A quick canvassing report from the front lines of Iowa. Last Saturday was my second or third trip to Dubuque. We’ve canvassed the last three elections there. So many modest and neat little neighborhoods and few frayed around the edges, all set on steep hilly streets that can twist you around in circles.
Iowa is very close, and we saw waaaay more Trump signs than those for Hillary, though the local campaign office said they had run out long ago; there were just no more to give those who wanted them. (Not sure I get that one. But I’ve heard before that signs are expensive and not that effective.) Nonetheless, Trump had some BIG ones. And a lot on corners on property that seemed to be public way. Typical, I guess.
Just like last time, a few seniors told us to MYOB. They weren’t saying who they were voting for. They were voting on election day; no early voting. And yeah, there were a couple of shockers. One man and one woman who had voted Obama now voting Trump? Another senior who said Hillary could count on his wife’s vote -- but not his. “Well, let me talk to her, then,” I said, “I need to tell her to work on you.” He laughed a little, even if he wasn’t convinced. (If you have never canvased, most people, even those on the other side, are nice to you.)
Among those who were voting for Hillary – they wanted to talk. We had about a half dozen in-depth conversations with people who seemed to want us to stay. Trump, I could tell, frightened them. It wasn’t just dislike, as it was with Romney or McCain. “I’m afraid,” confirmed one lovely senior lady who called herself a liberal even though liberal is a “dirty word” these days. “That man is dangerous.” She confided (in a whisper, although we were alone in her condo) that there were three people in her bridge club who she was pretty sure were Trump supporters. But she hadn’t talked to them about it. It seemed like she didn’t want to risk being treated like Hillary. “I don’t know why they hate her so much,” she said. Although she enjoys going to the polls on election day, because we told her that Hillary was advocating early voting, she promised she would. (If you’ve never canvassed, it does make you feel like you are making a difference.)
Another woman stopped us on the street when she saw our buttons. She had already voted but wanted to tell us about her disabled adult son who lived at home with them. She was frantic watching program after program vanish for him - the work programs for the disabled and other meager enrichments were drying up. She was convinced if Trump won, there would be nothing for her son. “Thanks for listening,” she said at last, “and thanks for what you’re doing today.” (If you have never canvassed, it can really make you feel good).
The most enthusiastic was a man who asked us for early voting applications for his wife, his mother-in-law who had just moved in with them, and his teenaged son, voting for the very first time “We are all for Hillary,” he said, and I want to make sure she gets all four votes.” (If you’ve never canvassed; it can actually cheer you up).
But the one who was made me think the most was a pastor who got early ballots for himself and his wife. He had been a Bernie supporter but now was fully behind Hillary, who he called a strong, qualified candidate. Trump, he felt was evil; support for him was baffling. But as worried as he had been by the rhetoric of this election, he had faith it would all work out for the best. What Trump had brought out in people, he felt, was a last dying gasp. And what had been accomplished in just eight years was amazing. “Look at the big picture,” he said, “I never believed that in my lifetime I would performed a gay marriage. Now I have. “
If you’ve never canvassed – there’s one weekend left.
