I volunteered to canvass for the Paul Hackett campaign in Cincinnati today. Although I live just north of there and can't vote in the election, it would make me so happy to have a Democrat in national office from this area. Prior to canvassing, our crowd of about 200(?) was given a bit of a pep rally from Paul Hackett, John Glenn, Max Clelland, Ted Strickland and Michael Coleman.
Impressions and pictures from the rally after the bump:
Paul Hackett is not only a man of great character, he is funny and does impersonations! He went into JFK voice to utter, "Ask not what your country can do for you...." The crowd got a kick out of that. And, boy, is he gorgeous.
You can see Max Clelland, John and Annie Glenn and Ted Strickland behind him.
The highlight of my day was that I got to meet and shake the hand of one of my personal idols, John Glenn. (as luck would have it none of my individual shots of him came out too well.)
Max Clelland was there. He is a really good speaker, and very funny. He made a joke about how Paul's father was a travelling salesman so Paul knew about what it meant to work hard for a living...even if he was a lawyer. He said that his favorite lawyer joke was:
Why are scientists starting to use lawyers for experiments?
- There are so many of them
- You don't become emotionally attached and
- There are just some things a rat won't do.
Michael Coleman and Ted Strickland were both there and are planning to be Democratic candidates for governor. I had never heard Ted Strickland speak, but he was very funny and impressive. Michael Coleman wasn't quite the speaker as Strickland but seemed to be a very decent man.
I left the rally pretty hopeful about Hackett's chances. I don't see how anyone who hears him speak could not vote for him.
Hackett's campaign chairman, director, whatever his title, was also on the job. I was standing beside him and, when Hackett was done giving his speech, he went down the line and shook the hands of those on stage with him. I heard his campaign director say, in a relatively low voice, 'Kiss your wife.' Hackett did.
Anyway, here are some more pictures from the rally:
The two men behind Hackett were in Fallujah with him.
l-r: Coleman, Hackett, Strickland
Suzie Turnbull, Vice President of DNC
Hackett's wife and kids on the left
Hope you enjoyed the pics!
[Update]
My one disappointment was that I didn't get to meet one Kossack. One of these days I'll actually get to meet one of you guys!
[Update2] Michael Coleman's bus had a sign on the side that said, 'Invest in Ohio, not rare coins.' I got a kick out of the thought of that travelling down the highway from Columbus.