Rural Nevada Dems Come Out Of The Closet

ELKO, Nev. -- When Mable Kite decided to get involved in a political campaign for the first time in her life, she jumped right into the deep end. She organized her local caucus, served as an Obama precinct captain, provided room and board for out of town Obama staffers and volunteers since primary season, hosted several debate watching parties, and says she's "beat on doors and made phone calls ad nauseam."

"If I didn't give a damn about anyone else, I might think about being a Republican," Mable said. "The working person is silly to be a Republican."

Obama supporters gather in Elko, Nev., to watch the final debate

Most of the 14 people gathered in the Kite home to watch the third debate Wednesday offer similar reasons for why they're Democrats. They like taxes no more than anyone else, but believe that we're all responsible for paying for the infrastructure of this country. They don't think it's fair for huge corporations to take advantage of a tax breaks designed to help small businesses like family farms, and are appalled at the pay gap between executives and average workers. They believe the government should help the working class and poor with tax relief, affordable healthcare, and access to higher education.

"I can't afford the health insurance [for my employees], but we provide it," said Duane Jones. He runs a family-owned retail shop in town, and knows first hand the difficulty of being a small business owner in a down economy.

"I took a second job so we could pay for it," his wife, Delynn, added.

Delynn is a fourth-generation Elko County resident whose entire family is "dyed-in-the-wool Republican." She said she's been able to convince her sister to vote for Obama after bringing her to one of his campaign stops in town and is close to winning over her brother. "They talk Democratic values, but they think they have to vote Republican," she said.

First campaign office by a Democratic presidential nominee in Elko, Nev.

When New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson came through town stumping for Obama, he claimed the Illinois senator - who has made three stops in this conservative stronghold since the primaries - was the first Democratic presidential nominee to visit Elko in more than 50 years, Delynn said. And the state Democratic Party chairman was quoted in a local paper saying Obama is the first Democratic nominee to open a field office in Elko ever.

No one thinks Obama will win Elko County - where Bush had his highest level of support in the state, beating John Kerry 4-to-1 in 2004 - but the energy behind the Obama campaign and general dissatisfaction with the current administration has emboldened local Democrats and people leaning in that direction.

"For the first time in my life, the Democrats are willing to claim they're Democrats," Delynn said.

"It's still a tough community for anyone to not be a Republican in," Duane said. He supports Obama, but has stopped short of posting signs in his store windows for fear of losing business, noting Elko residents can be vindictive.

Pictures of her grandkids line the walls and countertops in the Kite home, and two stuffed Elk heads are mounted on the wall in the family room, evidence of successful hunting trips taken by her husband, Russell. Crosses and religious art abound, and a Catholic study bible sits atop a desk adjacent to the dining room table. Mable said the most flack she's taken for supporting Obama has probably been from members of her church.

People who once were friendly have become less so after learning of her political leanings. "They think, 'Oh, she supports Obama, she must be a baby killer,'" Mable imagines, noting that their new priest got in a lot of trouble from parishioners after attending an Obama rally.

Mable believes in the right to choose, and doesn't think it's right to force her morality on anyone else. But personally, she would encourage other options for women seeking her advice, and takes offense at the notion that pro-choice equals pro-abortion. She liked when Obama made the distinction in Wednesday's debate, telling me afterward, "No one is pro-abortion."

Unlike the Kites and Joneses, Jane Buckovich has not been a lifelong Democrat. Born in Mexico, she first settled in the Unites States in Elko when she was 13, then spent years living in Texas and California. She's been back in Elko for 8 years, and voted for Bush in 2000 but not 2004.

About a month ago, someone from Obama's local office contacted her and asked if she'd like to get involved in the campaign. She's been canvassing and phone banking, mostly to members of the Latino community. "I convince them in Spanish," she said.

While part of the Obama campaign's Nevada strategy centers on reducing the Republican margins in rural areas - say by shooting for 2-to-1 losses rather than 4-to-1 - by winning over people like Jane, local Democrats are simply relishing the opportunity to come out from under rocks.

The Kites and Joneses are a perfect example of what it was to be a Democrat before the Obama campaign rolled into town. The former neighbors lived across the street for years, but each family assumed the other had to be Republican. After all, Duane was a business owner and Russell was "an old fart," Duane said.

More signs are popping up supporting Democratic candidates (though they often don't last long before being stolen, Obama supporters claim) and local gatherings like this debate watching party are giving the black sheep of Elko their own political community.

During the debate, some of the loudest cheers and applause came when Obama went on the defensive. The guests thought he addressed the Ayers and ACORN questions with grace and laughed when he said, "Even Fox News disputes it," when McCain alleged Obama raised taxes on people making $40,000 a year. They like that their candidate is sticking up for himself, and are taking the opportunity to defend their own right to be Democrats in a sea of Republicans.

Before he leaves, I ask Duane if he'd prefer I not use his name when writing about their gathering since he repeatedly made reference to fears of losing business for his political views.

Duane thinks about it for a split second, then says it's okay, telling me, "I'm not hiding anymore."

Comments

[ginamae]

Thank you.

[AMonkey]

Thank you Mable. I'm your neighbor on the south end of the state. We're running into the same comments. I was naive, I didn't believe it would be so ugly, my husband warned me it would get more and more ugly as election day approached. R a c is m is rearing its ugly head in our country. And the re li gious right is making yet a stronger power grab to control the government. But people like Mable are out there fighting the good fight. Let's follow her lead.

[AnalyzeIT]

APOLOGIES for the intrusion on this post. PAY ATTENTION WHEN YOU VOTE

W.Va. voters angry over switched votes:
10-18- 2008 Paul J. Nyden Staff writer

Jackson County touch-screens switched votes, 3 residents say

"Jackson County is a Republican county. I am a registered Republican, but I have been voting Democrat since the 1990s."

Thomas, who brought his daughter with him to the polls, said she had the same problem.

"After I finished, my daughter voted. When she pushed Obama, it went to McCain. It happened to her the same way it happened to me. If the poll worker knew that, why didn't she tell me before I even pushed the button?"

"Sometimes machines can become miscalibrated when they are moved from storage facilities to early voting areas," Bailey said Friday. "We get a couple of calls about this each election year."
Most voting machines in most counties do work properly, Bailey added.

Jackson County Clerk Jeff Waybright said, "After we got a call from the Secretary of State's Office, we recalibrated the machine. We had already voted over 400 people with no problems."
Voting problems occur when voters touch the screen, Waybright said, but do not put their fingers inside boxes for their candidates.

Waybright blamed the problem on voters. "People make mistakes more than the machines," he said.

"Leaving the polling place," she said, "I wondered how many voters might not have noticed that their vote was switched on the machine."

[LetMeUnderstandThis]

If you have any problems tell your local Registrars office and also tell the Obama office about what is going on. Also i'm not sure if th option is avaialble in your area but you vote either via the electronic method or by paper ballot.

[mrtutto]

I'm not hiding anymore, I'm voting Democratic. I like my gun, but I love my job.

[judesedit]

Thank you, Mable. You show you are really putting your country first. You are a credit to Elko and a good citizen of the United States. Thank you for caring about our futures.

[naschkatze]

Good on you guys. Everyone worries about "the Bradley effect", but I would think it would be the opposite, for example, white people in southern states being afraid to say that they are going to vote for Obama, say they are going to vote McCain, but in the polling booth, who is to know?

[lejman]

i love elko, nevada.

kudos to mable and her determination.

[mom2sons]

Keep up the good work Elko! VOTE OBAMA-BIDEN 08!

[HalR]

Good story, only wish more of the voters would make their decisions on the major issues and
not the continuing wedge issues. It great they are finally coming out on the issues locally.

[AlaskanToo]

Thanks for this article Huff Po. I'm so proud of these patriotic folks willing to take a stand for what they believe in. You go Elko!

[afgail]

In 2004 I went to Nevada from California to do GOTV for Kerry. When we went to bed at midnight on election night Kerry was ahead by a tiny margin. By the next morning the rural area returns were in and Bush won by the slimmest of margins. Rural Nevada carried the state by voting 99% for Bush. Elko you just might bring Nevada home to the Democratic ticket. Don't stop doing what you are doing. And bless you.

[4wehttam]

My mother lives in SW Reno, in a nice suburban community. She says she sees Obama/Biden signs everywhere, which is a refreshing change because in '04 she mostly just saw Bush/Cheney signs and bumper stickers.

[nightslider]

Thank you Elko for inspiring us to be proud of who we are and what we are, Democrats, the inclusive party for all.
I sit here at my computer marveling at what this 62 year man has seen in his life, fiction turned to reality
Dick Tracy and his wrist communicator, how close to reality is it>
julles Vern 20.000 leagues under the sea, Journey to the Moon, Saturn, Mars.
A country conflicted over racism, slavery, prejudiced,whole sale bigotry. JFK,Bobby

[blastit]

This was a great article and I'm thrilled that they are building their own politcal community,there are so many things that need to be done in our country even after the election I would like to get more involved in doing stuff like helping communities enpower themselves with jobs and education and voting more on a local level it would be awesome if the people running Obama's campaign could keep it going for local dems and progressives.

[Martee]

HuffPost's Pick

I went stumping for Obama in Nevada. The people were great! Most everyone I talked to was very pro-Obama. And those who were undecided had legitimate concerns and questions -- and just wanted to be sure they were doing the righ thing. Even those who had decided for McCain were pleasant and respectful. It was a great experience. I hope everyone can get out and share your reasons for voting for Obama with someone who may still be undecided. Go O!