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TBF

(31,922 posts)
Mon Jun 1, 2015, 08:38 AM Jun 2015

Volunteer for your Candidate:

I volunteered on Obama's campaign here in Houston (2008) and just wrote about it in response to someone wanting to help out Bernie. I thought it might be helpful to put this in OP form for folks who are excited about their candidate (whether Bernie, Martin, or Hillary) and want to help.

1. Find your local democratic party group. I did that as well and ended up co-precinct chair. The local folks knew the caucus would be a bigger deal than usual so they enlisted in extra help. It didn't matter who they personally supported (here in TX many actually supported Hillary & we Obama supporters were the newbies - but they welcomed our help). Do searches on Google and find those people. CALL them on the telephone if there's a local group or show up at the local meeting. Emails are still not the best communication until you get rolling. Make sure you make contact in person. They will know your face, have your contact info, and when it gets busy they will start soliciting for help. These are the folks that have regular offices in the party and they send delegates to their state convention. They will likely solicit among volunteers to have folks help with putting on the actual primary and caucus.

2. Sign up on the candidate's website and I'm sure you will get contacted by them as well when they get to your state. There will be paid or volunteer people who will be traveling around working from state to state as the candidates make their way through the primary process. My involvement started with a speech at a local Houston restaurant and then the person in charge of my area emailed regularly and put us all to work! Things we did: phone bank, walked door to door, offered rides to the polls.

I encourage everyone who is able to get involved in a campaign. It's a very interesting process.

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