i made calls for obama on monday and tuesday.
though on a trip without internet access, i managed to find a place where i could get email. there were several messages from move on asking me to make calls, all i had to do was click on a link, and a name and phone # appeared along side a script. so i did it for a couple of hours both days.
at one point i reached an eighty-two year old african american man in virginia. he wanted to vote but was in a walker and couldn't get to the polls. i doubtfully told him i'd see if there was anything i could do.
i replied to the email from move on, explaining the situation and forwarding the name and phone # of the man in newport news. in 10 minutes i had a response- tell the man to contact his local get out the vote organization, and it included the address and phone. so i went ahead and called the newport news obama for america. they delightedly took the name and number and said they had volunteers standing by to ferry voters.
a random new yorker on the road in boston could reach a would-be voter in a swing district and get a car to his door within an hour!
i think this degree of organization and efficiency goes a long way to explain obama's win.
a friend forwarded this link on the subject.