I'm very impressed with how the Obama campaign is organizing locally

[LittleClarkie]

I went to the grand opening of our local HQ a week ago, and found it very interesting.

They've given each voting district a paid staffer, and that staffer will then organize "Obama teams". So now whatever I do, it will be in the area in which I live, registering people to vote, canvassing etc, etc. I'll even be phone banking in the same area. No more calling half way across the state. They reckon you know your own area the best and would have a better time of trying to convince your friends and neighbors to vote Obama than someone from outside the district. they also don't seem to be shorting the areas that are more red than blue either, as my area is. It seems like a very "grassroots" way to approach things. A "50 county" strategy, if you will.

Of course this is only my second presidential campaign. Is this normal? Has it been done this way before to you knowledge?

How's it by you?

[Kdillard]

1. Thanks for sharing and I don't think anything has ever been

done like this before at least in terms of the share scale of what is being undertaken. It is very organized and I am sure you will enjoy yourself tremendously.

[wyldwolf]

2. I've been less impressed locally than I have been nationally

At least in my neck of the woods (North Atlanta, North Fulton, South Forsyth, East Cobb, the GA 400 Corridor) and based on my observation, the Obama campaign has only been registering voters. Nothing wrong with that except they're also (inadvertently) registering Republican voters. Voter registration drives in my area in the past have concentrated on districts and locations where there are more likely to be those who would vote Democratic.

They also have seemed resistant to canvassing.

On the bright side, they've certainly had a presence that I never saw with Gore and Kerry. I've seen more Obama yard signs and bumper stickers than McCain's. I would say 10 times more. And this is in Newt's old district.

Edited to add "based on my observation."

[LittleClarkie]

3. I wouldn't worry. That was Phase One, I'm told

Call potential volunteers and register voters. Phase two: form the Obama teams, which will include a phone bank leader, a canvassing leader, a data entry leader etc, etc. Something like that. People will have to commit to about 10 hours of organizing their particular area of the team, getting volunteers to do the work etc.

Then I think the emphasis will be on independant and voters leaning Obama. I think what you're seeing is just Phase One in action. Give it time.

[World Citizen]

4. Disappointing

I have volunteered online at the main Obama site and haven't heard anything from them. My local inquiry was met this week with this response: we will be opening headquarters in the next few weeks, and will have a slate of events.

We are 30 miles northeast of NYC, and it's purple on blue here.

[LittleClarkie]

5. Is no one else involved locally?

?