Well, I am here. Finally. Again.
This has been a very long day, and the following days will be the same.
The excitement is there for change. I heard it from lips of supporters whose doors I knocked on.
It was a quirky day for me, let's skip over the fold.
First off, I had a surprise. Yes. A rider with ice. A young man who attends the University of Rochester in New York.
He was fired up, excited, went through Camp Obama and had been to Iowa before. But, he is not the only college person on holiday in Iowa. There are tons of them.
We went into training mode at the University of Iowa. This was interesting because a mock caucus commenced and many, including me, now understand how cumbersome this process is. For many caucuses, you show up and either stand in your pack, the most with the the votes win. Or show up and do a secret vote and the one with the most win. This is not the caucus process in Iowa.
The caucus process is about having viability. 15% in the inner cities and suburbs and 25% in the rural areas. Those that have the 15%, cool. Those not viable a chance to switch to a group or recruit those in the 15% group to join their caucus group. Yes. Like that. Still if you have 15% when said and done, its delegates are split among the ones with the highest to lowest, up to 15%.
Phew. Yes. See how exasperating that is? Yes. That may be another reason why many do not participate.
Anyway, I must note this. We met in a auditorium and it was full. I would say medium sized, the auditorium. But what got me was this. The diversity. The races, colors, ages, was across the board. I met a man, wife, child who drove from Washington State. College students from Virginia. A man and wife who just became citizens, from India, drove from Ohio. Folks from Wisconsin and a couple, elderly from Florida. Folks, this is a testatment to Barack Obama.
Moving on, we then broke up to the areas/precincts we will work. It spreads from Iowa City to Outside of Cedar Rapids. I was then sent to Panera Bread to meet my field organizer. From there, we had lunch asked more questions and then directed to our precincts to canvass.
I had done this before so, I had a newbie from me. A young woman who attends Clairemont College in California. Yes, California. She was excited and I am glad to see this. She kept talking about this is about her and how her friends had gotten registered to go to the polls in California for Barack. That was heartfelt. I thought my niece was the only one fired up like that, but there are many like this in Barack's corner. I think they may just surprise us.
Let me say I Love Iowa.
With that said, not one house I went to had the driveway, walkway or steps, salted, sanded, or shoveled. This was a throwback to when I lived in Minnesota. It really was. Walking in the street, was the way it was.
We started late and only knocked on 15 homes. Don't worry, it will be more tomorrow since I got my schedule.
Of the ones not home, I got 3 undecideds, 1 Clinton, 2 for Obama, 1 for Richardson, 1 for Biden and SIGNED SUPPORTER CARDS. Of the undecideds they are between Obama and Clinton. Again, from my last trip it was like this. I am suspect to the polling, but I will feel better with more information through the weekend.
One tidbit, when I went to one home the steps were very slippery and I had on Columbia solid, winter/ice boots. After my conversation, I turned and just walked down the steps. Well, icebergslim ended up with legs up, as I slipped down the stairs after hitting my head. My newbie was smart, she held onto the rail, I did not. Well, after that lovely experience and it was dark, that was the end of canvassing for icebergslim.
I am okay, took some motrin and if I get a bump, off to the doctor for me. But you know what? The 2 signed supporter cards, superceded my lil slip up.
The energy level? UP. They are playing clips of Obama's closing argument on Iowa TV.
TV ADS, atrocious. Everytime a commercial come on some politician's face is showing up, even our guy. And the radio ads are running rampant, as well.
Overall, this caucus is a CHANGE caucus. Heard it from the ones who signed the supporter cards, heard it from the undecideds. Period. Not one person talked about experience. Not one.
OK, I am getting ready for another long day. I will check back in a few days.
And I agree with kos. Stay cool, not worth it, meaning the ratings abuse.