Clusters of volunteers are discussing plans of action in the student-run University of Texas Barack Obama campaign office. The supporters range from UT students to out-of-state volunteers who have previously assisted with Obama campaigns in California, Nevada, South Carolina, Georgia and Colorado.
The O.C. star and Austin native Ben McKenzie and Ray actress Kerry Washington returned to the office this morning for another visit following their appearance Thursday evening. Several students lined up to take pictures with the stars and have them autograph Obama gear.
Washington and McKenzie pose with Luca Barton, an Obama campaign staffer who designed the t-shirt he is wearing, which volunteers also sell to supporters.
McKenzie and Washington also screened a new Obama support video called "We Are The Ones," which is a star-packed follow-up to the popular "Yes We Can" music video.
The actors left the Obama volunteers with a few words of encouragement before the headed off to another campaign stop.
"We just kind of wanted to let you know that you're part of a much bigger movement that is happening all over the country," Washington said. "You're following in a tradition that's taken 11 states in a row and we think you can continue that tradition."
McKenzie added, "This is where we show, you know, all the stuff they say about he's just eloquence, he's just words... he translates it into action, you guys have translated it into action right now."
Indeed, the volunteers active at the Obama campaign office are all about action.
Since he became a volunteer, UT freshman Derek Pavlicek has been making at least 50 calls to voters each day and tabling in the area. Today, he is here for the kick-off of canvassing to get out the vote for March 4.
"You can just feel the impact he has had on students like us, old people, young people, Democrats and Republicans, of all races and types," Pavlicek said of Obama. "This is the fuel of what is going to change the world."
Obama campaign staffer Mennow Goodman trained seven out-of-state volunteers with a slideshow and informational packets provided by the campaign. He explained that each volunteer will be assigned a precinct to canvass through Monday, and that the canvassing will target areas with "high propensity voting Democrats - people who will vote."
Goodman encouraged volunteers to tell voters, "Your voice can literally bring Obama another delegate. We're only going to win this if we can make the case to the superdelegates that the people have spoken and they've spoken for Barack."
Out-of-state volunteers will also work phone banks shifts and take on various election day roles, such as visibility coordinator and poll-closer. Visibility coordinators will position themselves near polling locations to wave signs and pass out information to encourage Obama voters to return at 7 pm to caucus, while poll-closers will monitor voters in line for caucuses to make sure that anyone in line by 7 pm is allowed to participate.
The campaign office is nearly empty now, as most volunteers are out canvassing nearby. Former University Democrats president Brandon Chicotsky uses a megaphone to invite passersby into the office and promote t-shirt sales.
Several volunteers just loaded up on Obama stickers and literature to pass out to thousands of people who are currently touring the UT campus for a campus-wide open house.
This is only the beginning of a very busy weekend for volunteers as the countdown to the March 4 primary/caucus kicks into high gear.