Obama in FL: 500 paid staff members and boasts 160,000 volunteers

[babylonsister]

:wow: This man is serious!


Obama team pours money, manpower into battle for Fla.
By Brian C. Mooney
Globe Staff / October 23, 2008


ORLANDO, Fla. - Seeking a knockout punch against Republican John McCain, Democrat Barack Obama's campaign has poured people and money into Florida in building the largest field organization ever assembled in the Sunshine State.

Obama's campaign says it has deployed 500 paid staff members and boasts 160,000 volunteers in Florida, an unprecedented network that is hunting for votes via telephone, e-mail, and old-fashioned, door-to-door personal contact. Combined with a barrage of advertising, the Florida blitz will cost much more than the $39 million the campaign initially budgeted.

McCain has fought back in Florida with his own formidable ground operation, and he held a solid lead in the state until last month, when Obama surged ahead in most polls. Surveys this week show the race for Florida, whose economy is being ravaged by the home foreclosure crisis, to be a dead heat.

Four years ago, President Bush ran a massive get-out-the-vote operation and easily bagged Florida's 27 electoral votes on his way to reelection. This year, a Democratic win in Florida would be a huge blow to McCain. Everyone on both sides understands what is at stake here.

"If we win Florida, it's over," said Steven Schale, director of the Obama campaign in Florida.

"There's no formula to win without Florida," said Lew Oliver, chairman of the McCain campaign and Republican Party in Orange County. "We know Florida is it," he said during a break in phoning voters at the GOP's county headquarters in an Orlando strip mall. "It's a big motivating factor."


more...

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/10/23/obama_team_pours_money_manpower_into_battle_for_fla/?page=full

[graywarrior]

1. I knew he had the ground saturated, but I had no idea how big it was.

Truly impressive.

[babylonsister]

4. I'm shocked and impressed myself! What an organization! nt

[Mooney]

2. Wow.

I really have to hand it to this campaign. In no way do they fuck around.

[Mooney]

3. Wow.

I really have to hand it to this campaign. In no way do they fuck around.

[winga222]

5. Contrary to Morning Joe the other day

I saw the clip. Joe, for all his numerous faults, both gets Florida and has extensive contacts. According to him, there is no McCain ground operation or at least nothing to speak of. Still don't trust the Repugs not to steal it and we have to be overly pessimistic if that's what it takes to keep us motivated. However, he completed contradicted the above "formidable ground operation" statement.

[FlaDem83]

6. Exactly!! I am a Neighborhood Team Captain in

Manatee County, and I can say, CHILL - we got this. We've got it. We are dedicated, tireless, motivated and devoted. Change IS coming.

[babylonsister]

7. Kudos to you, FlaDem83! Keep up the good work!! nt

[madfloridian]

8. Kick...why did this drop to page 2?

Also needs a recommend.

[cliffordu]

9. This army of volunteers must TERRIFY the republicans.....

Which explains the flailing and the scumbag attempts at theft.....

[babylonsister]

10. And the turnout can't be comforting to them either. I do wonder

how that's going in terms of who is winning so far.

[JBoy]

11. I agree Florida is the knockout punch. Obama can win without it, but McCain can't.

[OhioChick]

12. K&R

:kick: