»Corey Platt and MoveOn PAC help bring Arizona back into the swing state column

A few weeks ago, Arizona had been thoroughly dismissed from the list of swing states in this year’s election. With John McCain stumping for the incumbent, most pundits thought that this crucial state had become Bush country. Enter Grassroots Campaigns and MoveOn PAC.

“When we first started working here, people were fairly dispirited about our chances,” said Corey Platt, field organizer for Arizona, “but once volunteers saw how many people wanted to get involved in this effort, and after Kerry’s victories in the debates, everyone’s optimism returned. Now the polls are back within the margin of error, and we’re excited to be part of that.”

In his organizing effort, Corey has tracked back and forth across the state, and has recruited nearly two hundred precinct leaders, the crucial people in every state who help to coordinate the campaign in their own neighborhoods. These people and other volunteers are already pouring countless hours into the campaign, knocking on doors, making phone calls, and recruiting new volunteers.

More than anything else, it has been the commitment of these volunteers that has impressed Corey and driven the effort forward. “It is great to see that so many people now realize what we have a great chance to win Arizona. With Bush’s poll number dropping over 10 points in the past 3 weeks, the nation is starting to believe what we have been saying all along; Arizona is truly in play. Don’t underestimate the progressive spirit in the Southwest!” said fulltime volunteer and Super Precinct Leader Deborah Burdick of Phoenix.