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Iowa HQ
Official group of Obama for America staff in Iowa.
In Urbandale this morning, our grassroots supporters joined with democratic supporters from dozens of other campaigns to walk in their Independence Day parade. The mood amazing, and you might notice in the pictures the local Democratic donkey was even on hand to help lead the march. Events are going on across Iowa this weekend, and if you have a chance, we encourage you to visit our July 4th homepage to find an event near you—or find out how you can help reach out to your friends, family, and neighbors to make a difference for Barack! Click here to join the celebration! If you aren’t able to make it out to one of the events, we still would love to hear from you, and are going to need your help over these next few months to make the difference in your neighborhood. Click here to let us know you are ready to get involved and help grow our campaign for change here in Iowa! This July 4th weekend is going to be a great time to enjoy our independence with friends, family, and neighbors, at one of the hundreds of events across Iowa. We’ve compiled a list of events across the state and wanted to make sure that everyone knew that our campaign would be at the events registering voters and helping answer questions about voting early in Iowa. Click the image below to find an event near you, and join us to celebrate this holiday weekend!
Here are just a few of the events going on today---- click the links for more details and to RSVP! Clinton River Boat Days Parade Dubuque 3rd of July Airshow and Fireworks Yesterday, Barack was in Colorado Springs, Colorado and talked about our need to come together to help make a difference in the direction of our country. Watch the video below, on a call to service.
Join us and start making the difference in your neighborhood today! Click here to Stand Up for Change in Iowa. Our campaign just sent out this email. If you would like to get updates from us on upcoming events in Iowa, click here to sign up.
This Saturday, while thousands of Unite for Change events were held across the country, Iowa Democrats met in Des Moines to hold their state convention. The party business of electing national delegates and voting on our state platform were the scheduled items on the agenda, but from the general atmosphere of the delegates, uniting our party around Barack Obama and down-ballot Democrats, was a top priority. Watch the video below called “Voices from the Iowa Democratic Convention." As we work together over these next weeks and months, without the support of millions of people all across the country, we won’t be able to take back our government from the special interests and lobbyists who have written our public policies for far too long. Help us deliver Barack’s message and grow our campaign for change by inviting you friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to join us. Use the link below to invite someone to our campaign and start making a difference right now! Our campaign announced the release of its second television advertisement for the general election today. This ad, entitled "Dignity," will begin airing in eighteen states across the country underscoring Senator Obama's commitment to being an advocate for workers and children.
I'm Barack Obama, and I approve this message. This past weekend Barack did an interview with Radio Iowa discussing his upcoming trip overseas, the flooding across the state, and our Iowa campaign for change. Listen to the mp3 audio of the interview by clicking here. The full article is below.
Obama talks about overseas trip, flooding, Iowa campaign Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama called into the Radio Iowa newsroom this morning. My interview with him runs about 6 minutes (MP3). I had time to ask three questions. The first was about his upcoming trip to Europe and the Middle East. The second was about the nation's infrastructure and rebuilding after the flood. The third was specifically about the campaign for Iowa's seven electoral votes. Here is the text of Obama's response to the first question about his trip: "Obviously, there are a wide range of issues that we need to prepare for. The next administration is going to have as challenging a set of foreign policy issues as any president has had. "In Iraq, my goal is to talk to the Iraqi leadership about making political progress so that we can start phasing down our troops in Iraq and obviously I want to congratulate the troops for the extraordinary work they've done in reducing violence there. "In Afghanistan the situation, unfortunately, has not been improving. On many measures, things have been getting a little bit worse so the key is to talk to our commanders on the ground and find out what do we need to do to strengthen our efforts there. Our troops have performed magnificently, but we don't probably have enough troops there and we've got to do a better job on the reconstruction side to build the infrastructure that's needed in that country to consolidate long-term gains. "With our European allies, I think what's important is not only encouraging their ongoing involvement and support in areas like Afghanistan and on the military side, but also to discuss a wide range of economic issues. There are certain issues like climate change that can't be addressed without the participation of the Europeans as well. so that's going to be something that hopefully we'll be working on over a long period of time, but when it comes to nuclear proliferation, Iran -- those are issues where we've got to act in concert with our allies." UPDATE: Here's the Radio Iowa story about Obama's 10-year, $60 billion fund to rebuild infrastructure like the levees, dams, etc which were stressed or wrecked by this spring's flooding.
At the beginning of the July 4th holiday week, with the country in the midst of ongoing war in Iraq and Afghanistan and at the beginning of a campaign to elect a new president, Barack spoke today in Independence, Missouri, on the what patriotism means to him.
Barack also addressed directly the attempts by some to use patriotism as a wedge to score cheap political points, adding:
Read the full remarks, as prepared for delivery . . . Read More »
TODAY, all across Iowa, supporters like you are coming together for a nationwide day of action. We're bringing together people who supported all of the Democratic candidates, folks who are just tuning into the process now, as well as Independents and Republicans who are ready to support change. Earlier this week, Barack kicked off our Unite for Change house parties by discussing their importance and encouraging everyone to get involved. Check it out: On Saturday, thousands of these Unite for Change meetings were held across the country. The energy and positive feedback from these events has been absolutely amazing: From Goldie in Oro Valley, Arizona:
From CR:
Find an Iowa Unite for Change event near you, by clicking here. If you attend or host a Unite for Change event today, and if you have photos from the event that you'd like to share, you can email them to iowa@barackobama.com. These meetings are going to be a great way to get to know your neighbors and start doing the important that will take to help Barack win the presidency in November. There are dozens being held across the state, and we hope you will join us as we Unite for Change!
Tomorrow, all across Iowa, Obama supporters will be hosting and attending Unite for Change house meetings. Thousands of Unite for Change events have already been held this weekend across the country, and the excitement for these events has been visible ever since Barack and Hillary met in Unity, New Hampshire for a rally to address united democrats. If you haven’t had a chance yet, the video below might be long, but it’s an important moment in this campaign, and we hope that you will take the time to watch the rally they held together. Over the upcoming weeks and months, we will continue to forward as a united party, working to change Washington to take it back from the lobbyists and special interests who have written our public policies for far too long. Join us tomorrow, and supporters all across Iowa, for one of the Unite for Change house meetings. We will be continuing the discussion that Hillary and Barack began just a few days ago. When we unite, our voices can carry us from our homes in Iowa all the way to the steps of Washington. This is our moment to start making the difference in each and every one of our communities.
This morning in Des Moines, Democrats from across Iowa gathered at the State Convention to discuss the direction of our country, the issues that shape our party, and our work to help us move forward towards honest solutions with common sense leadership. The convention is typically focused on electing state delegates and on party business, but one thing that was on everyone’s minds, and a common topic of discussion, was the floods and tornados that have affected nearly everyone across the state. Hundreds of the delegates were located in areas that are still under water, in the midst of re-building, or working to help their friends, family and neighbors. Our campaign, as well as many local and state-wide organizations has also been working to help everyone who has been affected by these disasters. If you would like to help by making a donation, or if you would like to volunteer in one of the affected areas, visit our Flood Relief Homepage to find out how you can make a difference. In the coming weeks and months we will be working with these communities that were devastated by these storms, but we will also be doing the hard work it will take to ensure that we are successful in November in changing the direction of the country and taking our government back from the special interests and lobbyists who have written our public policies for far too long. This change is not going to come easy, and it’s going to take everyone getting involved and finding a way that they can make a difference. Let us know you are ready to get involved in our Iowa campaign for change, by clicking here, and join thousands of people all across the state that are ready to work right alongside you. This is our campaign and together we can make a huge difference in the election. Today in Iowa, our voices coming together held a common theme:Yes We Can!
Tomorrow all across Iowa, our campaign for change will be doing the important work it will take to ensure that we are successful in November at electing Barack Obama as our next president. In Des Moines, Democrats from across the state will be meeting at the State Convention to discuss the Iowa Democratic platform and we will be electing delegates to the Democratic National Convention. If you were elected as a delegate or alternate and had plans to attend the state convention, here are the details: Iowa State Convention Also tomorrow, and during the upcoming weeks and months, we will be helping to rebuild the communities that were affected by the recent floods and tornados. If you are able to help tomorrow, or if you would like to make a donation, please visit our flood relief website and find out how you can make a difference. Click here to get involved in re-building the communities affected by the recent storms, and don't forget to keep checking back for more opportunities to help out those in need.
Iowa for Obama organizing meeting with the Mayor of Des Moines, Frank Cownie There is still a lot of work to be done in the upcoming weeks and months, and we hope you will be getting involved to reach out to your friends, family, and neighbors. Our campaign has never been about top down change, and this is the crucial time when we need everyone getting involved and doing whatever they can to make a difference. Together we can reshape politics in America and take back Washington from the special interests and lobbyists who have shaped our public policies for far too long. Join us, and help support our campaign for change here in Iowa. Today in Washington D.C., campaign manager David Plouffe gave reporters a unique look inside the ambitious 50 state strategy being developed for November. From the Boston Globe: Plouffe, briefing reporters here today on the status of the campaign, shed light on Obama's aggressive, nation-wide plan of attack into not just battlegrounds but also reliably "red" states. "We ask you to reorient your thinking," David Plouffe explained. "Our strategic orientation here is to play offense." Among the key components of this strategy: massive voter identification, registration and turnout efforts, fueled by grassroots support in every state. David Plouffe cited a recent Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll that found that: Even among voters who said they planned to vote for McCain, more than half said they were "not enthusiastic" about their chosen candidate; 45% said they were enthusiastic. By contrast, 81% of Obama voters said they were enthusiastic, and almost half called themselves "very enthusiastic," a level of zeal found in 13% of McCain's supporters. We've seen this enthusiasm first-hand for 15 months now, from caucus night in Iowa, to Philadelphia, Portland and beyond. It's the enthusiasm that's driven record voter registration and led to record turnout in states across the country. It's the work that our grassroots supporters have done organizing, canvassing, and calling that made the difference in the primary and will make the difference in November. We're building one the largest, most widespread campaigns in the history of American politics because, as Barack himself explained, we have to win. Part of the beauty of a 50 state strategy is that no matter where you are, you can be part of this campaign. You can take action. You can take ownership. You can get involved. No matter where you are, no matter who you are or what your past experience is, we need your help. Because we're going on offense.
Last weekend, over 3600 volunteers took part in an intensive three day training program to prepare them for their work this summer as Obama Organizing Fellows. These volunteers will spend the next six weeks working on the ground across the country to organize, register voters, recruit new volunteers and help build out the infrastructure we'll need to compete across all 50 states this November. In addition to the basic skills and fundamentals of campaigning, the Organizing Fellows were taught many of the underlying concepts that have been at the heart of this campaign. As Ohio General Election Director Jeremy Bird explained: A critical part of taking leadership is being able to articulate for others who you are, where you come from and what challenges have shaped the life choices that led you to this campaign. As a leader you must tell people who you are and why you're there. The importance of narrative and personal connections is something that Barack learned early on in his career as as community organizer. A recent Los Angeles Times article takes a look at the origins of some of these concepts, and the contribution that one man, Marshall Ganz, made to the philosophy of this campaign: If Barack Obama succeeds in his historic quest for the White House, the Illinois senator will owe a large debt to Marshall Ganz's passion for such narratives -- and for the way this graying, portly man taught Obama's top field organizers to weave thousands of individual volunteers' stories into a social movement.Read More »
The New York Times reported this morning:
And as Barack told the Associated Press, "It'll be a nice reunion with everybody who helped us get started." Here are the details of Tuesday's event in Des Moines:
Big news, everybody -- Obama gained 7 more delegates today in Iowa! Campaign Manager David Plouffe just sent this note to our hard-working Iowa staffers. We thought we'd share it with you...
Let's keep the momentum going. Who's ready to spend a chunk of your Sunday making calls? Your voices have proven to be a critical difference in tight races across the country. This movement needs to step up -- visit My.BarackObama.com/call and let us know how it goes in the comments. In case you ever doubted... Yes, we can. UPDATE: Obama for America campaign manager David Plouffe today released the following statement on the results of the Iowa county conventions:
Final Pledged Delegate Results 25 Senator Obama 14 Senator Clinton 6 Senator Edwards
Prior to today 16 Senator Obama 15 Senator Clinton 14 Senator Edwards We're so fired up here in Iowa that we brought the temperature up to 70 degrees yesterday! And, even though the mercury eventually dropped back down to below freezing, our passion for electing Barack Obama as our next President of the United States remained higher than ever! Nowhere in the state was this more evident than at Marsha and Albert Bell's home in Fairfield. Marsha started her afternoon by hosting a MoveOn.org calling party to call voters in Texas and Ohio. But she wasn't done there! Marsha next hosted a Jefferson County Convention organizing meeting. She and fellow Delegate Chair Jay Mattsson headed up a roomful of excited Obama (and even some Edwards) delegates. They talked about the county convention and got the folks in Jefferson County ready to go for March 15th!! And the people in Jefferson County know how to have a meeting...it was a dessert potluck complete with Obama cookies! Next up in Iowa: Results Watch Parties! We're all excited to see how tomorrow turns out. Share the excitement with your friends and neighbors by hosting a party at your home or finding one in the events section at www.iowa.barackobama.com. If you're in the Des Moines area, come join us at Chequers: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/march4thwatchparty/4rf4w
We had our first Iowa county convention organizational meeting last Monday night for Polk County. I was amazed and inspired when 54 precinct captains, delegates, and volunteers showed up still Fired Upand even more Ready to Go than ever! Most of these folks became pretty good friends working on the campaign during caucus season so our meeting was a fun reunion for a lot people. That’s not to say that we didn’t get down to business though! People came with great questions about the Convention process and what to expect on March 15th. We discussed how important it is that ALL of the Obama delegates and alternates go to their county conventions, and we talked about reaching out to the Edwards, Richardson, and Biden delegates. People here are so excited about this campaign and making sure Barack Obama is well-represented at the convention, that all 54 of them signed up to help in some way! To wrap things up Iowa’s Attorney General, Tom Miller, spoke about how important this campaign is for the country and how proud he is of Iowa’s efforts so far. The night ended with a roomful of people ready to work to ensure Barack Obama is our next President!
If you would more information about our County Convention outreach in any of Iowa's 99 Counties, please email us at: Iowa@barackobama.com
THANK YOU IOWA! We made history and we couldn't have done it without your support. BUT WE ARE NOT DONE! Most Iowa Offices will be closing on January 31st, but there are still calls to be made and things to do to help the effort. The only office that will remain open is the Iowa City Office. PLEASE STAY INVOLVED! To join the call team: To find out other ways to get involved or volunteer in other states, visit the Action Center at: www.barackobama.com/actioncenter If you have any Iowa specific questions, please email Jackie Norris at: jnorris@barackobama.com In Iowa City contact Nicole at: nstickel@barackobama.com Thank you so much for all your support for Senator Obama's candidacy. What happened in Iowa last Thursday night was historic. Some numbers:
Iowans stood up for change, and the hard work of the dedicated supporters and volunteers were gave this campaign momentum. We need to keep that going! Iowa City Content on blogs in My.BarackObama represents the opinions of community members and in no way should be interpreted as endorsed or approved by the campaign.
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Zachary,
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