Interview conducted by the New York blogs.
Q: Can you explain to us what the state director does?
The State Director is the quarterback of the campaign in NY. I help coordinate the political, field, communications and logistics of the campaign. I am also the all-around trouble shooter. As problems arise, I can direct certain parts of the team to address matters. The State Director assists with fundraising, is a spokesperson for the campaign… and reaches out to Elected Officials and other important constituencies.
Q: What are your top goals?
We want to have a historic victory for Senator Obama in NY. We want to contribute to the swing-states – where this race will be won or lost. We want to make sure that people realize that Senator Obama’s message of change is transmitted all across the State.
Q: Do you see a down-ballot effect from Obama’s overwhelming popularity in this state?
Yes, we know that many first-time voters will be coming out to the polls. We anticipate record turnout. This should have a coattail effect on close elections farther down the ballot.
Q: What can people who don’t want to or can’t travel to a swing state do here in New York?
For the first time, all the Get-Out-The-Vote phonecalls in battleground states will be made by volunteers. There are no paid phonebanks in the Obama campaign. Therefore, big states like California, Texas, Illinois and New York are responsible for turning out voters in states like Florida, Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina – to name a few.
In New York, we need to make nearly 3 million phonecalls in the final four days of this campaign. This means that volunteers in New York who are unable to travel to a swing state can have an impact like never before.
We have large phonebank locations set up all over the state. Check out our website at: http://ny.barackobama.com/nylastcall to find a location near you!
Q: Some final words for your volunteers?
This is it people... this is when the Presidential race will be decided. With many battleground states too close to call… this race will be won by whichever side gets more of its voters to the polls.
Every Barack Obama supporter in NY needs to dig deep and commit as much time as possible to calling battleground state voters and get them to the polls.
We need you to join us. Barack Obama needs your help to win.
Please commit a day or two (or four)… and spread the word to ALL your friends. Reach out to all your networks; family, friends, Facebook, alumni groups – we need you to reach EVERYONE!
Thank you for your time, Dave. Now let's go out and win this thing.
