Canvassing Vermont: Snow On The Ground And Salt Of The Earth

I spent this past weekend stomping through snowy Vermont, going door-to-door in St. Johnsbury on Saturday and Barre ("Barry") on Sunday. (Last weekend we'd phonebanked to Chelsea). On arrival in St. Johnsbury, we immediately encountered the most visible sign of Ben & Jerry's endorsement of Obama: the ObamaMobile, driven by staff intern Erin. Talk about visibility.

Both towns are of roughly similar size and demographic makeup: over 95% white and per capita incomes well under $20,000. In both locations, more than just monster snowbanks threatened to swallow entire homes: For Sale signs dotted the landscape -- many, apparently, from foreclosures. No one ever answered the door at those houses.

St. Johnsbury hillsideThere's an interesting mix of trust and protectiveness up in northern Vermont. A significant percentage of homes had large, loud, and frankly scary dogs. At the end of one cul-de-sac, I conducted an entire conversation shouting at a man in a distant window while his two dogs ran interference. I was breaking a fundamental rule of canvassing -- watching my personal safety -- but in this case it was worthwhile. The whole household supports Obama.

At the same time, many families kept their doors unlocked. Several of us accidentally burst into occupied homes while attempting to insert flyers.

Taped to the window of one door I knocked on was a neatly-written sign that read, "We are happy Catholics. We aren't interested in changing our religion!" A older lady opened the door and kindly informed that she was, indeed, supporting Obama. Delighted, I asked if her husband was also voting for him. "[John] has Alzheimer's," she said in a hushed voice. I expressed my sympathy as someone whose grandfather and grandfather-in-law had also suffered from the disease. Her voice took on a twinge of anger when she said, "He doesn't even know I'm his wife!" We held hands briefly, and I said goodbye.

Keep reading this piece on the author's blog.