After fifteen long months of campaigning, it's often easy to forget that every day, someone new steps out of their comfort zone and takes action for the very first time. Yesterday, urged on by our goal of making one million calls by May 6th, Joan from Osage Beach, Missouri picked up the phone and made the first political phone call of her life:
Oh my goodness. I made my first two calls. The first one was a wrong number and the second one I actually got someone!!!! I was so very nervous (I told her she was my first person). My voice was shaking ... I was on the verge of tears and then — I started telling her why I was for Obama. Everything changed. I started asking her questions like "why are you leaning towards Obama?" She said she had read his autobiography and she liked his diverse nature. Then I went on about truthfulness. I said I wanted my children and grandchildren to know what it was like to have an honest president. ... Upon leaving she said that almost certainly she AND her husband were going to vote for Obama and thanked ME for the phone call.One down, perhaps it will be easier with the next!
A little while later, Joan checked back in with an update:
Wanted to let you know how the phone calls are going now.... My last call made my day. I called and she softly said "I'm a Republican." I said that's OK. She then said "I'm voting for Obama." I just about died. Tears came to my eyes. I said "Thank you," then told her why I too am voting for Obama and that I thought I would NEVER be on a phone calling people, but I realize just how important of an election this is. She laughed. If we could have hugged we would have! Great call!!
A few dozen calls later, now a phonebanking veteran, Joan finally posted:
I wanted to tell all of you who are scared silly to call that after my first nervous breakdown on my first call I became pretty good at this. I actually LOVE talking to answering machines. I give quite a message there! I tell them I am 57 years old and according to stats I should be in the Clinton camp but I'm not. I am for Obama for my three kids and three grandkids. I've never been politically active before, but after seeing the mess we are in I thought it was needed. I support Obama because he is truthful and willing and wanting to be bipartisan. We need to set an example for my kids and grandkids. Obama will change the way DC is run like no other candidate, past or present, etc. Then I thank them for listening and say "good day."Hey folks, after one nervous breakdown calling it's really not that bad! If I can do it anyone can! Pick up that phone and Go! Go! Go!(I feel like I accomplished something today!)
The Indiana and North Carolina calling campaigns run until 9:00 PM Eastern Time tonight, and the Oregon voter registration campaign runs until 9:00 PM Pacific Time. It only takes a minute to get started phonebanking from home.
There is no better time to pick up a phone for the first time and take this campaign into your own hands. You can join Joan, and countless other grassroots supporters, who have already accomplished something incredible.
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