Obama's Grassroots Approach, Northlanders To Follow

By KBJR News 1

August 6, 2010 Updated Jan 21, 2009 at 7:22 PM CDT

The success of President Barak Obama's campaign has often been attributed to his grassroots approach to politics.
An ideology a number of Duluthians are going to learn more about this weekend in Saint Paul.

"We are going to need you in order to bring about the changes that are possible in this nation."

Obama has said that together the power of the neighborhood will change America.

"We're in a really exciting time right now with Barak Obama becoming president and seeing the kind of power that community organizing can bring about."

A change both Randy Hanson and Ashley Lund hope to help make possible in Duluth.
They're two of a handful of Northlanders who are attending Camp Wellstone, a weekend training program that provides hands–on practical training in grassroots politics for citizen activists, campaign workers, and people interested in running for office.

"There's a lot of similarities I think between what Paul Wellstone was about and what Barak Obama is about in terms of working at the local community level to make people's lives better."

Lund says she's been interested in politics for as long as she can remember.

"Oh it's everything. I want to run for office some day so I worked a ton on the Obama campaign and now I'm going to this."

She worked locally on the Obama campaign and is eager to learn even more about grassroots politics.

"I'm so excited I think this is a great opportunity and I hope that it leads to something great in my future."

"All of us at this local community level bringing that change about and that takes a lot of energy it takes some skills and it takes some desire and I think there's a lot of hunger for that and I think Duluth's ready for that."

Saint Paul is the first stop on the Camp Wellstone Tour which takes place this weekend.

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