Today, I almost didn't volunteer for the Obama campaign. It wasn't due to anything that the Senator did. I just wasn't sure I could make a get out the vote call. I just had flashbacks to the worst parts of being a political activist in college and I worried that I might get into a bad phone call.
Well at the last minute, I did go, and I made it to the train station with a few minutes to spare. This isn't a post about why you vote for Obama. I think other diaries cover the pros and cons better I can. This is about why I'm glad I did more than blog or donate to a candidate.
When I finally arrived at Obama's national headquarters, I was a bit surprised at how...sparse it was. I guess reality just doesn't match up to the movies.
Before long, I managed to find the phone bank, and a staffer who was handing out scripts. She gave a brief orientation. So far so go. I did telemarketing years ago, so I was familiar with script calling. After the orientation, I found phone and a computer, and started to get ready. I also noticed that this wasn't a hard sell of Obama. There were no required rebuttals. It was just an effort to look for supporters, and get them to vote.
My first few calls were just voice mails. But as I left messages, I started to feel more comfortable. I skimmed the Obama web site, so, if asked, I could say more than "Obama is for change." When I started to get answers, there were no knockdown arguments. Instead I made my presentation, and moved on.
As the day progressed, more volunteers poured in. Soon there were more people than phones. Staffers had to ask people to use their own cell phones to make calls. Even though I have pay as you go plan, I decided to switch to my cell phone, and I freed up my computer for someone else.
I ended the day in the back, with a headquarters now filled with people making phone calls. I didn't call any supporters, but I heard others making connections. When I handed in my list, I wondered what I was worried about this morning.
Some times campaigns need more than blogs and money. They need people to make phone calls, walk the streets, and do other things in the real world. Whoever you support for president, I hope you will consider volunteering for their campaign at some point. It's not that hard, and they could use the help.