Obama gets on New York ballot via grassroots volunteerism -- and without paid help

[ClarkUSA]

He's also the first Democratic candidate who's on Virginia's ballot, too -- also without paid help. From the New York Daily News (it's the same
NY paper that's giving Rudi Giuliani no small amount of heartburn right now):

Barack Obama isn’t exactly in danger of beating Hillary Clinton in New York, but he has managed the not-so-easy task of getting on the ballot
all across in the state, thanks to volunteers and some institutional support.

Even if Obama only wins in the 10% to 20% range, he’d still get 28 to 56 delegates from the Empire State. (All of Iowa has 56). That’s nothing to
sneeze at when you need over 1,200 delegates to win...

Obama Qualifies for Full Delegate Slate in New York Chicago IL – Through the work of hundreds of volunteers, the Obama campaign filed for the
New York State ballot and qualified for full delegate slates in all of New York’s 29 congressional districts.

“This campaign is not about me, it is about the hundreds of volunteers across New York who gathered signatures, and the millions of people across
this country who want change we can believe in,” said Barack Obama. “I look forward to continuing to get to know the people of New York so that
together we can change this country.”

Obama’s petition total, achieved without relying on paid help, reflects his strong grassroots support across New York. New York law requires 5,000
signatures for the presidential candidate and 500 signatures for each congressional district delegate slate.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/2007/12/new-york-for-obama.html

[babylonsister]

1. That's impressive! nt

[Grandrose]

2. Just. Plain. WOW! (K&R)

Thanks so much for posting!
Some great grass-root organizing that will benefit the Democratic Party and whomever the nominate will be!:toast: :kick:

[hedgehog]

3. Take it from me - it's hard to get up-state New Yorkers to sign anything!

It took me 2 hours to reach a grand total of 20 registered Democrats and only 1 person was willing to sign.

[ClarkUSA]

6. I can imagine... upstate NY is a whole different ballgame than NYC

Your experience makes Obama's achievement all that more impressive. He must have a lot of local supporters in every county in order to have done so well.

Thanks very much for helping out the effort, hedgehog. :toast:

[hedgehog]

4. Hey, if I read this right, the Primary in New York State is more or less

a fight between Obama and Senator Clinton:


http://www.elections.state.ny.us/reports/rwservlet?cmdkey=whofiled


They are the only ones with slates of delegates in all 28 Congressional districts. I think Edwards has a delegate slate in 8 districts. Dodd, Biden and Kucinich have no delegate slates. I'm not sure what that means.

[ClarkUSA]

7. The other candidates will have to play catch-up or risk not being on the ballot.

Then again, Edwards-Dodd-Biden-Kucinich may not be interested in competing in Feb. 5 states until the results of IA, NH, SC, and NV are in.

[hedgehog]

10. All petitions to be on the ballot had to be filed by December 6.

Here's what I can't figure out: in New York, you select both a candidates and a5 delegates plus an alternate delegate. So what does it mean, say, if someone selects Dennis Kucinich and then spits the delegate vote between those committed to Clinton and those committed to Obama?

Think that's confusing? As a member of the Congressional delegation from New York, Senator Clinton automatically becomes a delegate!

New York selects delegates in the primary, at the state convention and ex-offico. The primary is only the start of the process.

[tammywammy]

5. Very cool

Thanks for posting

[Renew Deal]

8. And getting on the NY ballot is a royal pain in the ass.

The rules are outrageous.

[Califooyah Operative]

9. That's what I like to hear!

Go Barack Obama!