With less than 50 days until Election Day, the campaign's field operation is shifting into high gear. In the last week alone we've opened over a dozen new field offices, as part of what the Aspen Daily News recently described as:
... a national on-the-ground strategy that seeks to organize volunteers everywhere for the campaign, including some traditional Republican strongholds. A recent count estimated that Obama had more than 330 field offices in the U.S., while his Republican opponent, John McCain, had just over 100.
A line had already formed outside the Illinois headquarters when the doors opened for the first time at 9 a.m. last Saturday morning. There was a steady stream of volunteers throughout the day, and in all over one thousand people stopped by for the office kickoff. In fact, it got so crowded that some supporters ended up setting an impromptu phonebank in the back of the Camp Obama training a few blocks away. Volunteers were calling people to give them information about all of the upcoming canvassing trips happening between now and November.
Senator Dick Durbin, Congressman Danny Davis, and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan all stopped by to thank people for their work and to talk about Barack.
The supporters were joined by Senator Whitehouse, as well as Reps. Kennedy and Langevin. Speaking about Rhode Island's role in the election, Senator Whitehouse quoted Robert Kennedy in asking them to "send ripples of Hope up to New Hampshire!"
In New Jersey, over 150 supporters turned out for the opening the state headquarters in Princeton. A number of state and county officials also joined in on the festivities, including NJ State Democratic Chairman Joe Cryan, Senator Shirley Turner (D-15), Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-15), Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-15), Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes, Mercer County Party Chair Rich McClellan, congressional candidate Josh Zeitz, and Mercer Freeholder candidate John Cimino.
"Working with the campaign, I've learned that people can really make a difference and effect change. Yes we can," said Kirsten Beck from Cranford.
Earlier in the week, Obama for America opened another California office, this one in Sacramento:
Over 150 people were in attendance, many of whom were first time volunteers and all of whom immediately got set up phonebanking, signed up for Drive for Change events and began planning neighborhood group meetings.
And finally, in Colorado: 12 more offices, brining the total number of offices in the state to 31.
Again, from the Aspen Daily News:
Obama’s 50-state web of local offices is fueled by what is believed to be the largest field operation in American political history. And even veteran politicos are taken aback by the magnitude of his standing volunteer army. “This is the best organized campaign I’ve seen,” said O’Leary, the county Democratic co-chair. “And I’ve been doing this forever.”
No matter where you are, you can find a local field office or grassroot group near you:
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Rick Davis, McCain's campaign manager, was receiving $15,000 *per month* until last month from Freddie Mac for lobbying work. On Sunday, when it was reported that he had received money from both Freddie and Fannie for lobbying, Davis claimed to have no involvement with the companies for several years. This finding shows Mr. Davis was lying.
