Virginia Vet Sees Obama Supporters Thronging the Polls

At seven-thirty this morning I went to the polls two blocks from my house. I had voted two weeks before, but I wanted to observe the activity in my stretch of the city. I saw a neighbor in the front of the line, just short of entering the building. He had been waiting for an hour. Behind him, the line stretched the remainder of the block and had turned the corner. I have voted in elections here for the past four years, usually in the morning, and never had to wait more than 10-15 minutes.

Our voting precinct is a mix. We have public housing on some blocks right across the street from townhouses appraised in the high six figures; some are worth more than a million. Though Democrats predominate in local elections, the Republicans have usually been effective when it comes to turning out their voters. From what I saw this morning and yesterday, the GOP's ground troops are either still asleep in their tents or off somewhere in "the real Virginia" rallying the faithful to overcome we who dwell in what Joe McCain (John's brother) rechristened "communist country."

I saw Democrats, but no Republicans, near the polls with placards and sample ballots. One woman wearing an Obama button was holding up a sign that said, "Do you need a ride home?" Around the corner I saw a seven-person minivan with two signs on the side: Obama-Biden and Voter Transportation.

When I called the local Democratic committee yesterday to volunteer to drive voters to the polls, the woman who answered put my name on a list. In years past, the local party had to beg for volunteers. This year, hundreds of locals have been making calls, knocking on doors and doing the sort of person-to-person contact that the GOP did so well in elections past.

Yesterday, I walked the half-mile from my house to the Braddock Road Metro station carrying my Veterans for Obama sign. In my head, I saw myself as one of those cartoon characters with a placard warning onlookers of the imminent end of the world. Then, as people saw my sign, I got honks, waves and shouts of "All Right!" - first from a bus driver, then from a postal worker.

I got to the Metro station about 3:45. A half-hour later, I was joined by Rob Krupicka, a Democratic member of the Alexandria City Council. The number of Obama volunteers grew over the next three hours to six, as we greeted commuters and offered them Democratic sample ballots.

Not one Republican volunteer showed up. We met and spoke with a number of McCain supporters - the sort of friendly exchange you expect to have with neighbors. Only two got testy. One man yelled "Socialists!" as he walked away. Then, thinking better, he corrected himself and cried: "Communists!" Another man went by and muttered under his breath: "Traitor."

Last night, the local Democratic committee rented a Jumbotron. They set it up on King Street across from Market Square to broadcast Obama's speech from Manassas, a battleground in the Civil War and the seat of Prince William County (2006 population: 357,503).

If you want a bellwether for how Virginia -- and possibly, the nation -- will go tonight, watch the returns from Prince William County after the polls close at 7 PM (EST). George Bush easily carried the county in 2004. Last year, the Republican-dominated county council targeted its growing community of Latino immigrants by requiring police to check the immigration documents of anyone stopped for traffic violations or other apparent "crimes." This year the collapse of housing prices, rising home foreclosures and job loss have hit this county hard. The outcome in Prince William -- and possibly in the Commonwealth itself -- will likely hinge on whether voters are lured once again by the sirens of Republican "social values" or respond instead to Democratic pocketbook issues.

The crowd who heard Obama last night in Manassas numbered more than 90,000. There were no seats, and some people had been waiting since the gates opened at 5 PM. Delayed by earlier events and traffic, Obama did not start his speech until 10:30.

Whether it was the death yesterday of his grandmother or the end of his long, last day of campaigning, Obama sounded pensive at times. He publicly thanked John McCain for his phone call earlier in the day, expressing his condolences. He also commended McCain for his service in the Navy, as he often does when speaking of his rival, but this time went further, citing McCain's opposition to torture and support for a more sensible immigration policy.

Then, he swung into his stump speech, emphasizing economic issues, ending the war in Iraq and investing in alternative energy, health care and education.

He began his peroration with a story he often tells about a woman in Greenwood, SC, who prevailed on him last year, when he registered barely a blip in the opinion polls, to travel on a rain-soaked day to meet with a group of 20 people, who were "damp and kind of sleepy, ... [and not] excited to be there, either." Then, he recalled, "as I go around this room suddenly I hear this voice cry out behind me: 'Fired up!' And I'm shocked. I jump up; I don't know what's going on. But everyone else acts like this is normal, and they go: 'Fired up!' Then, I hear this voice say: 'Ready to go!' And the other 20 people act as if this happens all the time and they say: 'Ready to go!'

"And I don't know what's going on, and I look behind me, and there's this small woman, about sixty years old; she's a little over five feet. It looks like she just came from church; she's got a big church hat. And she's standing there, and she's looking at me and she's smiling, and she says: 'Fired up!' Turns out she's a city councilwoman from Greenwood, who also moonlights as a private detective - I'm not making this up - and it turns out she is famous for her chant....

"But here's the thing, Virginia, after a minute or so, I'm feeling kind of fired up. I'm feeling like I'm ready to go. So, I joined in the chant, and it feels good. And for the rest of the day, even after we left Greenwood, even though it was still raining, even though I was still not getting big crowds anywhere, even though we had not gotten the endorsement of the people we were hoping for, somehow I felt a little lighter, I felt a little better....

"Here's my point, Virginia. Here's how the thing started. It shows you what one voice can do. One voice can change a room, and if a voice can change a room, it can change a city. And if it can change a city, it can change a state. And if it can change a state, it can change a nation. And if it can change a nation, it can change the world.

"Virginia! Your voice can change the world tomorrow! In 21 hours, if you are willing to endure some rain, if you're willing to drag that person you know whose gonna vote to the polls, if you're willing to organize and volunteer in the offices, if you are willing to stand with me, if you're willing to fight with me, I know your voice will matter.

"So, I've got just one question for you, Virginia. Are you fired up? Are you ready to go?"

At Manassas and here in Alexandria's Market Square, it was like the call and response at a gospel meeting.

"Fired up?"

"Fired up!"

"Ready to go?"

"Ready to go!"

Then, simply but with intensity, he concluded: "Virginia! Let's go change the world. Thank you. God bless you. God bless the United States of America."

Comments

[PTAPittbull]

when the crowd says yes we can
i think obama should say "we can and we will"
to motivate clinton suporters "and that we must
continue fighting for the middle class
if america is going to continue in greatness"

[SteveDenver]

Colorado has early voting and I live near three downtown high-rise buildings that house mostly elderly, handicapped and disabled tenants. I put up signs (with Obama stickers) offering rides to the polls and had so much response that I contacted the Obama office for extra help. Three of us coordinated and moved almost 150 people to the polls and back, and didn't lose one. It has been phenomenal!

Next, we have to fix our voting mechanism. As far as I'm concerned, when the election concerns federal matters, it becomes a federal concern.

1. Every voter will be asked for no more than 2 hours of time to cast their vote.
2. Every vote will be preserved and counted carefully -- there is no such thing as "discarding" provisional ballots that are valid
3. Misinformation, disinformation, intimidation and other tactics become federal offenses.
4. Companies handling voting devices, technology, production and delivery of ballots and voting machines are federally liable (Denver County had 10,000 mail-in ballots that didn't show up from the company producing them and the Post Office vouched that they dropped off 10,000 fewer than they reported to the County)
5. All returns will be reported only after polls have closed nationwide, to avoid swaying voters in polls in West Coast time zones.

[eirrac]

SteveDenver: I agree with you completely, on all points. I'm especially concerned by the Republican misinformation that causes people to not vote (item 3). It's shameful, and should be a federal offense. Item 4 is also a very important suggesstion. I've heard that sometimes provisional ballots aren't counted. From what you say here, it must be true. Sad.

[stella33]

Thank you! Thank you! For sharing this with us. As a voter in Virginia I am fired up! I am ready to go! So much so, I had to vote last week because I couldn't contain myself. Let's go Obama! 1 hr and 15 mins until the VA polls close!!

[TallGrrl]

I, too, am a government worker and at my cubicle I have 2 handmade signs:
Fired Up!!
and
Ready To Go!!
I also have Obama on my iPod.
And I'll be fired up and ready to go until I get out of here in about 2 1/2 hours, get home and watch Obama get 270 electora votes.
Into the breech, Virginia!!!
Thank you, Peter for your uplifting report.

[Trudydoll]

I voted for Obama @ 7:00 am, and I still have a smile on my face .... That is a first for me!

[SColbert]

It felt so good to vote, I have been happy all day. Lets hope this has a good end.

[Chem is she]

We just moved to VA two years ago, so this is my first presidential election in a "red" state. Our neighbor, a DoD employee, was volunteering for Obama outside our polling place. We saw him during his break outside of his house today. He said he has never seen a turn out like the one today and his impression is that the crowd was 3:1 Obama.

[ScooterLiddy]

Wow. Brought tears to the eyes of this Veteran for Obama. Thanks.

[ReesieKitty]

I work in advertising and have a lot of clients who I don't meet with in person, just over the phone. We have friendly working relationships, but seldom discuss anything personal. in the past week, I've had so many clients sort of feel me out and then say that they are voting for Obama! It's very interesting- these people have no way of knowing my political views, and they are not trying to be pushy or convert anyone- it just comes out! But the very best was a woman of Middle Eastern background ( I only know this because she had a name it took me several tries to get right and she told me where she was from). She and her husband are legal citizens and have lived here for many years. They have a daughter in college. But she was very excited because her mother who had come to live with them is now a US citizen as well and she is going to vote for the first time! Their daughter is coming home from college so they can all go together with the grandma and she was so excited to tell me that they are ALL voting for Obama! It made me happy just to hear how proud she was.

[823redhorse]

My daughter, 27, has never voted. I got her registered in January. We voted this morning in Hampton, VA. Her for the first time. We are definetly fired up. Obama/Biden. Let's go.

[NorthCarolina4OBAMA]

I grew up in a Democratic home in SoCal in the turbulent '60s, but eventually became a Republican. My beliefs, not Party affiliation, are what have always dictated my vote. My brother and many classmates served in the Vietnam War, some never returning. We experienced the aftermath of assassinations of President John Kennedy, Senator Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King. We supported John McCain in the primary in his bid for the nomination in 2000, but not without our reservations. At the same time, we had begun drifting away from our support for the Republican Party. We began to increasingly question the right-leaning, myopic direction the Party was taking with its platform and ideology. After this year’s Democratic Convention, it was with no reservations that we supported Senator Obama. Moreover, it is because of Senator Obama's tireless energy, passion, vision and compassion that we have become re-energized about the prospects of hope for the future of our Nation. Our Nation may not be in an economic depression, but it's our feeling that we have become emotionally depressed about where President Bush's policies have dangerously moved our Country. We have been severely wounded within our borders and globally. Not since the days of President Kennedy do we feel there has been anyone as charismatic and who possesses the innate qualities, abilities, intelligence, conviction of purpose and leadership to be our President, and who can head us in the right direction toward healing the wounds that so desperately require attention!

[arethusa]

Right on the mark!!!! It's a progression I recognize in myself and my siblings.

[dfranz]

I tell you... Barrak Obama is transformational and inspirational. When 9-11 happened we were told to go shopping. Now we will be mobilized as a nation to take on the problems facing us as one united country. God Bless America indeed.

[katlade]

You know what - I think the pundits are wrong. Instead of Obama voters thinking he has it in the bag and staying home not voting, I think McCain voters are so bummed they are staying home. Can you imagine standing in line for hours among all these excited Obama voters. Must be disheartening for these poor repubs. Anyway, I think maybe (cross fingers) Obama might have a better turn-out than predicted. It is very exciting to vote when you think your candidate might win. And the fact that this election will make history it will be fun to tell your grandchildren that you voted for the first black president. Gobama.

[old lady]

I believe they're voting.. for Obama, that is. All the undecideds they've been worrying over were Obama voters who didn't want to admit it.. Expect huge Reverse Bradley effect.

[iconoclast33]

I just returned from my local liquor store where I purchased a bottle of bubbly for our celebration tonight - the owner of the store (a wonderful man Syrian-born but now a US citizen) noticed my "I Voted" sticker and asked me for whom did I vote. When I replied Obama - his face lit up and he replied - the whole world was voting for Obama.
Fired UP - Yes
Ready to Go - Yes
Got Hope - H3ll Yes

[DBJ]

I'm going to buy me some of that bubbly too when I leave work. I'm very fired up and I am so ready to go!!

[sisterdebmac]

Where I live, the liquors stores can't open until the polls close. How progressive, eh? LOL! I thought about buying some champagne last night, but to be honest, I don't really like the taste of the cheap stuff and I can't afford the expensive stuff. Guess I'll be toasting with beer. ;-p

[arethusa]

Yes, let's have the bubbly and enjoy the fact that we have elected someone with intelligence, good judgment, knowledge, a good analytical mind ... and decency. Then, let's get to work to make our country whole--economically stable with a good living for all, including healthcare; let us be sure that our own democratic system is a model of fairness, justice and honesty; let us restore our country and return to being respected in the world by helping to lead the human race to put an end to disease, poverty, oppression, war, hate, violence and hunger as well as for working with every country to save our growingly fragile, beautiful earth. We ARE Americans, and we can do this, if we continue to educate ourselves and to value education the way my parents did. Of four children, my father has 2 Ph.Ds, one M.A. and one B.S. He grew up during the depression and couldn't afford college, but he made sure we could and would go. We also need to value the talents and abilities of those who do not seek higher education. We need everyone, i f we are to be successful in the future.

[Coconutty]

goosebumps.

[politicalminded]

This is why folks should have voted early.