FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2007

Contact:

Josh Earnest

Tommy Vietor
 

DES MOINES – Demonstrating the breadth and depth of the Obama campaign’s grassroots movement in Iowa, all 99 of its county leadership committees will host “Countdown to Change” events in the next two weeks for local undecided voters.  For details on the members of those committees or the timing of the events, click http://iowa.barackobama.com/ChangeParties.

“I’m honored to have the support of community leaders who are leading our grassroots campaign in all of Iowa’s 99 counties,” Senator Obama said.  “I know from first hand experience as a community organizer that real change happens from the bottom up, not the top down.  That’s why our campaign is committed to uniting and empowering local communities to build our grassroots movement for change.”

Senator Obama’s commitment to changing the conventional thinking in Washington, D.C. has galvanized women across Iowa and inspired them to act.  Today, civil rights and women’s issues activist Alicia Claypool announced her endorsement based on Obama’s judgment and experience.  Other key Iowa women who have announced their support for Senator Obama in recent weeks are State Representatives Janet Petersen of Des Moines, Pam Jochum of Dubuque, and Helen Miller of Fort Dodge, along with Iowa’s first female Supreme Court Justice, Linda Neuman of Iowa City.

“Barack Obama has the experience America needs right now,” Claypool said.  “Our nation has been divided for too long, and Barack has the unique ability to bring people together and work across the aisle to get things done.  I’m ready for real change in Washington, D.C., and Barack Obama is the best candidate to make progress on the tough challenges America’s women face.”

Tomorrow, Senator Obama begins a 4-day Judgment and Experience tour across Iowa by giving speeches in Des Moines and Coralville to mark the fifth anniversary of a speech he delivered in Chicago’s Federal Plaza articulating his opposition to the invasion of Iraq.  He will be introduced at Tuesday’s events by Ted Sorenson, Special Counsel & Adviser to President John F. Kennedy.  Please note that the location of the Des Moines event, due to the likelihood of rain, has changed to the Polk County Convention Complex at Iowa Events Center at 501 Grand Avenue in Des Moines.  The program will still begin at 4:00 PM.

The Obama campaign’s announcements come at the close of a remarkably productive third quarter for our campaign.  Listed below are some of the most notable accomplishments of our campaign in Iowa over the last three months:
 

Senator Obama in Iowa

-     By the end of this week, Senator Obama will have visited 56 Iowa counties, and will have spent 47 days in the state on 26 trips.

-     On July 27, the Obama campaign hosted a Rural Issues Forum in Tama to gather ideas from Iowans about how to revitalize and strengthen rural America.  Senator Obama joined experts participating in breakout sessions focused on rural economic development and quality of life, energy issues and agriculture issues.

-         On September 12, Senator Obama delivered a major national security address at Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa, where he outlined his plan to end the war and his vision for what America can achieve once it turns the page in Iraq.

 
Building a Grassroots Movement in Iowa

-         During the third quarter, the campaign opened our 30th and 31st campaign offices in Iowa.

-     More than 5,400 Iowans have signed up to become online activists by creating an account on My.BarackObama.com, an online organizing tool which allows people to join groups of other Barack supporters, set up their own events, and write thoughts on their own My.BarackObama.com blog.

-     In August, the campaign announced Women for Obama leaders in 50 counties who hosted 30 parties across Iowa to celebrate Women’s Equality Day.

-     The campaign organized two statewide canvasses: one in September and another on August 4 when supporters in 46 locations across the state knocked on doors in honor of Senator Obama’s 46th birthday.

-     On August 14, the Obama campaign organized parties in 16 locations across the state where Iowans of all ages came together to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of Social Security.

-         At Tom Harkin’s 30th Annual Steak Fry, more than 3,000 Obama supporters joined the campaign at a rally before the official event.  Iowans came from all over the state, bused in from over 10 staging locations and driving themselves.

-     The campaign announced constituency leadership committees comprised of Labor Leaders, Faith Leaders, African-Americans, Latinos and Young Professionals.
 

Obama Supporters Campaign Across Iowa

-     The campaign has announced the endorsement of 11 State Legislators, Attorney General Tom Miller, State Treasuer Mike Fitzgerald and former chair of the Iowa Democratic Party Gordon Fisher.

-         In July and September, Two-Star Air Force General Scott Gration and Former Air Force Chief of Staff Tony McPeak campaigned across Iowa on two legs of the “Obama for Commander in Chief” tour.

-         During the first two weeks of September, the Obama campaign hosted 14 faith forums across the state to discuss faith, values and politics.  Some of the forums included Father Michael Pfleger, priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago, and Pastor Brian McLaren, one of Time Magazine’s top 25 most influential evangelicals this year.

-         In early September, Senior Policy Advisers to the campaign hosted 17 events across the state to get insight and ideas from Iowans about the most pressing challenges facing America on issues like energy independence, foreign policy and women’s issues.