Countdown to March 11: Mississippi
For now the attention may be on the four state showdown next Tuesday, but the Mississippi primary will follow just one week later on March 11th. In preparation, the first Obama for America Mississippi headquarters is opening in downtown Jackson.
Grassroots supporters in Mississippi have been organizing on their own for months though, meeting in small groups and helping spread the word about Barack to friends, family, and neighbors. The Columbus Dispatch reported on a gathering last Saturday night:
The spirited ongoing presidential contest is bringing out its own brand of fellowship among supporters, as organizers for Sen. Barack Obama … gathered for pizza and beers at a local bar and planned “house parties” along with sign-making workshops in anticipation of the Mississippi primary that they say will likely attract thousands of new voters and put the often overlooked Magnolia State primary in the national spotlight.
The event was a grassroots organizational meeting, coordinated through my.BarackObama.com, dubbed “Barack the Tavern.” Local supporters met at Dave’s Darkhorse Tavern in Starkville, where they got to know one another and talked about campaign strategies.
Darrin Stewart, a 22 year old supporter who attended the gathering, said that “This is the first time in my life when I’m actually standing behind someone like I’m standing behind Obama.”
The SunHeraldreported:
Former Gov. Ray Mabus told reporters on a conference call on Monday that nearly 1,000 people have volunteered in Mississippi to assist Obama’s presidential bid.
… Mabus said there are many voters who have not committed to a candidate so the campaign isn’t “taking anything for granted in Mississippi.”
If you live in Mississippi, there are number of ways that you can help out right now. Sign up to volunteer to canvass in your neighborhood, make phone calls, become a neighborhood captain, a church captain, or house an out of state volunteer.
Check out MS.BarackObama.com for more news and info from Mississippi.