What's The Election Look Like In Your Town?

This presidential election is unprecedented. Gazillions of dollars are being spent on advertising, campaign materials, volunteer efforts, rallies, and - in the case of the McCain campaign - clothing and makeup. Hundreds of thousands of people - if not millions - are donating time and energy.

So, what does the presidential election really look like in your community?

We need you to do a photoessay about the election in your town. Take 10 photos of the small and grand that show HuffPost's OffTheBus readers what the election looks like where you live. Maybe there's a street corner where the signs block views of oncoming traffic. Maybe your local convenience store now sells McCain and Obama coffee cups. Maybe canvassers outnumber shoppers in your local mall on the weekend.

We took a brisk walk around our SoHo neighborhood and found shops getting in on the debate with some fancy window dressing.

• • • • • Obama masks adorn mannequins in a SoHo shop

Now it's your turn:

* Crop and resize your photos to 300x230.

* Write captions for each photo. Make sure that your captions make sense of the photos for someone who does not live in your town or state.

* Send your photos to campaigntrail AT huffingtonpost.com. Put PHOTO ESSAY in the subject line. Include a headshot and brief bio if you have not been published at OffTheBus before.

DEADLINE: Wednesday, October 29

Don't have time but want to join us for future assignments? Join HuffPost's OffTheBus.

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Comments

[10photons]

09:37 AM on 10/29/2008

My wife and I marched in conservative Findlay Ohio’s Halloween parade for Kerry four years ago and again last night. This parade is the town’s biggest event of the year. What a difference! Instead of boos, single finger salutes and thumbs-down we saw 4 years ago, yesterday we were cheered with kids yelling “Obama!” and an unplanned chant of “Yes we can” from the crowd on the curb. We had planned to just peace sign back at any profanity but we never saw anything but a positive response to the Obama float. It’s looking very good here.

[elle kay]

07:06 PM on 10/27/2008

I live in West Hollywood CA and this morning, after 3 months of closely following this election (I'm a latecomer to the bandwagon), I saw my first McCain sticker. It was small (hardly noticeable except for the fact that the driver cut me off) and very faded. Every day I see 20+ Obama/Biden posters & countless bumper stickers (including my own!) large and bright. At least half of these stickers/posters are accompanied by "NO on PROP 8" material.

Although I do have one grievance. A few blocks from my apartment at a fairly busy intersection (Fairfox & Fountain) hangs this: http://cbs2.com/local/Sarah.Palin.mannequin.2.849299.html
While I abhor Palin, I do think this is bad taste. I'm furious when I hear about Obama effigies hung, not only because of the historical significance of the act, but because I think it's classless and disrespectful. I don't agree that we should stoop to the level of "America-loving" Republicans to show our disapproval of a public figure, no matter how witless and ignorant she is.

[PepeLepew]

03:39 PM on 10/27/2008

Here is a little liberal enclave in the Rocky Mountains in Montana, it is almost *all* Obama stickers and lawn signs. The only place you see any McCain signs at all is in a neighbourhood called "Mansion Heights." I swear I have seen more Ron Paul lawn signs and bumper stickers than McCain/Palin. Montana's officially a toss-up state and Paul's presence on the ballot could actually hurt McCain. No McCain ads on TV all year. He's completely taken Montana for granted, while Obama ads air non-stop. It's interesting. Montana actually matters for once.

[gobiggreen]

03:36 PM on 10/27/2008

I live in rural Rhodelia , Ky. ( 65 miles SW of Louisville) I have had 3 Obama signs stolen, One shoved in a garbage can. I have one now, but I take it in for safekeeping at night....racism in this election? Ya think?

[Sadie1976]

02:16 PM on 10/27/2008

I live in a small town in Ohio where many local offices are on the ballot unopposed, and they are ALL Republicans! However, I've also been pleasantly surprised at how many Obama signs have popped up just in the last week or so! Some people actually whisper, "I voted for Obama", like they fear being pounced on if they "come out of the closet". It's going to be VERY interesting to see what happens here!

[Semper]

12:53 PM on 10/27/2008

I live in San Diego, and very very slowly you are beginning to see more Obama stickers than ever before. Generally, you see many Mc Cain stickers. But this time there seems to be more Obama stickers on display. I happen to live in a very Republican section of Carlsbad. Also sometimes it gets pretty rough down here in San Diego. This is Republican country, but that is beginning to change. More young college students, we have 4 major colleges here. The unions are coming, The industries are changing, we are moving towards bio tech, and the health industries. Tourism and defense use to me the main industries. Thats all changed. We still have quite a few millionaires here. They love the climate and lifestyle. But, the wealthy Democrats are coming.

[SpaceboySD]

01:10 PM on 10/27/2008

I live in San Diego too, and you are absolutely right. I live in Hillcrest but work up in Carmel Mountain. Needless to say the differences are as obvious as night and day. EVERYONE for the most part in North County seems to have a "McCain/Palin" bumper sticker or lawn stand up, (and Yes on 8 signs and rallies on street corners too...boooo!) and everyone in the downtown metropolitan area of SD has their "Obama/Biden" signs, No on 8 stickers, etc. It's almost like a non-violent civil war between the north and south sections. As the days progress, I too have noticed more Obama stickers, in highly unlikely places that would usually vote republican. I hope this is a sign of change that we as a society need!

[bojett]

01:17 PM on 10/27/2008

My husband was driving outside of Carlsbad on Friday and noticed the heavy concentration of McCain/Palin bumper stickers. As he realized he was the only Obama/Biden sticker in the pack (all traveling above 80mph), it was his car that was selected to be ticketed. Party profiling?

[bojett]

12:05 PM on 10/27/2008

I voted Saturday in Los Angeles County. This was my 1st time as an early voter and WOW, was it impressive! On Saturday afternoon at 3pm there was a modest line of eager voters, efficiently guided to the check-in and voter waiting area. The room was filled with people from multiple districts providing a better snapshot of LA than the predictable crowd at my usual polling place. The facility was well staffed, extremely helpful and they appeared to be moving hundreds of us quite smoothly. Some voters brought their children with and you could feel the excitement in the air. VOTE EARLY!!! Then volunteer to get others to the polls.

[getoffthecross]

11:41 AM on 10/27/2008

I live and perform comedy throughout South Florida. While some venues are less inviting than others of political views and humor (Port St. Lucie can make for some cricket-chirping stage time), when it works it works...

http://www.jokerzinternetradio.com/phpmotion/play.php?vid=108

[jennbeez]

11:09 AM on 10/27/2008

Jesse Helms country here in rural NC. Hubby and I make a game of counting the signs on back roads. Everytime we either get an even count or one Obama sign over. The local newspaper gives sheriff incident reports and there have been 3 Obama signs stolen from front lawns. No McCain signs reported stolen, just Obama.

[bayside]

10:47 AM on 10/27/2008

In my little town in ohio Gov.Richardson is coming to town today and I am planning to attend..I hope there is a place in Obamas cabinet for this man as I feel he would be a asset..

[Amalek]

10:44 AM on 10/27/2008

Here in Beijing, FEDEX is flying our absentee ballots home for free.

There is a big party scheduled at a hotel on Wednesday morning here (Tuesday night in the US) to watch the election returns on TV.

[kkuchenb]

04:52 PM on 10/27/2008

Hoo boy, I don't like the sound of that. Fred Smith, the head of FedEx is a big McCain supporter, as well as being a fraternity brother of George Bush at Yale. I wonder if those bags will make it over the Pacific.

[JJeff88]

10:29 AM on 10/27/2008

No photos, but here's the deal -

I live in an affluent suburban NY community (Holmdel, NJ) where its Mayor once said to me: "You a Democrat? Back in the day, we used to shoot you people like squirrels..."

2,258 Republicans, 1,270 Unaligned Voters and 669 Democrats voted in the 2003 general elections.
But times change. During this past Spring's primaries, the turnout consisted of 3,200 Republicans and 3,000 Democrats.

It was with this in mind that a small but salty group of (35 or so) Obama supporters - armed with signs, tee shirts and bumper stickers - participated in a 5 mile walk along one of Holmdel's more well-traveled thoroughfares (essentially to let everyone know we even existed).

What caught us by surprise were the numbers of passing cars waving to us and shouting encouragement. I'd estimate that somewhere between 35 - 40% of passing automobiles gave us a friendly "beep"on the horn (although, to be truthful there were two or three who yelled "Go McCain", with one flipping us the bird. But we had expected worse).

Sea change? Or illusion? We'll see on Nov. 4. Go Holmdel!

[Fremon]

10:14 AM on 10/27/2008

I live in the Cochella Valley CA, with its most famous town is called Palm Springs. The area is mostly a retirement area and sometimes known as "God's waiting room". It is basically a service town with no industry save the now defunct home builders. Shops and restaurants are closing. It is not a highly intellectual area but many retirees have done well economically leading to an overabundance of Republicans. Our local congress representative is a Republican formerly married to Sonny Bono which should indicate the depth of intelligence we get (she was a former waitress or restaurant hostess). The local paper just endorsed McCain trying to twists any truths into a rational reason for that choice. That is why I have to get a fix daily from other sources. The main interest of the paper is the local obituaries for the oldies to see who has gone. It's a clean area with little crime or excitement and lots of golf. That's about it.

[Amalek]

10:38 AM on 10/27/2008

I realized the other day that when I retire I need to live in a blue county. I think being a democrat and associating with more of them keeps you young longer.

[Slapmewhenitsover]

09:27 AM on 10/27/2008

I am back in Nagano City, Japan now where everyone is apparently an Obama fan.

It is really interesting to see the difference between the edges of metro Atlanta and here, but I think the rest of the world, except Macedonia, is pulling for Obama.

People all over the world hate Bush equally and see McCain as the same politics.

Also, Palin's negatives are very high here from the people I talk to, which is surprising because they really like Vuitton bags too.

[lilpeg]

09:10 AM on 10/27/2008

I live in a blue part of a red southern state. Early voting has gone thru the roof here. They are predicting an unprecedented 70% turnout when it is all over with. What with all the interest, our local elections should be very tight. My 'hood is evenly split btw Obama and McCain yard signs. But, an Obama sign does not necessarily correlate with a sign for a local democrat or a liberal vote on our referendums. We eagerly await what will happen on 11/4 not only nationally but locally.

[juzcuz]

06:51 PM on 10/27/2008

I live on the coast Oregon in Florence, near Eugene. Our town is 8600 people and this is the first time ever... a campaign headquarters was set up for any president elect. Obama's headquarters here is very busy and active. In this small town... there are many Obama signs & fans. Not many McCain signs. I'm pretty certain Oregon will be all blue this time around. We do mail in ballots (which is such a great way to do it)... I can't understand why other states insist on machines, chads, butterflys boo-boos and more boo-boos?

[BillCarson]

12:03 AM on 10/28/2008

Portland Oregon: It's all Obama, not a single McCain sign is sight.