Reed all about Tracie's Obama adventures!

Remembering 9/11

2008-09-11T19:00:00.002-04:00

Today we mark the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks at the Pentagon and World Trade Center. I was just nineteen years old on September 11, 2001 getting ready to head off to college.

Actually, September 11th was the day that I applied to The Evergreen State College after changing my mind on September 10th about wanting to attend Western Washington University. I left home a week later to move into the Capitol Hill Apartments where I later met Mr. Josh Reed that next spring.

Seven years later, I'm working on my second graduate degree at UMass and today I had the privilege of meeting one of our more famous alums, Ken Feinberg, the director and administrator of the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund set up by Congress.

Ken (2nd from the right) told us heart wrenching stories he heard during the hearings he held with family members and talked about the various dilemmas he faced during the process. Throughout his captivating lecture I was amazed by his ability to shoulder the grief of the victim's families for thirty-three long months. I don't think I am capable of such a task and have great respect for him for serving his country in this capacity on behalf of the American people during such a difficult time in our history.

The experience was one I never will forget. After the lecture there was a small reception where he autographed books and met people. My boss, the Dean, encouraged me to go introduce myself to Ken, which I was planning on doing after the crowd thinned out. He noted that Ken was currently talking to three of his former UMass professors who came to hear him speak, and whom he had acknowledged as greatly shaping his career during his lecture. I had my camera ready to snap a picture of Ken but was so moved by the conversation he was having with his former professors decided not to interrupt. Instead I asked the Provost if I could take a picture of Ken with his professors since the official UMass photographer had left and hadn't captured a picture of them as a group.

Tonight I can't say I have a photo with Ken Feinberg to add to my celebrity and political figures photo album, but I have something better. I have the satisfaction of bringing a genuine smile of thanks and happiness to his face as I captured a precious moment for him and three of his very special mentors. I've asked my boss, the Dean, to make sure each man gets a copy of the photo, because I'm sure it's a moment they'll never forget. I know I won't.

Veterans Video from the Convention

2008-09-10T06:50:00.002-04:00

We watched this video at the Democratic Convention before Tammy Duckworth came out to speak to us. I really enjoyed the video, and still can't watch it without tearing up with pride for our troops and the unbelievable sacrifices they and their families have made for their country. Check it out:

Virginia Republicans for Obama

2008-09-08T08:27:00.002-04:00

This morning you heard from a Cat for Obama. This video montage from the Obama campaign highlights the stories of some Virginia Republicans for Obama like the folks that Boots has been so busy talking to this weekend. Check it out:

Only 56 Days Until the Election!

2008-09-08T07:53:00.002-04:00

Hi, my name is Boots Reed and I'm here to remind you that there are only 56 days left until the election. Scary isn't it? The race is very close so we all need to do out part. As an indoor cat I don't get out but that doesn't mean I can't help elect Barack Obama!

I don't know what you did this weekend but I logged onto Neighbor to Neighbor to make phone calls to voters to encourage them to support Barack Obama.

If anyone needed an absentee ballot or needed to register them to vote I directed them to the Obama campaign's Vote for Change website. On the vote for change website you can register to vote, find your polling location, request an absentee ballot and more. Check it out!

I'm just a cat and I know our country can't afford four more years of Republicans in the White House. Here's why all you cats out there need to help elect Barack Obama:

-If our owners don't have health insurance or are plagued with rising co-payments and prescription drug costs they might not be able to afford medical care for us if we get sick.
-If our homeowners loose their homes due to foreclosure we're out on the street too.
-The longer our troops are in Iraq the more the chances increase that our owners in uniform and their loved ones might not make it back in one piece.
-Our owners deserve affordable college educations. How else do you think that I learned how to read and write, all those textbooks lying around the house.
-Barack Obama will help promote alternative energy production and reduce our dependance on foreign oil which will mean our owners won't have to worry about conflicts in foreign countries affecting their heating oil prices so we'll be nice and warm all winter.

Tom Allen's New TV Commercial

2008-09-04T10:30:00.002-04:00

Have you seen Tom Allen's new television commercial? If not you can watch it below. To support Tom and help keep this ad on the air click here to donate to his campaign: http://www.libertysecure.net/allen/tv_ad.asp.

The Moose Hat On TV

2008-09-02T14:46:00.002-04:00

Today I found out that I appeared on TV during Mark Warners speech. If you look at this video I appear briefly 3:04 minutes into the speech. I'm clapping and just ready to grab one of those handy signs we're supposed to be holding from under my seat. Considering all of my enthusiastic cheering throughout the week it's too bad that this is the best shot my moose hat got but it's better than nothing!

Barack Says Give to the Red Cross!

2008-09-01T15:37:00.002-04:00

I just received a text message from my buddy Barack, asking me to give five dollars to the Red Cross. To donate text GIVE to 24357 or give at www.redcross.org.

School Starts Tomorrow

2008-09-01T15:17:00.003-04:00

Yesterday the little town of Amherst, Massachusetts got its annual influx of students. Our apartment complex had a tent put up outside to check in new residents and there were traffic cops posted at major intersections to help direct traffic.

On the airplane on my way back from Denver I was seated next to one of our bright eyed freshmen. My plane had a layover in Dallas, Texas and on my Dallas to Boston stretch I was seated next to an incoming freshman and her mother. Her step-father was already on his way to Massachusetts via truck with her belongings.

It should be a busy fall. Besides helping out on the Obama campaign I'm going to be taking a full class load, including an integrated studio with our landscape architecture program (I'm hoping this won't make doing my studio work more complicated and cut down on my campaign time), my research assistantship with the Dean, and a TA position helping out an autocad class.

Josh has committed to work overtime on the campaign to help mitigate the fact that I'm not going to be working full time due to my studio work. One thing is for certain, though, I'll be wearing an Obama shirt and pin every day through November 2nd (I have several now, don't worry), and registering and working to turn out every young person and faculty member I can on that campus.

Governor Schweitzer's DNC Speech

2008-09-01T15:07:00.004-04:00

On August 26th delegates heard from Montana Governor, Brian Schweitzer. He spoke shortly after our keynote speaker, Mark Warner. We were not all that impressed with his speech so the prospect of listening to several more hours of speech was pretty daunting.

Then up came Governor Schweitzer from Montana. Most of us didn't know him very well but in less than a minute our delegate chatter had stopped and we were fully engaged listening to his speech.

I was fortunate enough to get a picture with him the next day when I was wandering outside of the VIP skyboxes upstairs (I assumed I'd see someone interesting there. . .). Check out his speech, it's one that shouldn't be missed.

Roll Call

2008-08-30T16:12:00.002-04:00

So, I've made it safely back to New England. I arrived at the airport at 11:30 p.m. and got home around 2:00 a.m. this morning. After unpacking my bag to show Josh all the neat signs and gear I've picked up this week I went to bed and slept like a rock, until just about now.

I wanted to share this video below of the proudest and of the most emotional moment for me at the convention. Sure, Barack's speech was magnificent and an amazing experience, but as a delegate I was most proud of casting my vote for Barack Obama on Wednesday which helped secure him the nomination allowing him to make that speech on Thursday night. This video doesn't show the whole roll call but it does show the part where Hillary asked the convention to suspend the rules so that we could elect Barack by acclimation. Check it out.

McCain's VP Pick

2008-08-29T10:36:00.004-04:00

While it hasn't been confirmed yet, speculation this morning is that Sarah Palin the 44 year old first term Alaska Governor has been chosen as John McCain's Vice President. I am surprised that considering his age that he would choose someone who is such an unknown without almost any experience under her belt. Especially considering he's criticized Obama for his lack of experience. I think we all know that the probability of his VP becoming the President is very high considering his health issues and age.

Here are some of her positions on the issues (not that they're surprising):
-She's pro-life
-Vetoed legislation providing health care benefits to State worker's same sex partners
-Opposes same-sex marriage

Now tell me, how do any of these stances represent a 'break' from the Republican party? They don't. The only difference is that instead of having a white-haired male running mate they've got a woman. Big deal! It's about the candidates and their issues, not their gender, race, religion or sexual orientation.

Okay, sorry but I've got to shut down my computer and head to the airport. . . More later!

Thursday Night Under the Lights

2008-08-29T09:53:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was incredible. After breakfast I packed my bags to leave for the airport today. I left for Invesco around 1:30 p.m. after a quick bite to eat on the 16th Street Mall. When we got to Invesco there was a line that we were told was 2 miles long to get in, but then we spotted another line that was smaller and moving quicker and were able to get in in under 30 minutes as delegates.

I was afraid that our celebration wouldn't feel very intimate in such a huge venue but the architects who put the show together did an amazing job. I wandered around trading pins for the first couple of hours; got a picture taken with Roland Martin and saw Jessie Jackson. Our section was right behind California where Jorja Fox, who plays Sarah Sidle on CSI and the Mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsom (I got pictures with both).

One of the members of our delegation was a man named James Varner who worked with Martin Luther King, Jr. during the Civil Rights movement. He teachers at UMaine Orono and founded the Bangor chapter of the NAACP. Anyway, I saw Jessie Jackson hanging out by some of the media booths and went to go get James because he said he really wanted to see him. Jessie was still there when we got back and James was able to say hello and I was able to snap a bunch of pictures of the two men together. James was happy as a clam and grinning from ear to ear after speaking to him. James was actually at MLK's speech 40 years ago yesterday too which made the moment last night even more special.

At one point when I was on the floor I left to use the restroom and got locked off the floor when the fire marshals locked down the floor, not allowing anyone to get down even if we had credentials. I missed Al Gore's speech and Stevie Wonder's performance from the floor which was a bummer but I could still see them on the big screen.

It was amazing to hear the "Yes We Can" speech live from the floor with will.i.am., and dance to live music from Sheryl Crow. A lot of celebrity's were up in the community credentials section, and had a worse view than I did. I found it was pretty amazing that little-old-Tracie was able to get a better seat than Dan Rather and other celebrity's.

We also heard from Joe Biden again which was awesome. Then we heard from a few Americans, including some former republicans, who are supporting Barack Obama. As you can imagine the crowd went crazy for them, hooting and hollering and chanting their names like they were celebrity's.

Barack's speech was amazing. I was incredibly moved by how he outlined his plans for changing America, and working to unite us by recognizing the things we all have in common. At the end of the speech confetti shot out of the top of the stage and there were amazing firecrackers that went off for minutes. I'd had my eye on the Maine sign on the floor all week and with the blessing of DNCC staff pulled one of the sides down (with some help from Scott Ruffner and Jason Mann who aren't vertically challenged like me).

Leaving Invesco was pretty chaotic. It took us over an hour and a half to get out of the stadium and back to our hotel. Fortunately Jon Hinck had his car over by REI which was on our side of the river so we were able to all pile in and get downtown. All the Maine delegation met downstairs in our hotel's bar for celebratory drinks before I headed upstairs around 1:00 a.m. to catch some sleep. My van shuttle leaves in half an hour to the Denver Airport for my flight to Dallas and then my flight to Boston. I get into Boston (all things going to plan) at midnight. Tomorrow (Saturday), is actually Josh and my 5th wedding anniversary and we expect we'll spend most of it catching up on sleep since Josh was at one of the watch party's last night in Maine and is then picking me up from the airport.

School starts for me on Tuesday and I can't wait. I'm excited about running some voter registration drives downtown and on campus and helping do my part to help Barack Obama win in November which is less than 70 days away! Scary, huh? We can't do this without you. Join our campaign today at www.barackobama.com and help us change America.

Performers tonight

2008-08-28T14:02:00.002-04:00

So I'm watching Stevie Wonder practice right now on TV at Invesco, we're also hearing Bon Jovi and possibly Bruce Springsteen. Since I've seen will.i.am walking around I wouldn't be surprised if he were preforming too. Tonight will be amazing. It's a rock concert, political celebration and historic gathering all rolled into one, and will be a ton of fun.

Hydrating in Preparation for Invesco

2008-08-28T12:13:00.003-04:00

Just like a pro athlete I'm busy hydrating this morning in preparation for my trip to Invesco this afternoon. The delegates are on the field and there isn't any shade so it's going to be really hot on the field. Combined with all of the excitement, screaming, dancing and lack of sleep I'm trying to drink a ton of water this morning before I catch the 2:30 p.m. bus over to the stadium. Invesco's going into lock down a couple of hours before Barack's speech so no one will be able to come in or leave. I'm going to call into Michael Labriola's party tonight to let everyone know where our delegation will be sitting so they can keep on the lookout.

Anne is here in the room right now putting the finishing touches on her Obama costume for the event tonight. Look for me in the moose hat too. I think I'll be wearing a blue Obama t-shirt that says "democratic national convention" with my outfit.

Wednesday News

2008-08-28T09:08:00.003-04:00

Wednesday was Delegate Service Day. It's the day where delegates give back to their host community. We helped plant trees at a park in Denver to help provide shade for sidewalks and for parked cars along the street because when people use air conditioning in their car their fuel efficiency decreases by 5-20% depending on the vehicle and in many low-middle income neighborhoods their aren't trees to help keep parked cars cool.

After the delegate service day we went over to an event for delegates who offset their carbon emissions for the convention. We were called "Green Delegates" and they said they were going to give us a special gift for participating. Later on since so many people participated they changed it to providing gifts for the first 500 delegates who came to the event. I thought we'd only get a t-shirt but was determined to get one. Turns out that we got a 4GB Microsoft Zune MP3 player with the DNCC logo etched on the back. Cool! I called everyone I could think of in the delegation to let them know to come on over.

After the green delegate event I headed over to the Pepsi Center with my moose hat. Last night we had an amazing line-up of speeches. We heard from our Congressman Tom Allen, Tammy Duckworth, John Kerry, Bill Clinton, Beau Biden, Joe Biden, and had a special guest appearance from Barack Obama which was amazing.

Just after breakfast the delegation signed our ballots for Barack Obama and Hillary. I heard after voting finished that I was the Obama whip for Maine though I don't think it would have made a difference in the outcome if I'd known earlier. These ballot numbers were the numbers that were reported on the floor during the roll call later in the evening.

The nominating process was amazing. We'd heard at the last minute that the roll call would only go through Illinois and then would skip to New York when Hillary would call for a suspension of the rules to nominate Barack Obama by acclimation. Our party chair, John Knutson, was to deliver our votes and was standing by just in case we were called upon even though we weren't expecting to and it was a good thing he was ready. Each delegation has a laptop computer and telephone in their section so that all our sign waving and logistics can be coordinated with the Obama command center. During the roll call we got a call saying that Hillary was running late and that we would get to go after all, and could John add a couple of minutes to his speech.

It was incredible process to see. I was really proud of the New Hampshire delegation for casting all their votes for Obama, even though he didn't even win the state. I think it demonstrated great leadership. In our delegation, many of our Hillary delegates felt strongly about voting for her considering she is the first viable female candidate, which is okay too. It was such an emotional night when Illinois deferred to New York and Hillary called for a suspension of the rules to vote by acclimation. I found tears of pride and joy streaming down my face as we all joined hands to the music of O'Jay's "Love Train." I think it was one of the most amazing moments of my life and one I will never forget. As someone who supported Barack since 2004 it was amazing to watch the campaign grow into a movement, into a tidal wave of people calling for change. I am incredibly proud of all the people who supported our campaign along the way and to be here in Denver for this historic occasion representing the great state of Maine.

We leave for Invesco today around 2:30 p.m. Some speakers tonight include Bill Richardson, Al Gore and our man Barack (of course). We'll be seated on the field at Invesco right behind Arkansas and in front of Oklahoma like we've been in the Pepsi Center. I'll be wearing my moose hat again tonight and will be sitting next to my roommate Anne who will be wearing a dress made out of Obama stickers.

As you can imagine, we can't tell when we're on TV but if I can tell I'll wave to you guys. :) I may not be able to post pictures from tonight until I get back to Maine since I have to leave to the airport really early tomorrow. We have to leave 4 hours before our flight because everyone and their mother is flying out tomorrow and will be on the highway. Below you'll see my pictures from yesterday. Enjoy!

Free Microsoft Zunes!

2008-08-27T16:33:00.003-04:00

Today we got free 4GB Microsoft Zunes (like an ipod) for participating in the Green Delegate Challenge which was really sweet. The Zunes are green and have the Denver 2008 DNCC logo etched into the back. Sweet!

The Moose Hat!

2008-08-27T16:22:00.002-04:00

I'm just about to head over to the Pepsi Center tonight. Here's a picture of the hat I'll be wearing.

Tuesday Slide Show

2008-08-27T08:19:00.003-04:00

Tuesday was a very busy day. It was women's day all the way for me. I started the day attending the Women's Caucus with my friend Elizabeth. Then I headed over to the Emily's List reception and was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was a VIP (thanks Elizabeth!) so I got to stand in the second row. There I saw Patty Murray, mom in tennis shoes, who was elected to congress when I was in third grade. Her nephew was in my third grade class and I miraculously managed to pull his name out of my hat on short notice. Speaking at the event were Nancy Pelosi, Michelle Obama, and Hillary Clinton. They were all wonderful and everyone was incredibly excited to elect Barack Obama.

After the Emily's list event we headed straight over to the Pepsi Center. It's hard to believe it but it can take over 1 1/2 hours to get there from downtown during high convention traffic even though it's less than 2 hours away. There I got my video camera from Reuters and started going around to interview fellow delegates and other folks in the Pepsi Center.

I interviewed an Iraqi-American and a Veteran from Washington State, folks with cool hats, and some politicians from the Maine delegation. I'll be handing it in to them today to upload to their site. I'm obviously not the only one participating in this project so I don't know if any of my videos will be chosen but we'll see. I'll post them of course.

I got my picture taken with Bob Schieffer, Terry McCauliffe, the Ambassador to the US from Denmark, Congressman Jose Serrano from New York, Congresswoman Laura Richardson from California, and of course our Maine Congressmen Tom Allen and Mike Michaud.

I was really excited to see Jim Lehrer of PBS. Josh and I are big fans of the News Hour with Jim Lehrer so yesterday I camped out in front of his green room for an hour and a half but he didn't come out. Jimmy Carter went in which made up for my long wait but yesterday I got my reward. As I was leaving the convention I was walking by and the door opened and he came out. I quickly approached him and asked for a picture and he obliged. Yea! Even the security people who'd seen me wait cheered. :)

Yesterday I wore Alison's moose hat. I have to say it was magical. All the news cameras wanted to take pictures of me when I was on the floor of the convention and random delegates even wanted to take pictures of me or came up to tell me how cool it was, ask where I was from, or where they could get one too. So, as you can imagine, I'll be wearing it again tonight.

About Hilary's speech. It was awesome. The energy was amazing and even Bill looked happy. I got a text message from Elizabeth while I was on the floor that she was in Hillary's sky box behind us and that Bill had just arrived. We all looked up and saw Bill's white hair. He was glowing just like Jimmy Carter which makes me wonder what type of moisturizer they use. He was smiling and laughing throughout the speech which was great. We had a better vantage point then the press, though I didn't have a high powered camera.

One of my favorite speeches last night wasn't Mark Warner's which we all seemed to get bored during and had difficulty concentrating but Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer. He was awesome. We were all screaming at the top of our lungs and having a great time. It may not have been as awesome as Barack's 2004 convention speech but it became our keynote. He stole the show last night and I am looking forward to learning more about him when I get home.

Today we're participating in delegate service day helping clean up a park in a Denver neighborhood.. .

Alright, here are some pictures from my adventures yesterday. Enjoy!

Watch CNN to see the Maine Delegation

2008-08-26T15:08:00.002-04:00

I forgot to mention earlier but the Maine delegation is seated in the section behind the CNN's live broadcast podium. Since we're seated there we've heard they've been panning around into the audience and catching the cheering Maine delegation in the process. So if you'd like to catch a glimpse of my moose hat tune into CNN tonight!

Broadcasting on Behalf of Reuters from Convention

2008-08-26T14:31:00.002-04:00

So, as I mentioned last week I applied to serve as a delegate reporter on the convention floor interviewing delegates and celebrity's on behalf of Reuters. I've heard back from them today and will be picking up my video camera this afternoon when I get to the Pepsi Center. It should be a fun experience interviewing other delegates and any sort of political celebrity's I can find. Yea!

Maine Delegation Meets Howard Dean!

2008-08-26T14:25:00.002-04:00

This morning Howard Dean visited the Maine delegation during our breakfast meeting. I was so excited to meet him I couldn't stop smiling. As some of you may know I was a Dean delegate to the Maine State Convention in 2004 so seeing the doctor again was quite a treat.

After breakfast I headed over to the Women's Caucus where I met Elizabeth Ehrenfeld a buddy of mine from Falmouth. Early this afternoon we're going to be heading over to the Emily's List reception which should be really fantastic. The Emily's list event goes from 2-4 p.m. so then I'll be going straight over to the convention where I am looking forward to hearing our keynote speaker, Mark Warner and then Hillary Clinton.

Look for Tracie in the Moosehat Tonight!

2008-08-26T11:11:00.001-04:00

I'm going to wear my moose hat tonight on the convention floor. I've been told we've been on CNN the most since their broadcasting podium is right in front of us and they pan around to take crowd shots, so during Governor Warner and Senator Clinton's speech, look for for the girl in the glasses and moose hat in the Maine section with the Maine t-shirt. . .

Monday Report and Pictures

2008-08-26T01:00:00.002-04:00

Today was the first official day of the convention which was a lot of fun. After lunch we headed over to the Pepsi center by bus, which tool over an hour to get to even though it was just over a mile away. The security there is amazing. It's kind of like being at an airport with the metal detectors but even more strict, everyone gets bag checks after the x-rays and all electronics are heavily screened too.

I saw a lot of really cool people today including will.i.am (I was to excited to take a picture) and Jimmy Carter (I got a photo of the back of a quick moving secret service agent) and many more folks. I did get a picture with New Orleans major Ray Nagin and New York Congressman Jerrold Nader, who sat on the bus next to me on the way back to downtown. We talked for about 15 minutes about transportation and public transportation which was really neat.

At the convention we saw Caroline Kennedy speak about her father and Ted Kennedy which was very moving. Most of us were in tears as Senator Kennedy spoke. The video tribute was also incredibly moving. I had tears streaming down my face too when Michelle Obama took the stage and talked about her childhood, her father who suffered from MS, and about Barack. The girls were adorable and they even streamed Barack into the convention hall for him to say hello which made us cheer like crazy. It seemed everyone was touched by Michelle's speech, even the guys and Clinton delegates. We truly have become a delegation united for change around the Obama Biden ticket. I've got to head to bed now. We've got a busy day tomorrow. Enjoy the pictures. . .

Monday Morning

2008-08-25T15:25:00.002-04:00

The delegation started out the day today with a breakfast from 7-9 a.m. in the hotel. Then Anne and I attended a really great Health and Wellness Care symposium monitored by Tom Daschle (who was sporting some cool red glasses by the way). It was a really interesting conversation focusing mainly about developing a true healthcare system, covering the uninsured and preventative or wellness care.

Next we headed over to a luncheon followed by AT&T where I got a photo with Patrick Kennedy of Massachusetts. On the elevator on my way to the luncheon I saw Danny Glover but he didn't have time for a photograph. I'm embarrassed to say I let out a small squeak when he stepped on. . . Hopefully I'll see him later. . .

Sunday Adventures and Pictures

2008-08-24T23:00:00.002-04:00

As you've probably read already, my biggest adventure of the day today was meeting Chris Matthews of MSNBC's hardball. They were doing a taping downtown in front of Union Station and my roomie, Diane, and I went down to watch it. There were a number of political celebrity's on the show including Luke Russert and Harold Ford, Jr.

I just got back from the Friend's of New Orleans Welcome Party which seemed to be attended by all of the delegates. As a Mainer it was pretty overwhelming how many people were there. It was really fun. I met delegates from Florida, Oregon, California and Indiana and had some great Southern food.

I also attended the Eco-Frontier Fest at the Denver Sculpture Garden which featured various vendors and groups around the theme of sustainability. I saw the University of Colorado at Boulder's entry in the 2007 Solar Decathlon (house built for a highly selective design competition that is showcase on the Washington Mall), and met with students who worked on the project. I learned about research that is underway to help monitor energy use on the power grid in Denver to use the current resources they have more efficiently so they don't have to build new stations and how a solar, roof-mounted hot water heating system works, and saw a solar powered oven, tasting a solar baked chocolate chip cookie. Mmm.

The energy here is amazing. There are people here from all corners of the United States and even delegates from abroad, all interested in changing Washington and uniting to make a better America. It's an honor to be here to be a part of this historic gathering. I can't wait for tomorrow! Enjoy the pictures. . .

Hardball with Chris Matthews

2008-08-24T19:07:00.003-04:00

Today Diane, Ben Goodman and I headed down to Union Station to watch a live filming of Hardball with Chris Matthews. We got there at 1:00 p.m. for the 2:00 p.m. taping and were able to stand in the front. They decked us out in hardball t-shirts and MSNBC hats as you can see. While we were shown almost every television commercial, this clip shows us when Chris came into the audience and asked us who we were supporting. You can guess the answer: Obama! He comes by our group at just after 2 minutes in the clip. I'm wearing dark sunglasses, and have a hardball t-shirt on. Chris made a comment just after he talked to me, to Diane that now Obama has an apostrophe O'bama which you'll see in the clip. Check it out!

Old Article on Joe Biden from GQ From A Couple Years Ago

2008-08-24T09:02:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Steve Schreiber for sending along this great article he found about Joe Biden in GQ magazine. . .

JOE BIDEN CAN’T SHUT UP…

Joe Biden Jr. passes the time by drawing houses. In a spiral-bound notebook, he
sketches: a cottage for his widowed mom, a playhouse out by the pond for his
grandkids, the vacation home he and his brother have always imagined for the
extended family. Flower boxes here, angle the roof just so, level an inch off
the riser. Every detail matters, every pencil stroke is precise. He goes
through draft after draft, reworking, rethinking everything. His home in
Wilmington is a permanent construction site. “Hey,” he’ll say to his wife,
Jill, “what if we took out these French doors, made a nice little study?”
“Joe,” she’ll moan, “why do we need a study in our bedroom?”

And yeah, sure, she’s right, but the point—well, with Joe Biden, there are
always several points. For one, the house sketching and home renovating is just
a hobby, a quiet refuge for a man who’s been in public life for over half of
his sixty-three years. But it’s also more than that. Biden wouldn’t say this,
but he doesn’t need to: He relishes the possibilities, the weights and
measures, the beauty and logic and mutability of it all. It’s who he is.

So he drafts, and he redrafts.

Portland Press Herald Article

2008-08-24T08:03:00.002-04:00

Here's an article that is running in the Portland Press Herald today about our delegation: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=206483&ac=PHnws&pg=1. I'm quoted on page two of the article in which I describe my trip as a dream vacation and political nerdfest. . .

Saturday Report from Denver

2008-08-23T22:13:00.004-04:00

Today I woke up at 2:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time to head to Logan airport for my flight to Denver. I arrived in Denver around 12:15 Mountain Standard Time and found myself on a shuttle with my roomie Diane Denk from Kennebunk. After checking into our hotel, the Hilton Garden, downtown across the street from the Colorado Convention Center we went and checked out the 16th Street Mall and traveled near the Pepsi Center at the Six Flags Theme Park where we were on the lookout for media celebrities at the media welcome event. So far we've met delegates from New Mexico, Kansas, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and everyone has been really nice.

We also saw Craig Crawford of Congressional Quarterly, and Cynthia Tucker of Universal Press. I've hugged a person in a PETA pig costume and received an MSNBC hat from a donkey and elephant on segway scooters.

On the shuttle to the hotel we were interviewed by Gabe Pressman from the WNBC TV in New York. Here are some pictures from our adventures today. . .

Visit the Obama Store Today to Receive one of the First Obama - Biden Shirts

2008-08-23T22:10:00.002-04:00

If you make a $15 dollar donation to the campaign today you will receive an Obama - Biden car magnet and if you donate $30 dollars you can get a first edition Obama - Biden t-shirt. Order yours today! Diane and I were told today that the Obama pins will be available tomorrow sometime at the convention. . .

I've arrived in Denver

2008-08-23T16:47:00.001-04:00

This afternoon Diane and I arrived in Denver about the same time and found ourselves on the same shuttle to the Hilton Garden Hotel where our delegation is staying downtown. We've got a great room and are busy unpacking before a welcome reception across the street at the Colorado Convention Center. We couldn't have asked for a better hotel location, everything is really close by and Denver has been great at rolling out the welcome mat so far. More tonight!

A Great Ticket for Architects!

2008-08-23T16:46:00.003-04:00

Did you know that both Barack Obama and Joe Biden both have stated that their 'dream job' would be to be an architect? For the time being at least they've got bigger things on their plates but if they'd ever like to join my practice when I grow up I'd be more than welcome to have them on board! :)

Arriving at the Boston Airport

2008-08-23T16:30:00.001-04:00

Auspicious Fortune Cookie

2008-08-23T02:55:00.002-04:00

Last night at dinner an auspicious fortune cookie put a smile on my face. It said "Sometimes travel to new places leads to great transformation." Okay, gotta go now! See you in Denver. . .

Biden tapped at VP

2008-08-23T02:50:00.003-04:00

I still haven't received my text message yet, but at around 2:30 this morning as I was attempting to pry my sleep-swullen eyes open when my husband rushed in to tell me that Obama had picked his running mate. "What about my text message?" I replied. Turns out it looks like someone decided to leak the name.

So, folks, it looks like it may be Joe Biden. Otherwise, we're in for a surprise around noon, Chicago time when Obama makes his first appearance with his new running mate. By that time I'll have just touched down in Denver.

I wasn't sure if they'd choose Biden, though I'm not saying he's a bad choice, because of the fact that in 2004 he is credited with telling John Kerry that he should choose John McCain as a running mate over himself. . .

All packed and ready to go

2008-08-22T20:31:00.003-04:00

I'm all packed now and ready to go. I have to wake up at 2:30 a.m. to get ready for my flight out of Logan at 7:15 a.m. so I'm going to try to catch some sleep now. I'm arriving in Colorado at 12:15 p.m. (MST). Hopefully I'll sleep in the car on the way to the airport a little since Josh will be driving me. You probably won't hear from me now until I'm in the hotel. . . The Maine delegation is staying in the Hilton Garden Inn in Downtown Denver which should be great. My roomie Diane is arriving 15 minutes after me so maybe we'll share a shuttle ride. :)

Delegate Resignation

2008-08-22T16:47:00.004-04:00

At approximately 4:15 p.m. our delegation received an e-mail from fellow PLEO delegate David Bright who announced that he will be unable to attend the convention due to problems at his farm. This means that one of our Obama alternates will be upgraded to a delegate slot. Stay tuned to find out who the lucky alternate will be. . .

Packing for Denver

2008-08-22T15:35:00.003-04:00

Early tomorrow morning Josh will be driving me to Logan airport in Boston for my flight to Denver. It's hard to believe that this day has already come and boy am I getting excited. I'm so excited that I feel like I should stop by the University health clinic and get some sort of sedatives to help me relax on the plane.

I found this picture on the internet and it's the best picture I found to describe the way I feel this afternoon: eyes wide with excitement, a huge smile on my face and light as a feather, trotting onward and upward. Denver here I come!

Barack's New "Seven" TV Ad

2008-08-22T15:21:00.002-04:00

Did you know that John McCain doesn't even know how many houses he has? I don't know about you, but I my husband and I only own one house and even keeping up with its bills and maintenance is tough sometimes, especially through Maine's snowy winters. Barack Obama has a great new TV ad that addresses McCain's fumble here:

Saturday's The Big Day

2008-08-21T18:17:00.002-04:00

It looks like Saturday's the big day when Barack Obama will end speculation about his running mate. He's planning on addressing supporters in Springfield, Illinois at the old capitol building, the same place where he announced his candidacy on Feb. 10, 2007. According to the Obama website the gates open at noon, which means that I might not be one of the first people to know who Obama's running mate is, since my flight doesn't touch down in Denver until 12:15 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.

I also didn't hear that Obama won the Iowa caucus' due to a plane ride to Florida for the UMass men's rowing team winter training camp, and found out on the tarmac when I turned on my phone. Maybe this time will be the same. At least I can share the excitement with my roomie, Diane Denk, who is flying in 15 minutes after I am. So, if we don't hear earlier, stay tuned for a big announcement from our man Barack Obama on Saturday!

Request Your Absentee Ballot Today!

2008-08-21T08:22:00.004-04:00

Did you know that it's not too early to request your absentee ballot for the November Election? I know that there's nothing more thrilling than going to the polls in person but we're going to need you on election day and we don't want you waiting in line at the polls for hours when you can be turning out voters. Here are a couple things we'll need help with: driving people to the polls, GOTV calls, visibility, poll watchers and much more. In addition to voting absentee I also recommend taking election day as a day off of work so you can volunteer. There's nothing worse than waking up the next day wishing you had done more, but if you're at the polls and out and about all day on election day you'll be helping do your part and will own a part of our victory. If you don't have any time off then consider working four 1o hour days that week to make up for the day off on Tuesday. You may like it soo much you won't turn back!

There are two fast ways you can request your ballot, today:

1. Fill out this easy e-form and click submit. No printing required! The form is located here: http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl

2. Call the Portland City Clerk's office at 874-8677 or 874-8610. If you're in another town, call your local clerk.

School Starts in Two Weeks!

2008-08-21T08:02:00.003-04:00

It's hard to believe but school starts on September 2nd, the week after the Democratic Convention in Denver. It's something I'm looking forward to and dreading. I'm looking forward to learning new skills and becoming a better designer, but am dreading the endless hours at the studio. That's it in the picture, in the Fine Arts Center.

All of the architecture studios at UMass are in this gigantic building on what we call the bridge, the horizontal portion on the top. The studios are concrete on six sides and don't have windows you can see out of, so you never know what time it is when you're there unless you look at your watch. This is both a good and bad thing. When it's sunny outside and you'd rather not be in the studio, or when it's the middle of the night and you're still finishing up a project it's a good thing, but sometimes you just wonder if a blizzard is going on or wouldn't mind some natural light.

The Arch. professors want to put solar panels on the FAC but I doubt that will ever happen. So starting the Tuesday after next, if you're wondering where I am, most likely I'm here in my studio at the FAC toiling away.

How to Save a Dinosaur

2008-08-21T07:56:00.002-04:00

As many of you know I'm a huge supporter of carpooling, biking and taking the bus. Growing up I always said it "helps save a dinosaur.' When I'm in Portland I enjoy biking to work and the store from my home in the West End and in Amherst I carpool to school with Josh and ride the bus home. I found this cute story this morning about a group of dogs that use alternative transportation to get to their favorite place, the river to go swimming. I figure if these four legged friends can use alternative transportation so can you!

Send Tracie to Denver Benefit Dinner a Great Success!

2008-08-20T12:49:00.003-04:00

I just want to thank everyone who either came to my benefit dinner last night at Alison's house or donated to support my trip. As you can see from my donor list, I've had a lot of support and have even raised enough to pay for my hotel room and plane ticket to Denver which is a huge help to Josh and I since I'm a full-time grad. student at UMass. Thanks again for your support. I can't wait to go (I fly out on Saturday) and will do my best to keep you all updated on my adventures while I'm out West.

Here are some pictures from the event last night. . . Oh, before I forget, congratulations to Joan Leitzen who won Alison's amazing red-white and blue hula hoop with glow-in-the-dark stars. I tested it out last night to make sure it worked and it was a lot of fun. Enjoy the pictures!

Preparing for the Dinner

2008-08-19T14:54:00.002-04:00

Preparations are currently underway at the home of Alison Smith for my benefit dinner tonight. Baby Addison is upstairs taking a nap with her mom so she can enjoy the party too and Alison and I have just finished dusting and are getting all our tables set up. The hula hoop Alison made last night is amazing! The hoop has glow-in-the-dark stars that she made herself, and red, white and blue tape sections. It would be a great addition to any visibility event this fall!

In the oven we've got some homemade vegetarian baked beans in an old-fashioned bean pot. We started soaking the beans overnight last night and they only have one hour left before they're finished. Mmm! We've also prepared the dry ingredients to make corn bread, prepped the collard greans, and are getting ready to make cole slaw.

Josh is out doing some errands right now but has purchased a great Maine beer selection for us to sample and we've also been brewing some sugar-free, organic iced tea. See you soon!

Beale Street BBQ Will be Served at Benefit Dinner Tonight!

2008-08-19T06:58:00.004-04:00

There's nothing, and I mean nothing more satisfying to my taste buds than Beale Street BBQ in South Portland, Maine. When I first moved here a colleague recommended it to me and I've been going there ever since.

For my 25th birthday the winter before last I brought my buddies there, who'd never been there before: Alison, Deborrah and Philip. Alison is a vegetarian so I wasn't sure what she'd think of it but I had checked the menu before hand to make sure she would have something to eat.

Turns out that Alison's daughter then got a job at Beale Street and since then all I hear about when I visit is, 'oh when we went to Beale Street last week. . .' which I think is cute. Anyway, tonight Alison is throwing me a benefit dinner to help me raise money to support my trip to Denver. She hadn't told me what the menu was until yesterday, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out we're having Beale Street BBQ with homemade sides. Mmmmm! Alison's also going to make a custom hula hoop to raffle off to a lucky guest too. It's amazing how good she is at making them now. I can't believe all the neat designs and color combinations she's come up with.
The party starts at 7:00 p.m. at Alison's House in Portland. Tickets are $25. Give me a call at (207) 409-0459 if you'd like more information. Hope to see you there!

Tom Allen Is Exciting!

2008-08-19T06:51:00.002-04:00

It's not news here that Barack Obama needs our help to win in November, but there is a whole ticket of good Democrats who need our help, including our man Tom Allen and Chellie Pingree. Tom and Chellie are great Mainers working hard for working Mainers like us in the wake of high energy and health care prices. The DCCC has created this video for Tom which talks about his health care plan and other reasons why he's so exciting, compared to his opponent, Susan Collins. Check it out:

Portland Supporters Register Voters

2008-08-19T06:38:00.003-04:00

Yesterday evening seven enthusiastic members of the Portland Barack Obama Supporters group hit the streets in downtown Portland to help register voters. My group which included Josh, Sarah Greaney, and Joel, an active soldier from the Navy recently back from Qatar in the Persian Gulf. We were short on time as the sun was quickly setting but we didn't go home empty handed. . .

I met a lot of registered voters which was good and a lot of Canadians who said they wished they could vote for Obama. I was able to register to voters who just moved to Maine from Connecticut who also happened to be Barack Obama supporters which was great. Josh spoke with a decedent of an Amistad slave who was working on the replica ship that is docked in Portland. He is from Idaho and promised to register there when he's done working this summer. We also had a registered republican who chose to become an independent over her disgust with George and his cronies.

It was a very positive experience, with many people thanking us for our service and whooping 'go Obama' at the sight of my t-shirt which was pretty awesome. I can't wait to register more voters at the start of the school year and am definately even more fired up than ever before!

Bark for Barack

2008-08-18T07:25:00.002-04:00

As some of you might know I'm studying for my masters of architecture right now at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and I'm interested in possibly going on to get my Ph.D. when I'm done. I'm at UMass because it's the only accredited architecture program at a public University in New England and I can't afford to attend a private University like Harvard which is a little closer to Maine. For my Ph.D. I'm looking at the University of Cambridge (UK) where I got my other masters degree and McGill University in Montreal. Why go abroad, again? Their Ph.D. programs aren't taught, they're research degree programs, unlike their US counterparts. With two masters degrees, the last thing I want is to sit through anther three years of classes before I start on research for my dissertation. This picture, is from the Democrat's Abroad Montreal Chapter which looks pretty promising. I can't imagine not being involved in US politics so these types of groups are really important to me when I'm evaluating where to go.

Portland Barack Obama Supporters Mtg. & Registration Drive!

2008-08-18T06:51:00.002-04:00

In case you haven't signed up already, tonight the Portland Barack Obama Supporters will be coming to the Portland Obama Campaign headquarters for a quick tour, meet staff and find out how we can help send Barack Obama to the White House.

After our quick tour we'll head out to register voters in Portland. It's a great chance for you to talk to your neighbors about why you support Barack and meet fellow volunteers. Bring walking shoes, a clip board (if you have one), a friend, cell phone and smile!

To sign up for the event visit: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/officialevent/44rv3

If you have any questions please contact, me, Tracie Reed at (207) 409-0459. See you there!

Arm Yourself with the Truth: The Truth About McCain's Ad

2008-08-18T06:46:00.002-04:00

Arm yourself with the truth: Brian Deese, a campaign policy adviser with the Obama team goes through one of McCains' television ads frame by frame to tell you the truth about Barack's plans so that when you meet someone who isn't educated about the plans you can tell them the truth about Barack's policy ideas and even send them to his fact check website: www.factcheck.barackobama.com. Enjoy:

Maine Women Rowers Win Gold

2008-08-18T06:35:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, two Mainers helped power the women's 8+ (means eight rowers plus a coxswain, the little person who steers), to a victory at the Beijing Olympics.

If you look at this picture you'll see one of the reasons why. . . Maine women are tough and tall. Both Anna Goodale and Elle Logan. Anna is 6'0", 180 lbs. (she's also an illustrator in her free time), and Elle is 6'2", 190 lbs. I'm convinced we can build a whole national team out of Mainers, especially Maine women, and hopefully now that these ladies have won gold rowing will become more popular here.

Wyatt Allen, who's also from Maine, helped the men win the bronze metal yesterday too. Allen is a seven-time National Team member, who's been training with the team in Princeton since 2001. He was named US Rowing's male rower of the year in 2007 too which is awesome!

Congratulations guys and have fun sightseeing now that your races are over!

Interview on Basketball with Bryant Gumbel

2008-08-16T06:52:00.002-04:00

Here's a great interview I found of Barack Obama by Bryant Gumbel in April of this year. You might have seen excerpts of it before. This is the whole thing, all 14 minutes of it, and is a great clip to see on a Saturday morning. One cool thing I learned was that Barack Obama was a big fan of Dr. J (Julius Erving) as a kid, who is one of UMass Amherst's most famous graduates (he started at UMass in 1968). In fact he told Bryant that he had the same poster of Dr. J on his wall that we have in the phonathon room at UMass.

Fight the Smears

2008-08-16T06:29:00.007-04:00

If you haven't visited Barack's Fight the Smears page, you should. It's a great resource of accurate information on some rumors that have been spread by the republicans and their buddies. For example, counter to rumors, you'll learn that Barack Obama's plane does have the image of the American flag on it, on the exterior by the fuselage of the plane. You can see a copy of Barack Obama's birth certificate and much more. . .

Convention Highlights

2008-08-16T06:23:00.002-04:00

The following are some highlights of the convention that were sent out by the DNCC last night.

Monday, August 25 – One Nation

Headline prime-time speaker: Michelle Obama
Featured speakers: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senator Claire McCaskill, Maya Soetoro-Ng and Craig Robinson
Tribute to Senator Edward Kennedy
Mayor John Hickenlooper and a video segment introducing delegates and other Convention attendees to the natural beauty and strong voices of leadership in the Mountain West

Tuesday, August 26 – Renewing America’s Promise

Headline prime-time speaker: Senator Hillary Clinton
Keynote Address: Mark Warner, former Governor of Virginia
Featured speakers: Governors Napolitano, Patrick, Rendell, Schweitzer, Sebelius and Strickland; Senator Bob Casey, Jr. and Federico Peña

Wednesday, August 27 – Securing America’s Future

Headline prime-time speaker: Barack Obama’s Vice Presidential Nominee.
Featured speakers: Former President Bill Clinton; Governor Bill Richardson; Senators Evan Bayh, Joe Biden, Jay Rockefeller and Ken Salazar; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid,;House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn; Representative Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth.

Thursday, August 28 – Change You Can Believe In

Barack Obama’s acceptance speech: On Thursday night, the DNCC will throw open the doors of the Convention and move to INVESCO Field at Mile High so that more Americans can be a part of the fourth night of the Convention as Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination.

Baracky II!

2008-08-15T06:16:00.003-04:00

I've been waiting for Baracky II for a long time. Baracky I provided me a smile and comfort last spring and this one does the same thing. If only we could get them to show it at the convention. . . Enjoy!

2,000,000 Million Donors and Counting!

2008-08-14T15:30:00.002-04:00

The Obama campaign announced today that it's reached it's 2,000,000 donor mark today. My husband and I are proud to call ourselves early and frequent donors even through I've been in school for a bit. If you haven't donated yet to the campaign here's a thought: any purchase to the online store is also considered a donation. Why not buy yourself a shirt, and some bumper stickers for your friends and neighbors while you're at it? Not only will you be supporting the campaign but you'll be sharing the Obama love too!

Clinton's Name Will Be On Ballot at The Convention

2008-08-14T15:10:00.002-04:00

Well, there you have it folks. Hillary Clinton's name will be on the ballot at convention, the Obama and Clinton campaign's announced today. It won't come as a shock to everyone that I was hoping we'd all cast a unanimous ballot for our beloved Senator Obama, in support of party unity. While I'm sure it will be a wonderful moment for everyone it definitely makes me a little nervous.

Members of our own delegation from Maine, from the Clinton camp, have written some not too 'unified' sounding e-mails which I found a little too disturbing considering there is less than three months to the election and a lot of work to be done. This is the first time in a long time that I've supported the winning candidate and while I was never very crazy about the nominee last time I still campaigned hard for them because I felt that whoever the Democratic candidate was they still represented my values and interests much more than the other side. I hope that this ballot is the unifying ballot the campaigns say it will be and doesn't make the convention a stressful, bitter experience or worse, that Clinton supporters don't try to pull a last minute super delegate switch aimed at winning the nomination at the last second. That would truly be an embarrassment for our party. Hopefully they realize that too.

Arkansas Dem. Chair Dies After Shooting

2008-08-13T17:17:00.003-04:00

I am saddened to learn today that the Chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party was shot at their party headquarters in Littlerock and later died from his injuries. The suspect was also shot and killed by police. This is sobering news with the Democratic National Convention only 11 days away and a historic election nearing this November. I'm sure that the Chair, Bill Gwatney, was looking forward to attending the convention and seeing Barack Obama elected to the White House this winter. Our thoughts and prayers are with Chair Gwatney's family, and the Arkansas Democratic Party during this difficult time.

Maine Swimmer Ian Crocker Races Tomorrow

2008-08-13T08:07:00.002-04:00

While he hasn't received as much press coverage as his teammate Michael Phelps, Mainer Ian Crocker is largely considered the US team's #2 swimmer. He's been in both the 2000 and 2004 Olympics and won two gold metals, one silver metal and a bronze so far. This Thursday he's hoping to add to his collection in the 100-meter butterfly.

The race will take place at 7:40 EST in the cube which was designed by a team that included some of my classmates at Cambridge in the IDBE program. Crocker currently holds the world record for the event and we'd love to see him add to his metal collection! Good luck Ian and keep up the good work!

Team Snowbird Finishes 2nd in Monhegan Race!

2008-08-13T07:53:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to Jon Randall, and Team Snowbird on their Monhegan race results this past weekend! The Monhegan race is one of the longest races in the Gulf of Maine Ocean Racing Series. It all starts with a party at the Portland Yacht Club on Friday with the race starting on Saturday at mid-day.

Last year, just to give everyone some perspective we finished at about 4:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. This year, however, the race lasted more than 31 hours, and was recorded as one of the slowest Monhegan races in recent history.

I heard from a crew member that the boat ran out of beer and food, because they weren't expecting to be out so long which has got to make everything a little less comfortable. Fortunately this year, though, the team was racing on Jon's new C&C 115 which is a beautiful, and new boat complete with kickin' sound system, so it could be worse.

The team came in 2nd in the Monhegan Division 2. Kaos, which is skipped by Scott Smithwick was first, beating team snowbird to Portland Head Light by only 11 minutes. In third place was Scaramouche, driven by Merle Hallet. Five additional boats dropped out of the race due to the conditions. Congratulations Team Snowbird!

Double Sculls Day #2

2008-08-13T07:36:00.002-04:00

Unfortuantely, UMass Amherst Arch+Design student Wes Piermarini was disqualified yesterday in the Men's Double Sculls event at the Olympics. Here's a video I found of Monday's race. I wandered over the to the Arch program offices yesterday and spoke with our director Steve, and we both are so amazed by what Wes had done and really proud to call him part of our 'team.' Hopefully we'll see him in September so we can thank him in person for all of his hard work these past five years.

Here you can catch a video of Wes and his partner rowing. They're in lane number 1 on the far side of the screen. . .
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=0811_SD_ROB_HL_L1414

Delegate Service Day On August 27th

2008-08-13T07:18:00.003-04:00

On Wednesday, August 27th Delegates and their families will be completing community service projects in and around Denver. Michelle Obama, and Colorado's first lady, Jeannie Ritter are co-chairing the effort. Additional partners include Democrats Work, Metro Volunteers and Volunteers of America. The Maine delegation will be joined the Kentucky, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Colorado delegations to participate in a community block party and Park Cleanup in the Curtis Park Neighborhood. Sounds like fun! I'll be sure to post pictures of the event for everyone to see.

The following is a video from the DNCC about the delegate service day.

Only 12 Days to the Convention! "We're In It Together"

2008-08-13T07:07:00.002-04:00

This is a great time-lapse video that shows some farmers in rural Ohio who decided to show their support for Barack Obama by painting the Obama campaign logo on their family's barn. It's hard to believe we only have 12 days until the convention. I can't wait! :)

Barack's VP

2008-08-10T18:26:00.002-04:00

Be the first to know who Barack Obama's VP will be when he makes his announcement by signing up to receive a text message from the Obama campaign here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/firsttoknow. I can't wait to find out!

Olympic Games

2008-08-10T04:01:00.003-04:00

Congrats to Wes Piermarini, a UMass Arch+Design graduate and current M.Arch student (on leave for training this past year) on his doubles rowing race yesterday at the Olympics. To view the results of the first day of rowing at the Olympics click here. It's mind boggling to me how Wes was able to compete at the level he has while he was also putting in so much time at the studio at UMass. In addition to being one of our best athletes at UMass he was also one of our best if not the best architecture student in our program. This is no easy task considering that there is no way to quickly put together a good model or idea for studio. He once told me that he would sometimes have the rowing vans pick him up at the Fine Arts Center (where our studios were located) before a race and drop him off after his races to work on his projects. I'm definitely inspired by Wes' ability and dedication am proud to know he is representing us at the Olympics. Go Wes!

Obama Store Has New Hat Options

2008-08-09T07:28:00.003-04:00

The Obama Store has recently added some new hat options to its virtual shelves. Now instead of the black hats that were available last year there are white, blue and navy options with different graphics too.

You can check out the new hats and see the original black version here: http://store.barackobama.com/Apparel_s/300.htm

McCain's Weekly Vacations. . . Sleeping on the job

2008-08-09T07:11:00.004-04:00

If you haven't heard, John McCain like to take weekends off, having only one political event on a weekend since his campaign has started. This said, I'm assuming a big trip isn't in order for John and Cindy. . . He usually spends his weekends at home with family and relaxing. Perhaps it's because the 72 year-old candidate can't keep such a busy routine, not that anyone could blame him. Most people at 72 are shopping for assisted living facilities, not thinking about running the most powerful country in the world. . .

Check out the story here: http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1155201977/bctid1631227855

He also has been known to fall asleep on the job. Here's a video of him sitting next to Susan Collins, sleeping during the 2007 State of the Union. You think she could have jabbed him in the ribs or something to wake him up:

Family Vacation

2008-08-09T06:59:00.003-04:00

The Obama's have headed off to Oahu, Hawaii for a family vacation after more than a year on the campaign trail. It's a well deserved rest for Senator Obama and his family who have been on the road almost non-stop since Feb. 2007. When interviewed by the Honolulu Star Bulletin he said he was looking forward to body surfing and some shaved ice. It's his first visit back to Hawaii since he started the campaign and I'm sure his grandmother who's too old to travel will appreciate seeing him and the girls.

Have a great vacation Senator Obama! I can't wait to meet you in Denver, which is only a few short weeks away

Behave Yourself

2008-08-08T18:04:00.002-04:00

I've always wanted to run for public office someday. It's one of the reasons why I don't smoke, drink, or do drugs (for the record I haven't even tried them). I grew up during the Clinton White House when scandals filled the nightly news and Republicans accused us of lacking moral values.

While it's been in the pages of the national enquirer for a while John Edwards has finally admitted to having an extramarital affair, an affair which started in 2006, two years after his poor wife Elizabeth was diagnosed with breast cancer.

I've never been an Edwards fan but the fact that he repeatedly lied about the affair throughout his campaign to supporters just pisses me off. Who does he think he is anyway, and how did he think he could get away with it? Presidential candidates are constantly being followed by the media, receiving more press coverage than major celebrities, besides, having an affair is just plain wrong.

What if he had become our nominee and this surfaced? Surely someone who cares about our country, workin' folks and the Democratic party wouldn't have realized all that is at stake in this election and saved their potential supporters from the disappointment of finding out their candidate isn't who they said he was.

Shame on you John Edwards for hurting your family and disappointing millions of Americans who believed you were a role model, great leader and symbol of the American dream.

What We Already Knew: Maine Doesn't Have High Taxes

2008-08-08T08:53:00.003-04:00

Today the Portland Press Herald featured an article that outlines findings from the Washington, DC-based Tax Foundation, which list states by taxation level. 'Surprisingly' Maine isn't listed as one of the nation's highest taxed states. Tell us something we don't know!

Maine actually came out 15th on the list which I think is pretty good. Connecticut, Vermont and Rhode Island all rank as having higher taxes according to the findings. Massachusetts was ranked 23rd and New Hampshire was ranked 46th. It's not surprising to me that Maine has higher taxes than some states and here are a couple of reason's why:

-It snows a lot in Maine and snow removal is very expensive, but it's necessary to ensure that business can go on as normal during Maine's long winters.
-Maine's a rural state, at least compared to some places and it's big too. This means that in almost all school districts students have to take buses to school each day which costs money.
-Because Maine is large and rural we have to pay for maintenance for a lot of roads and other services but we have a very small population, which means that we have to pay more per person for infrastructure.
-It's cold most of the year in Maine which means that municipal and state offices must pay more for heating and utilities than some more temperate places out West.
-Maine has a lot of coastline and lakes which means that special emergency personnel are needed to help assist boaters in danger: like the Cape Elizabeth Water Extraction Team (WET), in addition to traditional emergency dispatchers.

Down here in Mass there are a lot of potholes, school closings and boarded up homes and empty buildings. While they might have cheaper taxes their crime rate is much higher and so is their vehicle insurance rate. The Commonwealth is also having problems balancing their budget and has been cutting important services to folks too which makes a tough economic climate even tougher.

There's no where else I'd rather be than the state of Maine. It's vacation land for one thing and a great place to raise a family. Whether you live in the mountains or on the water you're never far from the other. Mainers seem to be a little bit more relaxed than folks in other states and are known for their independent thinking. They're practical and thrifty. Whether you enjoy hunting, hiking, sailing or skiing Maine's a great place to live and work. Taxes provide services that benefit everyone, and that's a good thing, because everyone's happier and safer in a place where people don't fall through the cracks when they're having a tough time.

I'm Voting Republican

2008-08-08T08:47:00.002-04:00

No, I'm definitely not and I don't think the actors in this political satire by Synthetic Human Pictures are either. . . Take a look at this video if you need to remind yourself why we need you to get out and canvass this weekend.

MEFA's Not Issueing Loans this Semester

2008-08-08T08:13:00.005-04:00

Last week the Massachusetts Educational Financial Authority (MEFA) announced that it wouldn't be issuing any loans to students this fall. To make matters even worse they're not sure if they'll be issuing loans this spring. This comes only weeks before undergrads at many University's including UMass have bills that are due. The decision is affecting 40,000 families and 10% of UMass students.

We're not talking here about kids going to expensive places like Smith or Harvard. Those families can always 'downsize' and choose to send their kids to state Universities. For families that are struggling to even send their kids to UMass with a tuition of roughly $10,000 a year a decision like this may mean that their children will be taking a semester off, or worse: dropping out.

When we were on a recent vacation, my father-in-law asked me if the UMass architecture program was one of the best architecture programs in the US. I tried not to laugh and explained that I chose it because it was the cheapest program in the US, not one of the best. I found it difficult to justify and ivy league education, having checked their sticker prices and after finding out that after graduating I'd still be making the same amount of money as if I attended UMass but would have $15ok more in debt.

At an undergraduate and even a masters level, school is what you make of it. It's about using the resources available to you, getting involved, pushing yourself and asking questions, not about how nice the buildings are (kind of funny for an architecture student to say but true) or how famous your teachers are. When you're doing your Ph.D. I can understand that you'd want to go to a school that is recognized for excellence in your field of interest but if you have over $200k in student debt by the time you get to that level, there's really no point in adding to your burden.

A good rule of thumb is not to have more student debt than you are going to make in your first year after college. Since I took out loans while I was at Cambridge that means I have less than $15k in loans I should take out before I graduate considering young architects don't make much when they first graduate.

My rule now is that I won't go to school unless I can go for free and get paid for it. Sounds crazy but it's possible, at a masters level at least. At UMass I have a research assistantship that provides me with a tuition waiver and a $3k stipend a semester to help cover the cost of living. My health insurance costs for both Josh and I are only $600 for the year with no deductibles for doctors visits and one pair of free glasses a year. If I go to an Ivy league school for a Ph.D. they'll pay me $25k to study, though most only accept around 5 students a year into their programs. At Cambridge I'd earn around $50k (obviously my first choice), though I'd have to complete for a research job to get the benefit.

Maybe this semester students will drink a little less, buy a little less junk food and study a little more, or get a part-time job on or off campus to earn a little cash and gain some life experiences too. It's hard to know exactly how the MEFA fallout will effect students on campus this year, but I'd hate to loose anyone over it. . .

Picture from the Maine Convention

2008-08-08T08:09:00.002-04:00

I received this photo today from my buddy Karen Harris. It was taken at the Maine Democratic Convention in June and shows me in all my Obama-loving glory, complete with limited-edition Obama hat, Obama sign, shirt and buttons. Thanks for sharing Karen!

Pepsi Center Construction Update Video

2008-08-07T12:15:00.002-04:00

Today's video of the day gives us a glimpse at the work being done in and around the Pepsi Center in preparation for the Democratic National Convention in less than three weeks! Check it out:

Hillary Supporters Plan March during Convention

2008-08-07T09:21:00.002-04:00

I came across this blog today (www.millionwomenmarch.blogspot.com) after reading an article announcing that Hillary supporters are going to march in Denver on August 26th, the day that Hillary is going to address delegates at the convention. The group organizing the march is called "18 Million Voices Rise Hillary Rise."

I have to say it makes me a little nervous. First of all from reading their blog I can't really tell what they're marching for, or in protest of. The fact that Hillary's not or nominee? And what does "Rise Hillary Rise" mean? Clinton still hasn't 'released' her delegates yet and I would be very disappointed if delegates don't cast one unanimous ballot for Barack.

With less than 90 days to the general election I would think that a party unity march sounds like a better event. While I know many woman were inspired by Hillary's candidacy at this point in the process a march of this nature will only serve to distract from our real message of party unity as we work to get Barack Obama elected. If the marchers are champions of women's rights they should understand the danger that a Republican administration will mean for our country and help us elect Democrats to offices at all levels instead of distracting voters and the media from our party's united message of change and hope.

Inflating Your Tires Does Save Gas

2008-08-05T08:30:00.002-04:00

I don't think it's a surprise for me to say that John McCain and his friends drive me crazy. They're out of touch with society and can't seem to do anything but dispense bad advice, distort the truth and cast lousy votes. Here's an example:

We're all feeling pain at the pump lately as gas prices have sky rocketed recently. Barack Obama recently unleashed his New Energy Plan for America which you can learn more about here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/newenergy.

One of the things that John McCain and his friends tried to seize on was a recent comment from Obama in which he stated that if all Americans took their cars in for tune-ups and properly inflated their tires it would save the same amount of oil that would be produced if off shore drilling capacity was increased. Sounds pretty easy, huh? Well, it seemed too good to be true for republicans.

They republicans started handing out tire gauges to donors and reporters, calling Obama out of touch. But really, they were the ones out of touch. Obama's plan does work because cars run approximately 3% more efficiently with properly inflated tires and 4% more efficiently when they're running properly. To learn more about the efficiency of Barack's plan click here: http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1829354,00.html?cnn=yes.

Improving upon what we already have is much more efficient than building new oil platforms, and endangering the ecosystem by drilling off-shore, it's a lot cheaper, and it helps now, not 20 years from now when I'm going to be nearing my 50's. What's too bad about McCain and his friends is that Barack has a really good point which could really help working families save on gas prices and ease our dependence on foreign oil right now, but it's not their style to admit he's right, so they'd rather hand out tire gauges to donors and pretend that he doesn't know what he's talking about, while secretly they're taking their SUV's out to the gas station air pump. . .

Some Pictures from Rome and Cambridge

2008-08-04T16:04:00.002-04:00

With over 2,000 pictures to sort through here are a few to check out for the time being of our time in Cambridge and Rome. Enjoy!

Happy birthday Barack!

2008-08-04T06:18:00.002-04:00

Today is Barack Obama's 47th birthday. Barack will be celebrating today by visiting several swing states to talk with voters. This is an example of one of the many cakes supporters made for Barack last year. I can't imagine how many bites of cake he'll have to have today while he's traveling. Good thing he works out!

Happy birthday Barack! Not sure what to get Barack for his birthday? I'm sure he'd be honored if you'd commit to canvass for him in honor of his birthday, donate to his campaign or participate in a phone bank to help recruit supporters. In fact, if you really wanted to you could do all three! :)

Obama Super Hero Toy

2008-08-03T10:39:00.002-04:00

While it's a little early to think about holiday shopping, here's something you can get for the Obama supporter who has it all: Captain Obama, the first talking Obama super hero doll. You can order one at: www.captainobama.com. This bobblehead features the likeness of our man Barack Obama sporting a super-man like costume, complete with tights. The company is taking pre-orders right now before they go into production. Reserve yours today for $14.99.

New Item at the Obama Store: Car Flag!

2008-08-01T18:39:00.002-04:00

Just in time for tail gating season (please drink responsibly!), the official Obama online store has introduced an Obama '08 Automobile Flag. Sweet! Now when you and your buddies are gearing up for the next Patriots, UMaine Orono or UMass Amherst football game you can let everyone know who you support. A word of caution though: you'll be so darn popular with this flag on your car that you'll need to buy an extra mini-keg an pack of hot dogs to share with your new friends. . .

Also, if you are planning on tail gating this season with your Obama flag you should pack some voter registration cards with you and Obama literature or bumper stickers/pins to hand out. Not only will you get to enjoy the game but you'll feel less guilty about not canvassing that day. You can purchase your very own Obama auto flag here: http://store.barackobama.com/product_p/fl29360.htm

My roommate in Denver: Diane Denk!

2008-08-01T18:23:00.004-04:00

I met Diane at the Democratic Convention in Augusta and got a kick out of her funny delegate election posters.

Diane decided to superimpose her face and Baracks' on a couple of well known photographs: the Beattles Abby Road album cover became Diane, Barack, Tom Allen and Michelle Obama for instance; there was a photo of Diane and Barack in the oval office smiling at the camera, in a car waving during a parade and more.

It was obvious that she was a creative and hip person and she is really nice too, telling everyone she saw to 'vote for Tracie,' even though we were running against each other. When we both got selected to go to Denver I immediately thought of her as a roommate, since she seemed like she'd be a lot of fun to hang out with.

Now we have one more roommate Anne from Bar Harbor (I'll introduce you to her later). Diane was recently profiled on the Barack Obama website here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/sarasblog/gGx9Sc. Go Diane! It's hard to believe that the convention is less than a month away! Yea!!

The Ultimate in Obama Gear: Designer Obama Shoes!

2008-08-01T08:00:00.003-04:00

I know, it sounds hard to believe, but seriously folks, you can buy super cool, custom-made Obama shoes to bring showing your Obama pride to a whole new level. The shoes are created by man on myspace who's profile name is 'Van.' You can visit his myspace page here: www.myspace.com/van20. Van has done a lot of truly amazing work including the famous Obama shoes, which have been spotted on none other than will.i.am. If you'd like your own paid you can contact Van at taylorandcraig@hotmail.com.

Ready to Believe

2008-08-01T07:31:00.002-04:00

Today's Video of the Day has been out for a while but is worth profiling. It was created around the same time of will.i.am's Yes We Can song, during the primaries. The song "Ready to Believe" is composed and sung by Cherish Alexander and the lyrics were written by Jackie and Bryce Zabel. Check it out!

Portland Obama Office Grand Opening Tomorrow!

2008-08-01T06:48:00.004-04:00

Tomorrow the new Portland Obama office is having their grand opening at 11:00 a.m. and will be doing voter registration that day and making some phone calls out of the coordinated campaigns office I'm sure. This is a great opportunity to put a face to the names of the many new Obama staffers that have recently arrived and check out our local headquarters. In case you don't want to miss the Beach to Beacon road race in Cape they'll also be doing voter registration at the event too. . .

Here are the event details:
Portland Campaign for Change
Office Opening
and Voter Registration Kickoff

with invited special guests

Governor John Baldacci,
House Speaker Glenn Cummings,
and State Auditor Neria Douglass

1037 Forest Avenue
Portland, ME

Saturday, August 2nd
11:00 a.m.

Dinner At Alison's To Support Tracie's Trip!

2008-07-31T09:31:00.003-04:00

I don't know about you, but to me there's nothing better than the tasty cooking of grassroots activist and Obama supporter Alison Smith. Alison has generously offered to host a fundraising dinner to help support my trip to Denver on the evening of Tuesday, August 19th. The cost of the dinner is $25 (payable at the door).

To find out more about the dinner and to sign up click here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/meeting/44rjp. Hope to see you there, it should be a fun night!

In addition to the dinner on Tuesday the Portland Barack Obama Supporters group will be having a canvas in Portland on Monday the 18th. Come on down to the campaign headquarters in Portland at 6:30. We'll tour the building, find about about volunteer opportunities and then go knock on some doors. Hope to see you there!

Obama Adventures Abroad

2008-07-31T08:43:00.002-04:00

There was no doubt in my mind what I was going to wear when I was traveling to the airport when I was on my trip to the UK and Italy, my Obama shirt. I figured that it was the best chance at having folks from many different continents and countries see my Obama pride. My husband Josh said that me in my Obama shirt was one of the coolest parts of our trips. Everyone wanted to say hi and tell me 'Go Obama!' or 'Good luck Obama!' These folks included waiters at street-side cafes, gypsies selling wares in markets, locals, tourists and many more fans of our friend Barack.

When I was in the airport in Rome heading back to Heathrow to fly home two airport immigration officers started singing 'Obama - Obama - Obama - Obama. . .' as they were getting ready to stamp my passport and in the UK my husband was interrogated by our immigration officer about why he wasn't wearing one too!

Herbert Hoffman off the Ballot

2008-07-31T08:29:00.003-04:00

After several months Maine Democratic Party finally removed two members of the party's executive committee who were working to help independent candidate Herbert Hoffman in the US Senate race against Tom Allen. However, it turned out that only days later the Maine Supreme Court ordered that Hoffman's name be removed due to invalid petitions. More on the story here: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=201895&ac=PHnws.

While the Maine Dems move comes a little later than desired by some (including myself), it does remind it's executive committee and hopefully all state committee members that their purpose is to elect good Democrats to offices at all levels across the great state of Maine.

It's difficult for me to understand why someone who used to be a Democrat, like Hoffman, would switch to become an independent, other than the fact that he didn't feel like he could win a primary against Tom. Considering he had slim to no chances of winning the election I assume that his candidacy was either a poor protest attempt against a vote he and his supporters didn't like of Tom's or a chance to gain name recognition in advance of another race, like the Governor's race. . . No good Democrat would pull such a stunt, and I hope that Hoffman and his supporters learned a good lesson from the judges' decision about playing by the rules.

Back from Abroad. . . And panorama from Obama's trip

2008-07-29T04:35:00.003-04:00

Josh and I have finally returned from our trip abroad. Like Barack, I tried to sleep during the flight home, though never find it actually feels like I've slept at all when I arrive. Perhaps it would feel resting if I weren't in economy class crammed into the plane like a sardine. As you can see, even though I got into Amherst at midnight I can't seem to sleep. My body still thinks it's in Roma. I'm sure this will be fairly painful during the day today as I attempt to go back to my normal routine.

I got a really neat link from one of my readers, Mike. It shows an awesome panorama of Obama's speech in Berlin that really helps those of us who weren't there see how huge it was. Check it out: www.panoramas.dk/2008/flash/Barack-Obama-berlin.html.

Saturday in Roma

2008-07-26T09:21:00.003-04:00

Today we went to visit the Campo de Fiori in Rome where we saw a lot of fresh vegetables and also visited P.zza Navona where we saw a lot of artists selling their wares and I met a waiter at a restaurant that stopped me to tell me that he wanted Obama to win the election and thought he would too. There were several gypsys too that yelled "hey, Obama, go Obama!"

In addition to the markets we visited the Torre Argentinia, a cat sanctuary in Rome: www.romancats.com. I'll have pictures up soon! :)

On the newstands in Rome

2008-07-25T03:07:00.001-04:00

Barack in Berlin

2008-07-25T03:03:00.001-04:00

Here's a video of Barack speaking in Berlin yesterday before a roaring crowd of 200,000 fans. Check it out!

Cambridge graduation

2008-07-25T02:27:00.006-04:00

At graduation, I felt it was important to get a couple of pictures with my Obama button. Here, Joshua and I are hanging out waiting for lunch in the Lee Garden at Wolfson College. I'm drinking some really tasty apple juice (it was pretty early in the day). I'm wearing a big white Obama button and Josh is wearing a smaller button which actually stood out better than mind did. It was a really great day and we were lucky enough not to be rained on either.

The actual ceremony was great too. Of course I wasn't allowed to wear my button due to the strict dress code for the occasion but enjoyed it never the less.

Obama T-shirt in Rome

2008-07-25T02:24:00.002-04:00

Sadly, I don't have any pictures, yet, but I've been wearing my Obama t-shirt out and about in Rome. My husband says that when I walk by everyone's head turns and murmurs of Obama fill the crowd. It's kind of like being a celebrity though I think my in-laws wouldn't mind if I just wore a cute dress instead. When not in my Obama t-shirt I can be found in either my Chellie Pingree shirt or with my Obama pin on. You never know when you'll meet a fellow supporter, from America or afar.

Obama-Fanartikel: Pictures from Germany

2008-07-25T02:22:00.002-04:00

Check out these really neat pictures from Obama's trip to Germany: http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-33628.html. They are really heart-warming and are sure to put a smile on your face. Thanks for sending me the link, Alex!

The Bus and Taxi Ride From Heathrow

2008-07-25T02:16:00.002-04:00

As soon as Josh and I landed in the UK last Thursday morning everyone seemed to be talking about Barack Obama. When we arrived we took a National Express bus up to Cambridge from Heathrow and on the bus at one of the stops there were several people asking an American about Obama, and how he was doing. The American woman who was sitting a bit behind us spoke about Barack Obama's policies with ease and everyone seemed really excited. It turned out too, that she was a big Hillary supporter but had recently come on board the Obama team, which made it even better.

Then, we got into the taxi. Our taxi driver told us he was originally from Pakistan and almost immediately after seeing that we were Americans asked us if people 'over there' still liked Barack Obama. "Yes!" I told him beaming. I told him we were doing well in the polls, had registered millions of new Democrats and are working hard to make sure he'll be our next President come November. The man was very excited by this and wished us the best of luck. He spoke for a long time about how much he thought Obama would help America's image in the world and how worried he was about McCain; as he put it, it seemed like another term for Bush. 'Exactly!' I assured him.

The entire time I was wearing my Obama pin, but it was on my t-shirt under my jacket (it was pretty cold) so no one knew looking at me that I was a huge Obama fan. . .

Tracie and Obama in Europe

2008-07-25T02:14:00.002-04:00

Sorry it's been so long since I wrote, but I've been without an internet connection for a while. I'm here in Rome right now, having graduated from Cambridge last Saturday. I've had a ton of Obama adventures so far and will post some of them soon! We're not traveling together, but our man Barack Obama is also traveling through Europe this week and has been well received by folks abroad. . .

Iraq Policy Speech

2008-07-16T12:59:00.001-04:00

If you haven't seen it yet, check out Barack Obama's speech in Washington, DC on his Iraq policy. He gave this speech yesterday, on July 15th. Enjoy!

Graduation is finally here. . .

2008-07-16T08:47:00.002-04:00

Well, graduation is finally here. Josh and I are flying over across the pond to Cambridge this afternoon (arriving tomorrow morning) for my graduation ceremony on Saturday. In preparation I've packed my bags and have begun to refresh my punting knowledge by watching this great 'how to punt' video: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7352988.stm. It's a pretty good guide. While it's never happened before, it would be pretty embarrassing to fall over w/my in-laws on board. . .

Dukakis calls for End of Electoral College

2008-07-08T08:53:00.003-04:00

The Boston Herald and NPR are running a story today about former Commonwealth Governor and Presidential Candidate, Michael Dukakis who is calling for the end of the electoral college. He wants states to switch to a national popular vote model and has introduced legislation in Massachusetts to join Hawaii and Maryland, New Jersey and Illinois who have already passed such legislation. Common Cause, which was headed by our own Chellie Pingree has a lot of information on the National Popular Vote electoral college reform idea which is detailed here. This December when Maine's electoral College meets I'm hoping to hold a symposium on electoral college reform so that Mainers of all ages (but specifically school children) can learn a little bit more about their government. . . Stay tuned for more details.

For the Boston Herald article about Michael Dukakis's proposal click here.