I am
Barry Welsh. I am challenging Congressman Mike Pence on November 7th for the 6th Congressional Seat in Indiana. We were both home on July 4th. I was here in Indiana's 6th District at rally's and parades, and he was home in Virginia.
Today our campaign was in two more parades. So was Mr. Pence's Campaign. His paid supporters were handing out empty plastic bags to people to collect the candy that would be tossed by all of the others in the parades. Our campaign was one of those tossing out candy, but we also hand out an 8 ½ by 3 ½ flyer that folds to 5 ½ by 3 ½ and on it is our plan to move forward. Our Pledge to the People.
Here is Part of our crew at the first parade in the country at midnight July 4th.
So what, you ask? Well, this is People Powered Politics for real, not some corporate or party sponsored campaign that is placating to the netroots. We are an all volunteer campaign and 80% of the people involved, became involved through Daily Kos. If I can figure out how to post some pictures to show what we are doing, I will.
The point is, last Saturday we were in front of 5,000 people at parades. Last Monday we were in front of between 25 and 35,000 people. Last Tuesday on the 4th of July, we were in four parades, two at the same time, as we split the group to cover two big county seats in two big counties. One of the parades had between 10 and 15,000 people. Today we were in front of another 5 to 7,000 people.
We are blasting commercials over loud speakers, and the candidate is running, shaking hands and receiving hugs of thanks for standing up for real people,
and volunteers that are there because they want to make a difference talk about the campaign and hand out the flyers, and when the campaign leaves and there is parade trash on the streets, the flyers aren't there.
We are touching people. We are making people think. We are showing people there is a choice.
One woman stopped me and asked if it was worth it. I told her, a campaign is about change, an election is to see if enough people want change, we are talking about things that need to be talked about, we are giving voice to those that have not had one, so the campaign is already successful, and in November the election might show we have been more successful than anyone thought possible. If that happens, we change how campaigns are run, and we give the power back to the people.
You see, we are making the most of what we have, and not getting hung up on what we don't. We are handing people a flyer that is a path to a better future. Mr. Pence's paid people are giving them an empty plastic bag, just like normal Republican Policy, and the people out here know the difference.
Barry Welsh Indiana 6th District Democratic Party Congressional Candidate