Oct. 13, 2008
Greetings from the battleground state of Colorado. I live in Grand Junction - a community referred to as being on the "western Slope" 250 miles west of Denver over the Rockies in the high desert 30 miles from the Utah border.
I am 53, a proud son of the Minnesota Farmer Labor Party. I had been involved in the past with progressive issues such as the wars in Central America but for a long time have taken a break. With eight years of Bush, enough is enough.
We are smack dab in the middle of deepest crimson of what has been a red state. Bush beat Kerry 2-1 in the 2004 election. We have had our work cut out for us.
My wife Janette and I have been involved with the campaign since last December. Caucus leader, alternate delegate to the state convention, and finally, a full delegate when those who just had to go as delegates at the last minute are no shows. The summer ended with a weekend in Denver for the Invesco Field acceptance speech. Fired up and ready to go.
Janette and I have phone banked, canvassed, we are team leaders, and have hosted visiting campaigners who have helped with canvassing the last three weeks.
I have canvassed in 100 degree weather, and last Sunday had to wear gloves. I've been bit in the ass by a dog; Had one elderly gentleman tell me "I don't vote for n**gers or Republicans." And have had good people bless me for doing what I'm doing and given me a large bunch of fresh basil that I made into pesto.
For the last three weeks we have had folk from Utah drive over to help with canvassing. We have been able to hit over 4000 doors per weekend with their help. It has been great getting to meet these dedicated workers.
Oct. 14th
Last Sunday we attended get out the vote GOTV training both Janette and I are polling place leads PPL's. We are so close; now's the time to close the deal, bring it on home, finish strong, leave nothing in the tank. You get the idea.
From now until the election is over our world is precincts 39, 47, 49. They are our battleground states. We have to get these voters out. We have mail in voting going on now and early voting in a few days.
Canvassing precinct 39 turf 2 tonight. It is getting dark at 6:45 so evening canvases are like an aerobic work out. 41 doors about 60 names to do in the next 1 ½ hours, Piece of cake. Our focus is now on getting out the vote. I am asking everyone to still do mail in voting and encouraging people to vote early. I warn everyone that we are tracking every supporter so expect to see me or someone else until all the votes are in. Even some of our supporters are getting a little testy. Don't get me wrong. They are still strong supporters they just get a little weary of us showing up at dinner time.
Many McCain supporters now, that's a whole different story. When they answer the door often there is an immediate scowl. Tonight, two classic responses. "We don't do politics at the door. Go away." Slam goes the door. At another door as soon as I say that I am campaigning with the Obama campaign, "no, no, no, no," and am dismissed with the wave of her hand as if I am her servant.
Now I'm scowling.
There is always at least one redeeming encounter. Tonight on a block full of McCain signs a supporter wants to purchase an Obama yard sign. Great. I have several in my car and will bring one by at the end of the evening. When we return a young boy 6 years old or so comes running out of the house, jams 5 dollars in my hand and takes off with the sign. He falls once, picks himself up and takes off at a run to the end of the yard. There he plants the stakes in the grass like he's planting the flag on Iwo Jima.
6:30 and I am done, I had a pretty good contact rate tonight. I visited with 21 people, many of whom will do mail in voting. That's best if they don't want to see me back on their door step.