UPPER MERION - A group of Upper Merion Township residents working to elect Sen. Barack Obama as the United States president brought dozens of like-minded neighbors together Sunday at the West End Civic Association Community Center.

Cars lined the 1200 block of Supplee Lane in West Conshohocken as Upper Merion residents headed to William Wall Sr. Memorial Playground for the unofficial Upper Merion/West Conshohocken Obama Day.

Held on the eve of the voter registration deadline, the day-long celebration was the work of 10 people who, if they didn't already know one another, met while volunteering at the Obama Campaign for Change office in Norristown.

One of those volunteers is Carole Kenney, a former Upper Merion Democratic committeewoman, who works on voter registration, canvassing and data entry.

"We wanted to have a presence in Upper Merion despite the fact that we don't have our own (campaign) office," Kenney said.

So the group working out of the Norristown office decided to bring together their neighbors to register voters, share voting information and seek volunteers for the Obama/Biden campaign.
Independent from the Obama Campaign and the township, the event drew a number of active citizens, Civic Association members and nearby residents talking change and Election Day preparedness while enjoying a live music performance by Philadelphia jazz singer Juanita Holliday and free Philly cheesesteaks made on site by Upper Merion Democratic Party Committeeman Paul Zottoli.

Those who attended had access to voter registration forms, absentee ballots, Obama/Biden campaign information and literature on local Democratic candidates Congressman Joe Sestak, D- 7th Dist., state Rep. Daylin Leach, D-17th Dist., and Tim Briggs.

According to Zottoli, Briggs, who is running for state representative, stopped by with Upper Merion Democratic Party leader Diane Riley.

But the day wasn't all blue. Zottoli, a self-proclaimed "big believer in showing we can work together," invited area Republican leaders to attend. He expected an appearance by Briggs' opponent, Lynne Lechter, and Upper Merion Republican Party Committeewoman Marilyn Vaccarello.

"Republican candidates understand the appeal of Barack Obama's candidacy," Zottoli said, as he worked the grill. "He's gonna draw a lot of crossover voting in Montgomery County."
Spearheading the event was Barbara Eunice, team leader for the Upper Merion group of campaign volunteers and Civic Association member.

That very "appeal" Zottoli spoke of, Eunice called "unity."

"Barack Obama has the ability to bring all types of people together," she said, noting she would have never met Kenney had they not volunteered for the same cause.

"We're grassroots," Kenney said of the nameless Upper Merion group. "And that's what Obama is all about."

Although the event was not a campaign fundraiser, volunteers collected donations. T-shirts and other items were sold to defray costs the group paid out-of-pocket to hold the event.

A major objective of the day, Eunice said, was to let people know about possible "pitfalls on voting day."

Not wearing campaign buttons or clothing to polls and obtaining a provisional ballot if voter eligibility comes into question on election day were among the warnings she hoped to spread to voters on Sunday.

The group had a sample ballot on hand for residents to preview what they'll encounter on Nov. 4. Kenney said volunteers were bringing to voters' attention a referendum question that will ask if they want the state to incur $400 million in debt for water and sewer system upgrades, stormwater management and other projects.

Upper Merion resident Helen Snyder, who is secretary of the Civic Association, stopped by because she lives in the neighborhood.

As kids jumped on a rented moon bounce, Snyder pointed out how the event offered a unique blend of politics and family fun.

"It's important to get together in an upbeat, family-oriented atmosphere," she said.

Zottoli said the suburbs don't see many events like the one he and a handful of other volunteers put together. This was fitting, he said, because "there hasn't been any other political candidate I know of in years who could get people excited to come out and vote. It's been the Obama campaign that has gotten people excited this year."

In Zottoli's district, known as Gulph 02, Obama won the primary by 300 votes, he said.

"We just took the ball from there and have been rolling with it ever since.

"If we don't take advantage of a year like this - when there's less apathy - to get people to vote and get people more comfortable with politics, then we're not doing our job."

For voter registration information, call 1-877-VOTES.PA or visit www.votespa.com.