, at 7:30pm CDT, Kansas supporters are encouraged to join an official conference call with campaign staffers to learn more about Neighbor to Neighbor and how they can make a huge impact for Barack in this historic election.

In addition to learning the basics of Neighbor to Neighbor, you wil hear from special guests who will talk about our ground game in the battleground states you'll be calling into.

We'll be doing a conference call and a webinar (an online seminar), so you can follow along with the training on your own computer and ask questions. Don't worry though if you're not able to join the webinar - you can still listen in on the conference call!

Here are the details:

Phone Number: 718-709-0655
Access Code: 400-001-195

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

http://my.barackobama.com/webinar18

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.

Now or Never in Kansas

Kevin Flynn — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:11:22 EDT

Today, October 20th is the last day to register. This morning Barack sent out a message encouraging Kansans to make sure their friends, neighbors and family are registered today.

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

If they're not registered by today, they can't vote in this historic election.

This election is going to hinge on unprecedented voter turnout.

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

Barack

P.S. -- Please forward this message to your friends, family, and neighbors and make sure they register today.

Drive for Change: Highways of Hope

Kevin Flynn — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:30:05 EDT

Americans love to drive, and what better way to enjoy that pursuit than by Driving for Change to help elect Barack Obama President? In a number of key states, this election will be incredibly close. There is no better way to help make a difference than by traveling to a battleground stake where your work will have the biggest impact.

Austin K. and his girlfriend Liz L. decided that a road trip from their home in Chicago to New Mexico was in order to do their part. That's a long way to drive, but the good news is you can visit one of many states nearby to your home. Our Drive For Change sign-up form will provide you with a detailed list of where and when you're needed most.

We drove all the way from Chicago down to Albuquerque to volunteer full-time until election day for Barack. Liz is originally from Springfield, Missouri so we also stopped in to visit her parents to break up our trip. Between now and election day, Liz and I plan to help in every way we can to make sure every person in South Albuquerque gets to vote, wants to vote, and that every vote is properly counted.

In only a few days since we've arrived, we've made phone calls, walked neighborhoods, signed up volunteers, and helped open a brand new office in the South Valley. It is a ton of fun, and includes everything from persuading independent voters in their front yards under the hot Sunday sun to doing data entry late at night. This is my first ever trip to New Mexico, and only the second time for Liz.

The people here are all very warm and friendly, and so is the weather. The food is delicious, and chilies are everywhere you look. Housing and food are comparatively inexpensive, and the campaign has supporter housing available. If anyone is thinking about drying out and warming up from a bad Chicago fall season, this just might be the place.

Even if you can't hit the road, the online tools on My.BarackObama.com allow everyone to get involved in their communities or help out from the comfort of their own home .

Early Vote Begins

Kevin Flynn — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:44:25 EDT

Kansas, the time has come to have your say in this historic election. Early voting began today and will run until November 3rd. There is also still time to register to vote, but the October 20th deadline is coming up quickly.

John and Suzy R. and their fellow supporters have been active all year working to get Barack Obama elected, and they are ready to cast their vote for change in this election.

Visit VoteForChange.com for more info on early voting in your area, or to confirm your registration status.

Final Debate Watch Parties

Kevin Flynn — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:19:05 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.

Thanks,

Jon

Jon Carson
National Field Director
Obama for America

Kansas: Register before it's too late

Kevin Flynn — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:50:19 EDT

Earlier today, Barack sent out the following email to remind Kansans about the upcoming voter registration deadline:

The last day to register to vote in Kansas is next Monday, October 20th.

Are you registered? Are your friends and family?

If you only forward one email to your friends, family, and neighbors today -- make it this one.

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

Supporters like you have built the biggest grassroots movement in the history of American politics.

But in just 9 days, the time for bringing new voices into the political process will be over.

You need to be certain that you, your friends, and your family are registered by the deadline -- it's a small step that will have a huge impact on our Election Day results.

This election is too important to leave anything to chance. Make sure your voice is heard -- and forward this email to all the Kansans you know.

Thanks,

Barack

Kansas Voter Registration Deadline: October 20

Kevin Flynn — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:14:26 EDT

The deadline to register to vote is quickly approaching here in Kansas. October 20th is the last day for eligible Kansans to register to particpate in this historic presidential election. You can visit VoteForChange.com to make sure you're ready to go. Early voting in Kansas runs from October 15th through November 3rd.

With under four weeks to go, Kansans are fired up and ready to help Obama win this election on November 4th. With the many grassroots tools this website offers, there are many ways to help. Supporters can phonebank from home using Neighbor to Neighbor, sign up to travel to neighboring battleground states as part of the Drive For Change program, host fundraisers, and more.

Early Voting Expanded in Kansas

Kevin Flynn — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:59:31 EDT

This year, voter in Kansas will have the option of early voting starting October 15th. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius signed a bill into law last spring that expanded early voting in every county in Kansas. The deadline for registering in Kansas is October 20th.

The Morning Sun reported:

“We're expecting quite a bit higher turnout this November,” [said Crawford County Clerk Don Pyle]. Voters will be given several options if they decide to take advantage of the satellite voting. They'll be able to use the paperless, electronic voting machines, vote a paper ballot or request a regular mail-in advance ballot at each polling site.

In previous elections, the larger counties in Kansas had early voting:

“They've had a lot of success with it and have gotten a lot of their residents to vote in advance of the actual election date. This let's people vote without having to travel. Hopefully, they can vote at a location that's more convenient for the when they're out doing other business they have to do.”

You can learn more about Early Voting in Kansas at VoteForChange.com.

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

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:

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.

Organize for Change: Tim in Kansas

Bradley Portnoy — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:25:44 EDT

Tim wasn't involved in politics at all before Barack Obama came along, and if anything, he leaned Republican. "I have never been involved in politics in any way, shape, or form" before this campaign, he said.

Living in Kansas and South Dakota, Tim always imagined that was a Republican. "I was surprised to find myself supporting a Democrat. I'd always figured myself to be a Republican just because my family was." When a friend told him about Barack's message of change, though, Tim knew that he had to get involved.

I went to the first group parties that he had in June and was blessed in that I met some fantastic human beings who were really excited about getting to work. We've done voter registration booths, canvassing, and phonebanking. Hosting a watch party seemed like the next step.

Tim has gone all out in the planning of the event - it's going to be held in a local pizzeria, will feature several politicians running for local office, and is expecting over 100 people. How did Tim plan such a successful event? By using the tools made available to him on My.BarackObama.com, and by promoting his event via e-mail, Facebook, and other social networks.

He's also focused on making sure that all the people who attend his watch party get involved. He'll be collecting all their e-mail addresses, and encouraging them to join him on trips to other states to register voters and canvass. Tim has formed a group, Wichitans Working to Win (W3), in order to make sure that everyone stays connected.

W3 is a way for us to keep track of each other and e-mail each other and encourage other people to come and do the same. We've been meeting for quite some time without as much organization, but we're doing this in an attempt to attract more folks.

Tim doesn't expect there to be any shortage of people eager to help elect Barack - Wichita has been hit hard by outsourcing and the awarding of the military's new tanker aircraft contract to a European firm.

We are so bound by the aircraft industry...Boeing, Learjet, and Raytheon are all here. And when Boeing lost the contract for the new tankers, that was a huge loss for Wichita. That would have been a lot of jobs; now it's money out of people's pockets.

That's why Tim and his friends in W3 are organizing to bring about change. The convention proceedings are already underway, but it's not too late to find a party near you. You can also sign up to participate in one of the thousands of Working for Change events this weekend. So don't let this weekend pass you by without lending a hand to the campaign - find a way to participate now.

Road to Denver: Cori from Kansas

Bradley Portnoy — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:33:08 EDT

At the HQ blog, we get to talk to a lot of supporters. Most of them point to Barack's speech at the 2004 convention or their experience reading one of his books as the point at which they become supporters. Cori, on the other hand, admits that her support was in some ways accidental. She hadn't settled on a choice in the Democratic primary, but the Obama campaign showed up in Kansas before any other campaign, and that made the difference.

I hadn't decided between the primary candidates, but the Obama campaign was the first to show up in Kansas since the 1980s, so when they set up an office in my home town it was a big deal. They had a caucus training and I really wanted to learn how to caucus since it was my first year. So I went. Everyone there was so nice and excited about Barack that I couldn't help but sign up to volunteer.

Cori decided to start a chapter of Students for Barack Obama at her high school. She was skeptical: a chapter of the Young Democrats that she had tried to get going has failed for lack of interest. This time was different.

The first meeting had 40 people at it. People were really committed not just to hanging out, watching debates, and having fun, but to canvassing on the weekends and phonebanking on school nights.

On caucus night, Cori volunteered as a precinct captain, but her assigned location hit its 2,000 person capacity, and people had to be redirected to the overflow location. Cori rushed ahead to set up and make sure that everyone was organized, and at the end of the night, a staffer suggested that she try to become a national delegate.

Cori wanted to be a delegate so that she could represent all the young people who had worked so hard during the primary campaign. She sees important issues that are affecting people her age, and will be essential to secure America's future. Cori will be leaving straight from the convention to attend her freshman orientation at Babson College, and she's seen first hand this year the effect that our flagging economy has had on her friends as they've made choices about college.

People I'm close to aren't able to go to the schools that they've been accepted at because they just can't afford it. They can't get loans anymore because of the credit shortage. So I think what Barack is talking about, making it easier for kids to actually go to college, will help a lot of my friends. Some of them got into really great schools or even just state schools but are struggling to figure out if they can make the loans. A lot of their decisions were based solely on money this year, and that made me really sad.

Cori knows that Barack's education plan will make college more affordable for people across America. Under his American Opportunity Tax Credit, the first $4,000 of a college education will be completely free for most Americans. That's two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university.

Denver isn't the end of the road for Cori. She's going to be volunteering through the end of the campaign, working to make sure that the opportunity to go to the college of your dreams isn't just for the wealthy. You can help too - sign up to volunteer today, and join our grassroots campaign.

With one day to go until the start of the Democratic National Convention, excitement is building in Denver and across America. Soon, delegates from all fifty states will convene in the Mile High City to cast their ballots for Barack Obama and witness his acceptance of the Democratic Party's nomination for president of the United States.

Thursday, August 28th will be the biggest night of the campaign so far. Even if you can’t be in Denver, you can be a part of this historic convention by attending a Convention Watch Party in your area.

Road to Denver: University of Kansas Student Clarissa

Amanda Scott — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:33:36 EDT

Clarissa will represent her state, Kansas, but her generation this August at the convention in Denver.

Clarissa will be a senior at the University of Kansas this fall and played a critical role in the Kansas caucus. She was the State Coordinator of Kansas Students for Obama, and had the opportunity to work with student groups across the state.

After being appointed as State Coordinator, I was incredibly excited but had no idea what I was getting myself into.

Being State Coordinator meant overseeing 11 chapters at colleges, universities and high schools throughout the state. It meant eight or more hour workdays that start after class, after studying, and after the three other jobs I work to get myself through school. It meant organizing state-wide student events, leading city-wide canvass trainings, and sometimes knocking on over 100 doors a day. It also meant housing numerous staffers for over five months, helping to oversee 20 student interns in the Kansas Obama Headquarters, and spending my winter break in Iowa and New Hampshire.

But most importantly, it meant the most incredible learning experience of my life and one that I would not have given up for anything.

Our students traveled from Iowa to New Hampshire to Nevada. They made thousands of phone calls to each of the 50 states and worked countless hours here in Kansas to help solidify the 74-26 percent win that Senator Obama had in the caucuses in Kansas.

The most memorable moment of the primary for me was actually being at my caucus location on February 5, and seeing hundreds and hundreds of people continually file into the room. It was seeing people that I had called or people whose doors I had knocked on actually show up to caucus for Senator Obama. It was seeing my neighbors, professors, and friends all come together on a cold and snowy night to stand up for a cause and a Presidential candidate that each of us believe in and that give each of us hope.

Along with attending the National Convention in Denver, Clarissa will be attending the College Democrats of America Convention this August. She is excited about everyone coming together as one united party.

Obama Wins Kansas!

Sam Graham-Felsen — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:36:07 EST

CBS projects Obama wins Kansas!

Barack in El Dorado, Kansas, the hometown of his grandfather

Here's video of Barack in Kansas...

And here's CBS' projection...

'I’ve never seen this much energy'

Christopher Hass — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 22:10:54 EST

From the Kansas City Star:

As the clock ticks to Super Tuesday, the candidate heat is rising — more ads, more visits, more pleas for votes.

But hundreds of campaign workers, watching the same clock, will tell you they have been in a sweatbox for weeks.

"I hate it, but I have to keep the door closed in my office," said Caleb Weaver, Obama's Missouri spokesman. "We have so many people in here, stopping, looking to make phone calls, looking for yard signs and bumper stickers. It's unbelievable."

... Obama is depending more on volunteers new to the presidential wars.

"We think we do have a decided advantage over Senator Clinton in terms of the amount of voter contact we're doing," said Obama campaign manager David Plouffe.

Kansas Democrats will caucus on Super Tuesday, and Obama seems much more highly organized in the state. He appeared last week in El Dorado — picking up the endorsement of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius — and he has had staff in the state for months.

"You have to have people on the ground to generate numbers (in caucus states)," said Dan Watkins, a Kansas Obama organizer.

Plouffe said: "Our strategy on Feb. 5 is really about all 22 states."

New Ad Featuring Governor Sebelius

Sam Graham-Felsen — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:33:07 EST

Here's a new ad featuring Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius...

Video: Barack in El Dorado, Kansas

Sam Graham-Felsen — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:30:35 EST

Yesterday, Barack spoke in El Dorado, Kansas, the home town of his grandfather. Watch this video excerpt...

Video: Governor Kathleen Sebelius Endorses Barack Obama

Sam Graham-Felsen — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:00:38 EST

Governor Kathleen Sebelius endorsed Barack Obama in El Dorado, Kansas today. Watch the video...

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius Endorses Barack Obama in El Dorado, Kansas

Sam Graham-Felsen — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:34:54 EST

Senator Obama was endorsed by Governor Kathleen Sebelius today in El Dorado, Kansas. Governor Sebelius stated...

I am especially pleased to announce my enthusiastic endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States - because Barack Obama represents exactly the kind of change Kansans can believe in.

His candidacy offers the heartland values instilled by his mother and grandparents - all three native Kansans. Values of believing in something greater than ourselves, finding common sense solutions to problems, knowing that education is the doorway to opportunity, and working for the common good.

Senator Obama demonstrates a unique ability to reach across party lines - a quality we need now, right now, to unite our leaders and meet the serious challenges our country faces at home and abroad.

We are now in the process of choosing a Democratic nominee, yes; but, even more importantly to me, and to this country, we are choosing a leader for America.

And, on an especially personal note - I admire the way Senator Obama has inspired a younger generation of Americans, my own children included.

For months now, my two sons have implored me to make my admiration for Senator Obama public. To offer him my endorsement, and join this fight for change all of us can believe in. I am proud to do so today. Life at home will be easier for me after today, Barack, I assure you!

Barack spoke about how the how we can reclaim the American dream...

You know, we have been told for many years that we are becoming more divided as a nation.
We have been made to believe that differences of race and region; wealth and gender; party and religion have separated us into warring factions; into Red States and Blue states made up of individuals with opposing wants and needs; with conflicting hopes and dreams.
It is a vision of America that’s been exploited and encouraged by pundits and politicians who need this division to score points and win elections. But it is a vision of America that I am running for President to fundamentally reject – not because of a blind optimism I hold, but because of a story I’ve lived.
It’s a story that began here, in El Dorado, when a young man fell in love with a young woman who grew up down the road in Augusta. They came of age in the midst of the Depression, where he found odd jobs on small farms and oil rigs, always dodging the bank failures and foreclosures that were sweeping the nation.
They married just after war broke out in Europe, and he enlisted in Patton’s army after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. She gave birth to their daughter on the base at Fort Leavenworth, and worked on a bomber assembly line when he left for war.
In a time of great uncertainty and anxiety, my grandparents held on to a simple dream – that they could raise my mother in a land of boundless opportunity; that their generation’s struggle and sacrifice could give her the freedom to be what she wanted to be; to live how she wanted to live.
I am standing here today because that dream was realized – because my grandfather got the chance to go to school on the GI Bill, buy a house through the Federal Housing Authority, and move his family west – all the way to Hawaii – where my mother would go to college and one day fall in love with a young student from Kenya.
I am here because that dream made my parents’ love possible, even then; because it meant that after my father left, when my mother struggled as a single parent, and even turned to food stamps for a time, she was still able to send my sister and me to the best schools in the country.
And I’m here because years later, when I found my own love in a place far away called Chicago, she told me of a similar dream. Michelle grew up in a working-class family on the South Side during the 1960s. Her father had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at just thirty years old. And yet, every day of his life, even when he had to rely on a walker to get him there, Fraser Robinson went to work at the local water filtration plant while his wife stayed home with the children. And on that single salary, he was able to send Michelle and her brother to Princeton.
Our family’s story is one that spans miles and generations; races and realities. It’s the story of farmers and soldiers; city workers and single moms. It takes place in small towns and good schools; in Kansas and Kenya; on the shores of Hawaii and the streets of Chicago. It’s a varied and unlikely journey, but one that’s held together by the same simple dream.
And that is why it’s American.

Obama highlighted his plan to help revitalize our economy and strengthen middle class families...

This will not be easy, but America’s story tells me it’s possible. My story tells me it’s possible. What began here in Kansas all those years ago tells me it’s possible.
Because as we face another time of anxiety and uncertainty – a time where foreclosures sweep the nation and families struggle to stay afloat; where loved ones leave for war and parents wonder what kind of world their children will inherit – I believe that this nation can rally around the simple dream that my grandparents held on to even in the darkest of days.
It’s a dream that we can find a job with wages that support a family. That we can have health care that’s affordable for when we get sick. That we can retire with dignity and security. And that we can provide our children with education and opportunity – so that they can be what they want to be and live how they want to live. They are the common dreams that can finally unite a nation around a common purpose.
There are those who will continue to tell us we cannot do this. That we cannot come together. That the divisions in our politics run too deep. That we are offering the American people false hopes.
But here’s what I know.
I know that when I hear people say that we can’t come together to lift up working families who are struggling in this economy, I think back to the streets of Chicago, where I began my career as a community organizer twenty-five years ago. In the shadow of a closed steel mill, we brought white people and black people and Latinos together to provide job training to the jobless and after school programs for children. Block by block, we restored hope and opportunity to those neighborhoods, and I can believe we can do the same thing for the working families of America.

He continued...

Right now, there’s an economic stimulus package moving through Congress that will provide a boost to the economy and to working families. It’s similar to the one I proposed a few weeks ago, and would provide immediate tax relief for working families. I hope that when it’s final, it will also provide relief to seniors and extend unemployment insurance to those who’ve lost their jobs.
But we need to do even more to restore fairness and balance to our economy. Last night, we heard the President say that he wanted to make his tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans permanent – again. Well we can’t afford more George Bush tax cuts for those who don’t need them and weren’t even asking for them. It’s time to give tax relief to the middle-class families who need it right now.
When I am President, we’ll stop giving tax breaks to companies who ship our jobs overseas, and I’ll put a middle-class tax cut into the pockets of working families. This tax cut will be worth up to $1000 for a working family. We’ll provide struggling homeowners some relief by giving them a tax credit that would cover ten percent of a family’s mortgage interest payment every year. And we’re also going to give seniors a break by eliminating income taxes for any retiree making less than $50,000 a year, because every single American should be able to retire with dignity and respect.
That also means helping Americans save for retirement when they’re still working. When I’m President, employers will be required to enroll every worker in a direct deposit retirement account that places a small percentage of each paycheck into savings. You can keep this account even if you change jobs, and the federal government will match the savings for lower-income, working families.
It’s also time we had a President who won’t wait another ten years to raise the minimum wage. I will raise it to keep pace every year so that workers don't fall behind. I’ll institute a Credit Card Bill of Rights that will ban credit card companies from changing the agreement you signed up for, changing the interest rate on debt you’ve already incurred, or charging interest on late fees. Americans should pay what they owe, but they should also pay what’s fair, not just what’s profitable for some credit card company.
The same principle should apply to our bankruptcy laws. I opposed the credit card industry’s bankruptcy bill that made it harder for working families to climb out of debt, and when I’m President, I’ll make sure that CEOs can’t dump your pension with one hand while they collect a bonus with the other. That’s an outrage, and it’s time we had a President who knows it’s an outrage.
It’s also time we had a President who stopped talking about the outrage of 47 million uninsured Americans and started doing something about it. When I hear that we can’t come together and expand health care to the uninsured, I think back to how I was able to bring Democrats and Republicans together in Illinois to provide health insurance to 150,000 children and parents. And when I’m President, we’ll finally pass a universal health care plan that will make sure every single American can get the same kind of health care that members of Congress get for themselves. My plan does more to cut costs than any other plan in this race – up to $2500 for a typical family. And we won’t pass it twenty years from now, not ten years from now – we’ll pass health care by the end of my first term in office.

Click here for more on Obama's economic policy, and if you're from Kansas, check out KS.BarackObama.com to find out how you can get involved locally.

AP: Governor Kathleen Sebelius endorses Barack Obama

Sam Graham-Felsen — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:09:46 EST

Breaking from the AP...

Obama wins backing of Kansas governor
The Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan.—Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Tuesday endorsed Barack Obama for president, a Super Tuesday boost in a GOP-leaning state where Democrats hope to reclaim in the White House campaign.

"I think he represents the kind of leader that we need for the future of the country," Sebelius told The Associated Press. "I think he brings the hope and optimism that we really need to restore our place in the world, as well as to bring this country together and really tackle the challenges that we have."

Her announcement came hours ahead of Obama's rally in El Dorado, the hometown of his grandfather on his mother's side, and one week before the Kansas caucuses, which are part of the multistate contests Feb. 5. Sebelius said she would attend the event to "welcome him back to Kansas and join the campaign."

Democratic presidential candidates long had sought Sebelius' backing in a state that George W. Bush carried by large margins in the 2000 and 2004 elections. No Democratic nominee for the White House has won Kansas' electoral votes since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

But Sebelius, now in her second term, has shown an ability to triumph in GOP territory. She won re-election in 2006 with nearly 58 percent of the vote. In Kansas, less than 27 percent of the voters are registered Democrats.

She said her two "20-something" sons and 86-year-old father, former Ohio Gov. John Gilligan, already were backing Obama, and that the Illinois senator had the ability to bridge generations for the betterment of the country.

Sebelius has taken the governor's office by wooing moderate Republicans and independent voters. Obama hopes to do the same in Kansas. Democrats will have caucuses at 50 sites on Super Tuesday to split up 32 of their 41 delegates to the Democratic National Convention this summer in Denver. Sebelius is one of the remaining nine delegates who will represent the state.

For Obama, it was another in a string of high-profile endorsements in the past two days, following on those from Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.; his son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I.; and Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President Kennedy.

Sebelius has impressed Democrats nationally by election success, and party leaders let her give the Democratic response Monday night to Bush's State of the Union address.

She is coming off a year as head of the Democratic Governors Association, a group that Bill Clinton once led. The governor made Democrats' lists of potential vice presidential running mates for nominee John Kerry in 2004, and while there's less of the same talk this year, she is seen as possible Cabinet appointee in a Democratic administration.

Obama in Kansas Today

Sam Graham-Felsen — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:29:41 EST

Today, Senator Obama will deliver a speech in El Dorado, Kansas today. Senator Obama's grandparents lived their American Dream in small-town Kansas in the middle of the last century, and today he will talk about what it takes to reclaim that dream for another generation of Americans.

El Dorado, KS

OBAMA DELIVERS SPEECH ON RECLAIMING THE AMERICAN DREAM
Butler Community College Gymnasium
901 S Haverhill Rd
El Dorado, KS

Doors Open: 11:45 am

'Obama to visit Kansas Tuesday'

Christopher Hass — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:32:22 EST

From the Wichita Eagle:

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is bringing his message of change to the Wichita area on Tuesday, his campaign confirmed Sunday.

Obama will speak at Butler Community College's gym, 901 S.W. Haverhill Road in El Dorado. Doors open at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday. His scheduled appearance time has not been announced, according to Obama campaign officials.

El Dorado is the hometown of Obama's maternal grandfather, Stanley Dunham. Obama's mother was born at Fort Leavenworth

… The visit "is a visible sign of how important Kansas is to Obama," said Dan Watkins, senior adviser for the Obama campaign in Kansas, on Sunday. "He has roots here, and his campaign has been on the ground here for almost three months."

Be Heard: Write a Letter to the Editor

Christopher Hass — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:40:28 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 Kansas newspapers:

Wichita Eagle

Lawrence Journal World

'Obama fans "fired up" for caucus'

Christopher Hass — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 14:55:22 EST

From the Hutchinson News:

Wearing a dark blue "Obama for President" shirt, Gloria Warner was practicing her cheer Tuesday night.

She plans to belt out her candidate's name loud and clear at the Super Tuesday Democratic caucus Feb. 5 at Hutchinson's Memorial Hall.

… Wearing a red "Fired Up for Obama" shirt, Dena Gleason, a worker stationed in Wichita, warned the audience not to take the attitude that one vote won't make a difference at the caucus.

… Obama has 20 staff members in Kansas to organize in every corner of the state, said campaign worker Clark Stevens.

"Every night all over Kansas, volunteers are making calls, and every weekend they are knocking on doors across the state," Stevens said. "We're seeing a lot of excitement."

Local volunteers brave frigid temperatures to go door-to-door for Obama

Christopher Hass — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:45:41 EST

From the Lawrence Journal World:

Enthusiastic volunteers for presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., spread out Saturday across Lawrence to plead their case to voters. About 20 volunteers, including several Kansas University students, braved the freezing temperatures to walk door-to-door, handing out literature to convince Lawrencians to support Obama during the Feb. 5 Democratic caucus. It was part of a statewide canvass, with volunteers trying to boost support in towns and cities including Wichita and Hays. State Rep. Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, joined the volunteers in spreading Obama's message of "unity, optimism and hope."

'With caucuses, tight races, candidates court Kansas'

Christopher Hass — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:30:25 EST

From the Wichita Eagle:

Memories are vague about the last time Kansas mattered in presidential primary politics...So far, the Obama campaign is the busiest in the state. It was the earliest to get going here, setting up an office in Lawrence in mid-November. Dan Watkins, senior adviser for the campaign, said the national Obama campaign has sent people to Kansas from other primary states and Washington, D.C. Supporters are canvassing the state, training caucus workers and making thousands of phone calls every night, he said.

Kansas Day of Action!

Bobby Schmuck — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:57:01 EST

Despite 15 degree weather, Kansans joined together today to door-knock in cities and towns across the state. Volunteers were fired up, educating their neighbors on the upcoming Kansas Caucus and sharing why they believe Senator Barack Obama is the only candidate able to bring Americans together to achieve real change in Washington.

Canvassing took place in Kansas City, Hays, Wichita, Topeka, Great Bend, Atchison, Lawrence, Shawnee, and Manhattan, turning out scores of walkers and engaging Kansans of all political backgrounds.

In Lawrence, State Representative Paul Davis commended the crowd on their grassroots enthusiasm and encouraged the group to keep digging all the way to February 5th -- before heading out to knock a few doors himself. And in Wichita, State Senator Donald Betts thanked canvassers for showing their commitment to this important cause.

The Obama Campaign will be canvassing every weekend between now and February 5th, and we hope you can join us. To sign up for our canvasses next Saturday, January 26th, please rsvp to http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4r3d9

'KS Democratic lawmakers endorse Obama'

Christopher Hass — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:09:27 EST

From the Kansas City Star:

Ahead of Kansas' Feb. 5 Democratic Caucus, 13 state lawmakers, Democrats all, endorsed Sen. Barack Obama today - the same day the state capitol commemorated Martin Luther King Day.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka, one of the state's most powerful Democrats, compared the Illinois Senator's White House bid to that of Bobby Kennedy.

…"Just as Bobby Kennedy inspired millions of young people to participate in the political process, I believe Barack Obama is doing the same thing," Hensley said.

Obama "has the greatest potential to end the bitterness in Washington today," said Sen. Donald Betts, Wichita.

Kansas Democratic Leaders Endorse Obama

Bobby Schmuck — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:41:46 EST

Yesterday, Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley announced his endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for President during a press conference in the Rotunda of the State Capitol. Following the announcement, the Obama Campaign named Senator Hensley and former U.S. Senate candidate Jill Docking as co-chairs of the State Leadership Committee, the Obama Campaign's Kansas advisory committee.

"This election is not simply about choosing who will lead us, but where we wish to be led," Senator Hensley said today. "The moment is at hand for a new leader, one who is dedicated to real change, and restoring pride to our country. I believe that leader is Barack Obama."

Joining Senator Hensley in endorsing Senator Obama today were:

State Senator Donald Betts, D-Wichita

State Senator David Haley, D-Kansas City

State Senator Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence

State Representative Paul Davis, D-Lawrence

State Representative Cindy Neighbor, D-Shawnee

State Representative Candy Ruff, D-Leavenworth

State Representative Valdenia Winn, D-Kansas City

State Representative Harold Lane, D-Topeka

Kansas Democrats endorse Obama for president

Sam Graham-Felsen — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:44:33 EST

More endorsements in another February 5th voting state...

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka led a group of Democratic legislators today in endorsing U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois for president.
"My endorsement of Senator Barack Obama is a response to the voters whose voices at the grassroots level have spoken loud and clear as to whom they want their state’s legislators to support,” Hensley said.
A group of about 20 House and Senate members threw support to Obama during a news conference at the Statehouse in advance of the Feb. 5 presidential caucus for Kansas Democrats.
Senator David Haley, D-Kansas City, said the nation was ready for the kind of leadership demonstrated by Obama.
“Poll after poll, Kansans have shown they are ready for change," Haley said. "As president, Barack Obama will shift our country into a new gear and make the United States a respected leader on the world stage once again."
Obama, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York and former U.S. Sen. John Edwards are leading contenders for the party’s nomination.
In Kansas, Democrats will hold presidential caucuses in each Senate district across the state. The operation is part of the national process of nominating a Democrat for president, culminating with the Democratic National Convention during August.

If you're from Kansas, check out KS.BarackObama.com for information on how you can get involved locally, attend a caucus training, and help Barack win in your state!

Why Jill Docking is backing Obama

Christopher Hass — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:13:38 EST

From the Witchita Eagle:

Barack Obama’s campaign in Kansas got a boost last week when prominent Wichita Democrat Jill Docking announced her support. Docking told The Eagle editorial board that it was a “very difficult choice” between Obama and Hillary Clinton — both of them talented, historic candidates for change.

A turning point for her, though, came in a personal meeting she had with Obama last fall in Kansas City. She said Obama was “the most thoughtful politician I’ve ever met with.”

'Obama gains support in Kansas'

Christopher Hass — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:50:25 EST

From the Leavenworth Times:

Barack Obama’s presidential campaign spokesperson recently announced the formation of a 29-member State Leadership Committee in Kansas. State Rep. Candy Ruff, D-Leavenworth, is a member of the committee.

“Those of us who are elected officials want our constituents to know who we support,” Ruff said.

Ruff said her support for Obama began several years ago when he visited Kansas.

“He talked so movingly about his mother’s people coming from Kansas,” she said. “He really touched my heart.” State Rep. Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, and State Sen. Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, joined Ruff in signing a letter that explained their support of the Obama campaign, Ruff said.

Obama’s campaign is the only Democratic campaign to have a significant presence in Kansas. He has a campaign office in Lawrence.

... “Although the senator from Illinois represents Illinois, he still has strong Kansas roots,” Ruff said.

Barackstars

Bobby Schmuck — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:30:41 EST

Greetings Kansas Barackstars,

Across the nation, high school students are inspired by Barack Obama's challenge to show that young people care about our nation, and that we, too, can be a force for change.

So far we've answered the Senator's call with a flood of volunteer support at the Obama HQ in Lawrence. Phone banking, canvassing, caucus training, and coloring signs - Barackstars have taken a leadership role in the process to elected the next President of the United States.

Now, we are focused on gathering high school caucus-goers to help win Kansas on February 5th. Within a week of its creation, the Barackstars' Facebook group drew more than 250 local teenage supporters. Our first meeting drew nearly 30 students, the high school parking lots are filled with Obama bumper stickers, and hallways are, for the first time, buzzing with political conversations. We're pumped about our chance to make change now, not just on November 4th.

The next month is packed with events to keep growing our organization and spreading the excitement! If you want in on the action, please visit our facebook group at http://hs.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7158702875 or call the Obama office in Lawrence at 785.832.2008.

Fired Up.
Cori

Nothing's the matter with Kansas

Sam Graham-Felsen — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:45:01 EST

Barack Obama is rapidly gaining in the early states, and he's also showing signs of strength in many of the February 5th states.

Check this out -- Barack just won in a Kansas Democratic Party straw poll:

Topeka — U.S. Sen. Barack Obama won the Kansas Democratic Party email straw poll, party officials announced today.
Obama tallied 692 votes out of 1,904 votes cast for 36.3 percent. The poll was held this week and ended last night.

If you're from Kansas, check out Kansas.BarackObama.com to find out how you can help Barack win the caucus on February 5th!

Kansas for Obama office opens

Sam Graham-Felsen — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 13:34:02 EST

The Obama campaign on Tuesday, November 13th hosted an open house that celebrated the grand opening of the Lawrence campaign office in Kansas. The new campaign office will serve as the headquarters for the Obama campaign's state field operation. Well over 75 supporters came from Lawrence, Topeka, and the Kansas City area to christen the office space off of 9th and Iowa and activate themselves in the Obama grassroots effort.

The evening's fesitivities included a call to action by senior advisor Dan Watkins, a ringing endorsement by KU All-American and former NBA basketballer Bud Stallworth (who was recently profiled on the blog) and the introduction of caucus director Mitch Wallace. Guests signed up in droves to volunteer their time with caucus coordinating, phoning other supporters, and even participating in campaign canvassing trips to Iowa. At the end of the night, Obama staff were clear in their message to the crowd: They're here to organize and win the Kansas Caucus for Barack Obama--and along the way provide as much assistace to their neighbors in Iowa as possible.

The Kansas Caucus is an opportunity for the campaign to implement a combination of grassroots field and online organizing tactics that the campaign has successfully used all over the country. This includes training volunteers, bringing new voters into the process and building an organization from the ground up. In the next several weeks, the campaign will hold several specific caucus trainings in all 40 state senate districts to mobilize caucus goers and activate the grassroots support prevalent throughout all of Kansas.

To all of the Kansas for Obama out there, make sure to head to the Lawrence Caucus Training tonight at: Milton's Restaurant on 920 Massachusetts St Lawrence, KS 66044. The event kicks off at 7:30 p.m.

And check out Kansas for Obama at Kansas.BarackObama.com for news, updates, and information on how you can help Barack win in the Kansas.

This Jayhawk's for Obama

Sam Graham-Felsen — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:30:58 EDT

Bud Stallworth is a Kansas basketball legend. He once scored 50 points in a game against rival Missouri and ranks among the all-time leading scorers in University of Kansas hoop history. He's one of only three Jayhwaks ever to be named an Academic All-American and a basketball All-American. And in 2005, the University of Kansas cemented his place in Jayhawk lore, retiring his his #15, which now hangs from the rafters of the Allen Fieldhouse. Oh yeah, he also played for five years in the NBA.

Bud is a big deal in Lawrence, where he still lives and works, hosting a local radio show three days a week and continuing to serve in an advisory role to the Jayhawk basketball program. And he's using his fame to help spread the word about Obama and encourage Kansans to go out and caucus on February 5th.

Originally from the small town of Hartselle, Alabama, Stallworth attended segregeated schools as a boy. His parents, both educators, were engaged in the civil rights struggle, helping to register voters, and they raised Bud with a strong social consciousness.

"They also took the family on several trips to other parts of the country -- places like Cleveland and New York and Washington," recounts Bud. "We were asked by the local paper to write about what we saw in other parts of the country. We went places where we didn't have to sip from separate water fountains, or wait outside of a restuarant to get our food rather than sit inside with everyone else."

Bud's parents stressed education as a chief priority, and he grew up viewing basketball as a recreational activity, not an occupational path. His parents sent him to music camp at the University of Kansas after his junior year in high school, and he was discovered playing pickup basketball. The rest is history.

"I love my sport and love kids to participate in it, but the first priority has to be education," says Bud. "We have kids today whose only dreams of being successful are about playing playing ball. That's a jaded view of life. Atheletics shouldn't be viewed as the only avenue for success."

Bud strongly supports Obama and says he was drawn to Barack beacuse of the Senator's emphasis on increasing educational opportunities and expanding access to college.

He also says Barack inspires him the way Dr. Martin Luther King once did when he was a young man. "Growing up in the South, we lived in a separate society and when Dr. King started preaching about civil rights, he spoke as a man with a vision that one day we would all be equal," says Bud. "He spoke to me and made me feel that if I worked hard, the color of my skin really didn’t have to do with success. Senator Obama has that vision too. What Obama is doing is for me... I feel like it's coming full circle."

If you're a Kansan for Obama, join Bud at our Kansas Caucus Convention this Saturday in Lawrence. And make sure to check out Kansas.BarackObama.com for updated news and information about how you can get involved and make a difference in this critical February 5th state.

Missouri / Kansas SEIU endorse Barack

Sam Graham-Felsen — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:01:00 EDT

More great endorsement news: the Missouri / Kansas State Council of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has voted unanimously to endorse Senator Barack Obama for President. The Council represents more than 15,000 working families in Missouri and Kansas.

Sherwin Carroll, President of the SEIU Missouri / Kansas State Council, cited Obama’s commitment to expanding access to affordable healthcare and protecting workers’ rights as two of the biggest reasons for the union’s endorsement.

In announcing the Council’s endorsement, Carroll called Obama, “a real fighter for working families with a proven track record for getting things done.” Carroll also pointed out Senator Obama’s strong stance with healthcare workers, janitors, and public workers facing unfair treatment and low wages on the job.”

Kristina in Kansas: "I just made my first donation ever"

Sam Graham-Felsen — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:33:52 EDT

I just got off the phone with Kristina, a mother of two from Leawood, Kansas, who gave five dollars to the movement this morning.

"I just finished reading The Audacity of Hope and returned it to the library yesterday," says Kristina. "Then I got an email this morning about how Obama's not taking money from the lobbyist bigwigs, and that was something that appealed to me. So I made up my mind about who to support and I just made my first donation ever."

Kristina readily admits that she doesn't know about the minutiae of where every candidate stands on the issues -- and while she does want to see a change in our policies (particularly on the war), for her, what's more important is seeing a change in our politics.

"I might not know every detail to the nth degree, but I do know that we have to participate and that's what Obama's campaign is about, regular people getting involved. Throughout this country's history, people died for our right to participate."

Join Kristina and help close the gap. Donate today.