could you give some clarity ?

...manning the phones in the offices. Often those campaign offices need people to hold down the fort while the workers
are out door knocking.

I was an absentee ballot courier for the Kerry campaign. That was FUN! I don't know what the voting situation is in your state, but in my state, we picked up absentee ballots from people who were disabled or just needed extra help.

There are often jobs that you haven't even anticipated. Call your local Obama office and ask!

Go here, and follow the links until you find a Volunteer link. Good luck!

http://www.barackobama.com/splash/choice?

It looks like you can make calls from home even.

Hrm...

Most places need data entry to keep track of those contacted.
On election eve, hang door hangers.
Volunteer to drive people to the polls, or to early voting.
Check in with your local field office on what they need.
Calling isn't so bad once you do it a few times.
AsK if your field office wants you to hand out literature at a grocery store, etc.
Hold a house party to listen to a stump speech, or for the next debate.
Download dashboard and see what you can do:
Thanks..

I feel uncomfortable talking to strangers also. But I gave myself a good talking to. This is too important to let that stand in the the way. I live in NY, a very blue state, so its not my home state I am worried about. In 2004 and 2008 and went to PA. I never knocked on a door by myself, you are always paired off. Usually you are talking to fellow Dems. I cannot walk very well this year, so I am doing a great deal of phone banking. Most of the people are nervous a little. But it gets easier as you do it. You get a fair number of answering machines. If you get somebody that does not agree with you you just say thanks for your time and good-bye. The idea is to do as many calls as you can and fill in forms. Sometimes you get people that are so thankful you are doing what you are doing! Then you get a chance to talk to other Obama supporter and laugh about the silly people you had hang up on you! Do it. You will not regret it!!

It will be much appreciated.

they always need people to enter stuff into the computer, file, sweep floors, make coffee. The cc headquarters are the center of the action. Obama campaigns out of their offices. You'll meet a bunch of people with like minds.

You can ask your team leader about doing data entry.

I've been phone banking and canvassing for several weeks now. As a shy and hyper-sensitive person, I also didn't want to make phone calls at first. But personal interaction with voters is the most effective way of getting out the vote. I really didn't deal well the first couple of weeks with the occasional rude person who hung up on me or slammed the door in my face. But the undecided voter I manage to sway makes it worth the trouble. Moreover, it gets easier with time: as we get closer to the election, the campaign focuses more and more on known Democrats, who are much more pleasant to talk to than Republicans. Finally, when you're phone banking, you're in a room with other like-minded people; that's the part I like most about volunteering. It's really inspiring to see all those people coming out after a long day at work to make phone calls. I've learned a lot over the past few weeks from my fellow phone bankers about how to make better phone calls.

Just make the first step by creating an account on Dashboard. And remember that the level of volunteer effort will determine whether we win or lose the election.

Ask if there's any office work you can do.

I am the field director (the person who is in charge of the call and walk program) for a congressional race. If a volunteer comes into one of our (four) field offices and does not want to knock or call, I usually have them shred (we have to shred all of our old call and walk lists).

Data entry is great but I have such a strict deadline for it that my guys end up doing it (it has to be in that night before they leave so I can submit an accurate report to the campaign manager. Also computers in a campaign office are usually the staffers' own computers and we can't afford to give ours up to a volunteer.

In 2010 I had a volunteer who would not do calls or doors, but she brought us lunch every Monday. That was definitely appreciated.

Also don't ignore downticket races. We're the bottom of the ballot (in a swing state with a competitive senate race too) and we're competing big time with both the president and the former governor.

I can type, I can cook, I can answer phones, I just hate calling people. I can drive people on Election Day after work, I can do lots. I am in NY, but a red part of NY. Ugh. So maybe driving folks will help Bill Owens, who is running in my district.

You are all the best - thanks!!!

but I think you'll find calling is not hard if you give it a go. They give you a script (it's all on-line - you can do from home) and after the first couple of calls it will be in your head so you're not reading it. Don't take it personally if folks aren't interested - after being bombarded with ads some folks have reached their limits. Others may well be undecided (believe it or not politics is not a priority for everyone like it is for us!) and you will have some good conversations.