Jason Haas’ eyes were bloodshot. People frenetically moved around him. With less than two weeks left in the presidential campaign, Barack Obama’s New York headquarters was at the peak of its get-out-the-vote efforts.

The night before, Haas, 25, and several other Obama staffers – who all appeared to be in their 20s – went out to a local pub. They were there till 4 in the morning. This lifestyle is common of many organizers, who see it as a necessity for dealing with the stress of a hard fought campaign.

Now the end was in sight. McCain was clearly on the defensive. The Democratic candidate was flush with money and Haas was working furiously to help turn it into boots on the ground.
“We are aggressively recruiting volunteers to send to battleground states,” said Haas. “They will be used for recruitment, phone banking and street teams.”

Volunteer Grace Kline, 31, sat down with Haas while he prepped her to speak with people. “I’m walking down the street. What would you say to me to get me to volunteer?” Haas asked. “Do you have a few minutes to talk with me about Obama’s campaign?” Kline responded. “That’s good. We want to say something like, ‘Hi, do you want Obama to win?’” Haas replied.

Inside the phone bank about 15 people used personal cells to make calls. Gregg Menuau, 42, spoke with a potential volunteer in Brooklyn. “We are having a big phone bank in Coney Island on Saturday and Sunday,” Menuau said into his phone. “So, we’ll see you there on Sunday, right? Ok, great, thank you very much, Nicholas,” he went on before hanging up.

At Union Square, six Obama supporters stood behind tables covered with flyers and literature and spoke with passersby. Alex Mahgoub, 24, sold t-shirts saying “Rock Your Barack” for $10. Mahgoub helped found a group called “Barack Fridays,” which is a grassroots organization working to get people involved in the campaign.

Barack Fridays represent the growing grassroots Internet activism – commonly referred to as the “Netroots” – is credited with helping energize the Democratic Party. “I really do believe every person has an impact if they choose to have that impact felt,” said Mahgoub. “It takes action. You can’t just sit around saying something. You have to go out and do it.”

While Obama has utilized the Netroots approach, the campaign still depends on more traditional Democratic allies. Obama’s New York headquarters, for example, is in space leased from the United Federation of Teachers.

Though traditional politics are still at play, it is Obama’s more innovative campaign techniques that are really going to be put to the test.

“It’s Netroots organizing and grassroots organizing,” said Haas. “He’s inspired people and reactivated people and empowered people with his message and his candidacy.”