This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7661872.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Schlepping their way to voters Schlepping their way to voters
(21 minutes later)
By Ali Reed BBC NewsBy Ali Reed BBC News
Virtual and real schleppers are trying to capture more votes for Mr Obama Schlep is a Yiddish word for journey, from the verb "to drag around"
With Columbus Day weekend upon them, Americans will be honouring Christopher Columbus' maiden voyage to America. But this year, there will be another maiden voyage taking place - The Great Schlep.With Columbus Day weekend upon them, Americans will be honouring Christopher Columbus' maiden voyage to America. But this year, there will be another maiden voyage taking place - The Great Schlep.
Got Bubbies living in Florida? (That's a Yiddish term for grandmothers.) Or any other crucial swing state for that matter?Got Bubbies living in Florida? (That's a Yiddish term for grandmothers.) Or any other crucial swing state for that matter?
If so, you are qualified for this particular voyage - an organised effort to visit your Jewish grandparents and persuade them to vote for Barack Obama.If so, you are qualified for this particular voyage - an organised effort to visit your Jewish grandparents and persuade them to vote for Barack Obama.
"Twelve per cent of the Jewish community is still undecided," Great Schlep co-founder Ari Wallach told BBC News. "That's a few hundred thousand people and they tend to cluster in swing states.""Twelve per cent of the Jewish community is still undecided," Great Schlep co-founder Ari Wallach told BBC News. "That's a few hundred thousand people and they tend to cluster in swing states."
Mr Wallach and co-founder Mik Moore started The Great Schlep to get the Obama message to older Jewish voters.Mr Wallach and co-founder Mik Moore started The Great Schlep to get the Obama message to older Jewish voters.
Many believed the rumours that Mr Obama was a Muslim, he said. They were getting information from Republican party attack advertisements, and often had no access to the internet to check the information they heard.Many believed the rumours that Mr Obama was a Muslim, he said. They were getting information from Republican party attack advertisements, and often had no access to the internet to check the information they heard.
Hence the decision to mobilise the younger generation.Hence the decision to mobilise the younger generation.
Tele-schleppersTele-schleppers
Mr McCain's support team, including Mr Lieberman, has been active in FloridaPolls have the presidential candidates neck-and-neck in Florida, and the 600,000-plus Jewish voters in the south of the state - the second-largest Jewish community in the US - cannot be ignored. Mr McCain's support team, including Mr Lieberman, has been active in Florida Polls have the presidential candidates neck-and-neck in Florida, and the 600,000-plus Jewish voters in the south of the state - the second-largest Jewish community in the US - cannot be ignored.
Nationwide, Jewish people are twice as likely to vote for Mr Obama than Mr McCain, according to a national survey carried out by J Street, a pro-Israel pro-Middle-East-peace organisation, in July.Nationwide, Jewish people are twice as likely to vote for Mr Obama than Mr McCain, according to a national survey carried out by J Street, a pro-Israel pro-Middle-East-peace organisation, in July.
But Florida's Jewish retirees may be different.But Florida's Jewish retirees may be different.
Senator Joe Lieberman, a prominent Jewish "Independent Democrat" has been campaigning there for months, trying to win their votes for Mr McCain.Senator Joe Lieberman, a prominent Jewish "Independent Democrat" has been campaigning there for months, trying to win their votes for Mr McCain.
This Columbus Day Weekend, The Great Schlep is encouraging grandchildren to fly to Florida to convert them to Mr Obama's cause.This Columbus Day Weekend, The Great Schlep is encouraging grandchildren to fly to Florida to convert them to Mr Obama's cause.
SCHLEP TALKING POINTS Barack Obama's BiographyObama Loves Israel and So Do YouHe's Black, Let's Talk About ItSocial Security If they are unable, too broke, too busy, or too lazy to travel, they can schlep virtually by picking up the telephone and having the discussion over the phone.SCHLEP TALKING POINTS Barack Obama's BiographyObama Loves Israel and So Do YouHe's Black, Let's Talk About ItSocial Security If they are unable, too broke, too busy, or too lazy to travel, they can schlep virtually by picking up the telephone and having the discussion over the phone.
The Great Schlep website has a downloadable file of "talking points" to help guide the discussion. Information on everything from Mr Obama's biography and policies, to his stance on Israel are included.The Great Schlep website has a downloadable file of "talking points" to help guide the discussion. Information on everything from Mr Obama's biography and policies, to his stance on Israel are included.
So far, Mr Wallach said 1.5 million people have downloaded the file. And more than 2.5 million people have viewed comedian Sarah Silverman's Great Schlep welcome video.So far, Mr Wallach said 1.5 million people have downloaded the file. And more than 2.5 million people have viewed comedian Sarah Silverman's Great Schlep welcome video.
The group has more than 18,000 friends on the social networking site Facebook.The group has more than 18,000 friends on the social networking site Facebook.
A smileA smile
But if The Great Schlep appears to be a humorous PR effort, the people behind it are totally serious.But if The Great Schlep appears to be a humorous PR effort, the people behind it are totally serious.
"This election will be the most important one of our lives," said Mr Wallach."This election will be the most important one of our lives," said Mr Wallach.
"We wanted an idea that would invoke a smile," he added."We wanted an idea that would invoke a smile," he added.
Thanks to the talking points on The Great Schlep… my aunt was able to convince Nana to become an Obama supporter! Blogger Lesley Robin "[But] the Great Schlep allows people to enter into a very serious conversation in a way that a very serious or boring or heavy name would not have allowed for."Thanks to the talking points on The Great Schlep… my aunt was able to convince Nana to become an Obama supporter! Blogger Lesley Robin "[But] the Great Schlep allows people to enter into a very serious conversation in a way that a very serious or boring or heavy name would not have allowed for."
Republicans have also harnessed the internet to lobby this group of voters.Republicans have also harnessed the internet to lobby this group of voters.
There are "Jews for McCain" blogs and social networking sites advocating hard for Mr McCain.There are "Jews for McCain" blogs and social networking sites advocating hard for Mr McCain.
The national chairman of the Jewish Advisory Coalition Mark Broxmeyer writes on the group's website that Mr McCain has consistently exhibited a strong love of Israel.The national chairman of the Jewish Advisory Coalition Mark Broxmeyer writes on the group's website that Mr McCain has consistently exhibited a strong love of Israel.
"His affection for and understanding of the myriad of complex issues confronting the Israeli people runs deep, as does our nation's long alliance with the State of Israel," he said."His affection for and understanding of the myriad of complex issues confronting the Israeli people runs deep, as does our nation's long alliance with the State of Israel," he said.
Which side has won the argument will only become clear on election day, on 4 November.Which side has won the argument will only become clear on election day, on 4 November.
On her Great Schlep video, Sarah Silverman asks: "If you knew that visiting your grandparents could change the world would you do it?"On her Great Schlep video, Sarah Silverman asks: "If you knew that visiting your grandparents could change the world would you do it?"
Christopher Columbus discovered a new world in 1492. This year, it is the schleppers who are hoping to create one.Christopher Columbus discovered a new world in 1492. This year, it is the schleppers who are hoping to create one.