Greetings, neighbors. I'm on the front lines in Florida, running the hotline that our canvassers and drivers call in to when they run into problems. Here are some of the highlights:
DIRTY NEWS
* In numerous afluent predominantly white gated communities throughout the region, the neighborhood association's presidents have been demanding that canvassers leave or they will call the police. Of course, our canvassers carry with them a delightful legal document, citing a supreme court ruling, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society Vs. Village of Stratton, 536 US 150, 162(2002). That's right, people, the Jehovah's Witnesses paved the way for us to Canvass. Mind you, both the police and the neighborhood security tend to ignore that and escort our people off their property anyways. Many of our canvassers also have legal backgrounds, thus emboldening them to take on most of these communities.
- Yes, one association president yelled at our canvassers from his golf cart. Yes they ignored him.
- There have been numerous complaints from drivers who have been followed and intimidated by people following them and screaming that they "don't belong here."
- One individual actually cut our drivers off, got out of his car, and started banging on her window telling her to get the hell out.
- Reporting from ACT Philly, a friend shared with me the flyers they found that were being distgributed by some unknown source that said, "Republicans vote on November 2nd, Democrats vote on November 3rd," in predominently minority neighborhoods.
- One canvasser arrived at a house to find a woman who said she wasn't interested. He started walking away, when a man, who identified himself as not only the home owner, but also a Ft. Lauderdale cop, ran out and demanded that he stop and show the cop his ID. He complied and the cop then called the Sheriff to remove our heroic canvasser.
- One voter waited over 5 1/2 hours to vote. He almost had his car towed. What kind of car was he driving, one might be wondering? A tow truck.
INSPIRATIONAL NEWS
- Early voting sites all over Florida are reporting that virtually no one is leaving, even when they have lines as long as six hours. People are excited and determined.
- One of our gated community groups split up at the start of one of their runs. Two of them were kicked out by security. The other two managed to miss being noticed. In order to cover the entire canvass that the other two would have done, they forgoed lunch, and canvassed ALL DAY in the community.
- one volunteer broke her foot on the tarmac on her way to catching her flight to Florida. She received treatment in Boca. Yesterday, she then CANVASSED. That was yesterday. Today she asked if she could do some work that didn't involve as much walking. Yea, we complied. We had her move boxes. (I kid, she answered phones.)
IRRELEVANT YET FUNNY NEWS
* Emily's List, the good humored women's org, has brought a huge group down to Canvass. One of our more budget minded buyers purchased a large quantity of potato chips from a supplier on the cheap for volunteer lunches. Upon opening their box lunches, Emily's List volunteers discovered that they were given "Hooters" brand potato chips. Yes, THAT Hooters. Not only were they in bad taste, they tasted bad. Thankfully, everyone thought it was hilarious. They were immediately replaced by cool ranch doritos. The ranchers have yet to comment on the change.
The GOTV effort here is getting lots of attention and making a huge difference. If you happen to be in a swing state, or near one, contact your local ACT office and see if you can get in on the last two days of canvassing. Every single last knock makes a huge difference in our turnout. The results so far have been...well...I can't devulge that, but we'll just say things are going "well." You have the power. Now go vote and then drag all your friends to the polls.