Yesterday, election day, I spent 3.5 hours in the Van Nuys, California Obama HQ (northern LA--the San Fernando Valley), calling people in Pennsylvania, Colorado, and then Nevada, checking to see if they voted, if they knew where their polling place was. This was session 9.
On Monday, I completed my eighth volunteering session for the Obama campaign. It's more than I've ever done for a political campaign before, I believe my efforts have helped a little, and I know I could have done far more. But here's the rundown:
A Sunday in late August: terrified by the polls showing McCain up by two points, I go to the Obama website, download a call sheet, and make twenty calls. As with most calling, there are a lot of "no answers." I speak to three live people. Two of them politely tell me I have the wrong number. The last guy I speak is a supporter of Obama, but he can't vote--he's a felon. "Well," I say, "if you're a former felon, you might actually be able to get your right to vote back." There is a sigh filled with disappointment. "Nah...current felon." But he says to me, "keep goin', man. Keep goin."
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