KY 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, Kentucky

Christopher Hass — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:09:21 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 . . .

Kentucky: You can still make calls to Western States to GOTV

Kevin Flynn — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:45:02 EST

Polls in Kentucky are closed now, but there's one last thing you can do to help this historic campaign: call states where the polls are still open to help Get Out The Vote. Even if you've never made calls before, this is your chance to participate -- a chance to be part of an historic grassroots field operation.

The map below shows the battleground states where polls are still open and where we still need help reaching our voters. Just click select the state and you will be given a list of voters to call and a brief script. In 2004, the election was decided by approximately 9 votes per precinct in Ohio. Even at this late hour, your help can still make a difference.

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.

Kentucky: Polls Open 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Kevin Flynn — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:01:30 EST

In Kentucky, polls are open today from 6:00 AM until 6:00 PM local time. Anyone who is in line by 6:00 PM will be allowed to vote. You can find your polling location now.

Do I need to bring ID with me when I go vote?

All voters must produce identification or be known by a precinct officer prior to voting. KRS117.227 and 31 KAR 4:010 provide the types of ID that can be used by the voter such as: personal acquaintance of precinct officer, driver’s license, Social Security card, credit card, or another form of ID containing both picture and signature.

What time will the polls be open on November 4?

6:00 am–6:00 pm local time

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).

"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.

Kentucky Call Team continues the Phone Bank Challenge

Kevin Flynn — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:54:46 EDT

In the final days of this historic campaign, the Kentucky Call Team has set a new goal of making 3,500 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.

Kentucky Call Team: It's Not Too Late To Help

Kevin Flynn — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:20:03 EDT

The clock is running out on this historic presidential election, and the Kentucky Call Team has set a goal of making 4,000 phone calls to battlegrounds states by November 2nd. These calls are a crucial part of our field plan, and they free up organizers and volunteers on the ground in key battelground states to talk to voters face-to-face.

It only takes a few minutes to get start making calls from home, or you can find an organized phonebanking event near you.

Click here for an informational video that walks you through the Neighbor to Neighbor phonebanking tool.

Belicia, Alena and Ben, Morehead University students for Obama have been busy all year working for change, and are ready for the challenge to do their part during the homestretch.

These Chattanooga, Tennessee supporters are phoning North Carolina voters and are the perfect example of one state helping a neighboring state:

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

Sunday: Join in a Conference Call with Campaign Staffers

Kevin Flynn — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 11:25:10 EDT

This Sunday, October 26th, at 6:30pm CDT, Kentucky 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 talking 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: 144-389-508

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

http://my.barackobama.com/webinar24

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.

Wednesday: Join in a Conference Call with Campaign Staffers

Kevin Flynn — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:46:30 EDT

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

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

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

Here are the details:

Phone Number: 718-709-0659

Access Code: 354-154-587

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

http://my.barackobama.com/webinar19

I hope you can join us!

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 .

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

Tuesday: Join in a Conference Call with Campaign Staffers

Kevin Flynn — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:25:41 EDT

This Tuesday, October 14th, at 6:30pm CDT, Kentucky 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.

Phone Number: 718-709-0655

Access Code: 404-081-228

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

http://my.barackobama.com/webinar11

I hope you can join us!

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...

Voices for Change: Edna in Owensboro, Kentucky

Molly Claflin — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:50:55 EDT

Edna in Owensboro, Kentucky doesn’t have to go far to drum up votes for Barack. She’s already registered ten new voters for Obama in her own family – spanning three generations!

A retired librarian, Edna, 65, is married with three children and six grandchildren – all part of one happy Obama family.

One of my sons started talking to me about Barack Obama. I read more about him, read his book, and realized maybe he was the candidate for me. I grew up with the idealism of the Kennedys and the changes they stood for, and those are the things I admired most about Obama too.

Edna was also inspired by her grandchildren’s interest in Obama.

I had previously noticed an apathy in my grandchildren for political issues. But then Barack Obama reached the hearts and minds of three generations in my family.

She’s thrilled that all the generations in her family are supporting the same candidate.

I love it! And it’s never happened before.

Last Thanksgiving, after dinner I took all my kids and the grandkids and we went to the movies to see Bobby. The kids had tears in their eyes afterward and asked me, ‘Do you ever wonder how different things would be if he hadn’t died?’ I said yes. And I felt so much pride that we were all united in that feeling. And now we’re all united behind Obama and a similar message of hope.

Edna’s grandson Scott, 21, said...

It feels great knowing we can have everyone in our family -- regardless of age -- working together to better the world for generations to come.

Edna has always voted, but this is the first campaign she has ever volunteered for. She’s done phone banking, neighborhood canvassing, and a number of events with her local Obama office.

This is the first campaign I’ve worked on. This campaign is different because I actually think one person can make a change. People are given hope that change is possible. I believe Barack Obama truly believes that, and he is only candidate who not only says that he can change things, but he will. We need someone who has been raised in a less than middle class upbringing – that’s what the Democratic Party stands for -- helping people who have less than we do.

Edna is most concerned about the economy and the cost of college.

I have three grandkids in college – and more that will be going -- I’m worried about how they’re going to pay for it. Plus, I realize these kids are going to need to get jobs after college, and with the economy in this state, getting jobs is going to be tough for them.

Barack Obama has a plan to make college more affordable. Obama has proposed a $4,000 tax credit to help families offset the cost of tuition. In exchange, students would be required to do 100 hours of community service -- both furthering their education, and helping their communities at the same time.

Whatever volunteer work Edna gets done before the election, she knows she’s already bringing ten voters to the polls with her as her kids and grandkids have committed to voting for Obama. And that’s certainly something to be proud of.

Join Edna’s family and our grassroots network of small donors across America by making your own contribution.

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.

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.

KENTUCKY: INDIANA NEEDS YOUR HELP

Indiana from Indianapolis, IN — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:05:09 EDT

Want to make a difference in this election?

Want to be a part of History?

Then come to Indiana and help us turn the Hoosier state blue for the first time in 44 years. The race here in Indiana is close. It’s going to take a lot of hard work to deliver our 11 electoral votes for Barack Obama on November 4th, but with your help, we can do just that and help put Barack Obama in the White House.

We are neighbors. We share common values. We are facing challenges because of the failed Bush economic policies and we all share a common desire for change.

Go to http://in.barackobama.com/cometoindiana to signup

OR

Can’t make the trip but want to help? Make calls from home at

my.barackobama.com and select the call Indiana campaign on your dashboard

Voices for Change: Patricia in Kentucky

Molly Claflin — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:59:55 EDT

Born and raised in Newport, Kentucky (where she still lives today), Patricia, 64, first registered to vote when she was eighteen. She was inspired by the words of John F. Kennedy and rushed to register to vote so she could place a vote for him in the 1960 election. “His words inspired me to vote, and I’ve been voting ever since,” she said.

Forty-eight years later, Patricia’s 18-year-old granddaughter felt the same way about Barack Obama.

Patricia raised her granddaughter Janeesha from the time Janeesha was 3-years-old and recently took her to register to vote.

It’s something special about Obama. I was 18, and now she is 18. There was Kennedy, and now there’s Obama! There’s a special connection for us.

Patricia explains what inspires her about Obama:

He’s got that "go get ‘em,” He does! He is determined to make this work and make this world a better place. I started reading about him and hearing things about him long ago. He’s got what it takes. He’s got that charisma that says, "Come on, you’re going to help me!" I talk about him to everybody.

The issues most important to Patricia right now are gas prices and the price of food. “I’m not a particularly thrifty person, but they’ve got me watching pennies right now,” she says.

She’s also concerned about the environment. She says:

I buy bottled water, and I noticed one day that I had all these bottles in my trash cans. And I thought – where do all these bottles go? The answer is into the earth. So I’m thinking I will stop drinking bottled water.

A mother of four – including one son who has had a 23-year Navy career – Patricia has always made time for her community. Even while working full time, she belongs to Eastern Star and the American Legion Auxiliary and currently spends her free time teaching a local woman learn to read.

But now she’s taking some extra time to volunteer for Obama too. She and Janeesha hope to put in some time together to get Obama elected.

Obama inspires me – just like Kennedy did. And that tickles me.

Join Patricia and our millions of volunteers across the country and learn what you can do to get more involved in the campaign.

Voices for Change: Carey in Richmond, Kentucky

Molly Claflin — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:48:40 EDT

As a single mom with two kids, Carey, from Richmond, Kentucky, is feeling the economic downturn in a big way. A university accounting clerk, Carey, 35, is busy taking care of her daughter Kennedy and five-year-old son Gimel, who has autism.

My work takes a huge toll on my family life. Gimel can’t speak, so he goes to speech therapy, and he goes to occupational therapy to learn how to focus. He was getting a lot of therapy in school, but in the summer that responsibility falls on me. Without my family I don’t know what I would do. You’re only allowed so much occupational and speech therapy under Medicaid. I made less than $30,000 a year and have to pay for the rest of his therapy out of pocket.

That’s one of the reasons I do everything I can in my community to let everybody know how Obama stands on healthcare. He represents change, but change begins at home, so we each have to do our part.

Healthcare is an important issue to Carey, who also helps care for her mother who had a stroke a few years ago.

I hope that every single American – if they choose – should be able to afford health insurance despite what illness they might have. If someone comes to a hospital, they need to be able to get help; you need to be able to take a kid to the emergency room and not have to choose between a sick kid and rent.

Carey is also concerned about education. She’s had to struggle to get the resources Gimel needs in school.

Trying to get special needs kids the tools they need to achieve is very hard. The school system is so short funded and short on teachers, and getting the teachers the training they need to work with these kids is even more difficult. We need to invest better in our schools.

And my daughter will be attending college in four years, and I can’t afford that. We need to make college more affordable for low-income children who aim towards college.

She hopes Barack will help bring much needed change to the education system.

Despite caring for her kids and working full time, Carey has found time to do what she can for the campaign.

I canvassed, I donated, I made phone calls. I held a Unite for Change meeting, and a Platform Meeting too. I’m trying to do all I can. I’ve never been politically involved before.

I’m involved in this election because I can see that Barack can identify with my life. He’s had debt, he’s struggled just like the rest of us. He’s gone through it and succeeded. So I see him as a great role model for my children.

Join Carey and millions of Obama supporters across the nation by contributing to the campaign -- and bring change to your community.

Voices for Change: Amanda in Kentucky

Bradley Portnoy — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:01:13 EDT

Many of Barack's supporters come from various places on the political spectrum. Democrats, Independents, and even Republicans are declaring their support for Barack and working hard to get him elected.

Amanda is a 30-year-old real estate agent and mother from Kentucky. Growing up, her family always supported Republicans.

I'm a registered Republican, but I really liked [Barack] after the Democratic Convention the last time around. I really appreciated his viewpoint.

For Amanda, the handling of Hurricane Katrina left her looking to vote for change in 2008.

...The final straw came during Hurricane Katrina. I felt that the response was lacking. If it had been anyone else in the world or anywhere else in the world...then the response would have been a little bit quicker. We can do better.

Amanda has been working as hard as she can to get Barack elected. She's been talking to friends and family about Barack and the positive change that he'll bring to America.

I hope that by having an Obama sticker on my car and talking to everyone I know about what a different kind of politician Senator Obama is and why I believe in him, I can make sure that he's elected this fall.

Amanda is one of millions of supporters from across the country. Join her and others in supporting our campaign for change by making a grassroots donation today!

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 walks of life, but they share a common goal: to help bring about fundamental change in Washington.

Voices for Change: Elizabeth from Kentucky

Bradley Portnoy — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:26:40 EDT

Elizabeth, who has just moved to Kentucky from South Florida, has faced challenges recently. After the death of her husband, she broke her back in a car accident, which caused her to lose her job and health insurance. She was turned down for Social Security disability payments and, as a consequence, lost her house. She moved in with her mother, only to see that house destroyed by Hurricane Wilma. With two college degrees, Elizabeth found herself waiting tables to survive. Through sheer determination, she's managed to overcome these challenges, now working both a full and part time job in addition to going to graduate school.

I didn't do anything wrong, and yet life happened. It doesn't matter what happens to you. It's how you choose to deal with it. I'm still a little bitter in that I was legitimately injured in an auto accident that was not my fault, and I lost my job, lost my healthcare, and started going through my retirement savings while I was waiting for disability payments. They said they reject everyone the first three times... I lost my home and my retirement savings, and then Hurricane Wilma hit 30 days after Katrina on Halloween. Parts of Broward County, Florida were destroyed just like New Orleans. ... I was in a home filled with water and with no roof for 21 days, and no one came to help. ... I feel like the government has let me down.

Elizabeth's two brothers and her boyfriend served in the military, and she currently lives near Fort Campbell.

I've gone to all these farewell dinners for the boys at Fort Campbell. They come home, they do a semester of college, and they go right back to Iraq. They go back three times. My boyfriend just came back from Iraq. He went over there so gung ho, and he didn't come back the same way. He's been in the military since he was 18 and has always been a staunch Republican. He came back and said, 'We need to elect Barack Obama. We can't continue like this.'

Having grown up in a middle class town, Elizabeth is concerned that there really is no middle class in America anymore.

I grew up with a real belief in America, and I feel like in the last 8 years it has been eroded with this horrible corruption at the highest levels. 90% of us are really hurting today...I honestly believe that Barack can change things. I know he can't change it overnight, but I have hope for America again.

Even working the equivalent of two and a half jobs and having to get by on less than $30,000 a year, she's contributed time and money to the campaign.

I feel like that money's going to go to the right place instead of just lining some lobbyist's pocket.

You can join Elizabeth and our 1.7 million American strong network of donors - make a contribution today. Every cent counts.

Senator Obama's Remarks from Des Moines, Iowa

Sam Graham-Felsen — Tue, 20 May 2008 22:33:37 EDT

Senator Obama delivered these remarks (as prepared) from Des Moines, Iowa...

You know, there is a spirit that brought us here tonight – a spirit of change, and hope, and possibility. And there are few people in this country who embody that spirit more than our friend and our champion, Senator Edward Kennedy. He has spent his life in service to this country not for the sake of glory or recognition, but because he cares – deeply, in his gut – about the causes of justice, and equality, and opportunity. So many of us here have benefited in some way or another because of the battles he’s waged, and some of us are here because of them.
We know he is not well right now, but we also know that he’s a fighter. And as he takes on this fight, let us lift his spirits tonight by letting Ted Kennedy know that we are thinking of him, that we are praying for him, that we are standing with him, and that we will be fighting with him every step of the way.
Fifteen months ago, in the depths of winter, it was in this great state where we took the first steps of an unlikely journey to change America.
The skeptics predicted we wouldn’t get very far. The cynics dismissed us as a lot of hype and a little too much hope. And by the fall, the pundits in Washington had all but counted us out.
But the people of Iowa had a different idea.
From the very beginning, you knew that this journey wasn’t about me or any of the other candidates in this race. It’s about whether this country – at this defining moment – will continue down the same road that has failed us for so long, or whether we will seize this opportunity to take a different path – to forge a different future for the country we love.
That is the question that sent thousands upon thousands of you to high school gyms and VFW halls; to backyards and front porches; to steak fries and JJ dinners, where you spoke about what that future would look like.
You spoke of an America where working families don’t have to file for bankruptcy just because a child gets sick; where they don’t lose their home because some predatory lender tricks them out of it; where they don’t have to sit on the sidelines of the global economy because they couldn’t afford the cost of a college education. You spoke of an America where our parents and grandparents don’t spend their retirement in poverty because some CEO dumped their pension – an America where we don’t just value wealth, but the work and the workers who create it.
You spoke of an America where we don’t send our sons and daughters on tour after tour of duty to a war that has cost us thousands of lives and billions of dollars but has not made us safer. You spoke of an America where we match the might of our military with the strength of our diplomacy and the power of our ideals – a nation that is still the beacon of all that is good and all that is possible for humankind.
You spoke of a future where the politics we have in Washington finally reflect the values we hold as Americans – the values you live by here in Iowa: common sense and honesty; generosity and compassion; decency and responsibility. These values don’t belong to one class or one region or even one party – they are the values that bind us together as one country.
continue reading . . .

Video: Join Michelle Obama and Make GOTV Calls Tonight

Kate Albright-Hanna — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:44:07 EDT

Michelle Obama phonebanked with volunteers to get out the vote in Louisville, Kentucky yesterday. Here's a video of one her calls:

UPDATED: Polls have now closed in Kentucky, but you can still make calls to Oregon until 8:00 PM PDT tonight.

Get Out the Vote Tomorrow: North & South Campbell Counties, Radcliff, Georgetown

Christopher Hass — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:23:50 EDT

Tomorrow is game day. The Obama offices needs volunteers for a massive door to door contact effort, to ensure that every Obama supporter makes it to the polls tomorrow. Click on the times below to find out more information:

North Campbell County 9:00 am | 12:30 pm | 4:30 pm
South Campbell County 9:00 am | 12:30 pm | 4:30 pm
Radcliff 12:00 pm
Georgetown 9:00 am | 12:30 pm | 4:00 pm

Let's get out the vote!

A Family for Barack

HQ Update — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:45:32 EDT

Their backgrounds are diverse: most are Catholic, but not all; some have not gone to college, while some have Masters degrees; they range in age from eight to 65; and they live all across the country.

But what this family has in common is its support for Barack Obama. So when the family got together in Paducah for Arlene's in-laws' 70th anniversary, it was only natural that they spent their time making calls for Barack.

Arlene (behind couch, center) lives in Murray, Kentucky, the county seat of Calloway County in Western Kentucky. She was born in Michigan, but lives in Kentucky and will vote for Barack tomorrow.

Jesus and Tiffany (on couch, left and middle) live in Illinois, and took their daughters Amarantha and Samantha with them canvassing in Northwest Indiana before the Indiana primary. Jo Ann (on couch, right) and her son Ben support Barack from Bradenton, Florida. Kristi and Mike (behind couch, left) support and vote for Obama in Indiana, while another Mike (behind couch, right) does so from Michigan. And Katy and John support Barack from Nampa, Idaho.

Arlene explains: "Barack Obama is not just the best candidate for Mid-Americans but for All Americans." And volunteering their time to convince their neighbors of this has brought the family even closer together.

This family has come together to support Barack, and they're not alone. Across the country, families, friends, and perfect strangers have come together, in person and online, to work together for change.

There's still time tonight to make calls to Kentucky and Oregon before tomorrow's primaries. The Kentucky calling campaign runs until 9:00 PM EDT, and the Oregon calling campaign runs until 9:00 PM PDT.

Kentucky Volunteer: Renee in Louisville

HQ Update — Sat, 17 May 2008 15:26:55 EDT

What makes the Obama campaign so special are the immeasurable contributions of its thousands of volunteers all across America. At the Louisville, Kentucky office, Renee is a perfect example.

“I started out slowly: buying a t-shirt, making my first donation ever to a political campaign, calling voters from the early primary states,” Renee says. “However, I wasn't satisfied. I was consumed by the ‘fierce urgency of now,’ and realized I needed to do everything within my circle of influence to enable Barack Obama to become our next president. I knew I couldn't live with the regrets of ‘what if I had done more, talked with just one more person.’”

Since then, Renee has been unstoppable. Renee holds weekly volunteer training meetings at the Derby City Espresso Coffee and Beer Bar, coordinates volunteers for Derby voter registration and visibility projects, and works the field herself to register voters. Her work has been invaluable in getting volunteers prepared to help the campaign and getting voters to the polls.

Renee’s work online has also been extremely important for the campaign. Under her direction, the online Louisville for Obama group has grown from 250 members to nearly 550 members. She emails each person individually when they join the group, thanking them for joining the group and inviting them to participate in local volunteer activities.

The amount that Renee has given to the campaign is matched only by the satisfaction she’s gained from her volunteer efforts. “I've met the most incredible people, each with their own special talents and gifts, and each asking how they can make a difference,” Renee says. “They speak of how to assist the Obama campaign, but also of how we can give back to our community. I've heard the most amazing discussions of how we need to work together, the realities of race in this country, the sense of hope for a better future for our children.”

Right now, volunteers like Renee are working all across Kentucky to Get Out the Vote for Tuesday's primary. If you live Kentucky, you can sign up now to help, and no matter where you are you can help by making phone calls to undecided Kentucky voters.

Postcards for Votes

Amy Hamblin — Sat, 17 May 2008 14:33:58 EDT

TaLisa, of Columbus, OH, delivered 15,000 handwritten postcards to a Kentucky campaign office last night to be distributed to undecided female voters in advance of their Tuesday primary. She hopes the postcards with messages from female supporters across the country will be the extra touch that sways voters.

Since the March 4th Ohio primary, the Columbus-based postcard operation has gathered more than 100,000 postcards written by supporters and delivered them to voters in upcoming primary states. TaLisa and her sister, TaKeysha, started Postcards for Votes to further personalize Barack's message of change.

TaLisa recalls being particularly moved by one postcard from a female soldier stationed in Iraq, whose simple closing words have stuck with her: "Please bring us home." The soldier even sent a money order for the postage that she couldn't purchase in Iraq.

The program asks women to buy the postcards and stamps and write a short message about why they support Barack. They leave the return and mailing address areas blank, send them to the Columbus office where a crew of volunteers forwards the postcards to undecided voters.

Jessica, from Laurel, MD, wrote postcards from her hospital bed after having a baby with this message:

As a new mom, I took my state's primary more seriously than ever this year. I wanted to vote for a candidate who could not only help working families through the tough times we're facing, but also strengthen our nation, morally and financially, to ensure that our children won't face -- or foot the bill for -- these same tough times. That is why I voted for Barack Obama. His economic policies are sound and his commitment to working families is unmatched among the remaining candidates. From my growing family to yours, I wish you the best and hope you'll join me in supporting Senator Obama.

Lisa in Fairfax, VA, finds postcard writing an easy activity while watching her two young kids and has sponsored two postcard writing parties at her local library while her kids were at preschool. On Wednesday, she and several other supporters wrote 300 postcards and are itching to do more after they give their hands some rest.

If you're a Woman for Obama, join Postcards for Votes and share your message of support with undecided voters. Don't forget the Kentucky primary is only three days away. Make calls to Kentucky women now.

Lexington Herald-Leader: "Democrats should choose Obama"

Christopher Hass — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:33:41 EDT

Today, the Lexington Herald-Leader formally endorsed Barack Obama in advance of Tuesday's Democratic primary:

... Before Kentuckians go to the polls Tuesday in one of the last primaries, let's just pause to savor this moment in history: For the first time in 232 years of nationhood, an African-American or a woman will lead a presidential ticket.

That alone makes this election a hopeful turning point.

The opportunity for national renewal will be even greater if, as appears almost certain, Sen. Barack Obama is the nominee.
... while Clinton is an adept practitioner of politics as we know it, Obama is offering something new. He makes a convincing case that he can lead this country without sowing fear and dividing people, the cynical ploys of a political era that has run out of steam.

Obama has given voice to a widespread yearning not just for a changing of the guard but for a changing of the game. And that ability to express a people's aspirations is a mark of leadership.

Like President John F. Kennedy, another senator who electrified young people, Obama also has the substance to transform idealism into action.
... Obama is uniquely suited to lay out the challenges, reignite this country's can-do spirit and lead us into a better future.

See the list of over 100 newspapers that have endorsed Barack Obama . . .

Kentucky For Obama

Christopher Hass — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:49:07 EDT

There are just five contests remaining now, and we are only 25 delegates away from securing a majority of pledged delegates. Next Tuesday, a total 103 of delegates will be at stake in the Kentucky and Oregon primaries.

For months now, grassroots supporters have been organizing across Kentucky. We've opened over a dozen offices, from Covington to Paducah. In March, over 1200 supporters were on hand for the opening of the Louisville headquarters. On Monday, Barack spoke to a crowd of over 8000 people in Louisville.

In Convington, local supporter Wellington Lee described the Obama campaign as a "true grass-roots movement."

"I've never seen anything like it, and I've been around this a long time," Lee said.

"It is a campaign that attracts such a cross-section of the population. It really is a movement, and we're hoping to connect like-minded people and empower them to become part of it."

Here's look at some of the offices that are up and running in Kentucky:

(click on the photo to see where each office is located)

Right now, supporters and staff on the ground are gearing up for the final Get Out The Vote canvassing this weekend. We have dozens of events planned in the coming days, and our grassroots phonebankers across the country are making phone calls to undecided voters in Kentucky to help build support here in the final days before the primary.

We need to reach as many Kentucky voters as possible before polls open on Tuesday, and your calls are a key part of our efforts. It only takes a minute to get started. The Kentucky calling campaign runs each day from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM EDT.

Kentucky Blue Grassroots

HQ Update — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:32:01 EDT

What makes the Obama campaign so extraordinary is the unprecedented groundswell of grassroots support across every state in America. In particular, things have really begun to kick into gear in Kentucky. We now have over a dozen offices, in addition to grassroots groups throughout the state.

Check out pictures from the openings of the Covington and Paducah offices:

There's still an incredible amount of work to do leading up to the Kentucky primary on May 20. We need your help. Stop by or call your local headquarters to find out the best way for you to get involved. Make phone calls from your home. Sign up for news and information about the campaign. And if you're ready to take an even bigger step, sign up to become a precinct leader and lead the way for Obama in your neighborhood. Together, we can make a difference.

Obama Speaks in Louisville

HQ Update — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:46:06 EDT

Yesterday, Barack made his first campaign stop in the Bluegrass state at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville. He spoke in front of a raucous crowd of 8,000 people.

Check out some pictures from the event.

From the Courier-Journal:

In Sen. Barack Obama's first Kentucky campaign appearance of the year, he preached his message of change last night to a huge and enthusiastic crowd.
Change from President Bush's economic policies. Change from his foreign policies.
Change that will come about, he said, only if Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, is defeated in November.
"Understand that John McCain is running for George Bush's third term," Obama told the crowd during a rally at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, a week before the state's May 20 primary.
...So enthusiastic was the crowd that at times Obama could hardly be heard as he repeatedly criticized the Bush administration for high gas prices, rising education costs and a lower standard of living.
He ripped into McCain for saying that Bush's economic policies are making great progress.
"Now, I don't know who he's talking to," Obama said. "He's not talking to the people at the Ford plant."
The Obama campaign said 8,000 people crammed into the convention center last night and 2,000 more had to be turned away. The line to get in snaked around the center and about half a dozen blocks down Jefferson Street.
Twice during Obama's 40-minute speech he had to call for emergency personnel to tend to people who became ill while standing in the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd. Once, he tossed a water bottle into the crowd to help someone overcome by heat.
Before he took the stage, U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-6th District, gave a stemwinder in which he shouted to the crowd, "What do you want?"
They replied with one word: "Change."
Said Chandler: "I am thoroughly convinced that Barack Obama will be president of the United States because I know I endorsed a winner."
...He panned McCain's plan for a three-month "holiday" from the federal gas tax -- an idea also endorsed by Clinton -- saying it would save the average person just $28. Instead, he promised to cut middle-class taxes by $1,000 per family and pay for it by closing corporate tax loopholes and imposing a windfall profits tax on oil companies.
...[H]e criticized an atmosphere that he said lets corporate leaders earn many times what middle-class workers make, then reap large severance packages when the company goes under or moves jobs overseas.
He called for changing bankruptcy laws that allow failing companies to shirk their responsibility to make good on pensions.
And he promised to reform the nation's health-care system by the end of his first term.
Julie Johnson of Louisville said she was thrilled with Obama's message. "I'm ready for some change," she said. "My son has been to Iraq four times, and I'm ready for it to end."

Join the movement. Help get out the vote and make some phone calls from home. And if you're ready to take a big step, become a precinct leader.

Get Out The Vote in Kentucky

Christopher Hass — Sat, 10 May 2008 16:14:28 EDT

Tuesday night, Barack won a decisive victory in North Carolina and came closer than anyone expected in Indiana.

Now, the spotlight turns to Kentucky, and we have the chance to help put Barack over the top with the majority of pledged delegates if we finish strongly.

Only you can make this happen.

With the primary just 11 days away, the perfect way to turn our new momentum into votes is to go door-to-door, all across the state, and talk to people about why they should support Barack on May 20th.

After our big night on May 6th, we're just 33 pledged delegates away from a majority.

It's Kentucky that can help finish this race and secure the nomination -- but we need you to make this happen in the next 12 days.

By canvassing your neighborhood, you'll accomplish more than we ever could without your help -- because there's no better advocate for Barack here than you.

The time to act is now -- join your fellow supporters and make a difference for Barack by May 20th.

Hope to see you this weekend!

Lauren

Lauren Kidwell
Kentucky Field Director
Obama for America

P.S. -- Obama supporters from nearby states are traveling here in the coming days to help Get Out The Vote for Barack -- and many will need a place to stay.

Whether or not you can go door-to-door yourself, you can make a big difference by housing a visiting Obama organizer. It's a fun and important way to get to know another supporter while they work to build our movement in Kentucky.

Let us know you can host a volunteer.

Derby Week Recap

HQ Update — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:41:30 EDT

From Thursday to Saturday, Obama supporters stormed Churchill Downs with clipboards, signs, and stickers. An influx of Kentucky staff and volunteers successfully signed up hundreds of volunteers and supporters and energized Kentuckians about Barack.

We still need more help. Help us get out the vote.

Check out some photos below, including several with Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear. More to come soon!

Louisville Courier Journal Endorses Barack Obama

Christopher Hass — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:43:58 EDT

With the Indiana primary just days away, this morning the Louisville Courier-Journal endorsed Barack both in Tuesday's contest and Kentucky's May 20th primary:

"We were always the longshot," [Senator Obama said in an interview last week with this newspaper's editorial board]. "The fact we've done so well speaks to the hunger of the American people for a different message and a different direction."

We agree, and we also believe that Sen. Obama is the Democratic candidate better equipped to restore Americans' hope for the future and to bring change to Washington.

For that reason, we endorse Sen. Obama in Tuesday's Indiana primary and in the May 20 contest in Kentucky.

Read the list of over 100 newspapers that have endorsed Barack Obama . . .

"Kentucky Matters"

HQ Update — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:39:38 EDT

On May 20, Kentuckians have the opportunity to make a difference in the 2008 election. Help Barack by becoming a Precinct Leader in Kentucky, or simply signing up for updates.

From the Fort Mill Times:

Observers say Ky. could matter in presidential race
For Kentuckians, especially around Kentucky Derby time, the only thing better than a good horse race is two.
They've got just that with the Kentucky Derby on Saturday followed shortly later by a race of a different sort - the neck-and-neck scramble for the Democratic presidential nomination between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
"They're always enthusiastic about the Kentucky Derby, but this is the first time in a long time that Kentucky could play a significant role in the presidential race," said Kendra Stewart, a political scientist at Eastern Kentucky University.
Traditionally, because its primary falls late in the cycle, Kentucky has fallen to the back of the pack when it comes to the national presidential scene. But this year, as one of the last states holding a primary, Kentucky is finding itself increasingly in the spotlight.
What in the past has rendered Kentucky voters essentially voiceless in picking the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees could this year become a blessing in the campaign's final stretch. At least for Democrats.
Not since 1988 has Kentucky had much of a voice in choosing a presidential nominee. That's the year the state joined with others in the South for a Super Tuesday vote.
While other states rushed to hold early primaries this year, Kentucky election officials chose to keep the traditional May balloting, saying that doing so could strengthen the state's political muscle in a tight race. Maybe it has.
Kentucky's primary is May 20.
...Jennifer Moore, chairwoman of the Kentucky Democratic party and a superdelegate, predicted there would be a higher turnout than usual in this year's primary. And, more people [in] Kentucky seem to be getting enthusiastic about the presidential race, Moore said.
"We're one of the last primaries and that is going to [be] a significant factor in who becomes the Democratic nominee," Moore said. "And Kentuckians have the opportunity to make their voices heard loud and clear on May 20."

Kentucky Congressman Ben Chandler Endorses Barack Obama for President

Sam Graham-Felsen — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:26:35 EDT

LOUISVILLE, KY — U.S. Congressman Ben Chandler from Kentucky endorsed Barack Obama for President today, citing his ability to lead the country forward:

"Today I am pleased to announce my support and to offer my endorsement to Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States. I have listened to this man, I have met with him and like many of you, I am inspired by his message of change and of hope for our future. But more importantly, I am convinced Barack Obama will provide the steady hand and leadership we need to chart a new path for our nation.

In these tough economic times, when many in our nation and right here in Kentucky are struggling to make ends meet and to provide for their families, too much is at stake for us to do nothing. I hope all Kentuckians and citizens throughout the nation will join with me in firmly supporting Barack Obama to lead our nation to a better future and to a place of respect for our country around the world."

Said Obama: "I am honored to have the support of Congressman Ben Chandler. As a Congressman, Ben has been a tireless fighter for working families and seniors, our troops in Iraq and our veterans at home. When he served as Kentucky Attorney General, he fought to pass Megan's Law and protect women and children, and he took action to protect the elderly from patient abuse and neglect. I look forward to working with Ben to strengthen our middle class and to keep our sacred trust with our past and present servicemen and women.”

Congressman Chandler is Senator Obama’s 244th Superdelegate endorsement. Senator Obama is now 288 delegates away from winning the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.

Weekend Canvassing

Christopher Hass — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:58:57 EDT

Our campaign has already generated incredible enthusiasm throughout Kentucky -- everywhere from Paducah to Pikeville, thousands of people have turned out for registration drives, office openings and festivals to show their support for Barack.

Now we need to channel this energy into votes.

This weekend, supporters are canvassing neighborhoods all across the state and talking to voters about the kind of change Barack will bring as president -- and they need your help.

Take the next step by signing up to canvass in your community this weekend.

After more than 40 contests, we've won more states, votes, and delegates than Senator Clinton because people like you have taken ownership of the largest grassroots campaign our country has ever seen.

Personal contact at a local level is the most effective way to identify existing Obama supporters -- and introduce undecided voters to the kind of change you and I are working to bring about.

That's exactly what we're doing in Kentucky -- and Barack has no better advocate here than you. The best part is, no prior political experience is necessary. We'll give you all the tools you need to make a real difference for Barack in your neighborhood.

Thanks for all your support,

Lauren

Lauren Kidwell
Kentucky Field Director
Obama for America

Become a Precinct Team Leader

State Update — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:48:07 EDT

The Kentucky primary is only weeks away. With Pennsylvania behind us, the eyes of the nation are now focused on Kentucky and the other remaining contest states.

We have received amazing help from grassroots supporters in Kentucky and around the nation, and the results have been astounding. We've seen record voter turnouts, and to date, we've won the most votes, the most states, and the most delegates.

However, this campaign is far from over, and we certainly can't take anything for granted. We need to reach out to as many of our neighbors as we can before Kentucky's primary on May 20th. To do that, we need to get organized on a local level.

You can help organize fellow Obama supporters in your community by signing up to become a Kentucky Precinct Team Leader.

As a Precinct Team Leader, you would be able to help to spread the word about Barack and our movement by calling and canvassing in your neighborhood. You would also help to get out the vote on Election Day, to ensure that as many voices as possible are heard on May 20th.

Last Day to Register to Vote

Christopher Hass — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:14:26 EDT

Today is a crucial deadline in Kentucky — it's the last day to register in order to vote for Barack in the May 20th primary.

There's still time to register, but you must act now.

You have to be registered as a Democrat to vote for Barack in the primary. If you're not yet registered, take some time this morning, or during lunch, and register as a Democrat.

If you haven't downloaded a registration form, you can do so right away. Make sure to drop off or mail your form today.

You can drop off your form at your county clerk's office. If you mail it in, the form must be postmarked no later than today — Monday, April 21st — in order to be valid.

You can find your county clerk's office on our Kentucky voter registration page here.

If you're already registered, you can make a difference today by making sure that all of your friends and family members supporting Barack are registered.

Get in touch with your friends and family now, and remind them that today is the deadline to register to vote for Barack on May 20th.

Thanks for all your support,

Carolyn

Carolyn Tandy
Kentucky State Director
Obama for America

Message from Barack: Take Ownership

Christopher Hass — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:15:15 EDT

I wanted to get in touch with you before Monday's voter registration deadline in Kentucky.

Voter registration is about more than just politics -- it's about encouraging folks to get involved in a process they've felt left out of for far too long.

In more than 40 contests so far, that's exactly what we've seen. Millions of people have voted for the first time or come back after years of frustration. Supporters like you have reached out to friends and neighbors and worked to bring about the kind of change we need.

I know we can make this happen in Kentucky -- but only if you take ownership of this effort.

This weekend is our best chance to bring new voices into the political process -- the deadline to register in order to vote in the May 20th primary is next Monday, April 21st. It's more important than ever that you get involved in your community and help register voters.

Supporters are gathering at campaign offices across the state. Come see us at the office near you and make a difference this weekend.

We have only a few days before the deadline -- and thousands of potential supporters to reach.

I hope I can count on your help this weekend.

Thank you,

Barack

P.S. -- If you can't make it out to a canvass this weekend, you can still make a difference. Send a message to your friends and neighbors encouraging them to register before the deadline.

Pikeville HQ Grand Opening Today

Christopher Hass — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:35:52 EDT

Today, April 17th at 5:30 p.m., join us at the grand opening of our Obama for America Pikeville Headquarters.

Our grand opening will coincide with Hillbilly Days -- so come enjoy the festivities, meet our staff and fellow supporters in the area, and learn how you can make a difference for Barack heading into the May 20th primary.

Here are the details:

Obama for America Pikeville Headquarters
Grand Opening and Hillbilly Days
224 Second Street
Pikeville, KY

Thursday, April 17th
5:30 p.m.

Campus Canvassing for Barack

State Update — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:46:57 EDT

Kentucky's voter registration deadline is coming up on Tuesday, April 21st, and anyone who wishes to vote in the primary on May 20th must be registered as a Democrat.

The deadline for non-Democrats to switch parties has passed, but we can still register first-time voters -- and college campuses are the perfect place to make a difference.

Over the next week, Obama supporters will be leading voter registration drives for college students at campuses across the state.

Find the registration drive at a campus near you and sign up to join fellow supporters registering new Democrats.

There are thousands of Kentucky students out there who are eager to support Barack in the primary, but who might not be registered yet as Democrats. Please help us reach out to as many of these students as possible before the deadline passes.

No prior political experience is necessary. All you need is a hunger for change -- and a willingness to turn your enthusiasm into action.

More importantly, if we've learned anything during this campaign, its that personal contact and grassroots organization are the best ways to reach out to our neighbors and get them excited about our movement. With your help, we can build a base that will support Kentucky Democrats for year to come.

Please find the event near you and sign up now.

Obama Bowling Green office opens today

Christopher Hass — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:06:48 EDT

From the Bowling Green Daily News:

Kicking off with a campaign rally, a regional campaign office for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will open today in Bowling Green.

The office at 814 State St. will be a “regional hub to take care of southcentral Kentucky,” according to Shailen Bhatt, a regional field director for the Obama campaign.

An Obama rally is set for 5:30 p.m. today at Fountain Square Park, featuring speeches by former Bowling Green Mayor Patsy Sloan and former state Sen. Nick Kafoglis.

The campaign office will open after the rally.

The Obama campaign also has offices in Lexington and Louisville and was slated to open an office in Paducah today, with others across the state expected to open prior to the May 20 primary.

Registering Voters at Thunder Over Louisville

Christopher Hass — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:08:40 EDT

From the Courier-Journal:

"It's Louisville's Mardi Gras," said Bordelon, who sat along the Ohio River floodwall with her family taking in yesterday's air show and waiting for the fireworks to light up the sky at Thunder Over Louisville.

Bordelon was among an estimated 350,000 people who braved a chilly, dreary day to kick off the Kentucky Derby Festival, which leads to the Run for the Roses on May 3.

... Chaz Briscoe, of Louisville, spent several hours signing people up to vote in the upcoming presidential primary. The 21-year-old is a Barack Obama supporter.

"The pen does work. It might take a few seconds, though" because of the cold, he joked. "I knew it would be cold, but it's for a good cause."

Thunder Over Louisville Tomorrow

Christopher Hass — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:25:15 EDT

Please join us this Saturday, April 12th to help register voters at the Thunder Over Louisville festival.

With the April 21st voter registration deadline quickly approaching, this weekend's Thunder Over Louisville is a great opportunity to show your support for Senator Obama and build our grassroots movement for change in Kentucky!

In this important election, every vote is crucial. We're looking for volunteers who can help us grow our grassroots movement for change this Saturday.

We'll be running three separate shifts at various locations along the river. You can sign up now to help out and an organizer will contact you with more details.

Shift 1: 1 p.m. -- 4 p.m.
Shift 2: 4 p.m. -- 7 p.m.
Shift 3: 7 p.m. -- 9 p.m.

RSVP now to help with tomorrow's event.

'Obama Campaign Opens Second Kentucky Office'

State Update — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:21:13 EDT

From the Associated Press:

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's campaign has opened its second office in Kentucky.
The campaign on Monday held a rally for supporters at its new Lexington headquarters that drew around 400 people.
Obama's statewide director Carolyn Tandy says plans are being made for Obama and his wife to return to Kentucky for campaign events, but no dates have been set.
The campaign opened an office in Louisville last month and is slated to open other offices later this month across the state, Tandy said.

You can sign up for local campaign updates and information now.

Make Your Voice Heard in Kentucky

Christopher Hass — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:47:01 EDT

The Kentucky primary is only six weeks away, but there's another important deadline coming up even sooner.

Anyone who wants to vote on May 20th must register as a Democrat by April 21st. If you are not currently registered, you must register as a Democrat in order to vote for Barack.

This race is extremely close, and every vote matters. Make your support count by registering as a Democrat today.

If you're certain that you're already a registered Democrat, take a moment to invite five of your friends to register as Democrats so they can join you in voting in the Kentucky primary.

This campaign has generated unprecedented enthusiasm all across the country. Hundreds of thousands of supporters have attended events, canvassed their neighborhoods, and organized their communities for Barack.

But the Kentucky primary is quickly approaching, and now's the time to turn our enthusiasm for Barack into votes. The deadline to register as a Democrat is April 21st, but you can register today.

Thank you,

Lauren

Lauren Kidwell
Kentucky Field Director
Obama for America

Louisville for Obama: Kentucky HQ Opening

Christopher Hass — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:16:53 EDT

Over 1200 people were on hand last Saturday for the official opening of the Louisville, Kentucky, Obama for America headquarters. Fourth District Councilman David Tandy was the Master of Ceremonies, and Congressman John Yarmuth was the special guest, along with a number of Kentucky state senators and representatives, local activists and grassroots supporters.

After the event, over 500 volunteers signed up to phone bank, canvass, and organize in their neighborhoods. Many of them loaded up on Obama gear, and one woman used her new Obama bumper stickers to cover the worn Bush stickers on her car.

In Convington, local supporter Wellington Lee described Obama's campaign as a "true grass-roots movement."

"I've never seen anything like it, and I've been around this a long time," Lee said.

"It is a campaign that attracts such a cross-section of the population. It really is a movement, and we're hoping to connect like-minded people and empower them to become part of it."

At the Louisville headquarters opening, former Kentucky Congressman Romano Mazzoli made a surprise appearance where he announced his formal endorsement of Barack. Mazzoli explained:

“In the 1960s, Helen and I were inspired to enter public service because of President John F. Kennedy's youth, vigor, optimism and rhetorical eloquence. If we were in our 20s once again, we would be similarly inspired by Sen. Barack Obama. His own idealism, energy, imagination and soaring oratory will revitalize the presidency and give to this generation the same chance to change the nation and the world that President Kennedy gave to our generation. For those of us who wish our national leaders to be oriented toward the future and not the past, for those of us who deplore the cynicism, stratagems and expediency of today's politics, and for those of us who wish to be part of an effort whose goal is to inspire and unite people and not divide and destroy them, Sen. Barack Obama offers us this chance.”

The Louisville Obama for America headquarters is the first of any of the presidential campaigns to open in Kentucky ahead of the May 20th primary. If you live in the Louisville area, you can stop by the new headquarters at 900 East Market Street.

Photos by Jose Neil Donis

'Obama campaign opens Kentucky HQ'

Christopher Hass — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:12:30 EDT

From WAVE TV:

Part of Market Street in Louisville was shut down Saturday morning for a Barack Obama rally. The Illinois senator wasn't in town, but some 300 people showed up for the opening of his Kentucky campaign headquarters at 900 East Market Street.

It's the latest sign the candidates see winning Kentucky as an important step toward the Democratic presidential nomination.

Obama supporters say they're excited about the momentum of the campaign.

The deadline to register to vote in the May 20th Kentucky primary is April 21st.

Saturday: Louisville Office Grand Opening

Christopher Hass — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:37:37 EDT

With just a handful of primaries remaining, our campaign has won the most states, earned the most delegates, and demonstrated the strength of our national movement.

The state of Kentucky is essential in maintaining this momentum.

This Saturday, March 29th at 10:30 a.m., Obama for America is opening our new state Headquarters in Louisville. Congressman John Yarmuth will join us, and we hope you can too.

RSVP now to attend tomorrow's opening.

Come be a part of the grassroots movement for change that is growing throughout the state.

Join your friends, neighbors, and other supporters at the opening of our Louisville Headquarters.

Here are the details:

Louisville Obama Office Opening
900 East Market Street
Louisville, KY

Saturday, March 29, 2008
10:30 am

Special Guest: Congressman John Yarmuth

Let us know that you're coming and invite your friends.

Getting organized is going to be crucial to our victory in Kentucky. With so much on the line, now's the time to turn your enthusiasm into action.

Come get a tour of the office, meet the campaign staff, and learn how to get involved and help grow the movement in your local community.

Hope to see you there!

Lauren

Lauren Kidwell
Kentucky Field Director
Obama for America

'All eyes on Kentucky'

Christopher Hass — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:58:24 EDT

From The Enquirer:

The presidential campaign is finally landing in Northern Kentucky.

With the May 20 primary looming, surrogates, staffers and supporters for Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are beginning to organize and flow into the region.
Obama supporters met last Saturday night at Chez Nora in Covington and plan another gathering at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Tickets Sports Bar on Sixth Street in Covington.

… Local Democrats who have been watching the candidates crisscross the country competing in caucuses and primaries are thrilled that Kentucky is finally attracting attention.

"It's been so interesting to watch, a lot of us are excited that we finally get to be part of it," said Adam Sandfoss, 21, of Cold Spring, vice chairman of the Northern Kentucky University College Democrats.

"The primary is actually going to matter in Kentucky, and that is inspiring a lot of people to get involved," Sandfoss said.

Because Kentucky's primary is one of the last in the nation, presidential nominations have historically been decided before voters here have had an opportunity to choose between the candidates.

… But the Democratic primary is still contested, making Kentucky - and Northern Kentucky - a battleground.

As with many other states, the Obama camp appears to be ahead when it comes to getting their forces on the ground.

The local Obama effort is being coordinated by Wellington Lee and Chuck Eilerman.

Eilerman said Friday that about 30 paid and volunteer staff members from Obama's national campaign headquarters in Chicago are expected to arrive in Kentucky this week.

… "They will help lead voter registration, calling and canvassing efforts in particular," Eilerman said in an e-mail.

"They will also be providing custom campaign materials, such as Kentucky-specific yard signs. They will be available for our organizing meetings, hopefully beginning with Saturday's meeting at Tickets."

Lee, whose Democratic organizing roots go back to the days of Bobby Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy, described Obama's campaign as a "true grass-roots movement."

"I've never seen anything like it, and I've been around this a long time," Lee said.

"It is a campaign that attracts such a cross-section of the population. It really is a movement, and we're hoping to connect like-minded people and empower them to become part of it."

You can connect with supporters and grassroots groups in your own community on My.BarackObama.com, and sign-up for news and updates from the campaign. With the Kentucky primary just around the corner, there's no better time to get involved.

Kentucky: Spring to Action

Christopher Hass — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:45:46 EDT

From the beginning, one of the goals of this campaign has been to bring people back into the political process, to empower them to help bring about change one community at a time. Today marks the first day of spring, and to celebrate, supporters across the country are organizing a national day of grassroots fundraising events to take place Saturday, March 29th.

Spring is here and there is no better time to celebrate change!

In the past few weeks we've heard divisiveness, conflict, and cynicism dominating the political conversation of our nation. But, we know that what binds us together is stronger than what drives us apart and the genius of America is that out of many, we are one.

On Saturday, March 29th, grassroots groups across the country will join together to celebrate this season of change and raise money to ensure Barack Obama's message of hope and unity reaches communities from Pennsylvania to Indiana and from Oregon to Kentucky.

Host a Spring to Action Fundraiser to raise money for the campaign and share more information about Barack Obama with those in your neighborhood. We'll provide you with tips and resources for your event in the Spring to Action Fundraiser Host Guide.

There are still ten more contests in the Democratic primary election and now is the time to make a fresh commitment to impact this election by taking action in your area.

Learn more about hosting a Spring to Action Fundraiser and create your event today.

Thanks for bringing our country together, one community at a time, to support change!

- Nikki Sutton
Obama for America Online Organizer

You can find ideas and suggestions on how to organize a grassroots fundraiser in your own community in the Spring to Action Fundraiser Host Guide. And if you haven’t created a My.BarackObama.com account yet, there’s no better time than now. It’s free, it only takes a minute, and it will allow you to connect with groups, events and supporters in your own community and across the country.

Grassroots events can also be a great chance to make sure that your friends, family and neighbors are all registered to vote. In Kentucky, the deadline to register as a Democrat is April 21st. You can find Kentucky voter registration information here.

By organizing, by educating, by registering voters and raising money for the work ahead, we can not only impact the next ten contests, we can begin to lay the groundwork for the campaign for the presidency in November.

'Backing Obama' in Kentucky

Christopher Hass — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:29:18 EDT

From the State-Journal:

Although the presidential primary election is still more than two months away, some local Democrats met this weekend to organize in support of U.S. Senator Barack Obama.

About ten met Saturday afternoon at Rocco's Pizza in the Northgate Shopping Center. Christian Adair helped organize the meeting and said he's pleased with the turnout even though the meeting conflicted with the University of Kentucky basketball game with Georgia in Atlanta, which had been re-scheduled from Friday night.

... Adair told The State Journal that the Obama campaign emphasizes grass-roots development.

"That's why it's grown for him and so many new people are coming out for him," Adair said. "We might get people from Anderson or Shelby county and they could go back and start own group."

... Adair, Hix and Robinson all pledged to reach out and talk to friends and family about Obama and his message.

"Word of mouth is the most powerful tool out there," Adair said.

He said he hopes each volunteer will talk to 10 people and bring at least five friends to the next meeting on April 8 at Rocco's.

The group hopes to reach out to students and faculty at Kentucky State University and help start a grass roots group there as well. Other projects include a voter registration drive on April 15 and a party on May 20 to watch the election results

... Adair coaches track and football at Western Hills High School and said the initial supporters locally was very diverse, including an almost equal number of men and women, whites and blacks, young and old supporters. He went to an Obama campaign event in Cincinnati and said he saw the same diversity there.

"Not at church, athletics, or concerts have I ever seen such a diverse crowd," Adair said. "Today was a true reflection of what the campaign is."

... Upcoming primaries in addition to Kentucky include Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Carolina, West Virginia, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota.

For the first time in years, Kentucky is in play

Christopher Hass — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:14:54 EDT

From the Courier-Journal:

The volunteer networks are already up and running, staffers are being picked and campaign offices will soon open.

Kentucky and Indiana -- little more than afterthoughts in recent presidential primary seasons because their elections are so late in the campaign -- will draw the full attention this year of Democratic U.S. Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Clinton of New York.

The two primaries -- Indiana's on May 6 and Kentucky's on May 20 -- are in the plans of both candidates as they struggle for advantage in a close race. "Everybody's in play," said Democratic strategist Morris Reid.

... "We take each contest seriously," said Obama campaign spokeswoman Shannon Gilson ... "We plan to be competitive in each of these states."

Thousands of people packed a high school gym in Plainfield, Ind., yesterday to hear Obama speak to a crowd of about 3,200 people.

... In 1968, the Indiana Democratic primary was a key upset victory for Sen. Robert Kennedy of New York, who battled Sen. Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota and Indiana Gov. Roger Branigin (a favorite-son candidate standing in for President Lyndon B. Johnson, who had withdrawn from the race).

Memo from David Plouffe: Moving On to the Next 10 Contests

Sam Graham-Felsen — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:55:02 EDT

David Plouffe sent out this memo today...

With his overwhelming victory in the Mississippi primary, Barack Obama’s lead in pledged delegates is now wider than it was on March 3, before the contests in Ohio and Texas. He netted more delegates in Mississippi and Wyoming than Senator Clinton netted on March 4. Obama now holds a pledged delegate lead of 161 with a total of 1411 pledged delegates, while Senator Clinton trails with 1250 pledged delegates. As the number of remaining pledged delegates dwindles, Hillary Clinton’s path to the nomination seems less and less plausible.
Barack Obama has now won nearly thirty contests, over half the states in the country, including critical battleground states like Virginia, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Colorado, Missouri, Washington and Colorado.
Now that Mississippi is behind us, we move on to the next ten contests. The Clinton Campaign would like to focus your attention only on Pennsylvania – a state in which they have already declared that they are “unbeatable.” But Pennsylvania is only one of 10 remaining contests, each important in terms of allocating delegates and ultimately deciding who are nominee will be. Senator Obama campaigned in Pennsylvania yesterday and will do so again later this week, but he will also campaign aggressively in the other upcoming states – he will travel to other upcoming states in the very near future.
We have activated our volunteer networks, are putting staff on the ground, and building our organization in every one of the upcoming states. The key is not who wins the states that the Clinton campaign thinks are important. Throughout this entire process, they have cherry-picked states, diminished caucuses, and moved the goal posts to create a shifting, twisted rationale for why they should win the nomination despite winning fewer primaries, fewer states, fewer delegates, and fewer votes.

You can help us win the next three contests in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Indiana. Pick up the phone today and make some calls!

Rolling Stone: 'Barack Obama's Machinery of Hope'

Christopher Hass — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:28:50 EST

The new issue of Rolling Stone magazine features an in-depth cover story on the incredible grassroots support that has built up around this campaign, and how supporters are combining online tools and offline organzing to transform the political process:

Over the past year, the Obama campaign has quietly worked to integrate the online technologies that fueled the rise of Howard Dean —as well as social-networking and video tools that didn't even exist in 2004 — with the kind of neighbor-to-neighbor movement-building that Obama learned as a young organizer on the streets of Chicago. "That's the magic of what they've done," says Simon Rosenberg, president of the Democratic think tank NDN. "They've married the incredibly powerful online community they built with real on-the-ground field operations. We've never seen anything like this before in American political history."
...According to David Axelrod, the campaign's chief strategist, the bottom-up ethos of the campaign comes straight from the top. "When we started this race, Barack told us that he wanted the campaign to be a vehicle for involving people and giving them a stake in the kind of organizing he believed in," Axelrod says. "He is still the same guy who came to Chicago as a community organizer twenty-three years ago. The idea that we can organize together and improve our country — I mean, he really believes that."

...Temo Figueroa's goal is not to put supporters to work but to enable them to put themselves to work, without having to depend on the campaign for constant guidance. "We decided that we didn't want to train volunteers," he says. "We want to train organizers — folks who can fend for themselves."
..."That was a very important test for us," says Hildebrand. "Can we make this work offline? We said to our online supporters, 'We love you, but we need you to actually go to work in your neighborhood.' Their online support was only great if we could translate it into activity within their community."

At the same time, the campaign was developing a new high-tech toolbox to enable its supporters to keep the momentum going — both online and off. With the help of one of the founders of Facebook, the Obama campaign created, MyBo, its own social-networking tool, through which supporters could organize themselves however they saw fit. Today, the network claims more than half a million members and more than 8,000 affinity groups. Some are organized by state (Ohioans for Obama), others by profession (Texas Business Women for Obama) and still others by groove thing (Soul Music Lovers for Obama).

...Using the social-networking tools of MyBo, the volunteers began to create city- and statewide networks with names like IdahObama, groups that could be tapped later by the professional staff to organize down to the precinct level. In Maryland, the campaign was able to mobilize 3,000 volunteers in only three weeks, thanks to the months of groundwork by groups like Baltimore for Barack Obama.

...No group represents the campaign machine that Obama has built better than AlamObama. A year ago, the group was nothing more than eight people who attended an informal get-together at a Borders bookstore. Today, it's a 600-member grass-roots outfit — an all-volunteer field operation that hums with the energy and efficiency of a fully staffed campaign office. "In Iowa, the campaign was on the ground for six months," says Judy Hall, a college professor who co-founded the group. "They come here, and it's like they've already been on the ground for six months. Those of us in the grass roots, we simply minded the store.
"Well," she says, reconsidering her words, "I guess we actually built the store — but that's what this campaign is all about."

If you haven't already created a My.BarackObama.com account, sign up today. You can find other supporters in your area, plan events in your community and become a full-fledged member of the Obama grassroots movement...

Reclaiming the American Dream by Barack Obama

Christopher Hass — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 12:01:44 EST

Barack wrote an Op-Ed for today's Providence Journal, titled "Reclaiming the American Dream":

By Barack Obama:
MOST AMERICANS have simple dreams. A job that can support a family. Health care we can count on and afford. A retirement that is dignified and secure. Education and opportunity for our kids.

But today, the price of the American dream is going up.

All across the country, Americans are working harder for less. We’ve never paid more for health care or for college. It’s harder to save, and it’s harder to retire. There are things we need to do right now to give our economy a boost, but a short-term stimulus is not enough. We have to put the American dream on a firmer foundation.

That’s going to take a change in the way Washington works. It’s time to stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas, and to put a tax cut in the pocket of middle class Americans. That’s why I’ve proposed a “Making Work Pay” tax credit of up to $500 for American workers, and $1,000 for working families, as well as an additional tax credit for struggling homeowners. This will cut taxes for 150 million Americans, give our economy a boost, and put fairness back into our tax code.

We also need to protect a secure retirement by easing the burden on America’s seniors. That’s why I’ll eliminate income taxes for any senior making less than $50,000. And I’ll change our bankruptcy laws to protect workers’ pensions instead of protecting banks. Because I believe that if you work hard and pay into the system, you’ve earned the right to a secure retirement.

It’s also time to stop talking about the outrage of 47 million Americans without health care, and to start doing something about it. I expanded health care in Illinois by bringing Democrats and Republicans together. We took on the insurance industry, and provided health care to hundreds of thousands of families. And as president, I’ll cut a typical family’s premiums by up to $2,500, and make health care affordable and accessible for all Americans.

We also have to be clear that the American dream must never come at the expense of the American family. But even as politicians in Washington talk about family values, we haven’t had policies that value families. As the son of a single mother, I don’t accept an America that forces women to choose between their kids and their careers. That’s why I’ll expand the Family and Medical Leave Act to cover millions of additional Americans. We need to make sure you can take leave to care for elderly parents, and to join school activities with your kids.

We also need to expand paid leave. Today, 78 percent of workers covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act don’t take leave because it isn’t paid. And this has a far greater impact on families with less income and less savings. To make sure our system is fair, I will press states to adopt paid-leave systems, and set aside $1.5 billion to fund the start-up costs and help states offset the costs to employers. And I’ll require employers to provide all of their workers with seven paid sick days a year, because you shouldn’t be punished for being sick.

Finally, we have a responsibility to make sure that our young people can reach a little further and rise a little higher than we did. But too many Americans are weighted down by student loans. I know because Michelle and I just finished paying off our loans a few years ago. It’s time to put a college education within reach of every American. That’s why I’ll create a new and fully refundable annual tax credit worth $4,000 for tuition and fees. To receive this credit, we’ll require 100 hours of public service. Because it’s time to call upon our young people to serve our country; in return, we’ll invest in their future.

We’ve recently been reminded that when some folks hurt in our economy, all of us hurt. When things are going bad on Main Street, that catches up with Wall Street. And that’s how it should be. Because what binds us together, what makes us one American family, is that we have to stand up and fight for each other’s dreams. It’s time to reaffirm that fundamental belief — I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper — through our politics, our policies and in our daily lives. It’s time to reclaim the American dream.

'Grass-roots giving is reshaping campaign fundraising'

Christopher Hass — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:54:34 EST

From the Los Angeles Times:

From his South Texas home, Chuck Barracato watches the news to see how Barack Obama is doing. When Barracato is moved by Obama's message or senses that the Illinois senator could use some help, he digs into his savings and chips in $25 for the candidate's presidential campaign.

Barracato's payments, sent by computer click, add up to $700, maybe a little more. It's not a big sum by the standards of political donations, but it's enough to make Barracato part of a movement that some experts believe is reshaping presidential fundraising.

"I am grass-roots," said Barracato, 68, a retired teacher who has gotten involved in the 2008 presidential campaign because of his opposition to the war in Iraq. "I am the itty-bitty guy behind the movement."

As he battles Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Democratic nomination, Obama -- a onetime Chicago community organizer -- is increasingly relying on donors like Barracato to fuel his campaign.

Lately, the Obama fundraising approach has paid especially big dividends. It is easily outpacing Clinton's money-gathering operation, which began the race with a massive financial advantage and has relied more heavily on traditional big donors.

… The role of small donors is heartening advocates of campaign finance reform. Small donors, by definition, are not insiders seeking special access or favors in exchange for their largesse.

… "There is no question that Obama's fundraising is a huge breakthrough," Eli Pariser said … "Clearly, he has hit this nail on the head in a way that no one has before. He has given people a real sense of ownership that makes them want to chip in."
Read the full article . . .

If you haven't already, now is your chance to become one of over one million people who own a piece of this incredible movement: