Happy Halloween! Now Let's GOTV!

I must say, I think I really did out-do myself this year! Every year our extended family gets together at a family-member’s home for our annual pumpkin carving get-together. This year, it was at our house, and this photo is of my creation. Can you tell who it is? I hope so! The picture, however, simply doesn’t do it justice. My whole family, including me, was mesmerized by how much it looked like our candidate for President of the United States, Barack Obama!

After we’re all done handing out treats tonight (does anyone do tricks anymore?) and escorting our little ones around the neighborhood, we all need to get to work for the next 4 days. It’s called GOTV, or “get out the vote”! The winning candidate will be the one with the most volunteers, and the most organized GOTV effort. Will it be Barack Obama, or John McCain? YOU decide! You can come out and join us this weekend as we begin “chasing” mail-in ballots on the phone or on the streets of the neighborhood by canvassing. We’ll be doing the same all day Monday and Election Day. We’ll also need drivers for those that need a ride to the polls, and many, many other tasks that need to be done to GOTV. So, PLEASE go to www.barackobama.com to sign-up to help, or call me at 303-907-4664.

Do you want to wake up Wednesday and be sorry you didn’t do more? Or do you want to spend the rest of your life knowing that YOU personally contributed to electing Barack Obama, the most transformative President of our lifetime? What future do YOU choose for yourself, your family, and your country?

Largest U.S. Obama Rally Yet at 100,000 Was a Sight to Behold!

Wow! At 1000,000 strong, yesterday’s rally was a historical event that I am proud to have been part of! I volunteered for the security detail getting people through the metal detectors. I was fortunate to have a birds eye view watching and welcoming people entering through the only public entrance to the venue at Civic Center Park. The diversity of those entering matches the diversity of our City, State, and Nation. I welcomed babies as young as 3 weeks, and seniors that I am sure were in their 90s. I saw black, white, American Indians and Eastern Indians. I welcomed families, gay and straight, holding their kids’ hands, carrying them on their backs or stomachs, or pushing them in their strollers. I even met an entire family from Kenya (where Barack’s Father was from), who were as proud as they could and should be. I saw attendees helping those with canes or crutches, and carrying those in wheelchairs, down the stairs at the Greek Theater where all public attendees entered.

For 3 hours, from 9am to Noon, as they streamed through the gate, the best way I can describe the overall mood is “joyful”. Clearly, everyone was happy to be there. While many said they had waited in line for 2 hours or more, not a single person complained about it. People said they simply didn’t mind waiting in line that long. Many said they it was “enjoyable”, and that they met a lot of nice people. I couldn’t agree with them more.

As Senator Obama began to speak, the gates were closed, and we were released to go into the venue and listen to his speech. I say “listen” because we had about 50,000 [people in front of us, and another 50,000-plus behind us. The only was I “saw” him was to look through my telephoto lense on my camera (smile). But I’m not complaining either. It was more than enough to hear the clear and inspirational words of the next President of the United States. And as good as that was, it was absolutely breathtaking simply to look around me and see the ocean of cheering, clapping, flag and sign-waving people in front of the City and County Building, to the sides, and running all the way back and up to the top steps of the State Capitol. What I saw all around me was America--joyful, and at peace in the knowledge, or at least in the hope, that this extraordinary man would be the one to unite us, and to lead us through the great challenges before us, and into what surely will be a brighter future.

Early Vote For Change Rally Tomorrow!

Tomorrow, Sunday, October 26th, join Barack Obama in Denver, where he will talk about his vision for creating the kind of change we need. It's the “Early Vote for Change Rally” with Barack Obama at Civic Center Park.

The gates open at 10:00 a.m. and the program begins at 11:30 a.m.

Most importantly, bring your undecided friends and family. I guarantee that once they see and hear Barack in person, they will be undecided no more!

The Public Entrance is near the Greek Theater on 14th Avenue between Bannock and Broadway. There is no entry to the event via Colfax Ave. Bring your mail-in ballot to drop off at the Webb Building at Colfax and Bannock, or early-vote at the same place. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required; however an RSVP is strongly encouraged. RSVP at http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/cobodenver

For security reasons do not bring bags and limit personal items. No signs or banners are permitted.

The Biggest and Best Organized Campaign--Ever!

I just got home from a training session for Obama poll leads and poll checkers. There were a couple hundred volunteers there for 2 hours to learn about their roles on election day. Of course, it took a very large room to accommodate these people. It's the same room used every day and every night to dispatch volunteer canvassers and to house the phone bank. It's also the same room that will be used to train hundreds more Obama volunteers over the coming days. It's at least 3 times as large as the entire Kerry State campaign office where I spent a lot of time 4 years ago.

This is the biggest and best organized Presidential campaign I have ever seen--maybe in history. I think Obama has 50 offices around the state, and more volunteers than you can shake a stick at. Obama will have a volunteer covering almost every precinct at every polling place in Denver to keep track of our supporters who have voted. Then, we have enough volunteer phone bankers to call those that have not voted until they vote, and enough volunteer canvassers to dispatch to the homes of every Obama supporter and, if necessary, sit on their doorstep until they get home from work and get out to vote before 7 pm. Four years ago, we could have only dreamed of such resources! If we had half the number of paid campaign staff and volunteers 4 years ago, John Kerry would be President today! As it is, the number and enthusiasm of Obama's volunteers is going to ensure that he wins November 4th.

Having said that, we can not let down. We can not get comfortable. We can not back off. We will only win if we continue to get out there and continue to identify our remaining supporters through canvassing and phone banking every day until the election, so we have the information we need to get the vote out. We can win, and we will win, if we keep working hard for the next 2 weeks. And if tonight's volunteer turnout is any indication, our folks are chomping at the bit to do the work that needs to be done!