With the presidential election less than four weeks away, campaign activity in both political camps has stepped up. Harvard has seen the formation of Harvard Women for Obama, a group that started meeting informally in early September at the home of Susie Macrae on Oak Hill Road to discuss politics and the road to the White House.

Macrae told the Press she is excited about the possibility of Barack Obama becoming president.

“I like his hope. He has a vision and is willing to act on that and work with people,” she said.

“McCain’s lack of judgment in putting his political career ahead of what’s best for the nation in asking Sarah Palin to be his running mate” is part of what spurred her to action, she said.

The group that started with about a dozen women has grown to include about 60, Macrae said, adding that interest has spread by word of mouth. “There’s a lot of energy out there,” she said. “It’s given a forum for people to talk politics. I’ve made a lot of new connections and friends in the last two weeks.”

Orchard Hill resident Ginger Kendall said she joined the group for its first informal get-together in September. “I really wanted to do something,” she said. “The Sarah Palin thing got me fired up.”

Kendall said she hadn’t been involved in electoral politics before but declared that “After Bush won the last time, I vowed I wouldn’t let something like that happen again.”

In this election, she said, the choice to her “is clear.” She said she believes Obama “honestly wants to bring about change.”

Kendall said that first night at Macrae’s, “People in the group started talking about getting together again. That’s how the e-mail group got started.”

Macrae keeps group members informed via a Google e-mail list, where she posts information about events being organized and offers words of inspiration and encouragement.

“Take a deep breath and envision Barack Obama being sworn into office. Yes we can!” she said in a recent posting.

As the election draws closer, the weekly informal get-togethers at Macrae’s have morphed into canvassing, manning phone banks, and organizing fundraisers. Macrae said that, two weeks ago on a rainy Saturday, women from the group joined about 600 volunteers from Massachusetts canvassing in New Hampshire. Among them were Kendall and Stow Road resident Laura Martineau. Kendall said she went by herself to Derry, N.H. to do canvassing, and commented, “It was great.”

Martineau, along with Mill Road resident Piali De and others, went door-to-door in Nashua and collected data, mainly verifying addresses and asking people if they had decided how they would vote. Their role was not to try and sway people on how to vote, she said.

Martineau said she got involved in the Harvard Women for Obama group after hearing about it around the end of September, and decided to attend one of the weekly meetings.

“It was very energizing—a terrific group,” she said.

She’s never been involved in anything like this, she said, and added, “I’m absolutely horrified at the prospect of McCain and Palin in office. I think this is urgent. If I sit home and do nothing, I’ll hate myself.”

Martineau’s involvement is not just because of what she opposes in this election, however. She explained that she supports Obama because she thinks he has a wide-ranging command of world affairs and domestic challenges.

The commitment of Macrae and others in the group continues to evolve as the election draws nearer. Last week Macrae organized a debate-watching party that was attended by 20 to 30 people. Among the other opportunities she is organizing this month is an event planned for Sunday, Oct. 19, a “vigil in support of a vision of peace, wisdom in leadership, and mutual understanding, followed by candle lighting.”

Macrae said that others in the group are working on organizing a fundraiser for the Obama campaign around the middle of the month. Still others are helping to staff phones at the newly opened Obama campaign office in Ayer.

Kendall said, “Susie’s been great. She stays connected with groups in New Hampshire and Ayer, and keeps everyone informed.”

Macrae said she is very motivated. “I’ve never been so inspired by a candidate,” she said.