Obama volunteers dialing for support
By Meagan Sexton Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, July 18, 2008
Campaign staffer Ann Dailey goes over the call script with Sioux City campaign volunteer Paul Seaman at Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's Sioux City campaign office Thursday, July 17, 2008. (Sioux City Journal photo by Tim Hynds)
SIOUX CITY -- If you're a registered Democrat and your phone rings, it could be Paul Seaman wanting to know if you're going to support U.S. Sen. Barack Obama for president in November.
And would you like to volunteer for his campaign? Vote by mail?
Seaman and other volunteers are making hundreds of calls a night from lists of potential and confirmed Obama supporters from the new campaign office on 506 Nebraska St. in Sioux City.
Obama's opponent, Republican Sen. John McCain, plans to open a Sioux City office Aug. 1 and is scouting for a location.
Neither candidate has clinched his party's nomination for president, but it's presumed each will at the national conventions later this summer.
Meanwhile, local Obama volunteers are looking ahead to the general election in November and doing whatever they can to see their candidate win the White House.
Seaman, a 52-year-old chef from Sioux City, said he started volunteering because he believes in Obama and his message.
He said the response he's gotten from callers has been positive.
"People have been excited, for the most part, pleased that they have been called," Seaman said. "People have been enthusiastic and interested."
Ann Dailey, a paid organizer for the Obama presidential campaign, said building momentum is what the campaign is all about. The volunteers aren't soliciting donations.
"What we're all about on this campaign is building a grassroots movement," said Dailey, a 23-year-old from Moline, Ill. "The most important thing is to get people involved. It's not just getting them to come in once and getting them to make a few phone calls."
Currently, about 5,000 Obama volunteers statewide are making phone calls, canvassing, attending county fairs and marching in parades.
Corrie Hendricks, 19, of Sioux City, said she it's worth her time and effort to volunteer for the campaign.
Hendricks smiled Thursday as she called voters on her list, speaking to answering machines, waiting for a person to pick up the phone or actually speaking to someone.
"You get a lot of different reactions," Hendricks said. "Just making phone calls, sometimes people are really excited about the campaign and excited to talk to you, and they're just excited for anything Obama. And then sometimes you get hung up on. "
Chase Shanafelt, 18, of Sioux City, said he thought it was important to get out and try to do something for a cause.
Shanafelt said he was kind of on the fence about whom to support and then talked to volunteers, and that got him interested in Obama.
He said he came in of his own accord to volunteer.
"It (volunteering) taught me a whole ton about politics, and it led me to my major," Shanafelt said.
Shanafelt plans to study political science at the University of Iowa, where he will be a freshman in the fall.
Meagan Sexton can be reached at 293-4243 or meagansexton@siouxcityjournal.com
And would you like to volunteer for his campaign? Vote by mail?
Seaman and other volunteers are making hundreds of calls a night from lists of potential and confirmed Obama supporters from the new campaign office on 506 Nebraska St. in Sioux City.
Obama's opponent, Republican Sen. John McCain, plans to open a Sioux City office Aug. 1 and is scouting for a location.
Neither candidate has clinched his party's nomination for president, but it's presumed each will at the national conventions later this summer.
Meanwhile, local Obama volunteers are looking ahead to the general election in November and doing whatever they can to see their candidate win the White House.
Seaman, a 52-year-old chef from Sioux City, said he started volunteering because he believes in Obama and his message.
He said the response he's gotten from callers has been positive.
"People have been excited, for the most part, pleased that they have been called," Seaman said. "People have been enthusiastic and interested."
Ann Dailey, a paid organizer for the Obama presidential campaign, said building momentum is what the campaign is all about. The volunteers aren't soliciting donations.
"What we're all about on this campaign is building a grassroots movement," said Dailey, a 23-year-old from Moline, Ill. "The most important thing is to get people involved. It's not just getting them to come in once and getting them to make a few phone calls."
Currently, about 5,000 Obama volunteers statewide are making phone calls, canvassing, attending county fairs and marching in parades.
Corrie Hendricks, 19, of Sioux City, said she it's worth her time and effort to volunteer for the campaign.
Hendricks smiled Thursday as she called voters on her list, speaking to answering machines, waiting for a person to pick up the phone or actually speaking to someone.
"You get a lot of different reactions," Hendricks said. "Just making phone calls, sometimes people are really excited about the campaign and excited to talk to you, and they're just excited for anything Obama. And then sometimes you get hung up on. "
Chase Shanafelt, 18, of Sioux City, said he thought it was important to get out and try to do something for a cause.
Shanafelt said he was kind of on the fence about whom to support and then talked to volunteers, and that got him interested in Obama.
He said he came in of his own accord to volunteer.
"It (volunteering) taught me a whole ton about politics, and it led me to my major," Shanafelt said.
Shanafelt plans to study political science at the University of Iowa, where he will be a freshman in the fall.
Meagan Sexton can be reached at 293-4243 or meagansexton@siouxcityjournal.com
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 5 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
Mr. Indy wrote on Jul 18, 2008 7:48 PM:
Iowa Independant wrote on Jul 18, 2008 5:10 PM:
JAMES wrote on Jul 18, 2008 2:59 PM:
bijoutoo wrote on Jul 18, 2008 1:24 PM:
Wayne wrote on Jul 18, 2008 9:56 AM:
You can help make it easy for others to get to know Barack.
Run a BarackObama.com ad in a local newspaper or website.
Have BarackObama.com magnetic car stickers made up and pass them out.
Please add this message and signature to your email.
Please visit
www.BarackObama.com
Learn the Truth, Fight the Smears
my.barackobama.com/page/content/factcheckactioncenter/ "