Something special happened in Colorado a few days ago: One of our volunteers called up an ’08 supporter in Denver, and they had the millionth conversation of this campaign.

The person on the other end of the line had never volunteered before. But as a result of this call, he decided to attend an event in his area to connect with other volunteers in his community. Over the next 12 months, he could start dozens, maybe hundreds, more one-on-one conversations with voters. And they’ll start conversations of their own.

That will all have started with this one conversation. This is how we build this campaign.

Messina recorded a message reporting back on what this means, and why our opponents won’t have this kind of grassroots enthusiasm. You’re going to want to take a look at this one.

While we are all excited about this 1 million milestone, right now, we’re training our eyes on the next million conversations.

Some of these conversations will be with supporters who have always believed in the President. Others might be with folks who haven’t engaged with us for a while. It’s on all of us to reach out to these people — and you don’t have to wait for a phone bank or a canvass to do it. You can start making calls right now.

When I think about 1 million conversations, I can’t help but think back to March 2007, when I began organizing for then-Senator Obama’s campaign.

Back then, a lot of people seemed to think that winning a presidential campaign always came down to big-dollar donations and big-name endorsements, period. They counted out our style of grassroots organizing — said it wouldn’t get people to the polls.

We didn’t listen to them. We built our organization person by person, one conversation at a time — and that strategy didn’t just get us votes. It was how we won in key states around the country, and how we elected this president.

We’ve got to do that again. Because this time around, the stakes are even higher, and there are still just as many folks on the other side who don’t believe in grassroots organizing. They’re counting you out right now. They think you can’t — or won’t — take individual action to help build this organization.

You can start proving them wrong with the conversations you’re about to have.

Watch Messina’s message, then commit to volunteer in the months ahead, and start some conversations of your own:

http://my.barackobama.com/1-Million-Conversations

Thanks for everything you’ve done — and everything you’re about to do.

– Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
National Field Director
Obama for America