Tomorrow, it happens.
Thousands of grassroots volunteers, taking time out of their busy weekends to make a difference and help change the direction of this country.
This is truly an historic event. This kind of thing-- thousands of people from all fifty states knocking on doors this early on in a campaign-- doesn't happen every day. It's happening because Barack has tapped into something profound-- a profound dissatisfaction with the status quo, a profound hunger for change, a profound belief in our collective ability to bring about change.
Together, we are restoring and revitalizing the American community-- something that has languished in the era of slash and divide politics, but which has not been lost. People are coming together again, knocking on doors, meeting with their neighbors, sharing their stories, having conversations.
People like Brandon Z. of East Anchorage, Alaska, who I spoke with this afternoon. "I'm real excited for tomorrow," he says. "People up here genuinely care about what's going on in the world and are willing to exchange ideas rather than just argue. People are ready to have a conversation."
Many of you who will walk tomorrow are getting involved in politics for the first time in your lives. Others, like Melissa K. of Helena, Montana, are coming back to politics for the first time in decades. Melissa grew up in a political family-- her parents used to take her to the Democratic National Convention every four years-- but she became disenchanted with poll-driven politicians and stopped actively participating in the Democratic process. On Saturday, she is Walking for Change.
"I've been rather disinterested in politics for several decades because of the character issues that a lot of candidates have," she told me, "but Senator Obama has such a depth of character and I just get the sense that he doesn't make decisions based on what polls are saying, but through his conscience. That's why I'm walking."
Everyone who is taking part in tomorrow's events has a story-- a personal calling and motivation for getting involved in something bigger than themselves. That's what's so remarkable about this campaign. For nearly everyone involved, it's deeply personal.
This is no ordinary political campaign. It's something much bigger-- a movement.
Thanks to all of you who are taking part tomorrow. This is just the beginning.
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