In the past month, President Obama and Governor Kaine have laid out in great detail the Democratic National Committee's plans for the 2010 midterm elections. Although much has been made of the historic financial commitment the Party is going to make this year, what hasn't been discussed enough is the vital role that millions of supporters of Organizing for America (OFA) will play heading into November. OFA will be doing what has defined our organization from the beginning--neighbor to neighbor contact, knocking on doors, making phone calls, and the grassroots organizing that has been our hallmark since our "Walk for Change" almost exactly three years ago. To begin our "Vote 2010" campaign, OFA volunteers will once again take to the streets this Saturday, June 5th, with 'VOTE 2010' Kickoff Events held all over the country.
Without question, the Obama for America campaign revolutionized electoral politics in 2008--and since I have been on board from the beginning, I can say that the organizational prowess of that effort remains intact today through OFA. With organizers active in all 50 states and 435 Congressional Districts, OFA has built the largest field structure ever assembled in a non-presidential election cycle in the history of the Democratic Party. Over the past year, I've had the good fortune to work with countless every day, ordinary Americans who have continued their involvement with OFA to advocate for President Obama and his landmark agenda.
The 2010 midterms promise to be the next challenge for OFA's vast network of talented and motivated volunteers. We know that the elections this year will not be easy, midterm elections for first term Presidents never are, but volunteers across the country have told us they are excited and eager to support candidates who will be strong allies for President Obama. These candidates will not only serve as great representatives for our communities because they share our common ideals, but they will work with President Obama and display the integrity necessary to continue the fight for middle-class Americans in Washington.
President Obama has already made amazing progress in getting our economy back on track, improving our health care system, making our laws more fair for both men and women, and ensuring the future of our country will be brighter. With the support, and sometimes coaxing, of thousands of OFA volunteers, Congressional Democrats have stood with the President to pass some of the most important economic and social legislation in decades. The Recovery Act is providing 95% of working families with tax relief and helped pull the country out of the recession; the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act gives women the right to file suits against discriminatory pay practices; and the landmark health insurance reform is making quality, affordable health care more accessible to millions of Americans.
These legislative victories have both energized OFA volunteers and proven that issue advocacy is an important part of the legislative process. On top of the victories won in Congress, OFA volunteers helped Democrats win six consecutive special elections for the House of Representatives all across the country. In addition, more than 10 million volunteer hours have been pledged to support candidates and elected leaders who voted for health reform as part of OFA's "You Fight, We'll Fight" campaign.
But there is much more work to be done. And OFA supporters have proven time and again they're ready to lend a helping hand.
Across the country, OFA has begun to hold "Camp OFA" training sessions. The "Camp OFA" training sessions focus on teaching talented and motivated community leaders how to effectively reach out to voters, organize events in local communities, and maximize grassroots technology and new media tools. This type of interactive, neighbor to neighbor campaigning will be fundamental in making sure the backbone of the Democratic party--African-Americans, Latinos, young people, and women--and the millions of people who voted for the first time in 2008 all turn out again to support Democrats this fall.
The stakes couldn't be higher. The 2010 election is about ensuring we elect leaders who will work with President Obama to create a green economy, improve our schools, and rein in the greed and excesses of Wall Street. We've already seen what can happen when the other side is in charge--and we've learned over the course of President Obama's term that special interests and the forces of the status quo will fight tooth and nail against progress that does not benefit their narrow constituency.
But, just as we did in 2008, the grassroots movement of OFA will work to restore hope to our politics and to elect men and women who will work to further an agenda that benefits all Americans. I'm incredibly proud of the work that OFA has done over the past year, and excited about getting back to knocking on doors this Saturday.
Jeremy Bird is the Deputy National Director of Organizing for America