Florida International University

Democratic activists will reach out to Liberty City voters on Saturday, June 5, hoping to gain support for their candidates in the November elections.

The “Vote 2010 Kickoff” will take place at Jefferson Reaves Sr. Park, 3090 NW 50th St. from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

After a brief training session, participants will fan out in the neighborhood, going door-to-door to persuade voters who supported President Obama in 2008 to go to the polls again.

This event, the first local rally sponsored by Organizing for America, will be followed by other events, according to Ashley Walker, state director of organizing for the group.

Organizing for America is the successor to Obama for America, the president’s grass roots effort widely credited with propelling him to office.

“We are focused on connecting with different demographics in communities across the country to help bring about President Obama’s agenda for change. In Liberty City we will be focused on the African-American community,” said Walker.

Many Obama voters, especially in black communities, had never voted before and retaining their votes may be key to a Democratic win in November.

Aside from U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, who is running for the U.S. Senate, there are no blacks near the top of the November ballot.

Meek faces a tough primary challenge from Palm Beach billionaire Democrat Jeff Greene. Surviving that, he faces a three-way contest against Republican Marco Rubio and Gov. Charlie Crist, who recently left the GOP and is running as an Independent.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink continues to trail behind Republican Bill McCollum, according to the latest Rasmussen polls. Currently Sink is also losing to self-funded candidate Rick Scott.

SFern027@Fiu.edu