The very definition of democracy, from its Greek origins demos-kratia is that "the people rule". Although it very often feels as though we're sitting on the sidelines, it doesn't have to be that way. Yesterday, we saw people from Nebraska, Washington, Louisiana and the Virgin Islands bring home a sweeping victory for Barack Obama in caucuses and primaries, but what we didn't see was the legion of volunteers who helped make that happen from their homes all across America.

Personally, I like phone banking. The first time I did was in 2004 for Senator Kerry, calling from the Steelworkers building in Pittsburgh. In 2006, I spent evenings after work calling for Bob Casey, and ran a phone bank on election day. It was fun, and I found that after a time or two, I looked forward to making the calls and talking to people I had never met about people and ideas that matter to me.

Yesterday, I tried something just a little different. Sen. Obama's campaign has an online phone bank that let me participate from my home, calling people in Louisiana. I was amazed at how simple it was and how it allowed me to feel part of the victory from a thousand miles away. And not only that, but it let me connect with people and hear the voices of others who are excited to participate in this historic election. Even before the returns came in from Louisiana, I knew Obama was going to win, and win big. The people told me, without my even asking, that they are ready for change.

The online Obama team is calling Maine today. I've never been there, but I think I'll pick up the phone and see what's on the minds of the good folks of the Pine Tree State.

Senator Obama was in Virginia at the Jefferson-Jackson dinner last night, speaking to cheering crowds of the need for change in this country. We need to make it happen, and we can. And you can help just by picking up the phone.

While all eyes were on the primaries and caucuses yesterday, Senator Kerry was in Texas, speaking at Rice University's conference Beyond Science:The Economics and Politics of Responding to Climate Change about one of the most serious issues facing our country and our planet today. We'll try to find more on that in the coming days. For now, though, I've got a couple hundred Mainers to talk to.