Raleigh’s Obama Presence

October, 17, 2008 , by Tim

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The sprint to the finish line is on for candidates and the numbers are looking good for Democrats in NC. Statewide, Obama is holding a 1-2 point lead in the most recent polls. Ben Smith of Politico reports Obama holding a 50-44 percent lead over McCain with five percent undecided in Wake County, but Raleigh field organizers have their sights set higher and hope to score a double digit victory to carry the state. Obama is all over Raleigh but McCains efforts are nowhere to be seen.

Wednesday night, October 15, about 300 people showed up for the grand opening of a volunteer-funded satellite Obama headquarters located in an old funeral home at 600 St. Mary’s St. aiming to “lay to rest 8 years of GOP leadership.” The downtown Morgan St. location is now solely for operations in southeast Raleigh, making the new satellite office the main headquarters for central Raleigh.

Joining the opening festivities was a grassroots organization known as GASP, Girlfriends Appalled about Sarah Palin. The organization began with 10 women in the Five Points neighborhood and has spread to over 100 members in just three weeks. Every member has committed time and money to assist the Obama campaign. From the GASP web page:

The spirit of GASP! goes far beyond Sarah Palin herself. We’re much more about being for Obama than against McCain. But it was that one, profoundly cynical and insulting choice that hit a raw nerve for hundreds, probably thousands of women here in Wake County.

The next big GASP event, a Barack the Vote concert featuring the LBJ tribute band The Swingin’ Johnsons, will be held at the St. Mary’s office on Thursday, October 23rd from 7:30-10pm. You can also join the GASP facebook page to show support.

Thursday, October 16th, Obama supporters gathered at NCSU’s brickyard and marched to the polls to celebrate the NC Early Vote and cast their ballots. A second march to the polls is planned for Sunday, October 26th in Chavis Heights downtown. The march will began at 1:00 in the MLK Memorial Gardens and will feature a TBA Obama surrogate. Here is a youtube video a volunteer made to promote the upcoming march.

On Friday the 17th, Milagro Saints and Jubal Creech will perform at 4:00pm at the new office at 600 St. Mary’s. Additionally, James Taylor is playing an Obama rally on the 21st in Moore Square.

In short, there is a flurry of opportunities to get involved on a local level, but only time will tell if November 4th will be a grassroots payday for Obama volunteers and organizers both in Raleigh and nationwide.