Multnomah County Regional Field Director Jim Nam spoke about the importance of Oregon in the Democratic primary battle, and then lead Field Organizer Kristin Gwinn got into the gritty details of the volunteer army we are building that will lead the campaign to victory on May 20th. Two special guests also addressed the crowd. Portland Congressman Earl Blumenauer – an Obama superdelegate and co-chair of the campaign here in Oregon – discussed why we need a leader like Barack Obama in the White House to bring about the change that’s eluded us after 8 years of President Bush. Rep. Blumenauer endorsed Sen. Obama back in February and has been one of his most outspoken advocates throughout Oregon. Accompanying Rep. Blumenauer was Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of Chicago, who’s served alongside Sen. Obama for many years in both the Illinois legislature and then in Washington. She spoke to the fired-up crowd about the importance of grassroots organizing and why volunteers are the most important part of a winning political campaign. She also headed out with the canvassing teams later in the day so she could make the case for Sen. Obama face-to-face with the voters of Oregon. After the speakers were done, the mass of newly recruited volunteers broke out into groups based on which part of Portland they wanted to canvass. The field staff then trained them with canvassing instructions and voter registration cards before sending them out pounding pavement and knocking on doors for change. Canvass for Change events will likely happen every weekend, as April 29th is the last day to register as a Democrat in Oregon, which you must do to vote in the primary. A potluck followed the day’s canvass, as hundreds of hungry volunteers returned to HQ to feast on some homemade grub. Meanwhile a couple hours south in Eugene, State Representative Phil Barnhart addressed an equally excited crowd about the new Obama campaign office in Lane County and the importance of devoting time to a cause you can believe in. He described how Sen. Obama is the right agent of change at the right time in our country’s history, but that it’s the volunteers and grassroots supporters who will make the difference. A large group of canvassers then headed out across town to spread Barack’s message of uniting this country. In addition to the office openings in Portland and Eugene, more than 1,000 Oregonians Canvassed for Change. Teams of supporters also knocked on doors today in Corvallis, Tigard, Hillsboro, Oregon City, Forest Grove, Beaverton, Salem, Newberg, Keizer, Medford, Bend, Ashland, Grants Pass, Roseburg, Prineville, Terrebonne, Gresham, and Troutdale. The Eugene field office is located at 1280 Willammette St, while the Oregon state HQ is at 3016 SE Division St in Portland. Additional field offices throughout the state will be cutting their ribbons in the coming weeks.
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