Strategy

The voter registration deadline has passed, and now it is time for us to get out there and talk to voters. Our victory in Virginia relies on a simple formula; expanding the electorate, engaging undecideds, identifying our supporters, and getting more of our supporters to vote on Election Day. We're up in the polls but that won't mean a thing on Election Day if we don't engage our supporters. Our campaign strategy depends on getting new voters and sporadic voters to cast a ballot on Election Day. To accomplish this, we need you to do one or more of the following:

1. Door-to-door canvassing in Virginia on the weekends (DC2VA Victory Teams program)
2. Making phone calls to supporters in the District, with the goal of getting them to canvass in Virginia
3. Join the DC2VA Donors Circle to help fund our canvass efforts in Virginia
4. Lawyers and law students: Sign up for voter protection work
5. Take a week leave from work to help canvass for the final ten days of the election
6. Take two days off from work and help canvass the final four days of the election
7. Howard and GWU students: Get on the bus for Obama during the final two weekends of the election

...and the details:

1) Door-to-door Canvassing - Join a DC2VA Victory Team

Face to face interaction is the most effective means of gaining support for our candidate. It is the most important thing you can do for this campaign. There are many undecided voters out there that just need someone to talk to. Canvassing is less about educating voters than it is listening to their concerns. The primary question you need to ask undecided voters is, "What is keeping you from fully embracing either candidate?" Then you sit back and have a natural conversation without being argumentative. Like magic, more often than not, they will reveal to themselves that they are actually leaning towards supporting Obama. This does not happen if you stay home, so come on out and help. Over 1200 Victory Team volunteers have canvassed in Virginia over the past four weekends. Will you join them in the weeks ahead? No experience is necessary. You do not even need to have a car. Our carpool program is designed to get all volunteers to the places that the campaign needs us most. Sign up today at http://www.surveymethods.com/EndUser.aspx?9BBFD3CB9CDDCCCC. For specific questions, please contact Greg Jackson and Brian Levy at gregorynealjackson@gmail.com and brianlevy@mac.com.

If you want to canvass this weekend, please do not wait for our response after filling out the form. Simply make your way to the Waterfront-SEU Metro Station (Green Line) at 9 am on Saturday or 11 am on Sunday.

2) Recruiting DC Volunteers to Canvass in Virginia

DC is home to the most politically engaged electorate in the country. There are thousands of Obama supporters living in DC willing to volunteer for the campaign. All we have to do is ask them to come out and help. Making calls to supporters is probably the least stressful campaign activity, and it ranks second in importance behind canvassing. If you are unable to canvass on the weekend, please consider making your way to one of our call centers to recruit volunteers for the campaign. If you are already canvassing on the weekends, but want to do more, this may be for you. As someone who is already canvassing for Obama, you have a valuable perspective. Visit one of the following Obama campaign call centers during the hours listed:

Obama for America Field Office
803 Florida Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-265-0059
ssarem@barackobama.com
Phone bank hours: M-F 5-9, Sat 11-8, Sun 12-8
Drop-ins welcome

Mulhauser and Associates
1730 Rhode Island Ave NW Suite 712
Washington, DC 20036
202-265-0059
ssarem@barackobama.com
Phone bank hours: M-F 5-9
Please schedule your visit in advance

Also, if you would like to make calls from home, you can do so by visiting http://my.barackobama.com/n2n.

3) Join the DC2VA Donors Circle

A successful canvass program relies on four important ingredients; enthusiastic volunteers, training, transportation, and materials. While enthusiasm is free, the rest require financial support. To date, our donors have purchased clipboards, pens, buttons, and helped subsidize the cost of gas. Moving forward, we endeavor to rent buses and vans to transport DC students down to Virginia. Our carpool program has kept costs down considerably, but it is not scalable enough to accommodate the hundreds of student volunteers that do not have cars. As a donor, you will be asked to make direct purchases from select vendors and report your in-kind contributions to the Virginia Campaign for Change. Donations to the Campaign for Change are subject to a $10,000 per election cycle limit. If you would like to contribute or you are interested in determining whether you are legally allowed, please consult the program administrator, Adam Barr at albarr@gmail.com.

4) Protect the Right to Vote

None of us want a repeat of the elections of 2000 and 2004. If we are to ensure that all voters have their voices heard, we will need a massive team of trained volunteers to protect the rights of voters. If you are an interested lawyer or law student, please visit http://my.barackobama.com/counselforchange to help the campaign in this critical area. For specific questions, email promotethevote@vaobamaforchange.com.

5) Dedicate a Full Week to the Obama Campaign

The final ten days of the election are the most crucial. After months of persuading undecided voters, registering new ones, and identifying our supporters, we have to get them to vote. The final ten days of the election are spent contacting our supporters and reminding them to vote on Election Day. This GOTV strategy got us to where we are today, but it requires the dedication of a large number of supporters. Can you give a week to the Obama campaign? If so, visit http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/vasistercity to sign up. No need to wait for a response before you ask for the time off from work. You will get an assignment before the day you are scheduled to arrive. It may not come within 24 hours of filling out the form, but it will come as soon as possible. Housing is available to those that need it.

6) Help During the Final Four Days of the Election

Are you unable to take a full week off from work? Can you take off on Monday, November 3 and Election Day? If so, you can be a tremendous asset to the campaign. Sign up to volunteers today at http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/vasistercity. Housing is available to those that need it.

7) Get on the Bus for Obama During the Final Two Weekends

DC for Obama will be sponsoring bus trips for students at Howard University and George Washington University. If you are a student on one of these campuses, you can sign up today at http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pGZpdaMIGpzizTAsUag4uWg&hl=e....