Bucks County Gets Ready
The turf is cut, the voter pledge forms are set, and those organizing in Bucks County, Pennsylvania are ready for tomorrow’s Vote 2010 Day of Action.
Jessica M., 20, is a summer organizer who splits her time between volunteering with OFA and interning for Rep. Patrick Murphy's re-election campaign. A student at Arcadia University, Jessica camped out all night in 20-degree weather to hear President Obama when he spoke there in March. Since Jessica’s 18th birthday was one week after 2008’s election, this year will be the first time she casts her ballot in a general election.
Jessica in the crowd during President Obama's event at Arcadia University
Tomorrow Jessica is hosting her first canvass.
“I had my first phone bank last week, and 5 or 6 people showed up. It was great, we made 300 phone calls. Now tomorrow will be my first canvass. I have my signs together, I have the literature, my canvass packets, I've cut my turf and called my volunteers.
"Bryan Allen, a state Senate candidate, will speak at the beginning and then canvass with us. Then we’re going to hit the doors of those 2008 first-time voters. I’ve never organized a canvass before. I’m nervous, but I can’t wait to put faces to the voices of the people who are coming.”
Ann Marie J. is an OFA community organizer and one of the outreach directors for the Bucks County Democratic Party. Ann Marie got involved in politics for the first time through the Obama campaign, and has stayed active with OFA and candidates in her local community.
Ann Marie, pictured above, told us about her plans for tomorrow's event:
“We’re having a canvass in the Doylestown area, and right now we have about 15 people signed up. We’ll also have some call sheets for phone banking, because we do have a few older people. And then maybe we’ll go out and do some voter registration.
"We want to get a lot of doors knocked tomorrow—on our June 5th kickoff we knocked on 400 doors across the county, and it was a hot day like tomorrow’s supposed to be. We have even more people signed up for tomorrow—we want to make an impact, talk to as many voters as we can, get them to pledge to vote in November. We’re excited to get out there and talk to folks. I also want to make sure Congressman Patrick Murphy gets re-elected, there’s the Senate and Governor’s Races, and important state-level races too."
OFA volunteers like these two are at it every day, making calls, organizing events, and building energy in these months before November's midterm elections. Ann Marie shared what keeps her motivated:
“It’s frustrating to me that things seem more gridlocked than ever, but it makes me more determined to keep working, keep people educated, get truth out, make sure first time ‘08 voters know it’s critical to vote in upcoming elections. We have to make sure the President has help that he needs to get this done. I’m thrilled we got health care passed, I worked for a year on that, it was a huge victory. With Wall Street reform that’s very exciting as well. We’re moving in right direction, we need to keep at it.”
Jessica, Ann Marie, and volunteers throughout Pennsylvania will be getting out tomorrow to engage voters and support candidates like Joe Sestak, Dan Onorato, Manan Trivedi, and Bryan Lentz. It’s not too late to find an event near you and join tomorrow’s Vote 2010 Day of Action.
