Jazzed NC Dems Work to Put Obama Over the Top

Tonight, at a Durham fundraiser, Obama supporters were jazzed about the increasingly real possibility that their man will win North Carolina on election night. The state moved into the "toss up" category about two weeks ago and Obama has led by a 1% - 5% margin since then. Looking this blue is a stunning turn of events for a state that has voted red in every election since 1980.

Amy Tornquist, owner of Watts Grocery Restaurant opened her doors on a Monday night for the fundraiser, which was co-sponsored by several local Obama campaign workers. All of the restaurant workers donated their time to the event, because it was "the right thing to do," according to Zavi Lahiff, general manager. About 80 attendees, who contributed at least $100 each to the campaign, were treated to Tornquist's modern southern cuisine, while a quartet played jazz.

Among the guests were a number of Obama volunteers who thought they knew why he was doing so well in their state. Ariel Rogers is the leader of a "Mobile Obama Team." Her job is to take teams of volunteers to small towns in North Carolina, to register voters and recruit campaign volunteers. She said, "The Obama campaign has five full time staff in Durham. They provide materials and a walk list for canvassing. They have a contact in each county. This is what it means to have a community organizer running for president. Because of the organization of this campaign, volunteers have registered record numbers of voters. Republicans put Obama down for his community organizer background, but that's one of the reasons we're going to win the election."

Faulkner Fox, author, Yale graduate and lead organizer of Durham for Obama, agreed that the strategy in North Carolina is "extraordinary voter registration." She talked about a registration drive that took place in Goldsboro last weekend, where more than 600 new voters were registered. "People who have never voted before are registering to vote. People who are in their 60's. Obama is the first candidate that they feel enthusiastic enough about to vote for. After they register, then they volunteer to work and give us 20 hours per week."

Another campaign volunteer, Daphne Davis, went on the Goldsboro drive. She told the story of registering a 70 year old woman who hasn't voted since the '60's because "government hasn't done anything for her. We told her Obama would." After registering, this woman called four of her friends, who came to her house and registered, too. When asked if she thought the newly registered voters would actually vote, Davis said, "We're going to go back and take them to the polls."

Holly Lewis, a successful marketing consultant who left big business to "pursue things I care about" talked about the voters she has helped to register. "These are people who have been left out of the political process. They are totally confused... and don't know how to vote. Some of them who managed to vote in the primary thought they had already voted for president. But they are so open to us, not at all embarrassed to admit their confusion."

All of the campaign volunteers at this event spoke of the enthusiasm they were encountering. "There is no pulling teeth to get people to volunteer for this campaign," said Faulkner. "It's a grassroots base of volunteers who are interracial and intergenerational. It's incredible and inspiring to be part of this moment."

What if the efforts of these volunteers are successful and North Carolina goes for Obama on election night? As things currently stand, Obama has 264 electoral votes lined up from states that are either solidly for him or leaning heavily in his direction. If these states remain in his corner, he would need one more state to put him over the 270 electoral votes required to win the election. With 15 electoral votes, North Carolina is one of five toss-up states that could do the job alone (Ohio, Florida, Virginia and Colorado are the other four).

James Tulsky, professor of Medicine and Nursing at Duke University and a member of the Alpha Change Crew (a crew of campaign volunteers covering five voting precincts in Durham) has helped to register 1500 new voters. He believes that anywhere between 200,000 and 400,000 new voters have registered in North Carolina and "If we get the vote out, we'll win." Asked what he would do if that happened, he said, "I would cry. I've thought about it and that would be my first reaction."

Tulsky said he comes from "good progressive stock" and recounted how, after moving to Durham 15 years ago, he noticed that Jesse Helms was only winning his elections by small percentages. He felt that one day, North Carolina politics might move in a different direction, and has worked tirelessly for the Obama campaign toward that effect. "To be able to move our state in this direction and support this candidate at this time would be a huge statement about who we are as a state and also about where this country has the potential to go. There is no such thing as red and blue states when you get people involved."

Tulsky is not the only one who will react with tears if Obama wins North Carolina. Michael McRae, an African American psychologist and father said, "I'm going to cry...such an emotional point. It would be such an accomplishment. My daughter, Amari, would get to see Obama, a black man, doing such a phenomenal job. She cares about it."

McRae continue, "It sends a powerful message to young black boys and girls, who might think there is a glass ceiling. Obama represents the American dream. He has had so many experiences -- black kid who grew up in a white family, grew up in Kansas, Hawaii. Everyone relates to a piece of him. If Republicans searched hard, they would find it in him as well."

Not everyone will react with tears to an Obama victory in North Carolina. As her guests were leaving, Tornquist said, "That would be awesome. I told my children I would dance in the middle of the street, in the middle of the biggest street I could find."

In the meantime, voter registration in North Carolina ends on October 10. After that, these campaign organizers will turn their attention to their next and final task: getting all these newly registered voters to the polls. Motivated by the chance to break a 28-year red streak, they seem up to the task. If all goes as they plan, these North Carolina Democrats are going to need plenty of Kleenex and some dancing shoes on November 4th.

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Comments

[nkraieski]

For anyone in the Raleigh/Durham area who is interested in supporting Barack Obama on a local level, Flywheel Design will be hosting a fundraising event tomorrow, October 9th, from 5-8 at our office in downtown Durham. The party will feature a live performance by Mosadi Music and free PBR. Come out and show your support!

Check out the website [ http://www.obama-now.net/ ] for more information!

[valbuenapfauem]

I've lived most my life in NC, particularly in Winston Salem. I'm 18 years old, a freshman in college and I barely made the mark to vote. So for the first time ever I'll be driving down to my hometown of Winston, casting my ballot for Barack Obama...and father god if this state goes blue I'm gonna bawl. It will be the end of an era...please, let it be!

[Nuri]

The Triad (Greensboro, High Point & Winston-Salem, NC) for Obama/Biden 08!

[Charmed]

I'll cry too.....I'm in NC and believe me there have been some scarey days and encounters but we shake it off and keep working. Obama 08!

[musselmanm]

I thank my Lord that our country finally has a chance to go in a different direction. I have cried several times already during this campaign.
I do not believe that this new direction can solve all of our problems with the wave of one Black hand but I know we will be going in the right direction to restore America and American dreams.
I, just like John McCain have a tendancy to get mad over the many false things which are said in a scortched earth campaign. I am willing to be the angry black man for Senator Obama. Since Bobby Kennedy was killed I have been angry. The main problem with me being the angry black man is that I am almost 60, white, disabled on a very small income. I have always been more closely aligned with the black and hispanic population as a heavy construction worker for over 30 years. I gave up my body in order to create profit for corporations which in many cases did not care in the least for me or my family.
I hope that all people on the downside of these last 40 years recognize the chance we have in our hands at this time.
We do have the ability through Senator Obama to take back our country.
Yes we will!
Obama/Biden '08

[mom2sons]

I'll cry too. Thanks, NC from PA Vote Obama 08! YES WE WILL!