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

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Comments

[maryhaze]

i'm in the white mtns of NH. tiny little town, but mostly split. we've lost a lot of jobs up here & businesses are going under. i cook for the Obama camp & that place is always jumping. bunch of young kids working their butts off. the mccain camp, not so much. they are only there 2 hours a week & my dh said when he last went by it was a bunch of old men wearing buttons standing around outside. now they are talking about pulling out altogether. almost sad if it weren't so deserved. & no one messes with my signs. maybe because messing with signs at a dog rescue is a really bad idea, when one doesn't know what big, mean dogs are loose at any given moment.:~)­))

[7and7is]

I'm in Brevard County Fl, a very Baptist conservative area where 200 ft cell towers sport light up crosses. Early voting is have a huge turn out here. Lines are long but very friendly.

[CincyKid]

A new color for a new era in America

I am inspired by Obama's ability to unite voters across party lines to suggest a new color for election day tee shirts--not blue, not red, which still represent party division, but purple, a combination of the two.
Last Sunday, the New York Times magazine article on Obama featured subheadlines that illustrate this blend of blue and red. Let's get rid of the polarizing colors and mark the beginning of a new era in the United States with a new color that reflects that unity.

[Megley]

Not a lot of signs in my part of town (Saginaw, MI); my two neighbors and I had Obama-Biden signs in our yards for two days but they were stolen--probably for the metal. But almost everyone I talk to on a daily basis is voting for Obama; in fact, I don't recall any other election where folks were so engaged with either candidate. As depressing as things are around Saginaw, there is a very palpable sense of hope regarding this election. I was talking to a 19-year-old African-American male the other day, about this election, and he said two things that struck me. First, he seemed stunned that white folks would actually vote for a black candidate, especially considering the destructive force that was Detroit's mayor. He said. "well, if y'all white folks are voting for him, he must be doing something right." The other thing my young friend said was particularly prescient: "Voting for McCain would be like voting for your grampa, huh?"

[karmagirl1061]

Michigan is going blue !

[jellybeanboots]

I live in upstate NY. Looking around, the support seems pretty divided. In my development, I spotted 4 McCain / Palin signs alone while walking the dog. Yuck. I was tempted to let my dog pee on them, but I didn't. :-)

Two of those people had "Protect The Unborn" bumper stickers on the cars in their driveways, so I suspect these people are one-issue voters that wouldn't be swayed no matter what.

In response, I carved 2 pumpkins that say "Vote Obama" and have them displayed in front of my house. The closer the election comes though, I am starting to see more and more Obama signs on people's lawns.

On my commute to work each morning, I also see many McCain bumper stickers, but still not as many as the Obama stickers. I suspect that most people here are still voting Obama, but the McCain supporters are more upfront in showing their support because they know they are a minority in NY. (I hope I'm right about this.)

I can't wait for the election. I thought I was anxious about the last presidential election, but that was nothing compared to this one.

Obama/Biden '08!!!!

[tellusthetruth]

Palmer, Alaska...
We are the minority, BUT strong!
I have my Obama/Biden sign proudly planted in the snow and have become accustomed to flashing the peace sign and a huge grin to those sporting the opposition in stickers, sweatshirts, buttons, and the occasional billboard attatched to the pick up truck.
I went to the art store today to pick up brushes and all the cars in the lot had an Obama bumper sticker...­safe to say we have many Obama supporters up hear amongst the sheep who are for McCain for all the wrong reasons...­Palin being the hometown "ding-bat"­....

[Melissa]

I live in a gated community in Jacksonville, Florida and our Homeowners Association does not allow any signs. Most of my neighbors are for McCain

[Fremon]

Interesting about being McCain country. My relatives lived there during the 40's and 50's. My brother went to high school there for a year. I was depressing then from what I understand. At least they have a football team have something to do on Sunday's instead of going to a red neck Baptist Church.

[AnalyzeIT]

In San Diego I do not see many yard signs for either candidates at least not in my neighborhood, although there are more for Obama. As one goes further inland away from the ocean shore, there are more displayed Obama yard signs.

I have my Obama-Biden buttons, tee-shirt, sweat shirt and bumper sticker, my condo complex does not allow yard or balcony signs.

The law firm in which I'm employed, (very large firm) is rather conservative, but with that I might add, from what I can detect the majority of them favor Obama.... which is a surprise. That in part could have a lot to do with my firms connections with the "sciences" biotech companies and some laws regarding science research.

OBAMA-BIDEN

[hapiday]

There's been some Obama signs in rural Maryland. Good to see! The city not too many signs. People seem to be keeping under cover.

[primeelite]

Cool pictures but we all know NYC is already for Obama, I hope we see some photos of rural America being this supportive or better I am hoping we see a president Obama on Nov 4th.
- - -
http://www.sumcontent.com

[PDXTransplant]

The SoHo picture is the best. I love it when I see huge pictures on the side of buildings or large billboards of Obama. On the way to work I go past a Labor Ready place and there is a huge sign VOTE OBAMA that is as big as the picture window out front. There isn't a mark on the sign or sign of grafitti or abuse after being there for months. I wish I could steal the sign after the election.

Don't tell anyone though... ;o)

[GV97]

Early voting in Florida MASSIVE !! Some waiting in line patiently for 5 hours.....­all ages....
Whites,Blacks talking to one another...­... just a wonderful sight to see.
I was there with my Obama Pin proudly displayed.

[lafrance]

ha,. I live in protected territory. Obamaland. Northcentral Illinois. So we have zero rallies. A few signs have popped up and I've seen a few bumper stickers (including mine).
I have seen a handful of Obama national ads on cable. That is it.
Oh, the newspapers fell awhile ago for Obama.
We thought we could catch some action from Wisconsin or Iowa with them being battleground states until they fell really fast into Obama's camp.
It's kind of surreal because we usually have alot going on during the national elections.
But, Illinois loves Obama and is firmly with him.
As an Obama koolaid drinker, in a way I like that it's quiet because we are the home team and the surrounding states are locked up pretty much which is good news.
Election night will be exciting. We live about an hour or so west of Chicago and the big party in Grant Park that night will be a blast. I've heard something like 70,000 are expected.

[thatonehurt]

There is no victory as sweet as that achieved against an enemy who was certain he would win. - Manly Rash

[hapiday]

Just to stay on topic in Maryland most of the signs I've seen are Obama signs. I've seen them in quite a few rural areas. It looks pretty promising.

[missedith]

I was in Walmart in Reno this morning and there were three white teenaged boys in the Halloween section combing through the masks:
"Aw man! There's no Obama ones left!"
"They got a Hillary dude."
The one kid looked at his buddy, annoyed, then put on the Hillary one saying "Better than going as McCain, but I wanted Obama."

[mom2sons]

Best one of the day. Thanks Missedith. LOL .....I can just picture it. Way too funny! VOTE OBAMA-BIDEN 08! Here in Pittsburgh, my fiancee and I have taken to looking for signs while driving and it seems to be Obama's way here too. Guess I'll carve my pumpkin to say VOTE FOR OBAMA too.