Vote For Change Kickoff: I Love You Miami! (With photos.)

Good morning friends, it's a great day to be an American.

We just stopped in for lunch, then we are back out into the intense Miami sunshine to register more voters.  Here is a taste of the Vote For Change Kickoff packet, meet me after the break for pics!

Vote for Change is a national voter registration effort.  We are looking to register new voters, re-register voters who have moved, and talk to voters who do not typically vote but wish to become engaged in the political process.  On May 10, over 100 cities across the country will kickoff a 6-month campaign to expand participation in the democratic process.

Over the past year, Barack Obama has brought his message of change to every corner of this country, and the American people have responded in a way few thought possible. We've seen unprecedented voter turnout in state after state among Americans of all races, religions, and walks of life.

I will fill you in on more details later, right now I am going to post the pics and get back to pounding the pavement.  I hope we can share success stories all weekend long, it is a real thrill to be a part of this amazing moment in American history.  Thanks for being here to share it with us.

That's me, on the left.

That's a whole bunch of new friends, getting fired up.

That's what they call "boots on the ground", although in Miami they are usually sandals.

That's by beloved, beautiful, wonderful wife Nina.  And that's all you get, we have some registration to do!

•  Tips.

  For a spectacular Saturday morning!

  by Rian Fike on Sat May 10, 2008 at 09:46:37 AM PDT

  •  Great turnout!

    Thank you for registering new voters in FL!!

    by casperr on Sat May 10, 2008 at 07:10:19 PM PDT

•  I am stuck at work today but glad to see others

  out doing what I cannot today. I'll check back for the updates.

  by smartdemmg on Sat May 10, 2008 at 09:48:35 AM PDT

•  Great diary!

  Thanks.

  by mayan on Sat May 10, 2008 at 09:49:25 AM PDT

•  I love the cut out Barack Obama

  I want one of those!!!

  by Drdemocrat on Sat May 10, 2008 at 09:50:37 AM PDT

  •  Information about Obama

    When you register do you give them information about Obama?

    by Marjan on Sat May 10, 2008 at 09:53:20 AM PDT

    •  Not unless they bring it up.

      We don't give out any paperwork, but a few people wanted to talk about him.

      by Rian Fike on Sat May 10, 2008 at 06:34:53 PM PDT

  •  Me too!

    I will put it in my living room!

    by Elise on Sat May 10, 2008 at 07:09:43 PM PDT

    •  I found one for you Elise

      http://www.allposters.com/...

      by FireCrow on Sat May 10, 2008 at 07:27:43 PM PDT

      •  Cardboard Obama for the win!

        Great find, they will prolly sell out of it now.

        by Rian Fike on Sat May 10, 2008 at 07:34:03 PM PDT

        •  Yeppers, and they are on sale too.....

          by fromdabak on Sat May 10, 2008 at 07:40:51 PM PDT

•  Thank you for the report

  by Engine 08 on Sat May 10, 2008 at 09:57:08 AM PDT

•  The cut-out Obama can beat McCain! (nt)

  by lizardbox on Sat May 10, 2008 at 10:07:24 AM PDT

  •  McSame couldn't beat his way outta paper

    bag, IMHO!!

    Aloha   ..  ..  ..

    by dolphin777 on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:25:50 PM PDT

•  Way to go!

  by iluvpleats on Sat May 10, 2008 at 10:36:47 AM PDT

•  Thanks for all you're doing!! n/t

  by ATLSandlapper on Sat May 10, 2008 at 11:39:01 AM PDT

•  The Obama cut-out is a hoot!

  What a beautiful group of voters and volunteers! I'm jealous of your weather!

  by bethcf4p on Sat May 10, 2008 at 06:39:54 PM PDT

  •  It got REALLY hot today.

    90 degrees, 100 percent humidity.

    We took a cooler, filled it with ice, and got a 24 pack of bottled water.

    Then we found people waiting for the bus who really needed a drink, and registered them while they quenched their thirst!

    Good times.

    by Rian Fike on Sat May 10, 2008 at 06:42:26 PM PDT

    •  Sounds like liquid bribery, Rian!! n/t

      by dolphin777 on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:26:50 PM PDT

      •  Whatever it was, they loved it.

        And, we got them registered!

        Win/Win for the win.

        by Rian Fike on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:34:43 PM PDT

        •  I was being a little snarky! n/t

          by dolphin777 on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:54:52 PM PDT

•  Thank you so much for what you're doing!

  Yes we can!

  by Orlaine on Sat May 10, 2008 at 06:47:53 PM PDT

•  Great job!

  I notice a lot of folks in the pictures in long pants. They must have been roasting.

  by Cat Nerd on Sat May 10, 2008 at 06:54:18 PM PDT

•  what a beautiful couple

  you and your wife are Rian!

  by Ambboogie on Sat May 10, 2008 at 07:05:51 PM PDT

  •  Thank you so much.

    We are blessed.  We share the same tastes in almost everything, we can talk about anything, and we are totally happy together.

    I am the luckiest man alive.

    by Rian Fike on Sat May 10, 2008 at 07:10:33 PM PDT

•  How many did you get in Miami?

  by ObamaManiac2008 on Sat May 10, 2008 at 07:09:55 PM PDT

  •  The RSVPs on the Obama site were only 62...

    But at least 100 volunteers showed up!

    by Rian Fike on Sat May 10, 2008 at 07:12:54 PM PDT

    •  Where in Miami Rian?

      I lived there many years. Looks like the Grove to me.

      by paddykraska on Sat May 10, 2008 at 07:26:55 PM PDT

      •  That was Morningside.

        The American Legion park on 64th and Biscayne.

        The city has changed DRASTICALLY through that area, all the way down to Flagler Street.

        Urban renewal for the win!

        by Rian Fike on Sat May 10, 2008 at 07:30:32 PM PDT

        •  No shit. Wow.

          Last time I was there was for my mom's funeral and I didn't spend alot of time looking around. We lived in the Grove off of Main Hwy for many years.

          by paddykraska on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:00:42 PM PDT

    •  What I mean is how many voters did

      you get registered in the Miami area?  :)

      by ObamaManiac2008 on Sat May 10, 2008 at 09:46:59 PM PDT

•  great job Rian

  and your wife is pretty sweet looking too. :)

  by FireCrow on Sat May 10, 2008 at 07:26:55 PM PDT

  •  Your sig is my reward.

    Thanks, your Castaneda line is a gem.  I have spent years teaching that exact meme to my students, and now I have another perfect touchstone!

    I gotta say it was a good day.

    by Rian Fike on Sat May 10, 2008 at 07:32:36 PM PDT