Last Calls for Change

SACRAMENTO – Barack Obama supporters showed up Saturday at the Marconi phone bank for a final push to convince registered voters of swing states to go to their local polling booths on Election Day.

Eighteen phone bank volunteers arrived with their cell phones at hand. The majority of phone bank volunteers were contacted about the phone back event by the Obama’s campaigners, and six signed up through Obama’s official website.

Robert Winston, an El Camino high school senior, leaded the phone bank event at a meeting room in Sacramento Arcade Public Library.

Winston said the amount of phone calls made that day does not matter. He said he just wants volunteers to show up.

“We’re going to be calling a certain swing state, and we’re going to be calling registered voters to get them to vote. I think it’s been really great. It shows a little community getting involved and it’s really grassroots for the Barack Obama campaign,” said Winston.

There was no age limit on phone bank participants. They even encouraged parents to bring teens or confident 11 or 12 year olds.

Phone bank volunteers were given a sheet of a swing state phone numbers and phone etiquette instructions with a transcript. A survey sheet of the amount of calls and types of responses they were receiving were to be filled out.

“Hello, my name is Carrie, calling with Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. Do you know where you’re going to vote on Tuesday? Do you need a ride to the polling center? Do you mind sharing which candidate you will be voting for?” said phone bank volunteer Carrie Thompson, on her cell phone.

Carrie Thompson said the event was “a little poorly organized, and she used a stack of chairs as a writing platform because there were not enough tables. She said decided to attend the phone bank event because she wanted to make sure she made a contribution, and she did not want to regret having her presidential candidate lose.

Phone bank volunteer Carol Smith’s said people responded positively.

“Everyone was very nice and, about everyone I talked to was going to vote for Obama,” said Smith.

Smith said she was very excited about the possibility of Obama being elected as president from the very beginning -- that he was the right choice.

Max Boyd, a phone bank volunteer returning for his second time, said he was inspired by Obama’s words and will to make a difference.

“I was concerned that last time there wasn’t much initiative to get people to vote and this time, I’m inspired,” Boyd said.

Phone bank volunteers averaged 26 phone calls per volunteer within the first hour. Each volunteer talked to an average of one registered voter who did not want to vote. The majority of calls only reached the telephone message machines. But an overwhelming number of people stated that they were voting for presidential candidate, Barack Obama.

Winston was surprised that many people showed up to the event. At the last phone bank event, only six volunteers showed up to call up the swing state, Nevada.

Winston said, “Last time we were able to convince 20 people to vote for Obama. I can’t say for certain it is all because of us. But I’d like to think we made a little difference.”