Obama needs you on the phone. Now. (Updated)

Welcome to Obama Action Week. We have very little time left before votes start being cast in Pennsylvania. As Geekesque notes in his recommended diary, Reality check on Pennsylvania: It's Clinton by double-digits, expectations are that this race is closing. That may be the case, but I fully expect Clinton to win this thing - by double digits. As far as I'm concerned, Obama is down by 19%. He will likely lose PA and we can't expect anything other than that.

At the same time I am sure Obama will lose PA by double digits, I'm also sure that Obama will be our Democratic Nominee and I'm damn sure that PA will be classified as a swing state in November. In light of this, I think it's crucial to do the ground work in PA now. At this rate, I'm hoping that I surpass my pledged goal of 2000 calls to PA. The more Obama supporters, Republicans, and Undecideds we can identify through calls now, the more benefit to the Obama Field team in PA in the coming months.

I know everyone isn't comfortable making cold calls. I know it can be really uncomfortable and seem discouraging, but we will not win in November if we do not make these calls NOW. So I implore you, offer a pledge to make some calls before Tuesday or before May 6th...help us do this imperative work on the ground. Even if you make 20 calls and 10 people say they're voting for Hillary...and 5 say they love the idea of another 100 years of war in Iraq, and 5 hang up on you...you're still helping Obama's chances in November by doing this important work now.

So, the following blockquote is from my diary on Friday. These are the things you can do to help Obama:

1. You can phone bank from home. Lots of benefits to this one. I am sitting right now with the windows open, watching Jeopardy America's Next Top Model, alternately writing this diary and making calls. I'm comfortable, and I'm doing what I can to help!

2. Are you near Pennsylvania? If the answer is yes, then by all means fill out this volunteer form, or call the office nearest you and make arrangements to go for the weekend! Shoot...take off work Monday and Tuesday and go for the next 4 days!! They can use your help!

3. For some odd reason...you're unable to make calls or go to PA yourself. What's left? Well, a few other things will follow...but you can always go with the old standby: Donate what you can to help Obama on the ground! The sooner Obama wins the nomination, the sooner your money will be spent fighting against John McCain! So...donate now and you'll be fighting McCain either way - you'll also remind super delegates that Obama can bring in the money while Hillary can't (not to mention the debt she's got). You'll also help Obama reach 1.5 million donors! How exciting! That's some grassroots right there!!

4. Write a Letter to the Editor...or write an email to your friends and family. Tell someone...tell anyone...tell everyone why you're voting for Barack Obama! You can use the DNC Letter writing tool to find all the newspapers near you - or somewhere else if that's what you'd prefer. We're transitioning into the General here now, so at this point letters that are pro-Obama and/or anti-McCain are helpful.

5. You can also submit a comment (less than 100 words) to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Their Picking Sides comments seem to favor Clinton more than Obama and we should really fight back on that.

Nervous about making calls? Click here for a tutorial and for some tips from others who are already making calls!

Worried about what you'll talk about? Click here and download the Blueprint for Change. All the links and talking points are incredibly helpful, not to mention the fact that it lists Obama's accomplishments on all the issues.

Something that's been coming up lately for PA calls: Gun issues. Click here to read and then download Obama's comments on Sportsmen. Remind them that Obama taught Constitutional law...if anyone knows the meaning of the 2nd Amendment, it's him.

I pledged to make 2000 calls to PA. I'm am now at 1770 now. I've got a ways to go!

Here's the list of others who have pledged to make calls in these last few weeks. Let's add your name and number of calls! And don't forget! Once Wednesday morning arrives - let's get to work with calls to IN and NC for May 6th!

DailyKos Obama Phonebanking Pledges
Bloggers listed have pledged to make their calls before April 22.
Diarist	Call Pledge
1. kath25	500
2. Elise	2000
3. Chicago Lulu	200
4. moira	300
5. Femlaw	250
6. Femlaw's friends	750
7. thereisnospoon	500
8. casperr	20
9. Jennifer Clare	1000
10. pepper mint	100
11. momEEE	100
12. dotster	500
13. hbanks	200
14. Dem in the heart of Texas	100
15. mahjula	100
16. distraught	200
17. icebergslim	250
18. Avila	100
19. elwior	100
20. bobnbob	500
21. aimeeinkc	250
22. greenchiledem	100
23. Cat Servant	75
24. Seneca Doane	500
25. newyorknewyork	300
26. chicago minx	75
27. ankey	20
28. VermontGuy	25
29. peraspera	125
30. Tenn Wisc Dem	75
31. Your name should be here!
Total:	9240

Update: Those added with pledges today will be in bold. Thanks everyone!
Update 2: Props to DAVE DIAL for donating based on number of pledged calls in the next comment! That's teamwork!! Feel free to join in our fun!

Make some calls with me today...help me reach my pledged goal of 2000...and add your own goal!