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It starts with an email
Wednesday, 29 October 2008 09:08 pmThe Obama campaign has the best volunteer-engagement machinery I've seen. From both a technical and a social standpoint, I'm impressed.
I just made some phone-calls for them.
It feels oddly addictive.
The email I received this evening:
I'm not going to drive to Pennsylvania to help canvas, and I'm not going to donate more money, but I can make five phone-calls.
So I talked with with these five people (actually, I talked to three people and three machines- one woman said, "Are you from Chase? No? I'll give you his cellphone number." Another woman in her 80s had already voted; and a third didn't know she could vote early, and copied down the info.) Then I clicked the link in the email, checked the box for "I called them" and they offered me 8 campaigns, such as "Reach out to Jewish-American Voters in Colorado" or "Call a Battleground: Indiana". Which would pull up a list of names, and a full screen of talking points and checkboxes to record their answers.
I tried to call Jewish Coloradans, but there weren't any names available. And then it was after 9pm, the cutoff for calling all the available campaigns. Foo. Now I'm left with an urge to call strangers and tell them about Obama.
If any of you USian folk are at loose ends tomorrow, I can recommend this as a different way to spend an hour. (Link)
I just made some phone-calls for them.
It feels oddly addictive.
The email I received this evening:
[...]
In the crucial battleground state of Florida, Early Voting has begun. That means voters can cast their ballots for change right now -- and you can make sure they know about this opportunity.
We need to reach as many Florida supporters as possible before 9:00 p.m. Eastern on Thursday. The more people we can get to vote early, the easier our task will be on Election Day. And your phone calls could make the difference.
Below is a list of five identified supporter households in Pinellas County, Florida, along with each person's age and gender.
Call these five people and make sure you provide their early vote location and hours (see calling information below):
1. Call: (727) 781-xxxx. Ask for: Laurie
* Laurie xxxxx (43 F)
2. Call: (727) 735-xxxx. Ask for: Elsie
* Elsie xxxxx (69 F)
I'm not going to drive to Pennsylvania to help canvas, and I'm not going to donate more money, but I can make five phone-calls.
So I talked with with these five people (actually, I talked to three people and three machines- one woman said, "Are you from Chase? No? I'll give you his cellphone number." Another woman in her 80s had already voted; and a third didn't know she could vote early, and copied down the info.) Then I clicked the link in the email, checked the box for "I called them" and they offered me 8 campaigns, such as "Reach out to Jewish-American Voters in Colorado" or "Call a Battleground: Indiana". Which would pull up a list of names, and a full screen of talking points and checkboxes to record their answers.
I tried to call Jewish Coloradans, but there weren't any names available. And then it was after 9pm, the cutoff for calling all the available campaigns. Foo. Now I'm left with an urge to call strangers and tell them about Obama.
If any of you USian folk are at loose ends tomorrow, I can recommend this as a different way to spend an hour. (Link)
