David Plouffe Visits OFA Volunteers: "My money is on you guys"
With OFA’s Vote 2010 strategy underway all across the country, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe stopped by two of Organizing for America’s California offices to fire up volunteers and lay out OFA’s plan for this year’s elections.
Plouffe told volunteers that they are the most effective messengers in making the case to friends and neighbors about the importance of November’s elections. OFA California shared more from Plouffe’s visits to OFA in Oakland and Los Angeles:
"The most important thing in 2010 is you talking to these voters, human being to human being, and getting them to say, ‘Alright, I’ll vote,’" Plouffe told volunteers in the Northern and Southern California OFA offices.
Plouffe explained that the President needs you to reach out to first-time ‘08 voters and tell them in your own words why this election matters.
Plouffe’s honest and candid speech to the Oakland office on the magnitude of the 2010 midterm election spoke volumes about his belief in OFA volunteers’ ability to affect lasting positive change. Plouffe made it clear to those in the room in Los Angeles and Oakland that by turning out the same first-time voters who carried President Obama to a historic 2008 victory, and turning out new first-time voters for 2010, OFA can once again make history in the upcoming midterm elections.
"It was those 15 million first-time voters that allowed us to win in 2008. We have to go out there and tell them that this election matters," Plouffe passionately implored the Oakland group to a round of applause. "We have to go out there and make sure that all those first-time voters go to the polls in 2010."
Plouffe was excited about the growth that OFA has seen ever since the 2008 elections. He pointed our that the organization’s ability to affect policy in the last two years is remarkable, and is breaking new ground in citizens’ ability to access their government….
Plouffe pointed out that although no one has ever tried to rely so heavily on volunteers and grassroots organizing for a midterm election before, no one else has the level of grassroots support and dedication that OFA does. After letting those words sink and pausing to survey the crowd of volunteers hanging on his every word, Plouffe said frankly, "This year, my money is on you guys."