Mr. Romney must begin the nuts-and-bolts work of setting up a general-election campaign. In crucial battleground states, the Romney camp must hire staff and open field offices, woo volunteers and knock on doors.
By contrast, the Obama campaign has been laying the groundwork for the general election for some time. Although Mr. Romney has the time and resources to catch up, the president has already plowed millions of dollars into the beginnings of a ground game that stretches from battleground Ohio to long-shot Arizona to safely-Republican Wyoming.
538
Below the Orange Squiggle of Power you may view a table showing how much of an organization Obama has in place in 12 "battleground" states. But before looking at how far ahead the President is today, consider this quote from the 538 article:
Field offices serve as a base for the most effective get-out-the-vote tactics, like door-to-door canvassing. In fact, in 2008, the Obama campaign’s wide web of field offices, and the advantages those offices gave Mr. Obama over Mr. McCain, helped flip three states to Democratic from Republican, according to a study by Seth E. Masket, an assistant professor with the Department of Political Science at the University of Denver.
... SNIP ...
In 2008, about a fourth of all voters were contacted in some way by the Obama campaign. Mr. McCain’s campaign contacted 18 percent of general-election voters. A FiveThirtyEight study from just after the 2008 election found that “each marginal 10-point advantage in contact rate translated into a marginal 3-point gain in the popular vote in that state.”
I think the number of offices shows both the importance placed on the state by Team Obama, and also the availability of volunteers. It appears to me that they are preparing for a tough fight in Virginia, and also Florida and North Carolina. I base this upon the number of paid staffers, who presumably go where they are sent.
But focus again on that last blockquote above the OSoP. Contacting voters matters. So even if you loathe and despise Barack Obama, for whatever reasons are sufficient for you, you may want to GOTV for Barack Obama in your area - because the Presidential campaign is highest in visibility and will cover the entire state. Of course, if you would rather work GOTV for a governor's or Senate race, those will also cover the entire state. And frankly, if you GOTV for your local dogcatcher that helps, too.
Just remember: 10 more doorbells than the Republicans ring = 3 more voters than the Republicans bring, to the polls. And since most voters who vote the top of the ticket keep going down the ballot, every Democrat on the ballot benefits to some degree.
And it's really not to soon to get started; especially if you want to flip a down-ballot seat from red to blue. And very especially if you want to elect someone more liberal than your area has elected in the past.
Go to Obama's website to find places where you can volunteer. Or search for the name of a candidate in your area that deserves your support.
But just remember: 10 doorbells = 3 votes. The 538 math supporting that assertion is here. And with the coming air bombardment from American Crossroads and Chamber of Commerce and Lucifer alone knows how many ad hoc Super PACS, an actual human being speaking in calm tones and willing to engage in discussion may actually be a welcome sight or sound to voters.