Post from Erica Sagrans's Blog: “We know we made a difference”

Post from Erica Sagrans's Blog:
“We know we made a difference”
By Erica Sagrans - Aug 30, 2010 3:40:03 PM ET
Also listed in: 2010 HQ Blog



With just 64 days until the midterm elections, OFA volunteers are stepping up their organizing game and getting out every weekend to build momentum for November. This past weekend we set a unusually ambitious goal: 200,000 doors knocked in 48 hours as part of our Moving America Forward Day of Action. As we finish our final tally of this weekend’s numbers, we wanted to share some highlights of the events that took place from coast to coast.

From Alaska to Florida, volunteers asked those they met to support allies of President Obama at the polls this year, and commit to vote on November 2nd.

In Manhattan on Saturday, volunteers took the morning train to Long Island where they joined local supporters and Rep. Tim Bishop in going door-to-door for the Congressman.

In Austin, Texas, more than a hundred people gathered at the Travis County Democratic Party offices and went block by block letting neighbors know about the governor’s, board of education, and state House races.

In Fairfax, Virginia, 70 volunteers spent their Saturday knocking on doors and making phone calls to support Rep. Gerry Connolly, who has stood with President Obama in fighting for change in Washington.

Here are volunteers, in their own words, on what it was like to take part in events this weekend:

Janice in New York City, NY:

“We had a marvelous day. Beautiful sunny weather, great, enthusiastic volunteers and encouraging conversations with voters. We know we made a difference, and we'll be back to talk to these people again and again through Election Day.”
Bonita in Chicago, IL:

"I am excited about starting to volunteer again and and am ready to go above and beyond in these next couple of months. The upcoming election has me excited, it feels kind of like 2008 again. But this time our support will come in the form of protecting Democrats currently in office, and helping new ones get elected. These are the folks that will fight for both President Obama and the Democratic Party as a whole."
Lisa in Austin, TX:

“This is some of the best block walking since I was in Denver for the 2008 campaign. It’s a chance to reach more people—by going out walking, I got to meet some lovely people, and I listened to what they had to say. We accomplished a lot--by covering as wide a territory as we did and sending as many people out as we did we’re hoping to have a ripple effect.”

Tom in Rochester, NY:

“When people see me or you knocking on the door, in the rain or the sun, they get it. They see it matters. It matters to me, it matters to them. If they’ve forgotten how much it matters, maybe they’ll remember it. That’s what I love about it and it’s the best part of the day. That’s what I’ll carry with me during the work week until I hit the doors again next weekend.”
Thank you to everyone who took part in these great events—with every door knocked and every call made, you helped push us that much closer to winning this November.

If you joined an event this weekend, use the comments below to share your own highlights or email stories and photos to Blog@BarackObama.com.