Barack Obama's Campaign for Change is running an unprecedented field operation in Wisconsin. Thousands of volunteers, a real focus on peer-to-peer contact and offices located in traditionally "red" counties are only a few of the ways that the campaign is sharing Sen. Obama's vision for change to voters across the state.
More than 50 offices around the state serve as organizing locations for the thousands of volunteers, including more than 2,500 Obama Organizing Team members who donate at least 10 hours of their time each week. These offices are found in rural and traditionally Republican areas, many of which have never seen a Democratic campaign office and are constantly filled with eager volunteers making phone calls and picking up canvassing lists to knock on doors in their communities. People who can't make it to offices are able to participate by printing out call lists at home or by using neighbor-to-neighbor canvassing lists from online databases that list undecided voters in the area.
Whatever the method, volunteers are visiting hundreds of thousands of doors and giving one-on-one attention to undecided voters, clearly explaining that Barack Obama is the only candidate who offers the real change America so desperately needs. This one-on-one contact echoes what we in the labor movement have been emphasizing for the last couple of election cycles, knowing how incredibly effective it is to have face-to-face conversations at the worksite and in our communities.
The campaign is also relying heavily on peer-to-peer organizing, with volunteers reaching out to people who share their interests and talking about the choice in this election. Issues important to seniors, farmers, sportsmen, students, women, veterans, people of faith, and other groups within the state are being addressed on personal levels, showing an incredible commitment to talking to voters about the issues they care about most. All are included in Sen. Obama's plans for America, and the Wisconsin ground troops are letting them know.
All of that organizing has set the stage for an incredible get-out-the-vote (GOTV) effort around the state, which is beginning to ramp up for the final weeks of the campaign. Tens of thousands of shifts are being filled to make sure everyone who is able to vote can make it to the polls on or before Election Day. Wisconsin's early vote has also begun, and the campaign is organizing events where voters can cast their ballots at their local clerk's offices between now and Nov. 4.
On Election Day, look for this incredible grassroots organization to put Senator Obama over the top as Wisconsin issues a resounding call for change from the past eight years of failed Bush-McCain economic policies.
-- Rogers is executive vice president of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.
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The three most important ingredients in a successful campaign are: money, organization and message (MOM). Obama has a major advantage over McCain in all three of the key areas in Wisconsin. This week we will look at Obama’s advantage in money and organization.
Obama chose not to accept public financing, which has allowed him to raise and spend a record amount of money this cycle. In fact, Obama has so much money he can play offense in states like Virginia that have gone red for more than 40 years. He also has traditional red states like Ohio, Missouri and Florida well within his reach this year. Obama has taken fundraising to a new level and seems to have the Brinks truck dropping off millions of dollars every day. In short, Obama has the largest fundraising advantage of any candidate in modern politics.
McCain accepted public financing, which has limited the amount of money he can raise and spend on advertising and on his field operation in Wisconsin. Sure, the Republican National Committee is spending money to help McCain out, but the two sources combined don’t come close to what Obama is spending in Wisconsin.
Obama has also spent his money wisely. Obama invested vast amounts in his Wisconsin field organization, and they are highly energized this year. Some speculate Obama has up to 200 paid field staff members in Wisconsin canvassing, registering, organizing and getting voters to the polls. If that number is remotely accurate it will be the largest presidential field staff in Wisconsin history -- probably by a factor of 10. If Obama is able to run up the score in Wisconsin credit a smart investment in his field operation.
Plus, Obama will benefit from the field efforts of traditional Dem-leaning groups like labor unions, Planned Parenthood, WEAC and ACORN. These organizations also have paid field staff that augment what Obama is doing.
(A note on ACORN: The group has drawn some unwanted attention as it's under investigation in at least 11 states for potential voter fraud. There has been evidence of voter registration fraud in Wisconsin already this year as Attorney General JB Van Hollen and Milwaukee County District Attorney Brad Chisholm have already charged several individuals for violations. There may be more charges coming in the next few weeks, but it won’t change the outcome of the race.)
McCain on the other hand does not have a visible or energized field operation in Wisconsin. He does have a handful of paid field staff in the state, but his field operation is mostly volunteers. Volunteers are an important part of any successful campaign. But can they really compete with a small army of paid staff?
The real question is whether or not all the Democratic efforts at the top of the ticket will produce dividends down ballot for other Democrats running this fall. If Democrats are able to keep voters in the Democratic column in every race then it could spell big trouble for the GOP legislative candidates.
-- McCoshen is senior vice president of the lobbying firm Capitol Consultants and served as Commerce secretary under former GOP. Gov. Tommy Thompson.
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