Posts with the tag reno

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

WEBMASTER — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:26:14 EST

The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.

Also see Green Wave Energy: Green Wave was founded by Mark Holmes and was formulated for viable alternative energy solutions. Green Wave Energy is promoting state-of-the-art energy-saving products and services throughout the country.

Green Wave Energy understands alternative energy technology will become “main stream” when

individuals and organizations understand that alternative energy technology exists and
when people see the economic benefits of using alternative energy technologies

Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.

Alternative Energy
Source: David Apperson

url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy

OBAMA FOR NEVADA

WEBMASTER — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:38:05 EST

Alamo * Amargosa Valley * Austin * Baker * Battle Mountain * Beatty * Blue Diamond * Boulder City * Bunkerville * Cal-Nev-Ari * Caliente * Carlin * Carson City * Crescent Valley * Crystal Bay * Deeth * Denio * Duckwater * Dyer * Elko * Ely * Empire * Eureka * Fallon * Fernley * Gabbs * Gardnerville * Gardnerville Ranchos * Genoa * Gerlach * Gerlach Empire * Glenbrook * Golconda * Goldfield * Halleck * Hawthorne * Henderson * Hiko * Imlay * Incline Village * Indian Springs * Jackpot * Jarbidge * Jean * Kingsbury * Lamoille * Las Vegas * Laughlin * Logandale * Lovelock * Lund * Luning * Manhattan * McDermitt * McGill * Mercury * Mesquite * Mina * Minden * Moapa * Montello * Mountain City * Nellis AFB * Nixon * North Las Vegas * Orovada * Overton * Owyhee * Pahrump * Panaca * Paradise * Pioche * Reno * Round Mountain * Ruby Valley * Ruth * Schurz * Searchlight * Silver City * Silver Springs * Silverpeak * Smith * Sparks * Spring Creek * Stateline * Summerlin South * Sun Valley * The Lakes * Tonopah * Tuscarora * Valmy * Virginia City * Wadsworth * Washoe Valley * Wellington * Wells * West Wendover * Winnemucca * Yerington * Zephyr Cove

Nevada * Nevada Bible Study * Obama for Nevada * State of Nevada

Final Push in Washoe County

Tim — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:59:53 EST

We're down to the last 48 hours. It's coming down to the wire and we're going to be busy. We're getting another huge list tomorrow which should bring us through the election

We were pretty busy yesterday. We canvassed with Ellen and Susan which brought our total to over 175 contacts. Our field office at Liz's canvassed over 1,300 houses total!

Last Day of Early Voting

Tim — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 22:14:43 EDT

Today is the last day of early voting here in Reno. Our effort today was mainly to find folks that hadn't yet voted early and try to get them to head out before the deadline.

Thousands of people have voted early here in Washoe County. The Reno Gazette-Journal is reporting that, "As of Wednesday night, 78,403 voters had cast ballots in Washoe County — including 35,051 Democrats and 26,913 Republicans."

I'd like to think that we had some effect on those numbers over the past week. There is actually evidence that canvassing does get people to the polls. I've seen the numbers from Sparks and they're very encouraging. Particularly when we're calling on empty houses -- or worse yet, the ones where people are home but don't answer (I can see you! Just answer the door!).

Slow Today; Gearing up for Nevada Day

Tim — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:42:56 EDT

As you all know, it is Nevada Day tomorrow. Many folks in the Reno area will have the day off. In addition to it being Nevada Day (and oh yeah, Halloween) it's also the last day to early vote in NV.

Tomorrow is our last opportunity to connect with voters to get them to vote early. We didn't contact many people today. We had an area in West Reno that was very spread out. Our contact rate was low and the people we did talk to weren't supporting Obama or wouldn't tell us who they voted for.

Day Five: Getting It in Somersett

Tim — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:38:02 EDT

Today was awesome. We called on approximately 90 people. Our contact rate was very high and we had a lot of positive interaction with NV voters.

We were walking the Somersett area which is much more affluent than the Sparks areas. With the exception of three people, everyone I spoke with had already voted (Nevada has early voting through Friday October 31) for Barack Obama and most had also voted for the Democratic candidate Jill Derby for congress. One guy I caught on the way out of the house; he was heading to the early vote location to vote for Obama!

Two interesting interactions that stand out today. Both involved Republicans and both were inspiring...

Six Days Two Hours Thirteen Minutes

Tim — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:14:46 EDT

As I write this there are 6 days, 2 hours and 13 minutes remaining until election day. Things are starting to heat up here in Reno (literally and metaphorically). My mother and I have been canvassing various areas around Reno for the past four days and will continue through the election.

We had a full afternoon of canvassing up in Sun Valley. Very rewarding today. We started off at the Victorian Station field office again. This time we arrived just in time for the briefing. We were told that Sun Valley might have some stray dogs roaming around and learned how to use the clip board as a defense mechanism (email me and I'll fill you in).

Probably the most interesting part of canvassing today was the fact that we ran into three guys doing the same thing for McCain and some local Republicans. We literally crossed paths with them at one point with them waiting for us to leave one house so they could go up after us. I tried to keep it positive (some brotherhood in canvassing maybe?) and commented on what a nice day we were having. They seemed mildly annoyed and went about their business.

One very odd thing though, they had Alberta plates on the GIANT SUV they were driving. I didn't think much of it then but I've subsequently heard that there was another Canadians for McCain sighting earlier in the week. Maybe John McCain can't inspire Americans but he's got the secret sauce for the Canadians? Strange indeed.

Rhinestone Obama Shirts Sell Out in Reno!

Cassandra M. Bellantoni — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 02:49:25 EDT

Wow, just got back from Reno where we attended the rally to sell my Rhinestone Obama Shirts. From the moment we arrived at the hotel people wanted the shirts. Of course we were wearing them! I think John McCain is going to get a big surprise when Obama takes Nevada. Even the casino workers were flashing me the thumbs up when they saw my Yes We Can Shirt! I've donated a bunch of money to the campaign now but my good deeds never show up in my dashboard.

Sunday Reno Canvassing

Tim — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:25:13 EDT

Cavassing today in Reno. We went door to door trying to get people (Obama supporters really) to get out and vote early here in Nevada.

They've got a great early vote system here. You can vote in any of the Scolari's grocery stores and a few other locations. Shop and vote in the same trip!

We knocked on 60+ doors between the two of us and made contact with 20 people. With the exception of one random guy everyone we met was really nice and were all planning on voting for Obama or already had. We even got one woman to volunteer for next weekend! By the way, the campaign is still looking for folks to come out next weekend through the election.

One funny story... I was excited to knock on a door with an Obama sign in the window. A very friendly woman answered and I said, "Saw the Obama signs in the window, just here to make sure you're getting out to vote early." She said, "Those are my husbands signs, I'm not supporting Obama." I smiled and said, "OK then, well please tell your husband to get out and vote early! You can vote whenever you get around to it."

We both shared a laugh and she said goodbye with a "Kudos to you for getting out and volunteering. God bless you." Even the McCain supporters aren't too bad here.

Thanks so much to Liz Brown and her husband for hosting the northern Reno GOTV effort from their home. Very well organized and full of spirit! We're going back to meet up with Liz tomorrow for some more canvassing!

Barack, Me and My Mom in Reno

Tim — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 20:26:22 EDT

In Reno with my mom for the next 10 days volunteering for the local campaign effort. We start the real work tomorrow. Today was getting settled in and attending the big Barack Obama rally with 11,000 of our new friends.

It's been amazing to hear so much support from the locals. Starting early this morning at the coffee shop and throughout the day we encountered people that were excited to see our Obama gear and to tell us how much they liked Obama. I have seen dozens of Obama stickers on cars and a guy wearing an Obama hat at the restaurant. I have seen zero McCain signs or supporters.

Just saw a news report that registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in Washoe County by 957. We certainly met a number of them today!

An inspirational moment:

"We are the United States of America. We are a nation that’s faced down war and depression; great challenges and great threats. And at each and every moment, we have risen to meet these challenges – not as Democrats, not as Republicans, but as Americans. With resolve. With confidence. With that fundamental belief that here in America, our destiny is not written for us, but by us. That’s who we are, and that’s the country we need to be right now."

Another good point:

"We need policies that grow our economy from the bottom-up, so that every American, everywhere, has the chance to get ahead. Not just the person who owns the factory, but the men and women who work on its floor. Not just the CEO, but the secretary and the janitor. Because if we've learned anything from this economic crisis, it's that we're all connected; we're all in this together; and we will rise or fall as one nation – as one people"

More to come...

Poll: Obama leads inWashoe County NV Plus Other Bush Counties

Jeremy Smith — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:09:24 EDT

Great news for all of us who have been to Reno or are on our way back. Senator Obama now leads in Washoe County. All of our work is paying off in Nevada. What else can we do?

Jeremy Smith

October 14th 2008 Politco.com

Barack Obama has erased traditional Republican advantages in four key bellwether counties that President Bush won in 2000 and 2004, according to a new Politico/InsiderAdvantage survey. Each county is critical to the outcome in the battleground state where it is located.

In Washoe County, near Reno, Nev., Obama leads McCain 46 percent to 45 percent , with 6 percent undecided. Obama posts a wider 50 percent-44 percent lead with 5 percent undecided in Raleigh, North Carolina's Wake County, and another 6 point lead in Hillsborough County, Fla., where Tampa is located. There, he edges McCain 47 percent to 41 percent, with 11 percent undecided.

Among the four counties tested, McCain leads in only one:Jefferson County, Colo., a populous Denver suburb. McCain is ahead there by a margin of 45 percent to 43 percent, with 8 percent undecided.

At first glance, these Politico/InsiderAdvantage numbers might not look so troubling for McCain, who trailed Obama by 10 points in an ABC/Washington Post national survey, released Monday.

But these four counties are crucial battlegrounds in four of the most competitive states in the presidential race. In recent years, the Republican path to the White House has run through these areas.

In 2004, President Bush won Washoe County, Nevada's second-most populous county, by a four-point margin over Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry. This year, when Obama is expected to run up a big vote lead in Las Vegas' Clark County, McCain is unlikely to be able to afford a loss in Washoe.

Colorado's Jefferson County supported GOP presidential candidates by an average of almost 18 points between 1976 and 2004. While it hasn't supported a Democrat since 1964, Jeffco has become much more politically marginal in recent years — in 2004, Bush beat Kerry there, 52 percent to 47 percent. It was no coincidence that McCain running mate Sarah Palin made her first solo campaign appearance after the Republican National Convention in Jefferson.

Tampa's Hillsborough County, which Bush carried 53 percent to 46 percent in 2004, and Raleigh's Wake County, which Bush won 51 percent to 49 percent in 2004, have been more evenly divided historically. With substantial minority populations and, in Wake County's case, a more affluent and educated electorate, they began this campaign as less friendly territory for McCain.

Still, Bush carried both counties in his two presidential bids and Obama's strong performances in these areas represent a troubling sign for the McCain campaign.

InsiderAdvantage pollster Matt Towery, who conducted the survey, said McCain's lagging numbers could be largely attributed to weak showings among independents and male voters.

"When you begin to see McCain fall apart in these states, it's because that male split becomes less and less," said Towery, who emphasized that McCain would have to perform well among men to make up for Obama's strong advantage with women voters.

Nevada's Washoe County features a dramatic gender gap, with women favoring Obama, 54 percent to 36 percent, and men choosing McCain, 55 percent to 38 percent.

But in Florida's Hillsborough County, Obama not only won 49 percent of women voters, to McCain's 43 percent, but he captured a plurality of male voters, beating McCain 45 percent to 39 percent.

In North Carolina's Wake County, the state's second-most populous after Charlotte's Mecklenburg County, McCain came closer to Obama's share of the female vote, with the Democrat leading by just over four points. But among men, Obama led McCain 51 percent to 43 percent — an untenable split for the Republican nominee.

Travel to Reno! (I just did)

Nick Davidenko — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:01:33 EDT

Hi SF4Obama,

I just got back from a weekend canvassing in Reno. It was fun and productive, and I highly encourage you to do it! You can sign up here:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/nvdfc

The canvassing wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it would be, and the campaign volunteers and organizers show you exactly what to do. It was an inspiring experience, and now I know it actually makes a big difference. I feel like I personally added 3-5 more votes to the Obama column (multiply that by the number of volunteers and, well, you get the idea).

The next four weekends are going to be crucial! Find a weekend that works for you, and do it. And better yet, find some friends to join you -- it's more than worth it.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/nvdfc

They will provide carpools and housing if you need it.

Go Obama!

Nick

What a Week!

Karen D. — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:38:15 EDT

Joined hundreds of folks from the Bay Area and canvassed in Reno, NV last weekend.

It is so affirming to speak to others about this campaign. Most everyone was very positive about Obama and those that were undecided were respectful and vice versa. I registered two new voters and one had never voted before. They were both voting for Obama. Only three folks refused to talk out of 200 doors that I knocked on last weekend. (Altitude and hills were tough so thank goodness for my training!) I hope to go back for the pre-election weekend and help wrap this up. thanks to the Coopers for letting me stay at their lovely home and hooray to all the other North Bay folks who made it to Reno last weekend... keep going back! Its working! Thanks Deb and Amber and Bree for all you do.

And Barack so prevailed this week: the whole "mercurial" activity of the opposing candidate made Barack look so steady and presidential. *Well, Barack does that anyhow regardless of the opposition. *So many of the MSM said the Barack won the debate, and that was heartening because it is so hard for me to be objective. What a weak debate tactic to say over and over that "you don't understand." Clearly Barack's responses showed that not only does he understand... he has a plan that is coherant and reasoned.

Lastly, I gather that my letter to the editor -- one of the action items found on *this* website -- made it to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat editorial pages (I have yet to see it) I am surprised but so glad I decided to do the letter while watching MsnbC and getting mad.

So glad for the great organization of this campaign to allow us all to do our part. All the groups that I belong to, with a special shout-out to the Trichicks for Obama group, are doing great. Keep up all your good work!

Karen D'Or, Santa Rosa, CA

WOW! RENO? BLUE?

Tanya — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:36:05 EDT

Is Washoe County, Nevada About To Flip Blue?
Washoe County, home of Reno and Sparks and 19% of Nevada's vote, may be on the verge of having more registered Democrats than Republicans. It would be a stunning development.

heading to Nevada

Beth M — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:45:48 EDT

I am looking forward to traveling to Reno to help register new voters and to help identify potential voters for Obama. We all need to help people register by October 4th so they can register by mail. See http://sos.state.nv.us/elections/voter/registration.asp for more information.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/6/205910/4053 is an excellent write-up about one woman's experience canvassing in Reno for her first time. It has made me feel much more comfortable about my first trip.

Nevada State Convention in Reno.

Rae — Mon, 19 May 2008 22:06:14 EDT

Well it was a blast and a lot of work!! I figured I would give a brief update on how it went and share some photos.

I arrived at the airport on time and sat and waited with the other passengers for a completely full flight to Reno. Very few people were wearing campaign gear so it was hard to figure out who was with which camp. I sat amoungst what turned out to be some very bitter Hillary delegates. Do not get me wrong, not all Hillary supporters are bitter or mean but the ones that are ...well they are down right scary! They were griping about how stupid Obama people are and how any woman could betray Hillary like this was beyond them. Did I mention I was wearing my Obama shirt?

Unsolicited Nevada Delegate emails

Wally — Sun, 11 May 2008 03:19:31 EDT

For those going to the state convention next weekend, I am sure we're all going to be deluged with emails from delegates who want to go to the national convention. A couple questions, and a comment or two.

First, are their Obama supporters who are serious candidates for Denver whom we should all attempt to get behind? Or at least a short list?

Second, I realize it is every candidate's right to self-promote, but when does it get to be too much? Just trying to get a general sense of this since I am new to this.

And no, I am not promoting myself as a national candidate either. I would love to but my soon-to-be son is due around August 26th and, well, you've got to set priorities somewhere, right?

Anyways, I received an email from Mrs. Erin Bilbray-Kohn earlier today, as I'm sure most of you did, and I pulled up my old copy of the Obama delegate list (including some names who unfortunately did not make the cut here in Clark County). I don't have a solid state listing of the for-sure delegates going to Reno, but since I did not see her name on that list, I would presume , possibly incorrectly, that she is a Clinton supporter.

Can anyone clear up this particular person's loyalties, and possibly help us along with the rest?

In the interest of backing Obama-leaning candidates, *is* there a master list of solely Obama supporters and where can we find it? Yes, someone will tell me we're all one party and such, and in a normal, non-play-to-the-racists campaign from the opposition, I'd agree. We can differ on this, but kindly respect my wishes on this please.

Thanks much in advance for any assist, opinions, and comments on this.

Take It Easy (Obama Wins Washoe!)

Robert Mills — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:13:55 EST

Some Obama supporters question fairness of county convention.

I say "chill."

Close-quarters combat with the Hillary camp can be stressful stuff. I attended the Washoe County Democratic Convention Saturday and I can attest to a thick sense of hostility floating around the Reno Convention Center Ballroom. A line was painted (literally) down the middle of the floor, separating the Obama and Clinton factions definitively.

1,666 delegates decided which candidate was the best representative voice for Northern Nevada. That voice belonged to Barack Obama. In the first alignment of 1,666 delegates, there were 77 votes for John Edwards, 668 votes for Hillary Clinton and 915 votes for Barack Obama with six undecided voters. After the first alignment, John Edwards was declared a nonviable candidate and Edwards voters were required to realign with either Clinton or Obama. After the second alignment, there were 1,655 delegate votes with 11 refusing to support one of the two viable candidates. Of the 1,655 votes, 683 went to Clinton with 15 Edwards votes and 972 went to Obama with an additional 57 votes coming from the Edwards camp.

I’m hearing stories of Clinton supporters behaving unfairly to some Obama supporters at Saturday’s event. All I can say is, “what did you expect?” Following 11 major losses and the announcement of an horrendous campaign debt reaching the millions, Clinton supporters are justifiably bitter. One thing I believe--despite any failings of bureaucracy or treachery from bad-egg supporters--is the event went alright. It wasn’t perfect, but it was okay. It could have always ran smoother, but that’s hindsight. A handful of people ran a convention full of 1,000-plus divided Democrats and did so rather fairly. There will always be complaints, but one or two angry people is better than an event cancelation -- like what happened in Clark county.

I’ll admit that I saw some things I didn’t agree with, but I think that, as an Obama supporter, I was already on the defensive. In January my caucus was led by a self-proclaimed, “recovering drug addict” Clinton supporter who nearly had a “panic attack” when some Obama supporters disagreed with her declaration to close doors at 11:30 a.m. (instead of noon). Apparently, this kind of thing happened all over Nevada -- prompting legal action from both camps and the writing of letters to Congressional Candidate Jill Derby regarding voter disenfranchisement (in thousands of precincts). I think these experiences made a lot of Obama supporters (including myself) ultra-sensitive to the issue of fairness.

When I entered the convention, I analyzed the floor like a hawk. I was prepared for anything. Questions like, “why is the Clinton half of the room closer to the main entrance?,” “why are the Hillary posters bigger than the Obama posters?” and “why are Hillary people signing in delegates?” ran through my mind. I questioned the fairness of the arrangement of alternate and guest seating. I took my seat in the bleachers and waited for the worst.

Nothing much happened.

There was a heated debate over what would be done with any remaining John Edwards delegate votes if there weren’t enough Edwards supporters in attendance. Delegates debated for what seemed like an hour until we came to the decision that remaining Edwards delegate votes would be split proportionately in accordance with Nevada caucus results. Well, there were enough Edwards supporters, so the debate was completely moot.

Sometime later, alternates got to enter the delegate floor. I was one of over one-hundred people that changed their name tags from “Alternate” to “Delegate” in support of Obama. When I went to cast my vote, I didn’t know where to turn in my candidate preference card. A Hillary supporter guided me in the wrong direction and mumbled something like, “I dunno I think it’s somewhere over there.”

I learn fast.

I found the nearest Obama supporter who pointed me in the right direction and even helped me with my little, bead-necklace thing (which wasn’t necessary but still very nice of her to do).

I guess what I’m getting at is that we need to stick together and not focus on the negativity of the Clinton camp and their steadily declining bid for the presidency. We should be focusing on the positivity of our own campaign and the fact that we worked together to make Washoe County, Obama Country. We should focus on the fact that, despite the long day, we got the job done with minimal pain.

Videos: Standing for Change in Reno, Nevada

Zachary Scott Edwards — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:22:24 EST

During today’s town hall in Reno, Barack talked about how during his presidency he will break with the status quo by looking out for Main Street instead of just Wall Street.

After the rally—people were fired up about caucusing tomorrow for Barack. (Click here to find your caucus location):

Standing for Change: Questions and Answers at Reno Rally

Zachary Scott Edwards — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:55:00 EST

The packed auditorium here at the University of Nevada, Reno has gone from a big energetic Obama rally, into a cozy town hall—with the help of a handful volunteers with microphones who let audience members all over the room ask questions.

Barack looks incredibly comfortable on stage, and he has a bounce in his step this morning as the volunteers are fanning out into the audience.

The first questioner asked, “How will you restore America’s credibility?” Barack said that he will call together the joint chiefs and give them a new mission—end the war in Iraq. Barack also launched into a power speech about his deep commitment to diplomacy—and his belief that America is strongest when we engage our enemies and use discussion not as the last resort, but as the first. The crowd just gave a booming voice of approval after Barack advocated that we need to bring more people to the table in order to solve the complex problems that have been consistently pushed aside for more divisive solutions.

Another questioner asked Barack what he would do to reverse the course that has sent seniors falling into poverty more so every day, and sent too many Americans to bed hungry and without a reliable source of food.

Barack has been talking about this all week, and he immediately began talking about the $80 billion dollars in tax relief that he will get to families making $75,000 dollars a year or less. Barack will also rollback the payroll taxes that have allowed people like Warren Buffet, who made about $46 million dollars last year, to pay taxes for only the first $97,000 dollars. He is also going to increase the number of direct service programs-- which was met by someone in the audience who yelled “Jesus loves you Barack!” Barack quickly replied “thank you, and I love him too.”

The third person to ask a question said that her husband is a 22 year veteran of the army who wanted her to ask Barack what he will do to restore their benefits.

Barack told a story about his trip Walter Reed and the disgrace he saw there in the level of care for veterans returning from Iraq. Barack vehemently stated that, as president, he will always budget for the care of veterans—which includes screening for physical and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) when leaving service. He will have zero tolerance for veterans without homes-- by providing them with residential facilities and treatment programs. He will provide better job training programs for returning veterans, make all medical records digital so there will be no delays in treatment, and expand the GI bill so that more veterans can continue their education.

The question about veteran’s benefits got Barack really fired up, because he has seen the numerous problems first hand through his work on the Veteran’s Affairs Committee. You can see the sense of urgency in his eyes—his sense of obligation and internalized duty to fix these unacceptable breaches of our duty to veterans. The crowd responded to Barack’s appeal for better care of our veterans with a wall of sound—claps, cheers, and foot stomping. It’s clear that Barack not only has the experience to understand and appreciate the problems of veterans, and the commitment and desire to fix these problems, but also the ability to bring people together to understand the importance of undertaking these changes to the status quo.

Tomorrow, people all over Nevada are going to stand up for these types of changes Barack can bring. He inspires us to think beyond ourselves—and to work for change for all Americans. This is our moment to join the movement that is already sweeping the country—from California to Maine—from Minnesota to Mississippi. This is a change you can believe in.

Tomorrow at 11 AM, we need everyone in Nevada to get to their caucus location. Stand up and help us bring change to Washington.

Over 1,500 Rally For Barack and Michelle in Reno

Zachary Scott Edwards — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:43:48 EST

Barack and Michelle are at the University of Reno this morning talking with thousands of supporters and undecided Nevadans. The mood here is electric, because early this week—at every event held in Reno and Carson City—the venues were packed to capacity with hundreds of people in overflow rooms and even waiting outside listening on loudspeakers. Finally we found a venue big enough to hold all the Obama supporters—and yet they have still packed the room and filled all the chairs!

There are hundreds of young people all over the place; there is a buzz on campus, and for nearly every single one of them—this will be their first time to caucus. This entire election Barack has been bringing new people into the democratic process and Reno looks to be no exception. Young people want change; they want an end to the old ways of Washington, and the games that are played all too often.

Michelle has gotten on the stage and is introducing Barack. The crowd went absolutely wild chanting “Obama 08’, Obama 08’.” Michelle also just gave an appeal that was met with even louder cheers.

“I’ve always been told, no, not yet, you're not good enough, wait your turn. But what this campaign has taught me is that people are ready, the veil of impossibility has been snatched away, and people are ready for change. Barack is the most capable to bring the change that we need.”

Barack was just introduced and the place absolutely roared with approval. People are stomping on the ground in the rafters—it’s thunderous. From here—it’s clear -- Reno is ready for change.

Ready for Change in Reno

Zachary Scott Edwards — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:48:42 EST

Things are heating up all over Nevada, and Reno is certainly no exception. Just yesterday, General Tony McPeak and Senator Dick Durbin stopped by the Reno HQ to fire up some of our volunteers and talk about why they are traveling the country to get the word out about Barack.

General McPeak is a retired four-star general and former member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. McPeak’s honesty, integrity, and his experience helping to manage Air Force operations during the first Gulf War give him a unique perspective on American diplomacy. Everyone who got a chance to see him in Reno got fired up after hearing about why he thinks Barack is the best person to lead our country in a new direction.

Senator Dick Durbin is a senior Senator from Illinois, and was one of only 23 US Senators who voted against the Iraq War Resolution. The staff and volunteers were immediately captivated by his down to earth nature and his personal experience working with Barack in Illinois. When Senator Durbin came into the office, he immediately complimented one of our interns “Nevada for Obama” t-shirt. Then, the phone rang and he excitedly ran over to answer it with, “Obama for America headquarters, can I help you?” To say the least, the Reno staff and volunteers are now huge fans of Senator Durbin and are already talking about their hopes for another chance to spend time with him.

The staff ended up presenting Senator Durbin with his very own "Nevada for Obama" t-shirt, and wished him luck as he left for a driving tour of northern Nevada which included stops in Fallon, Winnemucca, and Elko.

If you are in Reno, you should come down and check out our office—there are only 3 days until we caucus this Saturday at 11 AM, and if you can just take an hour or two to help out—it would make a big difference!

Barack will also be back in Reno on Friday holding a Town Hall event at the University of Nevada. You can RSVP here--- it should be another great event!

Join Us at the Reno HQ!

Here are a few pictures of our volunteers getting to work after being fired up by Senator Durbin and General McPeak:

Reclaiming the American Dream: Roundtable Discussion in Reno, Nevada

Zachary Scott Edwards — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:11:29 EST

This morning in Reno, Barack sat down with four local residents to talk about the mortgage crisis in America that has hit Nevada particularly hard. Most of the conversation revolved around economic issues, but Barack’s decision to not accept money from federal lobbyists or PAC’s was particularly important to the participants, because in order to Reclaim the American Dream, we must take back Washington from the political insiders and special interest groups that have too much influence over our government

One of the participants, Patty (on the right with red hair), is a real estate consultant, and she has seen firsthand how people are losing their homes left and right. She is no longer making enough money from her job, and she had to unfortunately take a second job helping banks foreclose on houses. Patty strongly believes that the American dream is that if you want a house, you should be able to have one—and she was particularly concerned by the downward trends in home ownership in Northern Nevada.

Alex, another participant, is a divorced father with seven kids who rents a trailer. Alex said he feels ashamed and angry that he can't offer his children a real home, and he feels that the American Dream is out of reach for too many people in similar situations.

Sitting to the right of Barack was Skye, who wants more education for new home buyers, because of the predatory mortgage practices. Her husband is a Reno police officer who was injured, but went back to work. He was then diagnosed with cancer and had to continue working—but got injured again. Now they are behind on their mortgage payments, without anyone to turn to. A car loan company offered to work with their situation, but their mortgage payments were not met with equal understanding. Their home is also now valued at less than what they bought it for, making it more and more difficult to plan for the future.

One of the most alarming stories came from Tamishia, sitting in the front on the left. Tamishia bought her home with no money down, at her "stated" income (she was a dealer at a casino- so her income varies a great deal). She ended up having to work two jobs to keep up with her payments, but after deciding to switch careers, she couldn't make payments anymore. Her loan ended up being passed from company to company before she tried a loan re-modification. During this process, her home was sold to an investment company without her knowledge, who then foreclosed and forced her to move out. She is currently having trouble finding an apartment because of her bad credit.

Barack is a vocal critic of these types of deceitful practices, and introduced a bill in the Senate over a year ago called the “Stop Fraud Act.” Barack is committed to tackling these complex issues that have been ignored for far too long.

Barack spoke clearly that the times have changed, and mortgage and lending laws have not followed suit. He also spoke at length about the lack of incentive for companies to give good advice, because it’s not banks that carry the loans, but rather investment companies. Nothing happens to them if the home forecloses, because the investment company has just picked another property. Barack also feels strongly that lenders should be able to negotiate directly with home buyers and owners, and that right now; the government’s role should be focused around stabilization of the market.

Read about Barack’s plan for Protecting Homeownership and Cracking Down on Mortgage Fraud.

Barack also feels strongly that everyone should be able to have a say in their government—which is why he regularly participates in roundtable discussions. In case you have a personal insight or idea, you can submit your own ideas here!

Nevada: General Tony McPeak and Samantha Power in Reno

Zachary Scott Edwards — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:26:01 EST

This morning in Reno, The Obama campaign held a Foreign Policy Summit with two of Barack’s top advisors General Tony McPeak and Samantha Power.

General McPeak is a retired four-star general and former member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Samantha Power is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “A Problem from Hell": America and the Age of Genocide and a professor of Global Leadership and Public Policy at Harvard.

Both distinguished advisors discussed Barack Obama’s judgment to lead, and his vision for a strong and principled new direction for American foreign policy.

McPeak and Power were introduced by one of our field organizers, David, an Iraq War veteran, and a strong supporter of Barack’s commitment to international relations and increased diplomatic activity.

Richard Siegel, one of Nevada’s community leaders and a professor emeritus at UNLV, was given the opportunity to ask one of the questions to McPeak and Power

General Mcpeak also took the time to stop by our Reno office to talk to some of our volunteers and staff.

Barack is the leader that can get our country back on track and help us move forward… but we need your support to make it happen!

Get involved now and help get supporters out to the Nevada Caucus on January 19th.

Foreign Policy Summit in Reno

Zachary Scott Edwards — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 23:45:37 EST

The Obama campaign in Nevada is proud to announce that this Friday morning, January 11th; we will be holding a foreign policy summit in Reno with two of Barack’s top foreign policy advisors, General Tony McPeak and Pulitzer Prize winning author, Samantha Power. They will be meeting with Reno residents to discuss Barack Obama’s judgment to lead and his vision for a strong and principled new direction for American foreign policy.

Get more details and RSVP here.

General McPeak is a retired four-star general and was the Air Force Chief of Staff during the first gulf war.

Check out this video from his last visit to the Silver State for a town hall meeting in Pahrump.

Get more details and RSVP here.

Samantha Power is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide” and a professor of Global Leadership and Public Policy at Harvard.

Check out this video from her last visit to Las Vegas when she attended a foreign policy house party in Sun City.

This is a going to be a really special event for Northern Nevada residents, and we hope you can make it out this Friday, January 11th-- the doors open at 9:45 AM. Get more details and RSVP here.

There isn’t much time before the January 19th Nevada caucus—now is the time to Stand Up and Get Involved. Together we take back Washington.

Join Us and Our Movement for Change.

Anyone else Going to Reno,Nevada?!

Greg P. — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:14:06 EST

My wife and I just booked a hotel in Reno for Jan. 17th - 19th to help out with the Obama campaign in Nevada for their primaries. We found a great deal on http://www.hotelclub.net/ for the Atlantis Casino Resort & Spa Reno; 2 nights were just $60! We plan on driving to Reno from Daly City (near San Francisco), but if the weather is really bad and the roads are closed, we will likely fly to Reno, or possibley Las Vegas if the flights/hotels are cheaper at that point.

Is anyone else from Daly City or San Francisco planning on going? It would be fun to meet up there!

Go Obama!

Actor Kal Penn Canvasses with UNR Students for Barack Obama

Michael Pipe — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:04:13 EST

Actor Kal Penn just finished up canvassing with members of the University of Nevada, Reno chapter of Students for Barack Obama (SFBO). Kal has starred in several films, including "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" and "The Namesake" and currently stars in the television series House. He talked with local students about Barack Obama's courage to change the system in Washington and his vision to unite the country.

Here's a quick report from Marysa, president of SFBO at UNR (pictured above with Kal):

"Kal Penn came through our campus and surprised students while caucusing for Obama. We collected a large amount of pledge cards and really got the word out more to the campus. Kal spoke with our UNR SFBO chapter before we went canvassing."

Kal Penn is currently making phone calls with SFBO members and other volunteers in our Reno office. Stop by if you have a chance!

Tammy’s Extended Obama Family

Zachary Scott Edwards — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 23:24:55 EST

Guest blogged by Reno Volunteer, Tammy.

Meet John and Dan -- two Reno Obama staffers who've come all the way from Pittsburgh and Palo Alto, respectively, to make sure Barack gets to the White House. John had been crashing at our humble abode for a few weeks when Dan came to town and found himself homeless. So John selflessly gave up his private room and we stuck Dan on a mattress on John's floor. Just one day after Dan arrived; the entire staff was off to Vegas for training, where John and Dan felt "lucky" to share an air mattress in an Obama supporter's vacant house. Weeks later, it dawned on them that not only had they spent every single day working together, they hadn't slept more than 5 feet apart since Dan had arrived!

My family has been hosting staffers and volunteers ever since the campaign began, and we've loved everyone who's stayed with us. There's been Frannie, who shares my love of pop culture (she once talked me into a midnight showing of "Harry Potter"); John, who wowed my 5-year-old with his knowledge of dinosaurs (my son Ian still asks when he's coming back to live with us); and Dan, who my husband jokingly calls our "son" because he was like having our very own adult-child in the house ("How do you boil an egg?" "Can I borrow a belt, mine broke."). We were pretty worried about him leaving the nest.

As we move into December, the campaign is in dire need of housing for interns and staffers who are coming from all over the country to help us out. If you have space, take my word for it -- they don't take up much. Everyone works so much that they're never around. They wake up, take a shower, say "Good Morning," leave, come home really late, and then do it all again the next day.

Sometimes they have a few hours to do some laundry (but you'd be surprised how infrequently even that happens). I saw more of Frannie, John, and Dan at the office than I did at my house.

So contact your local office if you can house someone. It's an easy way to make a big contribution.

We have 7 field offices in Nevada. Get in touch with one near you and join the Obama family.

The Clock is Always Ticking

Zachary Scott Edwards — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:27:15 EST

Recently, the Reno HQ for the Obama campaign put up a countdown board for all to see as they come into the office to volunteer. Currently, it tells us that there are only 71 days left until the caucus. When they first put it up, we couldn't help but be reminded of another countdown calendar.

For the military men and women serving in Iraq, each day in the combat zone is a day closer to seeing their loved ones back home. Each mission completed is a step closer to the flight home. However, once the service members returned home, the clock is reset and another countdown begins, the days left before they have to go back to Iraq.

The military men and women that are serving our country do not choose the battles they fight, nor do they have the luxury of choosing who they take their orders from.

All of us in Nevada have a choice this election year. This Veteran’s Day, let us pay our respects to those who came before us and those currently giving up their freedom of choice so that we can peacefully choose our leaders back home. Deciding who the President of the United States will be is a big responsibility, and there are those overseas, in distant deserts and high mountains, counting on us to make the wise choice. Let’s make sure that once our troops return home, they never have to reset the countdown clock to go back. Let’s do our part for the next 71 days.

Join us in our movement for change.

We encourage you to make your contribution by Phone Banking. It’s one of the most important tools of the Obama grass roots, and the best way to reach out to undecided Nevadans.

Contact other voters and share with them why you support Barack. Call your local office to sign up.

Watch Barack Obama offer a new beginning on Iraq (from Oct. 2, 2007).

Stephane all over Reno!

Zachary Scott Edwards — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 01:51:43 EST

Guest blogged by Tammy, volunteer from Reno, NV.

Stephane, a super-volunteer from the Reno office, is a UNR senior majoring in Women's Studies and History. When Michelle Obama came to town, I snapped a picture of Stephane with Michelle in the background.

We were pretty excited about this. So when Tom Daschle visited the office, Stephane and I made sure to get a shot of the two of them together. This put us on a bit of a crusade.

So when Barack came to Reno for the Town Hall, I knew we had to go three for three. Stephane made things easier by being picked to introduce him (along with Mike, the founder of UNR Students for Obama) at the PC meeting. Barack was there. Stephane was there. They met! They hugged. And what happened? I missed the shot! Fortunately, there were about 500 cameras in the room, so we’ve been searching high and low for that golden picture. Luckily, Barbara, another great volunteer, caught one with Stephane in the far, far background (wearing a white shirt near the door).

Stephane is a first-class example of the dedication to the Obama grassroots in Nevada. She is not only attending nearly every campaign event, but also making sure to spread the good word about Barack to her friends, family and neighbors. She is also a precinct captains and has been walking her neighborhood for months.

The Obama campaign wants to thank all of the great supporters in Northern Nevada for their dedication to our movement for change. Stephane has been raising the bar and making sure that everyone in Reno has the information they need to make an informed decision… and gets behind Barack.

In the future when one of our steering committee members, campaign officials, or members of the Obama family are in town… look out for Stephane….I’m sure she’ll be there and we might just need YOU to take a picture for us!

Stephane all over Reno!

Zachary Scott Edwards — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 11:32:58 EST

Guest blogged by Tammy, volunteer from Reno, NV.

We were pretty excited about this. So when Tom Daschle visited the office, Stephane and I made sure to get a shot of the two of them together. This put us on a bit of a crusade.

UNLV Students Organize for Barack on Campus

Michael Pipe — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:05:16 EDT

Chapters of Students for Barack Obama are forming in high schools and colleges all across the country. Students here in Nevada are eager to organize and spread the word about Barack. The University of Nevada, Reno has been featured on the Nevada blog before and has a fantastic grassroots presence on campus. Their bretheren and sisters in the south are organizing the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Sara Arthrell, president of Students for Barack Obama at UNLV, spoke with me for a few minutes after a meeting the group held in the Student Union. Check out some of our interview below:

To learn more about Students for Barack Obama in Nevada and how you can get involved please email Nevada Youth Vote Director Justo Robles (email).

Marci- Sparks Resident, Precinct Captain, Military Mother

Zachary Scott Edwards — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:20:13 EDT

Our volunteer blogger, Tammy, has written another fantastic volunteer profile of Marci-Sparks Resident, Precinct Captain, Military Mother. More great coverage of Northern Nevada to come!

If you told Marci three weeks ago that she was going to get up in front of 2,500 people and introduce Barack Obama, she definitely would have thought that you were nuts. This military mother and grandmother serendipitously crossed paths with me a few weeks ago, and after an extended discussion about politics, it became clear that Marci would be a fantastic addition to the Obama team. Once she came on board, she hit the ground running. You may have seen her on the blog when she spoke out about the 5th anniversary of the Iraq War authorization vote.

From the 5th Anniversary Post:

Marci, from Sparks, has four family members in the armed services – her son, daughter, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law-to-be. She voted for President Bush twice because she believed he would truly support the troops. Then she realized that we went into the war without a plan and that the administration was putting a greater strain on the troops than they should be asked to bear. And she should know – she’s right there, hearing, seeing, and living the results of it every day.

Marci became a precinct leader the same day as her speech, and Obama HQ has become her second home. A few days later, she was picked to introduce Barack at the Reno Town Hall. When a reporter interviewed her more than three hours later, he told her she needed to stop smiling. She said, "Sorry, I can't!" Her husband has asked if this is how their life is going to be for the next year, and Marci said, without hesitation, "Yeah, pretty much."

Marci’s passion and dedication to her family, community, and country really makes it hard NOT to smile.

The grassroots are growing strong with the support of dedicated volunteers like Marci. If you would like to join the Obama team in Reno contact:

Reno HQ

775-333-9900

141 E. Pueblo St., Suite B

Or Contact our other Nevada offices.

Reno Town Hall Meeting

Sierra Hussein Cajun — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 18:55:45 EDT

On Thursday, October 18, several people from Placer County, California drove up to Reno to see Sen. Obama at a town hall meeting in Reno. Apparently they had over 2,000 attendees (and were expecting about 1,000). You can actually see me and my wife seated on the top row behind Sen. Obama on the front page of the Reno Gazette-Journal.

After an introduction by a woman who has two children fighting in Iraq, Sen. Obama outlined his foreign policy toward Iran for about 15 minutes, discussing the advantages of negotiation over cowboy politics. He wants to see the USA regain its positive image in the eyes of foreign countries. Then he took questions from the audience about Native American relations, health care reform, higher education reform, and veterans' affairs.

A few months ago, I thought I would probably vote for Sen. Clinton, but after three chapters of The Audacity of Hope, I was won over. His interaction with the audience in Reno continued to motivate me to get involved in making the USA a country I want to live in again. He addressed pertinent issues in each question and differentiated himself between the other candidates.

One of the most important points he made was that no one can call him a flip-flopper. Of the many reasons the American public didn't vote for Kerry in '04, the flip-flopper tag was likely the most damaging. Sen. Obama has been against the war from the beginning, speaking out against the war in Iraq when he was running for Senate. I don't vote for anyone just because I think they're electable (heck, I voted for Jerry Brown in '92), but I am confident that Sen. Obama can take the values issue away from any of the Republican candidates.

Rebel Pride

Michael Pipe — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:52:33 EDT

After Barack finished up his first leg of his "One Day Two Cities" swing through Nevada, Obama supporters joined in the festivities on the UNLV campus.

It's Homecoming Week at UNLV and students, faculty, and administrators enjoyed some food and music on campus today.

Students for Barack Obama were busy signing up supporters and handing out tickets for the Las Vegas Community Event with Barack Obama tonight. Nathan from Las Vegas (above) manned the Obama table for an hour or two and answer questions about Barack's policies and positions.

I'm headed off to the Las Vegas event right now! I'll see you there!

Barack Back in Reno!

Zachary Scott Edwards — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:50:06 EDT

Thursday morning in Reno, Senator Barack Obama held a meeting with local precinct captains and hosted a town hall meeting at the Grand Sierra Resort. More than 2000 Northern Nevadans, including residents from Carson City (which has a brand new office!), Sparks, and Reno packed the Grand Theater. Barack told the standing room only crowd that America needs a President who will approach national security decisions with honesty and sound judgment and not repeat the tragic mistakes made when we invaded Iraq.

“The American people were failed by a President who rushed to war, and who didn’t tell the American people the whole truth. A President who squandered the unity of this country and our standing in the world. But the American people were also failed by the majority of Congress that didn’t ask hard questions,” said Barack Obama.

In his remarks, Obama specifically referenced the Senate amendment that raises the risk that we could repeat the mistake of Iraq with Iran.

“We all know that Iran poses a threat. We do need to mount international pressure to stop Iran’s nuclear program. We do need to tighten sanctions on the Iranian regime – particularly on Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, which supports terrorism. But this must be done separately from any saber-rattling about checking Iranian influence with our military presence in Iraq,” Obama continued.

“Just yesterday, the President warned of 'World War III' if Iran develops the knowledge to build a nuclear weapon. This kind of 'bring it on' rhetoric is dangerous, it is irresponsible, and it is has led directly to the increased threat from Iran and America's decreased ability to lead the world,” said Barack Obama.

“The truth is, the growing threat from Iran is a direct result of the misguided war in Iraq and the misguided policy of not talking to our adversaries. But the way to counter that threat is not by keeping our troops in Iraq, voting for saber rattling amendments or warning of World War III. The way to counter that threat is to end this war, to rally the world to our side, and to launch the kind of tough, direct and sustained diplomacy that this President has disdained. And when I'm President, I won't just hide behind tough talk. When I am President, I will lead.”

If you would like to join our Movement for Change in Northern Nevada, Click Here.

The members of Students for Barack Obama from the University of Nevada, Reno were on hand for the rally. The vice-president of the group, Maritza, took the above picture. She said that Barack remembered her and the president of the group, Marysa, from the last time Barack was in Elko. He called them the "Elko girls" and they replied that they run Students for Obama because "We love you!"

Reno Students Forum on Iraq War

Zachary Scott Edwards — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 01:45:40 EDT

Reno, NV – University of Nevada Reno (UNR) students and other members from Students for Barack Obama chapters across Northern Nevada participated in a Forum on Iraq today at the Obama for America Headquarters in Reno. Students also prepared questions to ask Barack Obama at tomorrow’s Town Hall meeting at the Grand Sierra Resort.

The president of McQueen high school Students for Barack Obama, Emily, attended the event and had this to say:

More than forty high school, college and middle school students crowded Reno's Barack Obama Headquarters this afternoon. The room, filled with students as different as the food options (the hamburgers were amazing!), showed that our generation cares and further, has a voice. We probably looked mismatched to any outsider, some wearing business tops and heels, while others wore knee-high socks and soccer shorts. But we all had one thing in common: we came to learn about Barack's message.
With several news crews, reporters and photographers standing by, one student began the discussion with the most obvious and possibly most important question of the campaign: what is Barack's policy of getting our troops out of Iraq?
The moderator of the group and an Iraq veteran, David quickly took the opportunity to detail Barack's plan. This hit home with us and opened up further discussion ranging from Iran and Afghanistan to the environment and education.

Another student asked "How will America regain respect in the eyes of the world?"
"From the day Barack takes office" David said.
In preparation for the town hall meeting tomorrow, we asked questions about Barack’s policies. When we had questions too difficult for the representatives to answer ("You guys are a lot more educated and informed than people give you credit for!" David said. ) we were told to ask the senator himself.
We all left knowing how fortunate we are to be able to meet with the Senator and further be part of a campaign that is changing the ways of Washington.

Join us tomorrow at 11 AM for a Town Hall Meeting with Barack Obama at the Grand Sierra Resort. To RSVP or find an office where you can pick up your tickets Click here.

5th Anniversary

Zachary Scott Edwards — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 23:40:56 EDT

The Obama campaign would like to thank our guest volunteer blogger Tamara, from Reno who helped us record this important discussion in Reno.

"I don't oppose all wars. And I know that in this crowd today, there is no shortage of patriots, or of patriotism. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war."

-Barack Obama Anti-War Rally, Chicago 2002

If anyone at the Reno office needed a reminder about why we’re all working so hard to get Obama elected, we got one yesterday. During a press conference at our headquarters, Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie introduced us to two mothers of Iraq War veterans. They all came to mark the 5th anniversary of Congress’s vote to authorize the war and talk about why they’re supporting Barack Obama.

Robin, from Carson City, has a son who was a paratrooper in Iraq. When I told her that I couldn’t imagine how frightening it must have been for her, she said, “The whole time he was gone, I didn’t want to leave the house because I was afraid he’d call, and I’d miss it. But then I didn’t want to stay home because every time there was a knock at the door, I knew what that could mean. I was terrified every single day.”

What these two women have in common, besides being military mothers, is that they support Barack Obama. Because he had the wisdom and courage to oppose the war from the very beginning, they believe he is the best person to lead us out of Iraq. It’s people like Robin and Marci who are making sure Barack gets into the White House so that everyone’s sons and daughters can come home.

Watch Remarks from Senator Barack Obama: Lessons from Iraq

To see what Las Vegas did for the 5th anniversary of the Iraq War Authorization Vote click here.

5th Anniversary

Zachary Scott Edwards — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 23:25:31 EDT

The Obama campaign would like to thank our guest volunteer blogger Tamara, from Reno who helped us record this important discussion in Reno.

"I don't oppose all wars. And I know that in this crowd today, there is no shortage of patriots, or of patriotism. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war."

-Barack Obama Anti-War Rally, Chicago 2002

Watch Remarks from Senator Barack Obama: Lessons from Iraq

To see what Las Vegas did for the 5th anniversary of the Iraq War Authorization Vote click here.

5th Anniversary

Zachary Scott Edwards — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 23:40:54 EDT

The Obama campaign would like to thank our guest volunteer blogger Tamara, from Reno who helped us record this important discussion in Reno.

"I don't oppose all wars. And I know that in this crowd today, there is no shortage of patriots, or of patriotism. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war."

-Barack Obama Anti-War Rally, Chicago 2002

Watch Remarks from Senator Barack Obama: Lessons from Iraq

To see what Las Vegas did for the 5th anniversary of the Iraq War Authorization Vote click here.

5th Anniversary

Zachary Scott Edwards — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 23:40:53 EDT

The Obama campaign would like to thank our guest volunteer blogger Tamara, from Reno who helped us record this important discussion in Reno.

"I don't oppose all wars. And I know that in this crowd today, there is no shortage of patriots, or of patriotism. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war."

-Barack Obama Anti-War Rally, Chicago 2002

Watch Remarks from Senator Barack Obama: Lessons from Iraq

To see what Las Vegas did for the 5th anniversary of the Iraq War Authorization Vote click here.

5th Anniversary

Zachary Scott Edwards — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 23:40:51 EDT

The Obama campaign would like to thank our guest volunteer blogger Tamara, from Reno who helped us record this important discussion in Reno.

"I don't oppose all wars. And I know that in this crowd today, there is no shortage of patriots, or of patriotism. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war."

-Barack Obama Anti-War Rally, Chicago 2002

Watch Remarks from Senator Barack Obama: Lessons from Iraq

To see what Las Vegas did for the 5th anniversary of the Iraq War Authorization Vote click here.

Freedom of Speech at UNR Still Under Discussion

Zachary Scott Edwards — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:42:24 EDT

If the University of Nevada, Reno has its way, Maritza Perez, the Vice-President of the Students for Barack Obama UNR chapter, won’t be able to practice her freedom of speech by placing a Barack Obama sign and an anti-war sign in her 4th floor dorm-room window.

From left to right: Boris, Marysa, Barack, Maritza, Jeb

The ACLU has now gotten involved and is advising Maritza on her upcoming discussions with the school administrators. The official policy of UNR is to not allow any signs in dorm room windows—so that they don’t have to make decisions over what is “offensive.”

The Nevada Sagebrush has been doing great in-depth reporting on this controversy and contacted Lee Rowland, the staff attorney for the ACLU about the upcoming conflict with school administrators:

Rowland said this is a First Amendment issue and laughed when she learned the university banned signs because they didn’t want to deal with obscene speech.
“Quite frankly, (banning signs because) some speech might be offensive or disruptive is absolutely ludicrous, especially from a government entity like UNR,” Rowland said.

The University of Nevada, Reno was the first institute of higher learning in Nevada and was established in 1887. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas broke free from UNR in 1964 and began to call its students the “Rebels” to solidify their newfound freedom.

It looks like students at UNR are still fighting to level the playing field—and university administrators are still pushing back against anyone who wishes to use their freedom of speech—whether that be to support a Democratic presidential candidate, or protest the Iraq War.

If you would like to join the Students for Obama movement:

Myspace:

Nevada for Obama

Facebook:

Obama for America-Nevada

Northern Nevada Students for Obama

UNLV Students for Barack Obama

Nevada Students for Obama

MyBarackObama.com:

Nevada Students for Obama

Privacy and Civil Liberties

Nevada Youth Vote Director:

Justo Robles

jrobles@barackobama.com

Working with the Grassroots in Reno

Zachary Scott Edwards — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 16:32:41 EDT

Emma, one of our locals, is a great example of someone who “never misses an opportunity.” She couldn’t make it in to volunteer, (unusual for her) because she couldn’t miss her grandchildren’s Pop Warner baseball games. Solution: wear a “Barack Obama” hat and strike up conversations about him whenever the opportunity presents itself!

Emma added to her Obama hat collection at our potluck on Saturday when she ran into Shirley from Santa Cruz, in Reno for a border state weekend. Shirley’s friend, “Mike the Hat Guy,” has been creating hats ever since he saw Barack in Springfield when he announced his candidacy. Anyone who knows Emma personally will see why she “loves” this hat.

Are you interested in getting shirts, hats, stickers, pins, or some other Obama gear? Check out our online store! Until Sunday at midnight, all your donations go to help our soon-to-be public fundraising numbers! Donate now before the 3rd Quarter ends!

Thanks for your support!

This picture is of one of our fantastic volunteer leaders in Reno, Betty, and her friend from California, Francesca. Francesca is the chairperson of El Dorado County for Obama in California, and has been working with her small but dedicated group of 35 members to set up an Obama table at every fair or public event that they can find. They plan to start hitting the fronts of places like supermarkets and Home Depots soon. “It’s a great way to get the word out when you don’t have a large number of people – you get the people to come to you.” That personal contact is exactly what she and Betty were focused on when they got together on Saturday.

Betty will also be “bringing the people to her” when she hosts one of the five Reno house parties already planned for October. If you’re interested in hosting a house party, it’s a great way to make contact with your neighbors. And we can help!

Want some online help with your house party?

Here is a step-by-step guide for your first meeting!

Flyers to Download
Flyers to Create

Submit Your Photos and Video or send them to Nevada@barackobama.com

Contribution Form

Contact our campaign and let us help you with your House Party or gathering!

Las Vegas Headquarters (702) 253-2008

Reno Headquarters (775) 333-9900

Elko Headquarters (775) 738-9240

Special thanks goes to Betty for taking the initiative and hosting one of our Reno House Parties! Thanks for being a leader in the Obama grassroots!

First Nevada SFBO Chapter Ready to Go

Michael Pipe — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:45:00 EDT

The first University chapter of Students for Barack Obama has been founded in Nevada. Our newest addition is an SFBO group at the University of Nevada, Reno.

I spoke with Marysa, the Chapter President, about her goals for the group. A sophomore studying political science and public relations, Marysa says she'll focus on getting as many students to sign pledge cards and then turn them out to the Nevada Caucus on January 19, 2008.

Following in Barack's footsteps, Marysa also wants to run a voter registration drive at the university. (Barack was not much older then Marysa when he led a voter registration drive during his time as a community organizerin Chicago.)

Marysa was able to meet Barack when he stopped into Elko on August 06, 2007. She had the priviledge of introducing him and then speaking with him backstage. Marysa is second from left in the photo below. All four of the students in the photo were interns at the Elko campaign office last the summer. Obama Nevada Field Director Michael Moffo said they played a pivotal role in "driving the Elko Train" towards victory on Caucus Day.

Here's what Marysa had to say about the picture she emailed me: "(From L to R) Boris, me, Barack, Maritza, Jed. Boris and Jed were very active volunteers and Boris spoke before I gave the more formal introduction to Barack in Elko. Also, Maritza and Jed spoke a few minutes before Boris and I about pledge cards." Maritza is the Get-Out-The-Vote Coordinator for the campus.

If you attend the University of Nevada, Reno, and want to help organize the campus for Barack Obama, send an email with your Name, Year, and Major to Marysa (Email).

Also, to learn more about SFBO at the University of Nevada, Reno, join the MyBO and Facebook groups that have been started:

UNR Students for Obama (MyBO Group)

UNR Students for Obama (Facebook Group)

If you are interested in setting up a SFBO chapter at your school please email the Nevada Youth Vote Director Justo Robles at jrobles@barackobama.com.

Matching Donations are Sweeping the Nation

Michael Pipe — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 23:59:58 EDT

Check out some of the responses we've been receiving from our new Matching Donors program.

I am a middle school teacher who strongly supports Barack's drive to change Washington politics. I am fed up with the current status quo. I know that even the smallest donations really do make a difference! Together we can change the U.S. in a positive direction. Please tell your friends about Sen. Obama and continue to support his drive for a better America!
Shelby from Henderson

Please be a part of something new and different. It's time for a change and Barack Obama is the one who can bring about real change to our political system!
Tamya from Las Vegas

This is the person who will make the difference for all Americans in their daily lives and to be respected again in the world arena for leading the way towards world peace. He can do it as no other candidate can. He marches to a different beat of the drum than all the others. That beat is the American peoples’ beat.
Patty from Gold Hill

This is the first time I've ever contributed to a political campaign. Why? Because Barack Obama is the first candidate who gives me hope for our future.
Marty from Reno

If you feel inspired by what people are saying about Barack and want to donate, click here.

NV group members in/around Reno.

Billy RENObama! — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 05:51:52 EST

Any NV group members living in or around Reno? Add yourselves to RENObama! and let's get together. We have a bit of a daunting task. Let's start working and strategizing how we can keep the RGJ in line and get the word out, Reno is going blue for Obama. Please join us right now, RENObama! click here.