FAQ: If the campaign needs volunteers so bad, why won't they get in touch with me? I just want to talk to a person.

I hear you.

It took me 2 weeks from the time I applied to Camp Obama to hear back from them - and I was offering to work full time, for free, in a swing state -- and didn't even need housing.

The first part of the answer is this: I know it seems like the Obama campaign is rolling in money because they do such an awesome job at fundraising, but the truth is, they don't have much money at all. They have hardly any paid staff and very few actual offices. They spend the money they do have very strategically on advertising in swing states.

Seriously -- most of the NY campaign staff only very recently started getting paid. Everyone uses their own cell phone, and they primarily use the internet to communicate, post information, and connect people. The website IS the central HQ. In most cases, there is no physical office and no dedicated phone number, which is why you can't find one on the website.

The other part of the answer is this: In 2000 and 2004, the Democratic campaign offices were flooded with volunteers the week before election day, and they weren't ready for it. It was a mess. No one's time was used well, and all the energy was spent on last minute organizing of volunteers, instead of on effectively getting out the vote. We know how that turned out.

So, this time, the campaign is focused first on finding and training people who can make a long commitment of 5 weeks or more. The New York office has been charged with finding and training 750 - 1,000 people, (from New York City alone, mind you) who can go to Pennsylvania for 5 weeks or more. After that, they need people who can commit to every weekend. After that, they need people who can go for just the two weeks before election day.

Those are their priorities -- they need to build up and reinforce the volunteer structure now, so when they are inundated with more and more volunteers as election day gets closer, there will be a system for them to plug into. Smart, right? I think so.

So, if you are someone who can give a little bit of time here and there, don't be frustrated that you're not hearing back -- you'll hear back. In the meantime, they have loaded up the website with things that you can do while you're waiting to hear.

1. Write letters to the editors of local papers in swing states.
2. Tell all your friends that the Obama campaign really, really, really needs volunteers who can make a long commitment.
3. Tell all your friends that I, Elizabeth, am recruiting volunteers for when I go to Pennsylvania, on Oct. 1. They can get in touch with me directly and I will either make use of them myself, or give them someone else's phone number.
4. Read the FAQ posts on my.barackobama.com and "Neighbor to Neighbor."