With the campaign in its final weeks, I decided it was time to get involved above and beyond what I normally do. I had gotten an e-mail from the Obama campaign asking volunteers to travel to battleground states, and it sounded like a great idea. Being from New Jersey, we were mostly pitched on trips to Pennsylvania. I had other plans. PA definitely needs help, but there was another state that called to me. It was the state that crushed my hopes in 2004, and it's shaping up to be a prime swing state again in 2008. I was dead set on going to Ohio.
There were some practical consideration, too. My cousin moved to Cleveland a few months ago and had some extra room. I have a car at my disposal, and the drive was manageable. Also, I've been unemployed for four months, and my job prospects are looking pretty slim. So with loads of free time, a set of wheels, and a nice play to stay, OH just made sense. And let's not forget the 20 electoral votes.
So I packed my things, threw caution to the wind, and set out for a place that I had only briefly visited once in my life. Aside from my cousin, I didn't know anyone in OH. I had no idea what was waiting for me. I was jumping into the deep end of the pool on a cold day.
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