Polls open in 58 days.

To start the day, Las Vegas Congresswoman Shelley Berkley fired up a gathering of at least 70 women at a roundtable talk featuring Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-9) and actress Nancy Lee Grahn.

Rep. Berkley discussed the issues with which Senator Obama disagrees with McCain, from equal pay for equal work, to a woman’s right to choose, to his recent choice of Sarah Palin to be his Vice President. Berkley had the room clapping and cheering when she proclaimed that she had nothing in common with Palin except that “She’s from Alaska and likes to shoot moose. I’m from Las Vegas and I like to shoot craps.”

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You can choose one of three card designs to show your grandparents why you are involved with the Obama campaign and why their support is important to you. You can add your own personal message, and your card will be automatically delivered on Sunday, September 7th. 

It only takes a minute to choose and personalize a card.

Barack's grandparents played an important role in shaping the person he is today. They instilled in him their small-town Midwestern values, and a belief that with hard work, you should have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream and make a better world for future generations. And that's what our campaign is all about.

So tonight, take a few minutes and send an e-card to your grandparents or older friends, and share Barack’s story and why you’re supporting him.

The extremely serious situation with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac affects millions of homeowners, our financial system, and our entire economy.  I have been and will continue to monitor this situation closely, and I’ll evaluate whatever plan is put forth by this Administration with the following three benchmarks:

First, any action we take must be focused not on the whims of lobbyists and special interests worried about their bonuses and hourly fees, but on whether it will strengthen our economy and help struggling homeowners who are also being hit by lost jobs, stagnant wages and spiraling costs for everything from gas to groceries.

Second, we must protect taxpayers, not bail out the shareholders and management of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This is a challenging situation, and there are some community and regional banks, including those serving low-income communities, that we need to carefully address. But we must not allow government intervention to protect investors and speculators who relied on the government to reap massive profits.

Finally, we must ensure that any plan clarifies the true public and private status of our housing policies. We need to make clear that in our market system, investors must not be allowed to believe that, unlike working families, they can simply invest in a “heads they win, tails they don’t lose” context.

For too long, Washington ignored the warning signs in the housing and financial markets, and has been unwilling to take the kind of actions that I have been advocating for over two years to crack down on reckless borrowers and help struggling homeowners.  We cannot afford more of this “wait and don’t see” approach to our markets and our economy.  

With today’s announcement, as well as the discouraging job report Friday, I once again urge the Administration and Senator McCain to drop their opposition to a second stimulus package, and to come together around a package like I have proposed, with immediate relief for families and $50 billion to struggling states so that they don’t have to cut back on health care and education and can rebuild roads and schools and help restore jobs and confidence to our economy.

A self-described fiscal conservative from Falls Church, Rick Taylor has always voted for Republicans, including George Bush, twice. But he connected with Obama’s 2004 speech, and the more he read about Obama, the more he liked, especially Obama’s efforts to make government more transparent and accountable to the American people. He cited Obama’s “Google the Government” bill, which the Illinois senator worked with Tom Coburn to pass.

“Barack may be a Democrat, but he wants the government to be as efficient as it can be, and he wants the American people to know what's happening and how their tax money is being used,” says Taylor.”

As one Republican for Obama in the video says, “We’ve got to change now.” If you are a Republican who’s ready for a change, and ready for an administration that works across party lines for all Americans, join Republicans for Obama today.

Jill and Joe Biden traveled together throughout the lush state of Pennsylvania yesterday, speaking to audiences at the Ironworkers Local 401 in Philadelphia and Maple Point Middle School in Langhorne. Jill introduced her husband by describing how the two met. She said Joe always supported her dreams and encouraged her to get a doctorate in education. Today, Jill works as a community college professor and passionately supports the improvement of the education system. She talks about how thrilled she is that the teachers of America will finally have strong leadership under the Obama-Biden Administration.

She said:

I think we make a great team -- both our families -- the Bidens and the Obamas. I hope that your families will join our team as well.

Please enjoy this video of Jill describing her husband and hero, Joe Biden.

Sharon Barnes
En route to Wilmington, Delaware

"I appreciate you coming out to change direction in America and Lord knows we need it." - Evan Bayh

Senator Evan Bayh, a native of Terre Haute, introduced Barack at this afternoon's town hall meeting at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds 4H Arena. "This is a big election with big consequences," he told the crowd, that Fire Chief Jeffery W. Fisher estimated at 800 folks.

Barack couldn't agree more: "People are not just worried about themselves they are worried about the future."

Change needs to be more than just a word, it needs to be a plan - a series of actions. It's why town halls like this are so important. They give citizens a chance to ask about the specific issues that affect their lives. One young lady was interested in ethanol production. A soldier wanted specifics on drawing down our presence in Iraq. It works both ways; Barack got a chance to ask a fifth-grade teacher what was in store for his daughter Malia, a fifth-grader. "What should I know about?" Her answer was simple: boys.

"Boys? Maybe this home schooling thing is a good idea! You know I have to win this election to make sure my girls get Secret Service protection. They have guns."

Change means different things to different people. In this video clip, Barack compares and contrasts his ideas of change with those of John McCain:

Arun Chaudhary
September 6th, 2008
Terre Haute, IN

Zachary --

This week at the Republican convention, John McCain and his surrogates attacked Barack Obama and mocked the power of community organizing.

They sneered at the idea that people like you can play a crucial role in turning this country around.

The Republicans just don't get it. Our movement was built by ordinary people working together in their communities -- and that's how we're going to win on Election Day.

We have a new tool called Neighbor to Neighbor that makes it easier than ever to connect with potential supporters in your community. It allows you to reach out to your fellow voters by making phone calls or knocking on doors -- the choice is yours.

Learn more and start making a difference in your neighborhood right now.

Barack is making history by competing in every corner of the country.

It's an aggressive strategy, and only you can make it work.

No one knows your community better than you -- and no one is better suited to strengthen our movement from the bottom up.

Neighbor to Neighbor gives you a list of potential supporters in your community, suggested topics to talk about, and an easy way to report back on who you've contacted.

With less than nine weeks till Election Day, we need to act now. Reach out in your community and build this movement for change:

http://my.barackobama.com/n2n

You've owned this campaign from the very start. By making a few phone calls or knocking on a few doors today, you'll own it more than ever before.

Thanks,

Jon

Jon Carson
National Field Director
Obama for America

While the balloons dropped at the Republican National Convention, everyday Americans gathered at a VFW hall in Lee’s Summit, Missouri to discuss issues that affect Americans across party lines. What made this particular forum unique was not the setting or the topics discussed, as these types of political gatherings take place every day across the state. It was the attendees themselves that set this a part, because the bulk of them typically consider themselves Republicans.

I was a Republican because I believe in conservative values and I put family first.... Now I want to elect Senator Obama for the sake of my grandsons.

That sentiment was expressed by Bobbie Queen, who supported Bush both times he ran, but is now committed to electing Barack Obama. She expressed her displeasure for the current leadership of the Republican Party.

I resent the fact that they think we're a bunch of whiners because we don't make $4 million a year. I live pay check to pay check and I work hard… I've never felt like anything I could do or say would make a difference. Those people were just too big and too far away to care. It's different with Obama. I just know he cares about people like us.

Also on hand was former Congressman Jim Leach, a Republican from Iowa who recently endorsed Senator Obama and spoke at the Democratic National Convention. He shared his reasons for throwing his support behind Barack and laid out the simple economics for all in attendance.

Barack Obama's policies will reduce taxes on the middle class much more than the policies of Senator McCain. McCain's policies will reduce taxes for the highest income earners and particularly for the oil industry.

The lies and distortions that had filled the airwaves for the past few days didn’t seem to faze or discourage the voters in attendance. If anything it strengthened their resolve. Jim Leach summarized the essential difference between the two candidates, and the reason that so many long time Republicans were embracing a Democrat for the first time. "Barack Obama understands the Midwest."

Listen:

Full transcript:

Hi, I’m Congressman John Larson of East Hartford, Connecticut, Vice Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.

In Denver, Barack Obama struck a chord with the American people when he spoke about the change we need now.

It is that fierce urgency of now that led John Mitchell, a former Republican Mayor in my district, to tell me about the plight of everyday citizens forced to turn over their entire Social Security check in order to heat their homes.

At Augie & Ray’s in my hometown, I hear daily from commuters, truckers, small business owners, and people on fixed income. They tell me how the costs of oil and gas are impacting their life.

For eight years, two oilmen in the White House have crafted this country’s energy policy. And for eight years, Big Oil has raked in unprecedented profits.

Barack Obama summed up our sentiment on this Bush-McCain policy, in one word: enough!

Enough of the energy policies designed behind closed doors with the oil industry.

Enough of John McCain and the Senate Republicans blocking tax credits for alternative energy.

Enough of the exorbitant cost to fill up our gas tanks.

And enough of choosing between prescription drugs, buying food, and heating our homes.

Enough!

It is time for an energy policy that puts Main Street before Wall Street.

It is time for a comprehensive energy plan that eases the short-term burden of high energy costs and addresses the long-term crisis of our dependence on Middle East oil.

Barack Obama has set a goal for this country. He’s laid down a marker. Under his presidency, we will end our addiction to oil from the Middle East within ten years.

His challenge echo President Kennedy’s goal to send a man to the moon. Well, we accomplished that in nine years.

And this new goal is within the grasp of the American people and the New Direction Congress is ready to embrace it.

Unfortunately, some Republicans in Congress – including John McCain – have spent the last few months obstructing progress and doing the bidding of the oil industry.

They offer nothing but the empty mantra of ‘drill, drill, drill.’

Democrats support drilling, but a ‘drill only’ plan would do nothing but drill deeper and deeper into your wallet. And look, while the oil companies have remained flush, your wallet is running dry.

When we return to Washington next week, the Democratic Congress under the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi will put forward a comprehensive, bipartisan energy plan that puts us on the path toward reaching our energy goals.

We will vote on legislation that actually does something to lower the price you pay at the pump.

We will take speculators out of our energy futures markets where they artificially drive up the cost at the pump.

We will consider responsibly opening portions of the Outer Continental Shelf for drilling while demanding that Big Oil companies use the leases they have already been issued or return them to the public.

We will invest the royalties owed the American taxpayer in alternative energy technology.

And we will continue to call for the release of oil from our national stockpile to help lower the price at the pump. After all, if the President can release our reserves when the oil companies come asking – why can’t he do the same when the American people ask?

As oilman T. Boone Pickens says, we can’t drill our way out of this problem. Not when Americans use 25 percent of the world’s oil but only own three percent of the reserves.

Under the Bush Administration, we now import 70 percent of our oil at a cost of 700 billion dollars a year.

Enough!

We need to address our future energy needs with a federal renewable electricity standard consisting of alternative forms of energy, including natural gas, solar power, wind, biomass and geothermal power and fuel cells.

In short, everything must be on the table.

Democrats in Congress and Barack Obama believe that we need to put Americans first by putting them to work in a green economy.

With the strength and ingenuity of the American people, we can propel ourselves toward an energy independent future.

My fellow Americans, we can do this! And we must begin now!

I’m Congressman John Larson. Thank you for listening.

God Bless you and God Bless America.

You can watch a live stream of the event below:

Barack is in Terre Haute, Indiana right now, for a discussion with Indiana families.

Voices for Change is a series featuring profiles of Barack Obama's grassroots supporters from across the nation. The people who make up this movement come from all different backgrounds, but they share a common goal of helping bring about fundamental change in Washington.

Please join Joe Biden this Monday, September 8th, at a rally in Des Moines, where he'll talk about creating the kind of change we need.

Rally with Joe Biden

Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center
Iowa State Fairgrounds
East University Ave. and East 30th St.
Des Moines, IA 50317

Monday, September 8th
Doors Open: 1:30 p.m.
Program Time: 3:15 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public; tickets are not required but an RSVP is encouraged. Space is available on a first come, first served basis.

For security reasons, do not bring bags. Please limit personal items. No signs or banners allowed.

...The Democratic presidential candidate addressed a group of about 200 people, mostly employees of Schott North America, on a daylong visit to Luzerne County.

After the more than hourlong speech at the Duryea specialty-glass manufacturing plant, Obama answered a few questions and then stopped at a Wyoming diner before heading to New Jersey.

...Pennsylvania is a battleground state and critical to a November victory, and Obama used some straight talk of his own to hit on issues that affect “ordinary” people.

Jobs, high gas prices, health care, Social Security, education, taxes and national security were some of the topics he hit on.

The day after the Republican Party closed its national convention, Obama said he watched in wonder as his opponent failed to address what he called the critical issues of the campaign.

Obama railed against John McCain and the Republican Party, which he said is “out of touch” with the American public and more focused on McCain’s biography instead of the failing economy.

“Hard-working Americans are working harder and harder just to get by,” Obama said. “Costs are skyrocketing, home foreclosures are increasing and jobs are being lost. At the Republican convention, you heard nothing about the middle class.”

“The most recent jobs report shows we have lost 80,000 more jobs across the country,” Obama said. “That brings us to 605,000 jobs lost this year. The unemployment rate is at 6.1 percent – the highest it’s been in five years.

...“They talked about me a lot, in less than respectful terms, running me down,” Obama said. “What they didn’t talk about is you and what you’re seeing in your lives and what you’re going through, or what your friends or your neighbors are going through.”

...“John McCain is not a bad person,” Obama said. “He just doesn’t get it.”

If elected, Obama said the $200 billion in corporate tax breaks will not continue.

“Not when there are 108 million Americans who haven’t received one dime of tax relief,” Obama said. “My plan would give 95 percent of all Americans a tax cut. I will give it to the people who need it to fill their gas tanks and heat their homes.”

He said he would end tax breaks to companies that continue to send jobs overseas.

“It’s common sense,” he said.

The Democrat vowed to fix the health care system and lower premiums to employers who provide health benefits for employees.

...Obama stressed the need for alternative energy sources and in doing so, millions of new, high-paying jobs will be created.

“We can create a car that can get 150 miles to the gallon,” Obama said. “I will work with the automobile companies. I will rebuild our country’s infrastructure – our roads, bridges and sewer lines.”

Obama said he will fix the educational system too, advocating higher salaries for quality teachers.

“Countries that out-teach us today will out-compete us tomorrow,” he said.

Equal pay for equal work is high on Obama’s agenda. He said he will fight for single mothers and veterans.

“We’re not alone; we rise and fall together,” Obama said. “I will create a government that will fight for ordinary, hard-working people.”

...“I’m not perfect. But there is one thing I cannot deny – I’ve been fighting for ordinary people all my life. That’s why I got involved in politics; to help working people. Don’t be fooled in this election. I need your vote.”

From the Times Leader:

...As his motorcade left the Schott property, Obama stopped his car, jumped out and greeted about 100 people standing along York Avenue in Duryea. He mingled with the crowd, signing autographs and shaking hands – and even held a baby for a picture-taking session. After five minutes, he got back in his SUV and headed to the diner.

But before leaving northeast Pennsylvania, Obama bellied up to the diner counter for a piece of banana cream pie.

“Wow, that is good; get me a to-go container so I can eat the rest of this on my way to the airport,” Obama said.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, of Illinois, stopped at the [Avenue Diner] Friday afternoon after speaking at the Schott North America plant in Duryea. Obama was on his way to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport to board his plane and head to New Jersey for more campaigning.

...“This is amazing,” Lenny Krappa said. “Of all the places in this area, he chose our diner. We are honored to have had him come here.”

Kathleen Thomas and her husband Mike of South Wilkes-Barre were having lunch when the Illinois senator walked through the door. Mrs. Thomas made her way through the crowd to shake Obama’s hand and wish him well.

“I think he’s marvelous,” she said. “I haven’t been this excited since the ’60s, when I was a Kennedy girl on Public Square.”

Music of the ’50s and ’60s played in the background as Obama made his way through the diner, stopping to chat with customers and pose for pictures as he worked to win some votes in an area considered key to winning the state.

Obama sat next to Sam Agolino, who told the candidate there wasn’t much happening economically in the region.

“I told him that when a new place opens with 100 jobs, 600 people show up to apply,” Agolino said. “It’s getting worse; people can’t pay their bills. I asked him to help us and he said he will.”

...Before he left, Obama, who was accompanied by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, thanked everyone for supporting him and said, “Don’t forget to vote.”

Sally Wieczorek and June Jeffrey of Wyoming said they stopped for lunch never expecting to see a presidential candidate walk in.

“I think the world of Sen. Obama,” Wieczorek said. “I hope he goes all the way to the White House.”

From the New YorkTimes:

With their nominating conventions behind them, Senators Barack Obama and John McCain on Friday opened their march to Election Day, with a bleak unemployment report setting the tone for the final 60 days of their long campaign for the White House.

...For his part, Mr. Obama asked voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania to tune out the static that has consumed the presidential race and reflect on which party would bring change to Washington.

“If you watched the Republican national convention over the last three days, you wouldn’t know that we have the highest unemployment rate in 5 years because they didn’t say a thing about what was going on in the middle class,” Mr. Obama said. “They spent a lot of time trying to run me down and not necessarily telling the truth, but what they didn’t talk about is you — what you’re going through in your lives, what your friends and neighbors are going through.”

Mr. Obama, in shirtsleeves and safety goggles, toured a glass manufacturing plant in this northeastern Pennsylvania town just outside Scranton. He arrived at the factory hours after the latest report released Friday showing that the unemployment rate jumped to 6.1 percent in August, its highest level in five years, and his backdrop was intentionally planned to convey a message that Democrats are pushing above all else the nation’s deteriorating economy.

“This is not about personalities,” Mr. Obama said, imploring voters to weigh the issues and determine which party can bring change. “If you want it to be about personalities, we’ll go out for a beer sometime and we’ll talk. But you don’t have time, you’re spending time with your family.”

From the Charlottesville Daily Progress:

The campaign of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama announced Friday that it is opening its second campaign office in Charlottesville.

The office will open today at 104 Wertland St. It will focus on voter outreach for University of Virginia students.

Obama’s campaign already has an office on the Downtown Mall.

Both Charlottesville campaign offices are urging residents to stop by to donate canned food, bottled water, first-aid supplies and other goods for people displaced by Hurricane Gustav.

As of this weekend, Obama’s campaign will have 41 offices across Virginia.

Virginia is widely seen as a battleground state in the Nov. 4 election between Obama and Republican nominee John McCain.

From the Tribune Star:

General anxiety rippled through the crowd of hundreds waiting in line Friday for tickets to see Barack Obama speak today — how many tickets would there be?

That question was answered shortly after 10 a.m. Around 200 people had received tickets, and organizers outside the Campaign for Change office at 509 Wabash Avenue announced that no more were available.

The line, which began forming around 4 a.m., stretched along the south side of Wabash Avenue from Fifth Street to Sixth Street, filled the sidewalk along Sixth Street and nearly reached Ohio Street.

The chatter in the line ranged from rumors about how many tickets there might be — some suggested up to 1,000 — to the cool weather, to the speeches given recently during the Republican National Convention. An Obama volunteer wandered through the crowd with a plastic canister of coffee and Styrofoam cups, while another sought volunteers to make phone calls and canvass door to door for the campaign.

People in line shivered in the fall-like temperatures. Some had lawn chairs, blankets, and books to read while waiting.

Estell and Joan McClure of Terre Haute were a couple of the lucky ones to receive tickets. The McClures said that although they are Republicans, “We are impressed with [Barack Obama].”

Estell McClure said he would vote for Obama because, “I just don’t like what’s been going on – it’s time for a change.”

It will be their first time to see the candidate in person, and the two hope to meet him, they said.

Watch Barack here.

Watch Barack here.

This Saturday, September 6th, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, Barack Obama will speak via webcast to the American Association of Retired Persons Life@50+ National Event and Expo in Washington, DC.

Barack will address the crowd and answer questions on a live webcast that you can watch here at approximently 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. 

For generations, we have worked to keep a simple promise in this country – that those who have worked hard their entire lives have the right to retire with dignity and security. . .

But today, that promise feels like it’s slowly slipping away.  You feel this in your own lives.  More Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less.  More have lost their homes and more are watching their home values plummet.  You’re paying college tuition that’s beyond your reach while supporting your aging parents.  And as you plan for your future, you’re finding it’s harder to save and it’s harder to retire.

... I’m running for President because I believe this election is all about the issues.  It’s not about me, or John McCain, it’s about you.  It’s about your lives.  It’s about your future.

Read the full text of Barack's opening remarks . . .

This Saturday, September 6th, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, Barack Obama will speak via webcast to the American Association of Retired Persons Life@50+ National Event and Expo in Washington, DC.

Barack will address the crowd and answer questions on a live webcast that you can watch here at approximently 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. 

For generations, we have worked to keep a simple promise in this country – that those who have worked hard their entire lives have the right to retire with dignity and security. . .

But today, that promise feels like it’s slowly slipping away.  You feel this in your own lives.  More Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less.  More have lost their homes and more are watching their home values plummet.  You’re paying college tuition that’s beyond your reach while supporting your aging parents.  And as you plan for your future, you’re finding it’s harder to save and it’s harder to retire.

... I’m running for President because I believe this election is all about the issues.  It’s not about me, or John McCain, it’s about you.  It’s about your lives.  It’s about your future.

Read the full text of Barack's opening remarks . . .

After visiting the Ironworkers Local 401 this morning, Joe Biden, his wife Jill, and Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell stopped by The Dining Car restaurant in North Philadelphia. They had no time to eat, but they did chat with patrons, paid a visit to the kitchen, and left with a bag of eclairs.

While in the restaurant, a woman named Betty who was thrilled to see the Bidens told them, “You look like you were made for each other,” to which Joe replied, “Well thank you. It took me a long time to get her.”

With a bag full of pastries the Bidens joined their motorcade and drove west across the Berks county line into Langhorne, where Joe led a rousing event at Maple Point Middle School’s gymnasium. The event drew a capacity crowd of 1200, according to Middleton Fire Marshall James McGuire.

The event was spirited, with Joe picking up from where he left off at the Ironworkers Local 401 event earlier today. Not only did he speak with fiery conviction about how the Republicans seem out of touch with the issues facing the American people -- job loss, high gas and food prices and lack of affordable healthcare -- but he also talked about how he and Barack Obama have the experience to shake up Washington and get things done.

Joe also shared a story about how he and an unlikely partner worked together, in the early 1980’s, to change the system in Washington:

Enjoy this recap of Joe’s day in pictures:

Peter Rubi
Wilmington, DE

After visiting the Ironworkers Local 401 this morning, Joe Biden, his wife Jill and Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell stopped by The Dining Car restaurant in North Philadelphia. They had no time to eat, but they did chat with patrons, paid a visit to the kitchen and left with a bag of eclairs.

While in the restaurant, a woman named Betty who was thrilled to see the Bidens told them, “You look like you were made for each other.” Joe replied, “Well thank you. It took me a long time to get her.”

With a bag full of pastries the Bidens joined their motorcade and drove west across the Berks county line into Langhorne, where Joe led a rousing event at Maple Point Middle School’s gymnasium. The event drew a capacity crowd of 1200, according to Middleton Fire Marshall James McGuire.

The event was spirited, with Joe picking up from where he left off at the Ironworkers Local 401 event earlier today. Not only did he speak with fiery conviction about how the Republicans seem out of touch with the issues facing the American people -- including job loss, high gas and food prices and lack of affordable healthcare -- but he also talked about how he and Barack Obama have the experience to shake up Washington and get things done.

Joe also shared a story about how he and an unlikely partner worked together, in the early 1980’s, to change the system in Washington:

Enjoy this recap of Joe’s day in pictures:

Peter Rubi
Wilmington, DE

After visiting the Ironworkers Local 401 this morning, Joe Biden, his wife Jill and Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell stopped by The Dining Car restaurant in North Philadelphia. They had no time to eat, but they did chat with patrons, paid a visit to the kitchen and left with a bag of eclairs.

While in the restaurant, a woman named Betty who was thrilled to see the Bidens told them, “You look like you were made for each other.” Joe replied, “Well thank you. It took me a long time to get her.”

With a bag full of pastries the Bidens joined their motorcade and drove west across the Berks county line into Langhorne, where Joe led a rousing event at Maple Point Middle School’s gymnasium. The event drew a capacity crowd of 1200, according to Middleton Fire Marshall James McGuire.

The event was spirited, with Joe picking up from where he left off at the Ironworkers Local 401 event earlier today. Not only did he speak with fiery conviction about how the Republicans seem out of touch with the issues facing the American people -- including job loss, high gas and food prices and lack of affordable healthcare -- but he also talked about how he and Barack Obama have the experience to shake up Washington and get things done.

Joe also shared a story about how he and an unlikely partner worked together, in the early 1980’s, to change the system in Washington:

Enjoy this recap of Joe’s day in pictures:

Peter Rubi
Wilmington, DE

Barack Obama was joined by Senator Bob Casey this morning for events in Duryea and Wyoming, just outside Scranton. As a native of Northeastern Pennsylvania, this was territory that Bob knows well. He was equally at home in a town meeting at the SCHOTT glass factory as he was grabbing a slice of pie at the Avenue Diner.

Bob is always impressed with the grit or his neighbors, in tough times past, and in our current struggling economy. "The people of Northeastern Pennsylvania have a heritage of struggle and sacrifice," Bob told the crowd in Duryea. He also cited Barack's own success as a self-made man, explaining that "This is something that Barack knows about."

Enjoy the day in pictures,

Arun Chaudhary
September 5th, 2008
Newark, NJ

Joe Biden and his wife Jill left their home in Wilmington, Delaware this morning to head to eastern Pennyslvania for a visit with the Ironworkers Local 401 in North Philadelphia.

Retired roofer, Norman Payne came to the event early, eager to see Joe speak. He said, “I hope to hear something different. The Republicans say nothing about the economy. We need a change. A big change.”

Talking to a small crowd of workers and their families, Joe spoke about the need for an administration that understands the value of maintaining and building our middle class. He spoke about creating jobs, and giving tax breaks to those who need them most.

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter were also on hand. Tom Jacobs, vice president for the United Steel Workers Union, introduces this clip from Joe’s visit to the Ironworkers' union:

Peter Rubi
Philadelphia, PA

John McCain and the Republicans had all week to make their case -- and they didn't do it.

The whole Republican convention went by without offering a single idea about how to improve the lives of ordinary Americans.

People noticed. In the last 24 hours, more people donated to this campaign for the first time than ever before. Thank you for responding so strongly.

Barack is making clear what this election should be about. At a campaign stop in Pennsylvania yesterday, he spoke out about exactly what we didn't hear at the Republican convention.

You can help make sure Barack's message of change is heard loud and clear. Will you watch the video and make a donation today?



We learned just this morning that unemployment jumped to its highest rate in five years, and our economy lost 605,000 jobs this year alone -- at a time when John McCain believes that the fundamentals of our economy are "strong."

John McCain can talk all he wants about change, but he has voted with George W. Bush more than 90 percent of the time, and Americans aren't buying it.

Here are a few of the responses we received from voters who watched the Republican convention:

"This is one Republican for Obama that knows 100% now that I made the right choice and will in November vote for Obama-Biden." -- Bev from Georgia

"Republicans like Palin, Giuliani, and Romney can engage in red-meat partisan vitriol all they want, right out of the Karl Rove playbook, but this isn't 2000 or 2004. Americans now have seen the full impact of GOP policies on their pocketbook." -- Rick from Colorado

"What the Republicans displayed ... is more of the same old thing -- unproductive politics. I hope and pray that the American voters will see through this and realize that we need a different mindset and approach if we are ever going to get things done in Washington." -- Patricia from Kansas

Watch Barack's response to the Republican convention, and join these folks in supporting real solutions and making sure Americans far and wide know what's at stake.

Thanks for everything you're doing,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

0 Comments ]]> Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:01:53 CDT

"This is the second day in a row that we are talking about manufacturing," Barack told the crowd of 150 in the SCHOTT glass factory. "When you meet the workers, it gives you pride that great manufacturing work is still being done in America."

SCHOTT is a bright spot in an otherwise worsening economy. Today the Department of Labor Statistics released new numbers: The nation's unemployment has reach a five-year high of 6.1 percent in August and employers laid off 84,000 workers.

It's no wonder that folks in Northeastern Pennsylvania are so intent on the the choice they have to make in this election. Voters as well as Barack are trying to keep focused on substantive issues rather than the personality issues that can creep into a campaign.

"Personalities? I think I've got a pretty good personality, but that's not why I'm running," Barack said at the town hall meeting. He is running to fix a broken healthcare system, bring balance to a faltering economy, and help the American people pass on a better life to their children.

"So if someone asks you what I'm going to do, now you know!"

Here are the rest of Barack's remarks from the SCHOTT glass factory in Duryea, PA:

Arun Chaudhary
September 5, 2008
En route to Newark, NJ

Barack's grandparents played an important role in his life. He was shaped by their values and love, and he learned from their example that each generation has a responsibility to work for the generations that will follow.

Today, with your help, he is putting that lesson into action. Share Barack's story and your enthusiasm for this campaign with your Grandparents and thank your grandparents for the important place they have in your lives. Honor their example and ask them to join you in our movement for change.

We've created online greeting cards you can send to show your love that we will auto-deliver on Sunday, September 7th, Grandparents Day. Together we can make a difference that will last for generations.

Yesterday Barack spent the day in Pennsylvania where he held a discussion on the economy at the Siemens Hydro Powerplant in York. Afterwards he traveled to Buchanan Park in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where he held a "Change We Need" event.

Here is the day in pictures...

“The U.S. Department of Labor recently released its August jobs report, and the report confirms what we in Michigan already know: jobs are getting tougher to come by. The report showed a loss of 84,000 jobs in the United States during August. Our national unemployment rate is now 6.1%, and much higher in many parts of Michigan.

“During these tough economic times, Congress needs to work on policies designed to create good-paying jobs and break our dependence on foreign oil. If we can give our workers more opportunities and lower gas prices for families, America will rebound and our economy will start growing again.

“In order to do so, Congress must tighten its belt and foster a climate where good-paying jobs can be created. This is common sense. Just as you make sacrifices in your life when money gets tight, Washington, D.C. needs to do the same right now so that our economy can stabilize and grow again.

“Unfortunately, leadership in the House is pushing a massive $680 billion tax increase on families and job providers, and I am strongly fighting this ill-timed, bloated bill. Michigan’s economic turnaround depends on manufacturers innovating, growing and expanding, and higher taxes will prevent manufacturers from even thinking about growing.”

As Vote for Change continues, with voter registration drives continuing with urgency ahead of state filing deadlines, one of the best places to hold drives has been at new citizenship ceremonies. Gabrielle, a resident of Miami-Dade, has been driving much of the grassroots effort in her part of Southern Florida.

Gabrielle has hosted 16 voter registration events since June, including 10 at new citizenship ceremonies. Occurring roughly once a week, each event draws about 6000 new citizens over three sessions a day.

We speak to attendees as they line up and wait to go into the ceremony generally speaking about the importance of registering to vote to have a political voice, exercising their rights and protecting their future and democracy in America.

Gabrielle organizes her events well ahead of time, trying to bring the biggest Obama presence possible to the events.

I post on my.barackobama.com, send emails to my volunteer base, make calls to volunteers and Obama group leads, local Democratic organizations to get volunteers for theses events. I encourage them to sign up on MyBO so we are clear on resources available and where there are deficits. Training is done at the site/event as volunteers arrive. We train and register new volunteers for other events - canvassing etc. - during down time or otherwise place them strategically to cover flow of attendees and family to pass out lit and speak about the importance of registering to vote.

Gabrielle has been involved in political campaigns in the past, but has become particularly motivated to help the Obama campaign: just at the new citizenship events, she and the other volunteers have registered more than 3000 new voters.

I have spent most my life in other countries where voter turnout is above 70 percent. The United States has elected leadership based on general election population minority. We need to first get the voters registered, then educate them on the issues. The era of a voting minority acting as the majority voice and influence must end.

Gabrielle is still doing her part, with nine more new citizenship registration efforts planned. She is always looking for more volunteers. If you would like to help with a voter registration drive in your area or find out about your voter registration status, you can find information here.

Katherine says they entered a group in the parade because:

We wanted to create an event that would highlight the Obama campaign and show people that we’re out there and getting the vote out, getting volunteers. The campaign doesn’t have a presence yet in this part of Florida, so we wanted to show people that we’re here, and we’re working hard for Barack.

Get involved in your community this weekend. You can sign up to volunteer, or check to find an Obama event near you. 

What events are you doing this weekend? Tell us about your campaign events and send us photos at blog@barackobama.com. 

In Seattle, Washington the Asian American and Pacific Islanders community held a voter registration drive in Seattle's Chinatown/International District. They spent an evening talking to supporters, registering voters and spreading Barack's message.

Dozens of local small businesses set up booths to sell Chinese pastries, Vietnamese sandwiches and Japanese noodles to several hundred local Washingtonians. Among the crowd were Obama supporters donning stickers and signup forms to encourage Asian American Pacific Islanders to vote. Supporters talked to dozens of local Washingtonians and registered many of them to vote.

According to Christine K, a first time voter, “As an Asian American, I believe that Barack Obama speaks for me. I believe that he understands the problems that my family faces, and I trust him to be my president.”

In Las Vegas, Nevada members of the Latino community gathered to form the Nevada Latino Leadership Advisory Committee. This community consists of over 80 Latino leaders in Nevada.

Among those in attendance were Assemblyman Ruben Kihuen, Chairman of the National Association of Hispanic Publications Foundation Edmundo Escobedo, community activist Vito De La Cruz, and Culinary 226 President Geoconda Arguello-Kline. The campaign, working with the Latino community, created this committee in order to highlight the importance of Latino issues to the campaign, and will be vital to Barack Obama's efforts in Nevada.

Escobedo kicked off the event, talking about the importance of this committee in reaching out to the Latino community and mobilizing them to vote. De La Cruz talked about the most salient issues facing Latino families today: healthcare, education, and sensible immigration reform. Finally, Arguello-Kline spoke poignantly about her experience working her way up as an immigrant, as well as the struggles that working families face in this declining economy.

The Heartland Change Tour for Rural Americans kicked-off in Wisconsin on Tuesday with a roundtable breakfast with Representative Phil Garthwaite.

The goal of the tour is to reach out to voters in Wisconsin's heartland - the rural areas and smaller cities of the state that are filled with the farmers and hard-working Wisconsinites that have been the backbone of the Badger state's identity for generations.

...The tour made stops ... in Monroe and Argyle - where it was joined by State Senator John Erpenbach en route to the day's final house meeting in Middleton.

On Thursday, the tour continued on in Sun Prairie with Senator Mark Miller and Wisconsin's Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Randy Romanski.

The Tour ... took several of Wisconsin's most scenic winding county roads through Sauk County to arrive at Geri and Dick's farm in Fairfield Township just outside of Baraboo just in time for lunch.

"I heard Barack speak, and I said, 'I'm going to work for that man,'" Geri said, adding that she had never been involved in politics before.

Twenty of Geri and Dick's friends and neighbors from around the county took time out of their busy schedules to ask questions, offer ideas and to tell the Campaign for Change where they think their nation is going. Several were still negotiating crops that were damaged from the flooding that had occurred in the area earlier this summer.

But for an hour and a half those who gathered at Dick and Geri's put aside the strains of the past and present and looked to the future - and all were deeply concerned with enhancing the quality of rural life in Wisconsin and America.

Indiana, Minnesota and North Carolina host Women's Wednesday - a day specifically focused on the diverse women who make up this campaign. Women's Wednesday also allows the opportunity for women to gather and work together to help build the Women for Obama community in their hometown. Minnesota lists all the ways that women can get involved in this campaign.

Being a member of [Women for Obama] allows you to play a pivotal role in the campaign to elect Sen. Barack Obama the President of the United States.

Between now and Election Day there will be many opportunities and events held throughout the state of Minnesota.

Women On Wednesdays
•Women calling women phone banks held every Wednesday at all Campaign for Change offices. Phone banks are from 5:00 – 9:00 pm.

Mamas for Obama
•Group of women with children convene; women alternate between providing childcare and volunteering.

Women “Knocking-Out” the RNC
•Go door knocking during the RNC! 

Team Obama
•Assume a leadership role within your community as a Team Obama Captain or Member.

Women Focused Events
•Organize or participate in a women focused event such as Barack the Walk Against Breast Cancer and Obama Supporters Cheering to End Breast Cancer.

There are 20 constituent groups organizing across the country for Barack. Find yours and join the community today. 

The federal government’s role in our nation’s fight against cancer has been significant but more must be done. We must make key investments in research at the National Institutes of Health, promote prevention and screenings, and be certain that every American gets appropriate treatment. We must also allow scientists to pursue the research that they believe has the highest likelihood to heal.

There are reasons for great optimism: scientists are working now to identify genetic changes that increase and decrease risk for cancer, to determine patterns of protein markers for early detection of cancer, and to better treat and cure the disease.

Let us all work together to make this a golden era of progress as we Stand Up to Cancer.

“Sometimes it’s only two or three people, and sometimes it’s a huge group,” explains group organizer Jennifer, 38.

“It's the neighbor-to-neighbor strategy at work -- a small core team of seven leaders makes sure that volunteers are signed up and trained to conduct voter registration drives, and to make sure that data is entered at the end of the evening.”

Each week, the group sends volunteers out into the community to canvass. Right now, they’re busy registering voters and identifying Obama supporters and undecideds in their neighborhood.

They always start as a group in their local coffee shop, get to know each other, welcome the new volunteers, and then go out to knock on doors.

We always come back together at the end of the volunteer shift. It helps us feel connected as a group. And we always ask the volunteers when they can come back and canvass again.

Over Labor Day Weekend, the group did voter registration in a local park and registered over 200 new voters over the course of the weekend.  

Jennifer says volunteer are often surprised when they canvass just how appreciative the people they meet are of their volunteer efforts.

Even if we encounter someone who is not an Obama supporter, they almost always thank us for being out there. People like it when you knock on their doors – they’re thankful that you’re trying to register people.

A lot of people feel like the government doesn’t care about them anymore. Barack’s campaign is spreading the word that we do care. When we knock on doors in a poor neighborhood and ask them to be involved and have a voice – they’re really excited. They appreciate that we want them to be a part of this process. What Barack Obama is about is making everyone feel like they have a voice.

Jennifer has built a large group of volunteers, but she started only with a few friends and people she knew.

I got two friends involved, and then they each got two friends involved, and it all builds from there.

We just had a group out canvassing this morning, and while we were canvassing, we ran into some other folks who wanted to volunteer. So we asked them if they could come back at 4pm and help out on that shift. And they did! So our morning canvass brought afternoon volunteers.

The real energy comes from ordinary folks in this diverse community. Our volunteers represent nearly every walk of life -- some were born and raised right here in the neighborhood, while others have moved to St. Louis because of educational opportunities in the city. We have social workers, maintenance workers, teachers, students, retirees and administrative assistants who volunteer regularly. All are united by two common goals: to build relationships with our neighbors and to elect Barack Obama president in 2008.

Canvassing in your neighborhood is easy, and a great way to make a big difference for the campaign. Find a group near you  or volunteer to canvass your neighborhood.  Check out the Grassroots Action Guide to learn more about how you can organize your community.  

“Sometimes it’s only two or three people, and sometimes it’s a huge group,” explains group organizer Jennifer, 38.

“It's the neighbor-to-neighbor strategy at work -- a small core team of seven leaders makes sure that volunteers are signed up and trained to conduct voter registration drives, and to make sure that data is entered at the end of the evening.”

Each week, the group sends volunteers out into the community to canvass. Right now, they’re busy registering voters and identifying Obama supporters and undecideds in their neighborhood.

They always start as a group in their local coffee shop, get to know each other, welcome the new volunteers, and then go out to knock on doors.

We always come back together at the end of the volunteer shift. It helps us feel connected as a group. And we always ask the volunteers when they can come back and canvass again.

Over Labor Day Weekend, the group did voter registration in a local park and registered over 200 new voters over the course of the weekend.  

Jennifer says volunteer are often surprised when they canvass just how appreciative the people they meet are of their volunteer efforts.

Even if we encounter someone who is not an Obama supporter, they almost always thank us for being out there. People like it when you knock on their doors – they’re thankful that you’re trying to register people.

A lot of people feel like the government doesn’t care about them anymore. Barack’s campaign is spreading the word that we do care. When we knock on doors in a poor neighborhood and ask them to be involved and have a voice – they’re really excited. They appreciate that we want them to be a part of this process. What Barack Obama is about is making everyone feel like they have a voice.

Jennifer has built a large group of volunteers, but she started only with a few friends and people she knew.

I got two friends involved, and then they each got two friends involved, and it all builds from there.

We just had a group out canvassing this morning, and while we were canvassing, we ran into some other folks who wanted to volunteer. So we asked them if they could come back at 4pm and help out on that shift. And they did! So our morning canvass brought afternoon volunteers.

The real energy comes from ordinary folks in this diverse community. Our volunteers represent nearly every walk of life -- some were born and raised right here in the neighborhood, while others have moved to St. Louis because of educational opportunities in the city. We have social workers, maintenance workers, teachers, students, retirees and administrative assistants who volunteer regularly. All are united by two common goals: to build relationships with our neighbors and to elect Barack Obama president in 2008.

Canvassing in your neighborhood is easy, and a great way to make a big difference for the campaign. Find a group near you  or volunteer to canvass your neighborhood.  Check out the Grassroots Action Guide to learn more about how you can organize your community.  

Dean, 55, of Toledo, Ohio has been making furniture for eleven years. Now, there is one piece of furniture he would especially enjoy building.

“I would love to send a rocking chair to Barack Obama,” he says.

Dean’s support for Senator Obama goes well beyond handmade rocking chairs.  He volunteered extensively for the campaign during the primaries, and he looks forward to getting involved for the upcoming general election.

I was impressed by his intelligence and his ability to articulate and inspire.  What really impressed me was his ability to work with people of diverse opinions respectfully and move forward and try to find some common ground.  Also, I was impressed by his biography.  The more I learned about him, I felt that this is the type of world citizen we need to restore our credibility in the world.

Dean, his wife, and their seven children make up a big family that cares about a wide range of issues, and they are excited about Senator Obama leading a new direction for America.

As a small business entrepreneur, I am faced with all the issues surrounding the economy.  But healthcare is a big one too.  I would love to see universal healthcare.  A couple of our younger kids talk about environmental issues and creating sustainable energy.  We would love to see a major commitment on the part of the United States to transform our energy sources to solar and wind.

Dean made his first donation ever to a political campaign this year, and he is eager to move past the same old politics that have persisted these past eight years.

Donate today to join fellow supporters like Dean in our movement for change, or sign up to volunteer in your community and help build the grassroots movement.

I didn’t watch the event in Denver, but instead with over 100 Obama supporters at a Convention watch party in North Liberty, Iowa.

Here is a video I put together of the event. In it, you’ll see a diverse set of Iowans expressing what draws them to Senator Obama.

As you can tell, these folks are fired up and ready to sprint all the way to November 4th.

But they can’t do it alone. All over Iowa, Barack Obama’s Campaign for Change needs energetic supporters to help turn excitement into votes. Energetic supporters like you.

Whether you are a seasoned political volunteer, or if this your first campaign to get involved, we have a role for you in this important battleground state. Your time, I assure you, is this campaign’s most valuable resource.  

That’s why I’m asking you to join your local Obama Organizing Team. Click here to learn more about becoming a Team Leader, Precinct Captain, or Volunteer in your neighborhood.

I hope you will consider joining us in our fight to help Barack Obama win Iowa and the White House.  Oh, and one final note: As an intern myself, I can assure you wholeheartedly that this is a fun, meaningful way to spend the Fall!

The State of the Bush Economy

The unemployment rate climbed to 6.1 percent — the highest level in nearly five years (September 2003).

America has suffered an eighth straight month of job losses — 84,000 in August — totaling 605,000 so far this year.

The number of Americans looking for work climbed to 9.4 million in August – the highest number since December 1992. Nearly one in five (1.8 million) of those looking for work have been jobless for six months or more.

Average hourly earnings continue to fail to keep pace with inflation — up only 3.6 percent over the last year. Rising prices have pushed inflation up to 5.6 percent over the past 12 months.

Food prices have risen at an annualized rate of 8 percent over the last three months.

The American people are working harder, but making less even in the face of rising costs of health care, energy, and education. Since 2000, worker productivity is up, but the purchasing power of the typical working age family’s income is down by more than $2,000. As a result, 5.7 million more Americans are living in poverty and 7.2 million more Americans are without health care than in 2000.

Retail gas prices are at $3.68 a gallon – more than double that of 2001 – after peaking at $4.11 in July. Diesel prices remain high at $4.12 a gallon, more than two times the cost in 2001. In July, the price of a barrel of oil reached a new record of $147 per barrel, more than four times when Bush took office (today it is at $106). And heating costs are expected to reach record levels this winter.

Meanwhile, oil companies continue to report record profits, with Exxon Mobil posting the largest quarterly profits for an American company in history of nearly $12 billion in the 2nd quarter. Profits of the big five oil companies are projected to be more than $160 billion this year.

Speaker Pelosi on the Department of Labor report:

The economic policies of President Bush and the Republicans have delivered another blow to American families, as 84,000 more workers lost their jobs last month alone. Today, more than 9 million Americans are without work and millions more are struggling with the high cost of gas, health care and groceries, yet John McCain told Americans who are out of work or who just lost their jobs that another four years of the same failed Bush economic policies are the right solution for them and for America.

With the unemployment rate at a five-year high, it is clear that we must take immediate action to strengthen our economy. The New Direction Congress will soon act on a second economic stimulus package and a comprehensive energy plan that will create new American jobs, invest in renewables, increase domestic production, make America more energy independent, and break free of the failed Bush economic policies that John McCain and Republicans in Congress have rubber-stamped for far too long.

Hard-working Americans deserve economic policies that reward their efforts, strengthen their families, and keep the American Dream alive; that is what Democrats are committed to delivering.

Chairman George Miller:

Today’s news is yet another reminder that American workers continue to pay the price for eight years of President Bush’s economic policies. Already this year, more than 600,000 workers have lost their jobs, joining more than nine million Americans that are desperately looking for work. As separate data released yesterday shows, workers are now working harder for less. In today’s rough economy, this isn’t just bad news – its frightening news for the millions of workers who are working longer hours, taking on second and third jobs, and retiring later in life in order to make ends meet.

In light of this administration’s failed economic policies – giving huge tax cuts to the wealthy and hoping it trickles down – we need a new economic stimulus package that will create new jobs for workers and help strengthen middle class families. In June, the Democratic Congress took an important step by approving a much-needed extension of unemployment insurance to help out-of-work Americans.

Republicans in Congress should immediately drop their opposition to another economic stimulus and join us in working to provide additional, much-needed relief for workers.

Most economists agree that our nation’s turbulent economic times are not over. The combination of high energy costs, rising food prices, the housing crisis, and stagnant wages will continue to put stress on Americans’ pocketbooks. Despite all this, the Republican presidential ticket has failed to show any real grasp of how the ailing economy is hurting families – let alone offer any proposals for fixing it. After eight years of Bush economic policies and eight straight months of job losses, the last thing Americans need and want is more of the same – but it’s clear that’s exactly what the Republicans have to offer.

American workers and families deserve much, much better. For starters we need an administration that will once again treat workers with dignity and respect, and that believes that hard work should be rewarded with fair wages, benefits, and working conditions. We need an administration that understands the financial hardships facing families, and that has an economic plan for how to address them. And we need a President who will work for – not against – the interests of our workers.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama fought back Thursday against Republican attacks during a rally under the shade of oak trees in Lancaster's Buchanan Park.

As a crowd estimated at 15,000 and a horde of local, state and national media watched from the parched lawn of the city park, Obama jabbed at Republicans and their nominees — presidential candidate John McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin — for inaccurately representing him and his proposals.

… Obama's rally was held in a shady nook of the park, which is adjacent to the campus of Franklin & Marshall College. About 100 campaign volunteers and supporters sat at picnic tables and blankets directly in front of the candidate while most of the huge crowd stood in the sun to Obama's left.

… "The question we have to ask ourselves is: What America are they living in?" Obama said. "I don't think John McCain is a bad man. I just think he doesn't get it, and I don't think the Republican Party gets it. If they got it, then they wouldn't propose to continue the same George Bush economic policies that got us into this mess in the first place."

… In Lancaster, Obama was introduced by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr., a Pennsylvania Democrat, and Chris Wright, a 36-year-old Marietta Republican who is supporting Obama and was asked by the campaign Wednesday night to introduce the candidate.

"It was a little surreal, definitely," Wright said. He said he believes Republicans have lost their way in regard to fiscal and personal responsibility, which led him to support the Democrat.

Obama spent much of the speech proposing policy initiatives like tax cuts for 95 percent of families, financial incentives for college graduates to entice them into taking civil-service jobs, government-sponsored health care at least as good as that provided to members of Congress and investment in alternative-energy sources.

"You are going to rise up and say enough is enough, the time for change has come," he said. "We are going to create the kind of economy that works for all Americans and the kind of foreign policy that restores our respect across the world."

From the York Daily Record:

… Obama spoke to a number of employees at the [Voith Siemens Hydro Power Generation] plant, which makes components for hydroelectric systems, during Thursday afternoon's visit - his first to York County. Soon after his arrival about 12:30 p.m., the Illinois senator toured the cavernous building where the manufacturing takes place.

Accompanying him for the tour were U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr., D-Pa.; state Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-West Manchester; County Commissioner Doug Hoke; and Clark Ruppert Jr., president of the York-Adams County Central Labor Council.

Phil Avillo, Democratic candidate for the 19th congressional district, was present for the town hall meeting but did not go along on the plant tour.

About 20 members of the local and national news media followed, scurrying to stay out of the way of both visitors and employees.

Workers in the plant went about their jobs - operating machines, hoisting gigantic chunks of metal with cranes or putting the finishing touches on towering turbines with welding torches.

Obama approached them, shaking hands and conducting conversations that were inaudible from a distance over the plant's background noise.

DePasquale said the Illinois senator refrained from campaigning in the plant, instead asking the workers about their jobs.

"Everybody shook his hand and was happy to see him," DePasquale said.

The campaigning came after the tour was over. Obama and his retinue exited to a spot in the parking lot, with turbine components on trailers serving as backdrops.

About 50 people, including company employees and several local campaign volunteers, sat in folding chairs set up in concentric circles. Obama stepped to the center of the circle, picked up a microphone and promised not to keep them long in the afternoon's sweltering heat.

He told the assembled group that he's found touring such industrial sites to be one of the most enjoyable aspects of campaigning.

"You get to come in and meet the people who are making things that make the lives of the American people better," Obama said.

He said he chose Voith Siemens because it embodies two major facets of his platform: The hydroelectric power for which the plant manufactures components fits in with his proposed funding of programs to promote clean, renewable energy. And the recent addition of jobs there illustrates the type of economic renewal he intends to create, Obama said.

From Reuters:

LANCASTER, Pa. - The work of community organizers, who work for low salaries to help people in impoverished communities, is getting lots of attention this week as Republicans poke jabs at Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s job experience.

The three years Obama spent as a community organizer “maybe … is the first problem on the resume,” said former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani in his speech at the Republican convention on Wednesday.

… Obama was a community organizer after college in Chicago. He worked with a church-based group trying to improve conditions in poor neighborhoods and communities hurt when steel plants closed, according to his official campaign website.

He then went to Harvard Law School, became a civil rights lawyer, taught law and ran for the Ilinois State Senate. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004.

On the campaign trail on Thursday, Obama told a crowd in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, that the Republicans “really had fun talking about the work I did after college.”

“I don’t know if they understand what it means for a young person, at the age of 22 or 23, to pass up more lucrative options and work with people who are having a tough time and seeing that when people work together, we can do amazing things, rebuilding communities and setting up job training centers and setting up afterschool programs for kids.