As disappointing as the Texas and Ohio results were, there are lessons to be learned. Those of us who have worked hard for the Obama campaign were in a bubble of optimism that was intoxicating. And it was easy to think that everyone else saw the candidate as we did. The wrong-again polls buoyed our hopes. Yet, we were mistaken. To know him is to love him, but too many voters didn't yet know him, and were afraid to go with an unknown quantity, particularly when economic times are this scary.
When I called Ohio voters I found, much to my astonishment, that they knew almost nothing about Obama, yet had made their minds up for Hillary. For the first time in my phone canvassing experience, people actually hung up on me once I said who I was working for. Some of the most favorable conversations I had were with Republicans, so I knew we were in trouble. Given the average voter's lack of real knowledge and familiarity with Barack, they were easy targets for Clinton's negative campaigning.
But something can be done. It's easy. And inexpensive. And there's time...
The average American voter, unlike you and me, does not watch the news channels, devour political blogs, read newspapers or news magazines, or view Obama speeches on youtube. If they did they would know that he is no lightweight.
They do pick up their mail. And instead of getting one more color glossy political mailing, if they got an Obama DVD (think Netflix) that featured his stump speech, his video bio, his talk on faith in politics, maybe one of Michelles speeches, his address to the foreign affairs council, etc. There could be a menu for all the issues that appear on his website, with video clips for each topic. Each clip could show the depth of his thinking on the range of issues facing the country.
There should also be a legislative section where his fellow senators can attest to his substantial legislative accomplishments, as well as about all the bills he has worked on as a Senator. (Far more, by the way, than Hillary in any given year). He has authored and co-sponsored way more significant legislation than Hillary has, yet he seems to be tarnished with the mis-conception that he is too inexperienced, too unproven, too unaccomplished to be president. Seeing is believing. And popping in a DVD at one's leisure will get Obama into every voter's home, where they can (OMG!) see for themselves who he is and what he stands for.
There could be a section for music videos as well. There are so many inspirational ones we all have been viewing on youtube. These can really get out now to those who are not already singing in our choir.
There could also be a menu of Celebrity Endorsements. Make clips of Obama's high-profile supporters telling why they support him.
Mass-burning DVDs is about as inexpensive as printing the color glossy mailers that go out multiple times during a campaign. And mailing them is also cheap. People could take a look at Obama on their own time, in their own homes, and would then come to know that Hillary's mud-slinging and innuendos are simply untrue.
Kudos to anyone who can get this suggestion up the chain of command in the Obama campaign.