www.draftobama.org Dec. 4, 2006 grab	www.runobama.com Dec. 9, 2006 grab	www.runobamarun.com Dec. 9, 2006 grab	www.studentsforbarackobama.com Dec. 16, 2006 grab
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independents4obama.blogspot. com   Dec. 16, 2006 grab	barackoblogga.com Jan. 13, 2007 grab	obamarama.org Jan. 13, 2007 grab	www.barack-obama-now.com/blog Jan. 13, 2007 grab
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www.obama4america.com Jan. 13, 2007 grab

www.draftobama.org

Dec. 4, 2006 grab	Nov. 17, 2006 grab	Oct. 25, 2006 grab

"Draft Obama exists to facilitate, promote and encourage Barack Obama to run for President of the United States of America."

From "About Draft Obama" edited for clarity:

Draft Obama is an all-volunteer organization started in early 2006 by a group of people who were impressed with Barack Obama's landslide victory in the 2004 Illinois Senate Race, and his first 2 years as a United States Senator.  Draft Obama is not affilliated with Barack Obama, Obama 2010, Inc., nor any other organization or group.

The site and Draft Obama movement was created by Ben Stanfield in the fall of 2006.  The earliest version of the site launched on October 1, 2006.  The DraftObama.org website is powered by Drupal with extensions from the fine people at CivicSpace and CiviCRM LLC.  A major update launched November 16, 2006 with a new design by Andrew Holden of Holden Creative.  Working with political web design gurus at Webolutionary, the site was updated for the official launch, November 29, 2006.  With the help of volunteers, who signed up via the original incarnation of the site -- a single webpage -- the site has grown to encompass a petition, blog, forums, and the grassroots participation you see today.
 

• Dec. 6, 2006-First DraftObama.org state chapter launched in New York.  Director is Amos Buhai.
• Dec. 7, 2006-DraftObama.org announces that Zephyr Teachout (Director of Internet Organizing on Howard Dean's presidential campaign) and John Hlinko (founder of DraftWesleyClark.com) have joined its national leadership team.
• Dec. 14, 2006-Hawaii DraftObama.org campaign launches with a press conference at the State Capitol.  Steering committee includes: State Senator Russell Kokubun, Senator Clarence Nishihara, Representative Scott Saiki, Representative Della Au Bellatti, George Yokoyama, Leah Craft, Carl and Sandy Wright, Brian and Linda Schatz and Chuck Freedman.
• Dec. 20, 2006-"Believe Again," a 60 second spot produced by Bud Jackson and John Hlinko, starts airing in a modest buy on WMUR-TV in Manchester, NH.

I run MacSlash ["A Daily Dose of Mac News and Discussion"].  I live in DC and work as a Mac Specialist contractor for a scientific government agency in Bethesda [The National Human Genome Research Institute].  I do some political consulting for Democrats in my spare time, when the Hatch Act allows.

www.runobamarun.com

Mission Statement (as of Dec. 9, 2006):

Our message to Barack Obama: American needs hope. America needs you.

In the last several decades, this great nation has been stretched to the breaking point by divide-and-conquer politics.

Conservative vs. Liberal. Hawk vs. Dove. Democrat vs. Republican. Religious vs. Secular. North vs. South. Gay vs. Straight. Pro-choice vs. Pro-life. Hollywood vs. Heartland. White Collar vs. Blue Collar. Black vs. White. Citizen vs. Immigrant. Family Values vs. Free Speech. Yesterday vs. Tomorrow.

We can't go on like this anymore.

Most Americans know that no party and no person has a monopoly on righteousness, yet fewer and fewer of those we elect to lead are willing to admit to themselves, let alone admit to the people, that no one has all the answers.

In politics, as in life, there are windows of opportunity that open and close with each changing moment.

There is no time to wait. Run Obama Run.
 
 

From About Students for Barack Obama:

Students for Barack Obama started as a small Facebook.com group named “Barack Obama for President in 2008” through which students could express their support for a presidential run by Senator Obama.

As a testament to the Senator’s incredible popularity and the faith students have in his leadership, Students for Barack Obama rapidly exploded into a nationwide political community for young Americans – transforming an online social network into a national grassroots organization.

Students for Barack Obama is a movement with more than 25,000 student members and growing from hundreds of high schools and colleges.  We come from across the country, from Alaska to Arkansas, from New Mexico to Maine, from red states and blue states, from suburbs and cities, all with one common goal: the dream that America can once again stand as a beacon for the world and the faith that ours is a country that works for all its citizens.

Students for Barack Obama has found a leader worth admiring and worthy of the Presidency in Senator Barack Obama.  We believe that his vision for America mirrors our own.  We are committed to conveying and fostering this vision through grassroots organizing and towards building a nation that values our similarities over our differences.

Students for Barack Obama is an organization created by students and led by students, but we welcome all help and interest from anyone who wants to be a part of this incredible moment in history.

independents4obama.blogspot.com

By Seth ("I'm a University of Iowa Law School student passionate about the issues that concern everyday Americans...") and Damian (New Jersey graduate student); launched Dec. 2004.
 
 

barackoblogga.com

"One stop shopping for all things Barack Obama. Cyber-tracking the junior senator from Illinois. Will he be America's next president?"

First posting on Nov. 9, 2006.  Also runs "America's Next First Lady" blog launched on Nov. 14.
 
 

obamarama.org

"Promoting the junior senator from Illinois as he pursues what we have the audacity to hope will be a 2008 White House bid"

First postings on Dec. 15, 2006.

Jeremy Cluchey writes (Jan. 13, 2007 e-mail):

I started OBAMARAMA to help generate interest in Sen. Obama's potential candidacy late last year.  In particular, I was interested in responding to what I saw as disingenuous attacks on him from the political right, which, in the absence of a formal campaign, were going largely unaddressed.  It is my experience that these early "trial balloon" attacks tend to form the basis for the focused assault of a general election, and I wanted to do what I could to burst them right out of the gate.

Currently I work in Washington, DC on communications for a nonprofit organization that engages retiring baby boomers as tutors in public school classrooms in 20 U.S. cities.  I have some background in media analysis and political research, but am by no means a veteran blogger and have never started an independent website before this one.  I also do not consider myself an activist -- just an interested citizen who has found his candidate.

www.barack-obama-now.com/blog

"a weblog that explores the concept of Barack Obama for President"

Administered by Eric Predoehl, a video producer and writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area.  In his initial posting he wrote:

Today is Thursday, September 14, 2005. A few hours ago, I decided to register a few web domains and secure a webpage to announce my public support of Barack Obama as the next president of the United States.

Barack Obama has not yet announced any plans to run for this executive office, but after reading an impassioned plea by Illinois State Comptroller Dan Hynes urging Senator Obama to seek higher office, I decided that I would also support this effort.

While there are plenty of other potential candidates in the upcoming 2008 race, I cannot think of any other Democrat that speaks as clearly about the issues that truly matter. The United States of America deserves a coherent leader that understands the importance of a coordinated homeland security plan, diplomacy beyond the American borders, an intelligent military strategy, an environmental policy that strengthens the national energy infastructure, affordable health care for all American citizens, a vibrant economic base that continues to innovate positive change for the global market, a renewed commitment to preserving personal freedoms, and a government that is absolutely accountable for all of its actions.

Based on what I’ve seen, Barack Obama looks like he could be the leader that can inspire America to recapture the essence of the lost American ideals that were subverted by greed, hypocrisy, arrogance, and lies.

No man is perfect, and I’m sure Barack Obama has his share of imperfections. I’ve never met the man, but I’ve seen videos of his speeches, read articles that he’s written, and compared notes with others that have watched him closely. From what I see, he looks he could be the one that could provide the best antidote for this nightmare that is the George W. Bush administration.

Let the healing begin.
 

www.obama4america.com

Obama For America PAC
Who We Are

Obama for America joins with thousands across the country in supporting Barack Obama for President of the United States. We believe the United States requires a leader who inspires us and spreads a message of hope for a united America during these difficult times. Obama for America's main purpose is to demonstrate the broad level of financial and grassroots support that exists for Senator Obama should he decide to run for president, and to strongly encourage him to heed the call of thousands of supporters and announce his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president.

As the country reaches a crossroads both at home and abroad, Barack Obama has the necessary combination of character and intelligence to lead us in the right direction towards healing and prosperity. Please join us in supporting Senator Obama for President of the United States.

"Our goal is to demonstrate to him the widespread grassroots and financial support he will have should he decide to run."

"You’re not actually giving us money, you're contributing to Senator Obama through ActBlue, who will hold the money in an earmarked escrow account, and release the funds to the Obama campaign, should he decide to run. At no time will Obama for America have any control over contributions made to Senator Obama."