One week from today America will chose a new President. Barack Obama is currently up in the national polls and doing well in most of our target state polls. Good!
This has caused many folks I know to start talking about “when Obama is President”, to ponder where they will spend their inauguration, who is going to serve in Obama’s Cabinet and even (recently, in my earshot) speculate about who he will face in a 2012 re-election. BAD! Very, very bad.
Quick reminder – the election is still one week away. One week during which anything can happen. One week during which every day must be spent continuing to deliver our vote, helping new voters cast their ballots, persuading undecideds. One week during which every second spent pre-emptively gloating about an expected victory is a moment wasted. Feeling good about our lead in the polls? Feeling energised with hope and possbility?
Good. Me too. Now take that energy and put it to work. We still need you! Here’s a step by step guide to spending every precious day productively over the next week:
Today:
1) Vote. If you haven’t already done so, there is NO excuse for not doing it right now. Seriously, stop reading this and go send your ballot. Remember, many states allow you to send your ballot by fax or e-mail – check your state’s ballot information here:
http://www.fvap.gov/overseas-citizens/fed-write-in-absentee-ballot/index.html
Remember, you don’t need to wait for your state ballot. You can vote with a Federal Write in Absentee Ballot today if you haven’t already.
2) Now call your friends and tell them to vote. Repeat as needed.
Wednesday:
Why not come in for some last minute phone calling? Our phone banks will be open until Thursday of this week at our calling center near Regents Park, and we still have many US voters here in the UK that we have not yet spoken to. Calling our voters is easy and fun – and it is a very hands on way that you can personally deliver votes for Barack. Drop me a line if you can join us: callvoters08@democratsabroad.org.uk
Thursday:
Last day for phone banking! It’s all hands on deck here at Regents Park. We’re open all day and all night from 11AM to 9PM – we’ll keep calling until we reach everyone!
callvoters08@democratsabroad.org.uk
Friday:
During the day, why not canvass all your work colleagues, fellow students, the parents at your children’s school, regulars at your lunchtime cafe – have they all got their ballots in?
At night, kick back for some fun and frolic with the Democrats Abroad screening of Barack’s 30 minute address to the nation, and a selection of top notch political comedy:
http://www.democratsabroad.org/node/7152
Saturday:
Join us at 1:30 PM for our Obama East to West Rally on Parliament Square. This final gathering will allow us to remind last minute voters that the election is just days away. It will also be your chance to get a state of the race update and to learn about last minute opportunities to help.
http://barackobama.meetup.com/349/calendar/9019317/
Sunday:
Are you In the Market for Change? Farmers markets have been some of our best sources of voters this year, so why not bring yourself down to your local farmers market with some signage and some ballots in a last ditch push? If you need ballots or other materials just write to me and I’ll make sure you get what you need. robinsonkj@dnc.org
Monday:
Time to call all your friends and family in the USA – are they ready to vote? Have they found out where their polling place is? If your great aunt Hilda hasn’t heard from you lately, now is the time to make that call.
Tuesday:
ELECTION DAY! Now the focus is shifting heavily to our get out the vote operation across the country, and you can play a big part in this effort – use the Barack Obama campaign’s Neighbor to Neighbor tool to make calls to voters in critical swing states.
http://my.barackobama.com/modules/votercontact/login_signup.php
You just need to login using your US address and they will give you some numbers to call to get out the vote on election day. All the good work we have done to find voters who support Obama all comes down to this critical moment – can we get them to the polls?
I’d like to ask all of you to commit to make at least 50 calls from your home on the day. If you have additional phone lines and wifi Internet access and you would like to welcome others into your home to make calls, please share that information in the comments field of this blog entry so that people can find each other.
ELECTION NIGHT! Once you have done everything that you can think of to do for Barack, then it’s time to gather round and start watching those results come in! There are a bunch of election night parties going on around the London, and I have listed them for your below. If you are outside London, there are a number of Democrats Abroad events going on all over the place, check the www.democratsabroad.org to see if you have a local event near you.
Obama Volunteers Election Night Party
Time: 10 pm until late
Location: The Flea Pit, 49 Columbia Road, London, E2 7RG
Info: Join a group of the Obama Campaign’s most active volunteers at this funky East London venue. Cash bar and snacks throughout the evening. Admission free, but RSVP required.
RSVP, and for more information: everyone@thefleapit.com
Chicago Rib Shack 56th US Election Viewing Party
Time: 8pm - 6:30am breakfast
Location: 145 Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7PA
Info: Drink/Food: extended license and will be serving a late supper (1:00am) and breakfast (6:30am) Tickets: £25 pp
RSVP, and for more information: bookings@thechicagoribshack.co.uk
Progressive Vision at Yate’s Wine Bar
Time: 8pm - 4am
Location: Yates's Wine Bar, 30 Leicester Square, WC2H 7LA
Tickets: Standard: includes two complimentary drinks and food all evening £35.00 pp; VIP: Special VIP lounge with table service - £100.00pp. Buffet of food and snacks served through out the night. £10 worth of free drinks included with every ticket. Late license until 4am.
RSVP, and for more information: electionpartyuk@googlemail.com
Union of Jewish Students USA 2008 Election Night party
Time: 11pm onwards…
Location: 16 UWP – UJS Hillel Student Centre
Drink/Food: Bring your own bottle
Info: Join UJS students, friends and alumni to watch the results of the US Election roll in.
RSVP, and for more information: peter@ujs.org.uk
The East Room in Shoreditch Election Night Party
Time: 9pm – 9am
Location: 2a Tabernacle Street, London EC2A 4LU
Drink/Food: Ticket price includes food, booze, coffee and pancakes right through the night from late dinner until dawn. There are just 250 tickets available at £125 each (£100 for members), available on a first-come-first-served basis. Please declare your allegiance to your party and the flag and indicate the number of tickets you require.
RSVP: kirsten@thstrm.com
Gramaphone Election Night Party
Time: 10pm – 4 or 5am
Location: 60-62 Commercial Street, near Spitalfields, E1 6LT,
Drink/Food: Includes delicious Thai food available all night and drink specials
Info: Join us for an all night election party to watch the US returns on our big screen TV and hopefully celebrate an Obama victory. Hope you can make it! No cover charge – just turn up.
For more information, contact: 020 7377 5332
AFTER THE ELECTION
Once the result is known, I know you won’t want to miss the chance to get together with your fellow Obama supporters for a post election.... gathering.
Democrats Abroad is hosting a special post-election event at the Texas Embassy (because one thing we do know for sure is that November 4th will mean Hasta la Vista for George W. Bush!
http://www.democratsabroad.org/node/7162
But I also thought it would be important to have a post election event aimed just at you, my fabulous Obama volunteers. So I invite you to join us (and please mark your calendars now) for a special Thank You party on Friday, November 7th.
Time: From 7:00 PM
Place: The Duke of York Pub, New Cavendish Street
Map: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=528446&y=181633&z=0&ar=Y
Why: Because I’m so awfully proud of, and grateful to, all of you.
Very best wishes,
Karin
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