Getting out the vote

There’s no rest for the scores of volunteers phone banking for their respective Republican and Democratic presidential candidates.

After 18 months of solid presidential campaigning by Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., there are still thousands of local volunteers making sure people vote today — and not just in California. For the first time, campaigns are utilizing California volunteers to call voters in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Florida and Nevada.

Local Republicans spent last night and will spend today phone banking from local party headquarters in Burlingame, its election night party location in Foster City and from the convenience of their own homes. People can sign up through McCain’s campaign Web site and receive lists of phone numbers within an hour to start campaign calling to states expecting close tallies, said Nicholas Rice-Sanchez, staff member for the San Mateo County Republican Party.

"People know the election is really close. Literally, in Nevada, 1,000 votes can make the difference — that’s right next door,” Rice-Sanchez said.

The heavily Democratic San Mateo County is expected to vote overwhelmingly for Obama. However, that is not stopping Democrats from ensuring everyone gets to polling places.

Democrats are working until 8 p.m. Tuesday to make sure people remember to vote. They also have local Democrats phoning battleground states. It is the first time a national campaign has utilized local party Democrats to call other states, said Andrew Byrnes, chair of the San Mateo County Democratic Central Committee.

More than 2,000 Democratic volunteers have donated countless hours to this year’s historic presidential campaign, Byrnes said.

"By far, this is the most enthusiastic and committed effort on behalf of a candidate that I’ve ever seen,” Byrnes said.

Both party headquarters will work until polls close at 8 p.m. The Republican Party will hold an election night party at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City. The Democratic Party will watch poll returns at its headquarters in San Carlos.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.