Obama calls the wife of a volunteer who died canvassing

[Hope And Change]

Susan Swensen of Sparks holds a photo of her husband Dewey, who died Saturday, Oct. 18, while campaigning for Barack Obama. Susan received a voice mail on her cell phone from Obama expressing his condolences on Monday.
(By Tim Dunn/RGJ)

Obama sends condolences for Sparks campaign worker

BY TAMMY KRIKORIAN • [e-mail] • October 24, 2008

The widow of a Sparks man who died while campaigning door-to-door for Barack Obama last weekend received a personal phone call from the Democratic presidential nominee expressing his condolences.

Edmond Dewey Swensen, known as Dewey, was campaigning in Sparks on Oct. 18 when he suffered a massive heart attack and died, his wife Susan Swensen said Friday.

In addition to speaking to Obama, Susan Swensen said she also received flowers from him and has VIP seats for his campaign appearance in Reno today.
She said her husband, 64, had been campaigning for Obama for just four days but that it had changed him.

“It was like he had a complete purpose,” she said.
When Obama called her on Monday, Susan Swensen said she didn’t answer the phone because she didn’t recognize the number, but called back and spoke to Obama directly.

He’d also left a message on her voicemail to offer his condolences and express his gratitude for Dewey Swensen’s campaign efforts.

“I’m so sorry for your loss and so grateful to you and Dewey for volunteering for the campaign,” Obama said in the message. “Obviously it’s a heartbreaking situation, but I just wanted to you to know I was thinking about you and praying for you and I hope all the great memories that I’m sure you must have tide you through these difficult times.”

In telling her story to friends and family members this week, she said people have been moved by Obama’s compassion.

“Of all these thousands of people ... he took the time to call me. Me,” she said.
Swensen, 64, grew up in Oakland, Calif., and worked for General Motors for 42 years until retiring in 2006.


more...

http://www.rgj.com/article/20081024/NEWS19/81024058

[Faygo Kid]

1. Thank you, Dewey. We will take it home from here.

Beautiful post. Let's take this one over the finish line for Dewey.

[panader0]

2. Obama is a class act.

[shanti]

22. totally

the likes of whom we haven't seen for quite some time now.

[sandnsea]

3. He met with her yesterday

There's a blog post about it. He met privately with her, she cried, he hugged her, they took photos, etc. Gave her VIP seat.

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. Wow.... RIP... he is one the heros of change and democracy

I hope you can find the blog on that.

What a touching story.

[sandnsea]

7. Here it is

In the post to the right

http://rgj.com/article/20081025/NEWS19/81025031&OAS_sitepage=news.rgj.com%2Fbreakingnews

[medeak]

12. you're the best!

don't know how I missed this!!!! thank you!

[sandnsea]

13. Somebody else posted it last night

I would never have seen it otherwise. Sorry I don't remember who. After what Obama's been through with his grandma, to open himself up to this lady's grief, wow. I just don't know how they keep going, it is just astounding. I can't manage to cook dinner and go a mile to the campaign office most days. He is just constantly going way out of his way for people, and he certainly doesn't have to.

Did you read the story about him showing up at his daughter's soccer game the other night? OMG, if you didn't, I will go find that one for you. While you get the tissues.

[medeak]

14. did not see that

yes please post that! ((()))

[sandnsea]

15. Here

I can't wait to get these people in the White House.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7604555

[medeak]

17. to repeat you ARE the best!

Indeed and then we have so much work to do! Hope I get back to Oregon coast ;-)

[geckosfeet]

4. Peace Ed. You did good.

[renate]

5. RIP, Dewey, and thank you

The comments that go with that story are very nice and I hope they bring Susan some comfort. As one person said, he died happy and productive.

Bless his heart for volunteering. :patriot:

[sufrommich]

8. What a sad story. Win it for Dewey. nt

[Joe the Liberal]

9. RIP Dewey, gotta love Obama for taking time out of his schedule to call her. n/t

[SoxFan]

10. Let's win this for Dewey!

[medeak]

11. biker friend of victim emailed me last night

seems like a great old guy living life to the very end.... biker told me what nice gesture of Obama to call but it wouldn't change his vote "although Obama will make a fine president" wtf?

[frickaline]

16. wow..... so sad.

[progressivebydesign]

18. RIP Dewey. Thanks for your hard work.

It's wonderful, her comments, that his four days of volunteering "changed" him, and he felt he'd found a purpose. What a peaceful feeling to have.

Obama is certainly a very special person.

[GetTheRightVote]

19. Thank you for this posting, it is good to know that our next President may just be a nice person

to regular people such as this woman and her husband. Such a sad but heart warming story all at once.

:bounce:

[Dinger]

20. RIP Dewey

:grouphug:

[TheDonkey]

21. RIP Dewey, glad Obama reached out to his widow.

[ericgtr]

23. Both heat breaking and uplifting at the same time

RIP Dewey and my condolences to Susan. :(

Once again Obama shows his human side, he is a very genuine man.