During the 2004 presidential election, Bird worked for the campaigns of Howard Dean and John Kerry. When Barack Obama announced his candidacy in 2007, Bird joined the campaign as the field director for South Carolina. Bird encouraged his campaign workers to engage voters in places like barber shops and beauty salons, and this strategy was ultimately used nationwide by the campaign. Obama's victory in the South Carolina primary proved to be an important step in him winning the Democratic nomination. Following the successful South Carolina primary, Bird was promoted to Deputy National Field Director of the campaign.