A BERMUDIAN woman who spent 10 days in the US helping to elect Barack Obama has told the Mid-Ocean News of her 'exhilarating' stint campaigning for the Democratic President-elect, writes Clare O'Connor.

Joella Simmons flew out to Naples, Florida on October 27 as a guest of former deputy PLP leader Walter Roberts, who owns a home in the area. Mr. Roberts had already organised for Ms Simmons and a small group of their fellow Bermudian Obama supporters to canvass during the final days of the presidential campaign.

"Mr. Roberts already had contacts in Naples and we were welcomed and put straight to work," Ms Simmons said.

"It was a great experience. The headquarters were run similarly to how we do it in Bermuda, but on a larger scale."

Ms Simmons spent her time in Florida going door-to-door as part of the Get Out the Vote (GOTV) campaign to encourage registered voters to cast their ballots early. The early GOTV initiative has since been hailed by media worldwide as one of the deciding factors in Obama's victory.

"We canvassed door to door for Early GOTV campaign," she said. "We called volunteers in a canvassing blitz. We also assisted with data input from canvassing. The organisation at the Obama HQ was first class."

While Ms Simmons and her fellow Bermudian Obama supporters were in Florida, they were able to attend an Obama rally in Sarasota – an area described by Sarasota County's Democratic Party Chairwoman as "ground zero" in the Senator's campaign to take back Florida after Bush's 2004 victory secured the election for him.

Despite working in a Republican-leaning area of Florida, Ms Simmons remained confident in her candidate's ability to win.

"Election Day was exciting and exhilarating," she added.

"We were in Republican territory, but working towards a Florida victory.

"We were determined to make every vote count. The Florida win was the icing on the cake.

"To attend an Obama rally and see him up close and personal was the highlight. To see his appeal to everyone was amazing.

"As I have said before the importance he places on his family adds to the 'wow' factor."