OBAMA FOR AMERICA (announced Feb. 10, 2007)
Headquarters: 1500 Sansom Street, 4th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102    215-564-2010
 

State Director

Paul Tewes

(reported by Boston Globe on March 27, succeeding initial state director Jim DeMay)  Obama's state director for the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses and the Mar. 4 Ohio primary.  Campaign manager of Americans United to Protect Social Security in 2005.  Formed Hildebrand Tewes Consulting, Inc. with Steve Hildebrand in early 2005.  Political director at the DSCC in the 2004 cycle; worked for the DCCC starting in 2001.  Field director on Vice President Al Gore's 2000 Iowa caucus campaign starting in June 1999.  Executive director of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, 1998.  Managed Sandy Pappas’ mayoral campaign in St. Paul in 1997.  Managed U.S. Rep. David Minge's re-election campaign in 1996.  Western MN field coordinator for Ann Wynia's U.S. Senate campaign in 1994.  Graduate of Carleton College with a degree in Political Science, 1993.  Native of Mt. Lake, MN.
 
 

Political Director

Nicole Price

Political director on Obama's Maryland campaign, and before that worked for six months in field on the South Carolina campaign.  Has worked on several Maryland campaigns.  Graduated from City College and Coppin State University.  Master's degree in negotiations and conflict management from the University of Baltimore.  From Baltimore.  [source Baltimore Sun].
 
 

Field Director

Jeremy Bird

State director for Obama's Feb. 12 Maryland primary campaign; field director for the South Carolina primary campaign.  Field director for Wake-Up Wal-Mart.  Deputy field director for training and GOTV at the DNC in Fall 2004 (started late July 2004 right before the Convention).  Training director for Democratic GAIN.  One of the two Congressional District directors on Howard Dean's 2003-04 New Hampshire presidential primary.  Bachelor's degree from Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, 2000; Master's degree from Harvard Divinity School.  Grew up in High Ridge, outside of St. Louis, Missouri.
 

Deputy Field Director

Angela Botticella

Deputy field director on Obama's NH primary campaign.  In 2006 Botticella served as deputy field director for the Rhode Island Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign, where she worked specifically on Sheldon Whitehouse's U.S. Senate campaign.  Earlier, she was deputy field director on Francine Busby's campaign for Congress in the June 2006 special election in CA-50.  Worked in the field department of the Alliance for a Better California campaign.  Originally from Irvine, CA.
 
 

Communications Director

Leslie Miller

Communications director on Obama's NH primary campaign.  Prior to joining the campaign, Miller led the Dewey Square Group's California practice in San Francisco.  Producer for NBC News in Washington, DC; covered the 1996 and 1998 elections, Congress and the Clinton impeachment hearings.
 

Press Secretary

Sean Smith

Communications director on Obama's Arizona primary campaign.  Smith has worked in politics for more than 16 years.  Managed Sen. Joe Lieberman's 2006 primary campaign in Connecticut.  Served as Nevada communications director on Kerry-Edwards 2004.  Lived in San Diego for a couple of years, where he taught courses on media and politics at UC San Diego and was also a political analyst for NBC 7/39 in San Diego.  Smith has managed the communications strategies for dozens of political campaigns in Oregon and California. He was a communications staffer on Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign in 1992.
 

Deputy Press Secretary

Matt Lehrich

Assistant to the directors and multimedia producer on Obama's NH Primary campaign.  Interned in Obama's Senate office.  B.A. in political science and economics from Boston University.  Grew up in Boston.
 

Tom Lindenfeld
Co-founder (in 2005 with Steve Rosenthal) of The Organizing Group; co-founder (in 2000) and president of LSG Strategies, one of the largest Democratic political telemarketing firms.  Previously a partner and director of the Washington office of the Chicago based political media consulting firm of Axelrod and Associates.  Director of National Coordinated Campaigns for the Democratic National Committee in 1992.  Political director of the National Committee for an Effective Congress (NCEC).
 

Regional Field Directors include (incomplete list):
Northeast (Scranton area) - Gillian Bergeron
Volunteer coordinator in the Charleston office on the South Carolina primary campaign, then worked on the Alabama (Mobile) and Texas (Houston) primary campaigns. Volunteer for a Draft Obama group.  Graduate of the University of South Carolina.

Western - Lauren Watts
Started out as a field organizer on Obama's NH primary campaign (Lebanon).

Central - Nicole Derse
Faith, Progressives, People of Color, GLBT outreach on the NH primary campaign.  For much of 2006 Derse worked as field director for PowerPAC; coordinating with grassroots organizations in Southern California to help them increase voter turnout.  Worked for the Alliance for a Better California, a labor-backed organization formed to oppose Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Nov. 2005 ballot initiatives.  Managed Ross Mirkarimi's successful 2004 campaign for San Francisco Supervisor.  Youth empowerment coordinator for the San Francisco Youth Commission for three years.  Degree in urban studies at Macalester College, 2001.  From Slinger, WI.

Southwest - Joe Boswell
Field organizer in the Iowa caucuses (Fort Dodge), then in Texas, then organized youth outreach at Arizona State University.  Worked at Robinson, Lerer, and Montgomery, a strategic communications firm in New York.  Degree in government from Dartmouth College, 2006.  Grew up in Northern Calif.

Offices >
39 offices as of April 19, 2008

Alpha by County Allegheny - 208 North Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206   412.363.1561 Allegheny - 704 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228 Beaver - 1701 Third Avenue, Beaver, PA 15009 Bedford - 109 W. Pitt Street, Bedford, PA 15522 Berks - 352 Penn Street, Reading, PA 19602 Blair - 3961 6th Ave., Altoona, PA 16601 Bucks - 72 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA 18901 Bucks - 7500 Bristol Pike, Levittown, PA 19057 Upper Bucks - 308 W. Broad St, Quakertown, PA 18951 Cambria - 508 Main Street, Johnstown, PA 15801 Centre - 224 South Allen Street, State College, PA 16801 Chester - 543 E. Gay Street, Gay Street Plaza, West Chester, PA 19380 Clearfield - 11 N. Brady Street, Dubois, PA 15801 Cumberland - 1 South Hanover Street, Carlisle, PA 17013 Dauphin - 401 North 2nd Street Harrisburg, PA 17110 satellite office - 512 North 3rd Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 Delaware - 943 West Sproul Road, Springfield, PA 19064 Elk - 21 North Saint Marys Street, Saint Marys, PA 15857 Erie - 25 East 10th Street, Erie, PA  16501 Franklin - 33 South Main Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201 Greene - 52 E High St., Waynesburg, PA 15307 Indiana - 100 South 7th Street, Indiana, PA 15701 Lackawanna - 409 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503 No. NEPA - 114 Wyoming Ave., Scranton, PA 18503 Lancaster - 240 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA 17603 Lawrence - 127 E North St., New Castle, PA 16101 Lehigh - 1227 West Linden Street, Allentown, PA  18102 Luzerne - 41 S. Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 Lycoming - 140 W 4th Street, Williamsport, PA 17701 Mercer - 74 E Shenango St., Sharpsville, PA 16150 Montgomery - 1647 The Fairway, Abington, PA 19046 Montgomery - 3031 Walton Road, Building A, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19642 Montgomery - 312 Lancaster Avenue, Wynnewood, PA 19067 Northampton - 742 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042 Northampton - 531 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018 Washington - 92 North Main Street, Washington, PA 15301 Westmoreland - 132 South Pennsylvania Avenue, Greensburg, PA 15601 York - 280 West Market, York, PA 17401

Alpha by City Abington - 1647 The Fairway, Abington, PA 19046 Allentown - 1227 West Linden Street, Allentown, PA 18102 Altoona - 3961 6th Ave., Altoona, PA 16601 Beaver - 1701 Third Avenue, Beaver, PA 15009 Bedford - 109 W. Pitt Street, Bedford, PA 15522 Bethlehem - 531 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018 Carlisle - 1 South Hanover Street, Carlisle, PA 17013 Chambersburg - 33 South Main Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201 Doylestown - 72 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA 18901 Dubois - 11 N. Brady Street, Dubois, PA 15801 Easton - 742 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042 Erie - 25 East 10th Street, Erie, PA  16501 Greensburg - 132 South Pennsylvania Avenue, Greensburg, PA 15601 Harrisburg - 401 North 2nd Street Harrisburg, PA 17110 satellite office - 512 North 3rd Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 Indiana - 100 South 7th Street, Indiana, PA 15701 Johnstown - 508 Main Street, Johnstown, PA 15801 Lancaster - 240 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA 17603 Levittown - 7500 Bristol Pike, Levittown, PA 19057 Mt. Lebanon - 704 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228 New Castle - 127 E North St., New Castle, PA 16101 Pittsburgh - 208 North Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206   412.363.1561 Plymouth Meeting - 3031 Walton Road, Building A, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19642 Quakertown - 308 W. Broad St., Quakertown, PA 18951 Reading - 352 Penn Street, Reading, PA 19602 Saint Marys - 21 North Saint Marys Street, Saint Marys, PA 15857 Scranton - 409 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503 No. NEPA - 114 Wyoming Ave., Scranton, PA 18503 Sharpsville - 74 E Shenango St., Sharpsville, PA 16150 Springfield - 943 West Sproul Road, Springfield, PA 19064 State College - 224 South Allen Street, State College, PA 16801 Washington - 92 North Main Street, Washington, PA 15301 Waynesburg - 52 E High St., Waynesburg, PA 15307 West Chester - 543 E. Gay Street, Gay Street Plaza, West Chester, PA 19380 Wilkes-Barre - 41 S. Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 Williamsport - 140 W 4th Street, Williamsport, PA 17701 Wynnewood - 312 Lancaster Avenue, Wynnewood, PA 19067 York - 280 West Market, York, PA 17401

 
 

Statewide Leadership Council (as announced March 25, 2008)
Eileen Connelly – Executive Director, SEIU PA State Council; Change to Win State Coordinator

Kathi Cozzone – Chester County Commissioner

Congressman Chaka Fattah – U.S. Representative (PA-02)    (endorsed on Dec. 18, 2007)

Pat Gillespie – Building Trades Council

Mayor Rick Gray – Lancaster Mayor

Franco Harris – Former Pittsburgh Steelers Star

Julian Harris – Student Leader, University of Pennsylvania

Michael Lamb – Pittsburgh City Comptroller

Cliff Levine – Pittsburgh Attorney [partner at Thorp, Reed & Armstrong]

Chris Lewis – Former Secretary of the Commonwealth

Valerie McDonald Roberts – Former Allegheny County Recorder of Deeds

Mayor Thomas McMahon – Mayor of Reading

Senator Bob Mellow – Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader

Kate Michelman – Former President of NARAL

Congressman Patrick Murphy – U.S. Representative (PA-08)    (endorsed on Aug. 21, 2007)

John Meyerson – Director of Legislation & Political Action, United Food & Commercial Workers 1776; Change to Win State Coordinator

Corey D. O'Brien – Lackawanna County Commissioner

Representative Josh Shapiro – Deputy Speaker, Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Jacquelyn Smalley – Business Leader

Representative Mike Sturla – Lancaster County State Representative

Fmr. U.S. Senator Harris Wofford

Tobias Barrington Wolff – Chair, Obama Campaign National LGBT Policy Committee; Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania
 
 

Elected Officials
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey   (endorsed on Mar. 28, 2008)
U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (PA-08)    (endorsed on Aug. 21, 2007)
U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (PA-02)    (endorsed on Dec. 18, 2007)

State Sen. Sean Logan (District 45, Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties)
State Sen. Bob Mellow (District 22, Lackawanna County) – Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader
State Sen. Anthony Williams (District 8, Philadelphia County)
State Sen. Vincent Hughes (District 7, Philadelphia County)
State Sen. Lisa Boscola (District 18, Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton Counties)

State Rep. Marc Gergely (District 35, Allegheny County)
State Rep. Bryan Lentz (District 161, Delaware County)
State Rep. Josh Shapiro (District 153, Montgomery County) – Deputy Speaker
State Rep. Mike Sturla (District 96, Lancaster County)
State Rep. Dan Surra (District 75, Clearfield and Elk Counties)
State Rep. Thomas Tangretti (District 57, Westmoreland County)

Kathi Cozzone – Chester County Commissioner
Mayor Rick Gray – Lancaster Mayor
Michael Lamb – Pittsburgh City Comptroller
Mayor Thomas McMahon – Mayor of Reading
Corey D. O'Brien – Lackawanna County Commissioner
Lou Thieblemont – Camp Hill Mayor (reported by The Patriot-News on March 20, 2008; lifelong Republican switching registration to vote for Obama)

Labor
Eileen Connelly – Executive Director, SEIU PA State Council; Change to Win State Coordinator
John Meyerson – Director of Legislation & Political Action, United Food & Commercial Workers 1776; Change to Win State Coordinator
Pat Gillespie – Building Trades Council

Veterans Steering Committee (announced April 8, 2007)
U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (PA-08) – Bucks County – Captain, U.S. Army; Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran
State Rep. Bryan Lentz – Delaware County – Captain, U.S. Army; Iraq veteran
David Casker – Cambria County – Seaman 1st Class, U.S. Navy; Vietnam veteran
Phil Nelson – Lancaster County – Sergeant, U.S. Army; Iraq, Afghanistan veteran
Irvin T. Smith Jr. – Tioga County – PFC, U.S. Marine Corps; WWII veteran
Alycee Ruley – Delaware County – Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Marine Corps
Steve Jauregui – Philadelphia County – Sergeant 1st Class, U.S. Army; Vietnam veteran
Melita McCully – Dauphin County – Colonel, U.S. Army
Robert (Rob) Ceres Jr – Centre County – Lieutenant, U.S. Navy; Desert Storm veteran
Tony W. Hillerman – Carbon County – Sergeant, U.S. Army; Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran
Charles "Chuck" Volkert – Lehigh County – Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Walter Stewart – Berks County – Major General, Army National Guard; former commander, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard; Vietnam veteran
Aaron Clevenstine – Chester County – Captain, U.S. Army; Iraq veteran
Michael Kotyk – Montgomery County – Petty Officer, U.S. Navy; Kosovo veteran
Manuel Arevalo – Bucks County – Sergeant, U.S. Army; Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran

Sportsmen and Sportswomen for Obama Steering Committee (April 10, 2008 letter)
Frederica (Freddie) Antram
Paul Antram
Michael Aumiller
Arnold Brion
Robin Cole
John Fetterman
State Rep. Marc Gergely
Scott Harrison
Terry Havener
Kenny Jackson
Jeff Knisely
Richard Lanzoni
Tom Maglicco
Steve Naylor
Joe Rossi
Brian Stoltz
Dominic Surra
State Rep. Dan Surra

Small town and rural leaders (April 13, 2008 letter)
 

More Endorsements:
University of Pennsylvania Democrats (March 6, 2008)
"The University of Pennsylvania Democrats are pleased to announce the endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary after Wednesday night’s endorsement meeting.  Obama will receive the full weight and support of the Penn Democrats in his bid for the Democratic nomination.  Our organization looks forward to coordinating with the Obama campaign and mobilizing on his behalf at Penn, in Philadelphia, and throughout our region."

United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 1776 (23,000 members,  Wendell W. Young, IV, President)  (Mar. 20, 2008) >

National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees AFSCME, AFL-CIO, Philadelphia local affiliate 1199C (16,000-plus members)  (April 2, 2008) >

and
Philadelphia Inquirer  (01/26/08)
Philadelphia Daily News  (04/17/08)
Allentown Morning Call  (04/13/08)
Scranton Times-Tribune  (04/13/08)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  (04/16/08)
Patriot-News (Harrisburg)  (04/16/08)
Bucks County Courier Times  (04/16/08)
The Citizens' Voice (Wilkes-Barre)  (04/18/08)
 

former

State Director

Jim DeMay

President of DeMay & Associates in St. Paul, MN.  Directed the Ohio Democratic Coordinated Campaign in 2004.  Directed the Pennsylvania Democratic Coordinated Campaign in 2000.  Directed the Ohio Democratic Coordinated Campaign in 1996.  Served as Director of Grassroots Lobbying for The Dewey Square Group.  B.A. from the University of Wisconsin and M.A. from Hamline University.
 
 

Copyright © 2008  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action