If your feet hit the cobblestone on E 9th Ave in Ybor City, you're blocks away from Barack's Campaign for Change Florida Headquarters. Over the past few days staff and supporters have worked hard to unveil our own Florida hub of hope in Tampa. Check out the progression below:
Volunteers manned the entrance - even in the rain - to register new voters and sign people up to get involved. An additional voter registration booth and a merchandise table attracted the flow of Floridians on their way into last night's opening.
Claudia and Betty, cousins from Sarasota, chatted as they took in the scene of the enthusiastic crowd of Obama supporters. Claudia remembers passing out pamphlets for her dad and local official when she was three, but Betty joined last night's office opening from a but of a different perspective:
In all of the 50 plus years that I've voted, I can only remember voting FOR someone once. I've voted against the other guy every time except for Kennedy.
When Betty votes in a few months, she'll be voting FOR Obama, she confirmed.
Across the crowd of over 400 people stood Jim, a passionate supporter from Tampa. Jim works for Hillsborough Kids, an organization that provides comprehensive services to abused and neglected children, and normally puts in 75 hours a week. Jim still signed up to get involved because Barack inspires him he said. I asked him why:
Because he listens.
A line of equally passionate accomplished speakers addressed the crowd toward the end of the evening beginning with Representative and Iraq war veteran Michael Scionti who welcomed us to Ybor City. The National Hispanic Finance Committee Chair, Frank Sanchez soon followed as well Senator Arthenia Joyner who fired up the crowd:
We've got inspiration, dedication, and motivation! Yes we can!
Steve Schale, the Campaign for Change Florida State Director, closed out the evening as he described his commitment to the people of Florida and Barack Obama. As you may have noticed in the slideshow, as the crowd scattered, the field team and volunteers got to work and hit the phones - the perfect ending to a great night.
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