Organizing for America | Staci Leigh O'Brien's Blog: Would you give two hours a week (16 hours) to change the world?

Would you give two hours a week (16 hours) to change the world?

By Staci Leigh O'Brien - Sep 9th, 2008 at 10:11 am EDT

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McCain’s bounce has launched him ahead in some polls, which is the same pattern we saw in 2000 and 2004.
What’s different THIS time is on the ground, with teams of callers and canvassers in literally every community around us.

Canvassing Saturday, I met a woman whose positions were clearly Democratic, but her mother-in-law had convinced her Obama would raise taxes. I shared that his plan would only raise taxes for the wealthiest 1 to 2% of the country, gave her literature, and pointed out the website. We talked for some time about the war and healthcare—as you would with any neighbor.

You don’t need to be an expert to listen to someone’s concerns or tell them you’ll have someone get back to them—but this Saturday we’re holding our first CANVASSING 101 event to cover the basics. Join us for a little extra instruction and a few extra treats. Or call for some private tutoring….

The election is only 8 weeks away! Think about how close the last two elections were. All I did Saturday was reassure someone that her instincts were right.

If I had conversations like these in 2000 or 2004, how different would things be?
That’s the question that keeps me going.

Call us.
Give us two hours a week.
Help us change the world.*Oconomowoc Phone Banking & Canvassing Schedule:·
Tuesday, canvassing, 5:00-7:30. AND cell phone banking at the O’Brien’s, 5:30-8:30. Bring cell phones, bottled water, and a friend to 138 E. Greenland Ave.·
Thursday, cancelled. (The Obama campaign has asked us to suspend all events in deference to Sept. 11.)·
THIS Saturday, CANVASSING 101: we’ll take a little extra time to train you, to decompress afterward, and have some extra treats on hand. Join us!
Teams of two leave from the O’Brien’s at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and noon.

Three things I think you’ll like:·
The Associated Press, “Fact Check: The full story in St. Paul,” Sept. 4, 2008: http://news.yahoo.com/story//ap/20080905/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_fact_check
Recommended by our readers: www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/
“Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin: a true-false guide,” The San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 3, 2008: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/03/MN0012MQNM.DTL

*NEW: CANVASSING 101:
WHAT IT IS
Canvassing is going door-to-door, talking to people one-on-one about the election. We provide you with maps, addresses, a script, flyers, and an Obama button.

HOW IT WORKS1) We introduce ourselves as neighbors to break the ice. Right now, we’re just identifying voters, so “Do you have time for one quick question?” or “I promise not to keep you long” is a good lead into asking them which presidential candidate they are leaning toward. 2) If they are leaning toward:
Obama, be sure to tell them how much you enjoy volunteering and ask them if they would like to help out. Regardless of their answer, THANK THEM for their support.
Undecided, hand them a flyer and ask if there are specific questions someone else can get back to them on. There’s no need to be a policy expert. Its easiest and most effective to simply speak from the heart and tell people why you support Obama. Follow their lead on how long to talk. There is never any need to argue, but do listen politely to their concerns.
McCain, we simply thank them for their time.3) Be sure to leave on a positive note. Rude people are genuinely rare, but our mantra is “Thank you. Have a nice day!”

WHY IT WORKS
Voters are ten times more likely to vote for your candidate if you meet with them one-on-one, but no one candidate can meet with every American. Just as Obama needs surrogates to make sure he hits all the states as often as possible, he needs us to be his surrogates on the ground.
ALSO, everything we do leads up to our Get Out The Vote effort in November. The most important task we have is to find and identify supporters so we can get them to the polls November 4. If we do our jobs well, we will be a model of efficiency that weekend, with every Obama supporter contacted, and every call making a difference.

FAQs:
Will I be alone? No. We always send canvassers out in pairs.
Do we canvass at night? You will never be asked to canvass after dark.
Why don’t we knock on every door? Right now, we are simply identifying voter preferences, and we already have that information on some voters from previous calls and canvasses.
What if people refuse to talk to us? We thank them for their time and tell them to have a nice day. If you think they are open to it, feel free to leave a flyer.
What if no one’s home? We leave them a flyer, usually tucked in the door—but not in mailboxes. Leaving campaign material in mailboxes is illegal.
What if the place looks sketchy? People are amazingly polite…but don’t ever approach a home that makes you uncomfortable, even if it’s just a gut feeling. And sketchy or not, never go inside.

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