The Johnsonian

Issue date: 10/3/07 Section: News

The Obama for America headquarters organized a canvass in Rock Hill Saturday to gain the support of Democratic voters in the area for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. It was the second canvass for Obama in Rock Hill this year.

"It's an opportunity to spread the senator's message in a really personal way - neighbor to neighbor, friend to friend, colleague to colleague," Obama spokesperson Kevin Griffis said.

The Walk for Change II in Rock Hill on Saturday was part of a bigger effort across the state to gain support for Senator Obama. About 1,000 volunteers were expected to participate in other counties across the state. About 400 of those volunteers came from out of state.

Janelle Dunlap, senior political science and mass communication double major, and C.J. Murphy, senior sociology major, volunteered to knock on 100 doors to spread Obama's message.

"I know how crazy it is knocking on random doors," Murphy said. "I believe that this candidate can make a change, so risking a door slam is important."

Campaign supporters and canvassers for Barack Obama believe that going door-to-door is an important aspect of setting the senator apart.

"It's part of how we're trying to build the campaign, and that's what distinguishes our campaign, we think, from the others," spokesperson Griffis said.

The 26 volunteers at the canvass in Rock Hill were asked to get Obama supporters to sign a support card. The volunteers also left information about Senator Obama for people who were not home.

The canvass on Saturday was the first for Winthrop students Murphy and Dunlap. They both started volunteering for the Obama for America campaign about a month ago by phone banking.

"Phone banking allows you to get a feel for the number of people who support Obama," Dunlap said.

Dunlap and Murphy were willing to work on a Saturday because they were able to support a candidate in whom they believe.

"He has an activist spirit," Dunlap said. "It's not really the policy; it's the character of the person."

Although they weren't able to knock on all 100 doors in two hours, Dunlap and Murphy were pleased overall with the results.

"Some people actually weren't aware. We still need to get the word out about Senator Obama," Murphy said.

"People our age are under the impression that our vote doesn't matter. From what I've seen, we're some of the loudest voices saying there needs to be change. We need to stand by our word. Every little bit helps."

Obama will visit Rock Hill Saturday at Northwestern High School for an 8 p.m. rally in the school's gymnasium.

Doors open at 7. Tickets from last month's postponed event will be valid, although more tickets will be made available. The gym at Northwestern seats about 2,500 more (in addition to the 1,500 expected at the previous event) if seats are put on the floor.

More details will be announced this week, an Obama spokesman said.

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