September 20th, 2007 at 11:53 am | posted by Field
Last night people gathered at a local bookstore in Columbia to hear Elizabeth Edwards speak. ONE members were in the audience listening to the potential first lady and also talking to other attendees about ONE Vote ‘08.
Our campaign has signed up many Edwards staffers over the last months and tonight another staffer signed up as a member and wore the ONE band.
This afternoon Sen. John McCain arrived in Lexington, SC, on a stop during his ‘No Surrender Tour’.
We met the senator as he walked out of his tour bus following his speech to a crowd of United States Veterans. Sen. McCain thanked us for the cause that we drive day-in and day-out and said that whenever he has an opportunity, he speaks out on our behalf.
We presented him with a band even though he was already wearing one in support of ONE Vote ‘08! We made sure that he knew that we appreciate his efforts to further acknowledge ONE. We look forward to meeting with Senator McCain again in the near future.
September 13th, 2007 at 12:57 pm | posted by Virginia Simmons
On September 21st, the College of Charleston will hold its first event as a ‘ONE Campus’. Three days prior, the college’s Senate will vote on a resolution to make the college’s status official.
Working hand-and-hand with the student government, the rising level of student excitement is apparent. More than half of the total student groups on campus have already expressed interest in participating in ONE events!
I can’t wait to see what happens when the school officially adopts the title of a “ONE Campus!” Knowing the attitude students already have here about this campaign, optimistic is an understatement.
September 6th, 2007 at 12:20 pm | posted by Virginia Simmons
“We won’t forget about Africa.”
Governor Bill Richardson made this promise at a campaign stop in Florence, South Carolina, yesterday. The presidential hopeful also thanked the ONE Campaign for coming to his event and encouraged members of the audience to speak to us and find out more about ONE, which they did.
Richardson also told the crowd “the ONE Campaign wants to push the idea that America needs to lead the way in so many ways.” He continued to wear the band we gave him for the entire event and proudly showed it to everyone in the room.
His Political Director in South Carolina, James Dukes, also came to the event wearing his white band. We thanked Governor Richardson for supporting ONE and making Africa a focus of his political platform.
National ONE Vote ‘08 Co-Chairman, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader and doctor, Bill Frist did some incredible outreach for the ONE Campaign in South Carolina last week. One story he told, at a luncheon at the Capital City Club in Columbia, really stood out to me:
Late one evening, after he had completed surgeries on several people in Sudan, and he thought he was finished for the night, a man whose arm had been severed came asking for the “American Doctor.”
Senator Frist said, “The man did not seek me out because I was doctor, but because I am an American.” The man wanted to thank Senator Frist for demonstrating that America cares about Africa and that the senator’s presence in Africa gave him hope of one day realizing the American ideals, such as freedoms we too often take for granted. During a State of The Union Address, Senator Frist said he had “realized the greatness of the spirit of America” and “because of our greatness we have the opportunity to provide clean water and provide health care and do it with a humanitarian purpose, which is the purpose of the ONE Campaign.”
Over eighty of South Carolina’s finest from the education, faith, political and business communities attended the event. Special guests included the ONE Vote ‘08 South Carolina Co-Chairman Governor Jim Hodges, State Director for Congressman Wilson’s office Butch Wallace; former U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania Robert Royall; SC Democrat Party Chairman Carol Fowler; Founding Partner of ViaNovo Tucker Eskew; and the S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster.
We were very appreciative of all that Senator Frist does for ONE Vote ‘08, both nationally and within the state of South Carolina. His impact has already been felt as members of the audience are continuously reminding us of how successful the event was and how they now wish to contribute to our purpose.
I volunteered for the ONE Campaign on Thursday through the South Carolina Young Democrats. My heart lifted as many people visited the ONE table at the Hispanic/Latino Issues Conference and asked questions. As they watched the ONE Campaign videos on my laptop, I gave out ONE bands, asked them to sign the declaration, and expressed my heartfelt desire to fight global hunger and the spread of infectious diseases.
I am grateful for this opportunity to serve my community and the world around me.
-Randy RaSha’d Gaines, Vice President, South Carolina Young Democrats
Director, South Carolina Organization for Residence Education
Today in Spartanburg, SC, Republican Presidential Candidate, Mike Huckabee referred to the ONE Campaign as being rooted in a “true sense of humanitarianism”. His campaign staff, which includes his daughter, Sarah Huckabee, was very helpful in ensuring that the ONE Campaign had an opportunity to hear directly the thoughts of Governor Huckabee towards the cause and the Campaign.
We asked the governor two questions.
The first question we asked was whether or not he believed that the United States has the responsibility to lead in the fight against extreme global poverty and AIDS, TB, and Malaria. His response was excellent. It strongly echoed one of the United Nations MDGs in that he realizes we need to “keep money out of the hands of corrupt governments to ensure that the people receive the aid”.
Next we asked Governor Huckabee about the ONE Campaign in general, “Out of all of the special interest campaigns, why the ONE Campaign?” He answered that the ONE Campaign is “unique because it is not rooted in politics and is based on a true sense of humanitarianism”.
We were extremely thankful for all of his time and support and we look forward to meeting with him again in the near future.
A volunteer with the Richland County Democrat Party wrote the below note. Her name is Meliah Wilson and she signed us up two sheets worth of volunteers. - Wes Mishoe, SC ONE Vote ‘08
“I volunteered at the African American Association’s cookout on the University of South Carolina’s campus August 21, 2007. A group of young ladies and gentlemen made a comment on how cool my ONE.org shirt was and asked what it was about. That opened the door for me to give information and get people involved.
As I began to talk, those around me began to pay attention and signed the declaration to make poverty history. Not only did I get to meet a lot of new people, I had the opportunity to help them help millions around the world. I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to volunteer for this organization and look forward to doing it again!”
Yesterday we met with Senator Brownback at the Sticky Fingers Restaurant in Mount Pleasant, SC, before the senator spoke at a press conference.
He said that he is a continuous supporter of ONE. He also said that he has been involved with the fight against AIDS and global hunger. We thanked him for his support and his efforts. In addition to meeting several ONE members in the crowd, members of his staff said they were fans of the ONE Campaign.
This was the second time today that South Carolina ONE members met with Senator Brownback. Earlier in the day we spoke to him at an open forum in West Columbia.
Tuesday, presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani made his way through South Carolina, and I was able to meet him at a town hall event in Columbia.
Giuliani said that I worked for a great organization, posed for a picture with me, and readily accepted a ONE T-shirt. It was also heartening to meet ONE members in the crowd wearing their wristbands. Several people in the audience also asked me about ONE Vote ‘08, and I was able to discuss with them our goals in the fight against extreme poverty.
The ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, volunteers, members and coalition partners.
The content of each post and each comment represent the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of the ONE Campaign or ONE Action. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any posts expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
Last night people gathered at a local bookstore in Columbia to hear Elizabeth Edwards speak. ONE members were in the audience listening to the potential first lady and also talking to other attendees about ONE Vote ‘08. 
