OFA Listening Tour: Tim Kaine in Fort Lauderdale
Organizing for America Listening Tours have been underway for almost a month now. Yesterday, Virginia Governor and DNC Chair Tim Kaine was on hand for a stop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Miami Herald reported:
Democratic National Committee Chair Tim Kaine spoke to a few dozen activists in Fort Lauderdale Friday morning as part of a new national event aimed to harness the energy of the Obama campaign and turn it into an ongoing effort to support the president and the party.
Held at the Gay and Lesbian Center, the event was part celebration of the work volunteers did to help elect President Barack Obama and part firing up the crowd to back the president’s agenda.
Kaine came to Fort Lauderdale as part of one of dozens of ”listening tours” across the country for Organizing for America, an initiative by the party to promote Obama’s policies and keep volunteers energized for a second term for the president. Organizing for America will also likely serve as a launching pad for activists who will get involved in state races next year.
”You are some of the foot soldiers in the field,” Kaine told the group.
…Though the event featured big names in politics — Kaine, a national Democratic leader who is also the governor of Virginia, as well as U.S. Rep. Ron Klein and U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz — it had more of the feeling of a small, informal event early in a campaign. Only a few dozen activists — some wearing flip flops and shorts — sat on paint-chipped seats in the dimly lit center to talk about political issues close to home.
Much like the diversity of Obama’s campaign, the crowd included seniors worried about the economy, gay couples pushing for Obama to support gay marriage and young black leaders asking questions about how the party plans to reach out to their generation.
”What is going to be done for young people?” asked Florence Moss, president of the Miami Dade Young Democrats, who expressed concern that such groups are strapped for cash.
Bivona responded that Organizing for America will reach out to college campuses to get students involved in issues such as advocating for more access to student loans.
…The initiative will tap into the 1.5 million volunteers for Obama and encourage them to continue political activism.
”We didn’t want to let that go,” Kaine said.
Listening Tours have already kicked off in more than a dozen states, and we’ll be announcing tours in additional states throughout the summer. Look for an event near you.
Organizing for America Listening Tours have been underway for almost a month now. Yesterday, Virginia Governor and DNC Chair Tim Kaine was on hand for a stop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Miami Herald reported:
Democratic National Committee Chair Tim Kaine spoke to a few dozen activists in Fort Lauderdale Friday morning as part of a new national event aimed to harness the energy of the Obama campaign and turn it into an ongoing effort to support the president and the party.
Held at the Gay and Lesbian Center, the event was part celebration of the work volunteers did to help elect President Barack Obama and part firing up the crowd to back the president’s agenda.
Kaine came to Fort Lauderdale as part of one of dozens of ”listening tours” across the country for Organizing for America, an initiative by the party to promote Obama’s policies and keep volunteers energized for a second term for the president. Organizing for America will also likely serve as a launching pad for activists who will get involved in state races next year.
”You are some of the foot soldiers in the field,” Kaine told the group.
…Though the event featured big names in politics — Kaine, a national Democratic leader who is also the governor of Virginia, as well as U.S. Rep. Ron Klein and U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz — it had more of the feeling of a small, informal event early in a campaign. Only a few dozen activists — some wearing flip flops and shorts — sat on paint-chipped seats in the dimly lit center to talk about political issues close to home.
Much like the diversity of Obama’s campaign, the crowd included seniors worried about the economy, gay couples pushing for Obama to support gay marriage and young black leaders asking questions about how the party plans to reach out to their generation.
”What is going to be done for young people?” asked Florence Moss, president of the Miami Dade Young Democrats, who expressed concern that such groups are strapped for cash.
Bivona responded that Organizing for America will reach out to college campuses to get students involved in issues such as advocating for more access to student loans.
…The initiative will tap into the 1.5 million volunteers for Obama and encourage them to continue political activism.
”We didn’t want to let that go,” Kaine said.
Listening Tours have already kicked off in more than a dozen states, and we’ll be announcing tours in additional states throughout the summer. Look for an event near you.