ONE Student ONE Vote
With only a few days to go before the 2010 midterm elections, many races across the nation are too close to call. If early voting reports are any guide, indications are that this year’s overall voter turnout may be higher than expected, and therefore every vote will count.
As the assistant director of government affairs at ONE, I know how important it is to have high quality leaders, from both parties, in office. Leaders who not only share our passion for fighting poverty and supporting global health initiatives, but willing to actively work with us to achieve success. If we expect to have the kind of champions we need in Congress, we have to elect them first. This means getting out to vote on November 2. So, don’t sit this one out. Millions of people are counting on you.
To make it easy, we’ve included this handy Google application that helps you find a voting center near you. All you have to do is enter in your zip code:
All American citizens who are 18 years and older have a right to vote and should take advantage of that right on Election Day. Only through the election process can we put leaders into office who are as committed to serving the world’s poorest across the globe as we are at ONE. Tell your family, friends, neighbors and your classmates to vote on November 2.
Oct 29th, 2010 12:30 PM UTC
By Field
ONE is hitting the campaign trail to find out where candidates stand on extreme poverty. Stay tuned for more updates like these from our field team and organizers on the road.
On Thursday afternoon, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell traveled to the Derryfield Country Club in Manchester, N.H., to campaign for John Stephen, who is running for governor of New Hampshire.
We had a moment with Gov. Barbour before the event. He saw ONE the last time he was in New Hampshire and also spoke with Jordan, a ONE member, the day before in Iowa.
He said that he was given a white ONE band and he gladly accepted another one from me. We chatted about how PEPFAR was started under President George Bush and how John McCain has always been a great friend to ONE members along the campaign trail.
(more…)
Come November 3rd, our elected California senator will represent the largest single-state constituency of ONE members around the world. And since we enjoy an international stage here in the Golden State, quite often our conversations don’t reflect on whether, but rather how we tackle extreme poverty and preventable disease around the world.
Whether you live in NorCal or SoCal, or identify yourself as a progressive or conservative, the facts remain the same. In less than a decade, support for the Global Fund has helped save 5.7 million lives, while 2.7 million lives have been spared from HIV/AIDS because of the U.S. initiative known as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
(more…)
Oct 27th, 2010 2:41 PM UTC
By Field
ONE is hitting the campaign trail to find out where candidates stand on extreme poverty. Stay tuned for more updates like these from our field team and organizers on the road.
Yesterday in Charles Town, West Virginia, I went with some ONE members to attend a rally with U.S. Senate candidate John Raese, to let him know about our efforts with ONE to help rally Americans in the fight against hunger, HIV/AIDS and malaria in the poorest parts of Africa.
Lauren Conn, Sen. John McCain, Jason Burns, and John Raese
(more…)
Oct 26th, 2010 2:15 PM UTC
By Field
ONE is hitting the campaign trail to find out where candidates stand on extreme poverty. Stay tuned for more updates like these from our field team and organizers on the road.
![IMG_0421[2]](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/5117432127_5ccf1d2e30.jpg)
This past Friday evening, I attended a rally for Congressman and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek, who appeared with DNC Chairman and former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine.
The event took place at the Miami Dade College campus in Homestead, Florida. After Gov. Kaine rallied the crowd, and recognized Congressman Meek and other Democrats, he recognized me in my ONE shirt as he was leaving. When he saw me he said, “Hey ONE Campaign!” After I introduced myself, he took time to compliment the work we are doing across the country to help urge our elected leaders to continue U.S. efforts to fight extreme poverty and global disease in the poorest parts of Africa.
We are now one week away from Election Day. Florida ONE members have been out on the campaign trail over the last few months, talking with U.S. Senate candidates and voters, about the life-and-death issues of extreme poverty and preventable disease in the developing world.
But we are not done yet, ONE members in Florida will continue bringing the fight against extreme poverty to campaign events across the state over the final days of this election season. Please join our team to get updates and find out how you can get involved over these last few days of ONE Vote 2010.
Be sure to connect with other ONE Vote 2010 [FLORIDA] members on Facebook and Twitter.
-Will Godfrey, ONE Vote 2010 Florida State Organizer
Oct 25th, 2010 4:01 PM UTC
By Field
ONE is hitting the campaign trail to find out where candidates stand on extreme poverty. Stay tuned for more updates like these from our field team and organizers on the road.
Presidential Adviser David Axelrod with Christopher Shaffer
On Friday night, I had the chance to attend a reception for Presidential Adviser David Axelrod. About 100 people packed into O’Brien’s Restaurant in downtown Chicago to hear Mr. Axelrod speak about the upcoming midterm elections, as he promoted the candidacies of some statewide and local candidates.
After Mr. Axelrod’s speech, he stuck around and conversed with the crowd. I managed to get some one-on-one time with him and thanked him for the administration’s commitment to the Global Fund. He told me that the administration is committed to continuing the fight against global poverty and AIDS and happily took a photo with me in my ONE shirt!
I also spoke with a woman named Janet Fisher who happens to be the cousin of Senate candidate Lee Fisher in Ohio. I mentioned how great Lee, and the entire Fisher campaign, has been with ONE members across Ohio as we urge for continued leadership in the U.S. Senate to save lives in highly impoverished countries. She even told me how she had noticed ONE shirts all over “Hardball with Chris Matthews” the other day!
You never know where you will find ONE, or what you can accomplish by using your voice for the world’s poorest people!
Be sure to connect with other ONE Vote 2010 Illinois members on Facebook and Twitter.
-Christopher Shaffer, ONE Vote 2010 organizer, Illinois
Oct 25th, 2010 1:03 PM UTC
By Field
ONE is hitting the campaign trail to find out where candidates stand on extreme poverty. Stay tuned for more updates like these from our field team and organizers on the road.
Colorado co-chair Governor Bill Ritter with ONE members
ONE member Rachael Stamps with Senator Bennet’s wife Susan Daggett
With a week and a day until election day, candidates are doing whatever they can to campaign around the state of Colorado. Last week, President Clinton campaigned for Senator Bennet in Denver, and on Saturday, the senator’s wife, Susan Daggett, and Governor Bill Ritter campaigned for Bennet in Golden, Colorado.
In a small coffee shop nestled next to the mountains, the governor and Mrs. Daggett spoke to a room full of voters. Afterward, ONE member Rachael Stamps and I spoke to Governor Ritter and thanked him for his support as a co-chair for the state during ONE Vote ’08. Mr. Ritter reiterated his support of ONE and talked about his prior work in Zambia on nutrition issues.
We also spoke with Mrs. Daggett, who wore the ONE band last Monday at the rally with President Clinton. She was happy to see ONE again and we asked her to encourage her husband to champion global poverty issues in the Senate. She gladly wore the ONE band again and posed for a picture.
Be sure to connect with other ONE Vote 2010 Colorado members on Facebook and Twitter.
-Nick Stevens, ONE Vote 2010 state organizer, Colorado
