As the hubbub subsides regarding the recent poll that shows Clinton leading in Indiana, I wanted to put my thoughts into words regarding yesterday's volunteer shift at Obama Campaign HQ here in Indianapolis. As this is my first diary, I kindly ask that you bear with me. See below...
As I stepped inside HQ, the first thing that hit me was "I'm doing this at HOME!" You see, I spent several months traveling around to work for Dean in 2004. The fact that I could drive ten minutes to work for Obama had me positively giddy, and I think I might have startled the volunteer who was manning the entrance. (If that was you, sorry! I'm not normally quite so bubbly.)
I signed in among the chatter -- there were half a dozen black-fleece-wearing campaign staffers clicking away on laptops, and another dozen or so people talking on cell phones -- and made my way over to a (relatively) quiet corner of the office. HQ is moving from the small space they are in now to a huge corner space on one of the busiest corners in the city, so to say it's controlled chaos in there right now is an understatement. :)
Sara, a completely awesome campaign staffer from Massachusetts, showed me how to work the phone call software. Easy as pie! My job was to call locals that had identified as potential volunteers and convince them to come down and help us out with our huge voter registration drive and canvass we're having (THIS SUNDAY, 10 AM, BROOKSIDE PARK IN INDY, HINT HINT). It was such a pleasure, getting to talk to excited folks who were thrilled to be called.
And that's the strength of Obama's presence here in Indy -- the phone calls. After signing up online last month as a supporter, I got two personal calls from HQ before I took the plunge and came down to volunteer at the office. Others who were helping out that night said the same thing -- from the giggly older woman stuffing envelopes to the small team of IUPUI students attacking the call list, they were all there BECAUSE THEY WERE ASKED.
... and I'm going back tomorrow.