Australians campaign for Obama in the U.S.

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Young and old Australians, impressed by the Barack Obama’s stance on the Iraq War, climate change and foreign policy, are flying to the States to campaign for Obama as volunteers. Others who are unable to visit are helping the campaign via the Web.

Rebecca Wilson, 33, is one of those volunteer who flew to Ohio last Friday, her second trip this year. She is helping the Obama campaign by working the computers till late in the night along with other volunteers. She told Sydney Morning Herald:

He makes me think of America the myth, the land of the free, the way it thinks of itself but doesn't often behave.

Meredith Burgmann, a city of Sydney Labor councilor, is planning to visit New Hampshire along with her two sisters to campaign for Obama. She and her sisters will help send campaign letters.

She told the Sydney Morning Herald:

I think this is probably the most important election for a very, very long time … I am now terrified we will get the war hero and the moose-hunter if we get the Republicans.

There are many young Australians who have signed up on Obama-friendly Facebook groups. One group with the name “Yes We Care” in Facebook has more than 100 sign-ups in just 48 hours of launch.

Also, a local poll by the Lowy Institute showed Aussies prefer Obama over McCain by a large margin. Around 75 per cent of Australians favor Obama compared with 16 per cent for John McCain.