It started Friday, with Casey giving his endorsement of Obama in Pittburgh. I got the live stream from a local website. A huge way to start off this bus tour and get people even more excited than they already were. He was charismatic, charming and funny in a way that was so genuine, you would have thought he was just standing around talking to a group of friends. I was so excited about the town hall meeting I was to attend in Greensburg, I left work an hour earlier than I had planned. I wasn't getting anything done at work.
I had already discussed the probability of Obama winning Westmoreland County, as Swann had beaten Rendell and his machine in '06. Despite the fact that it was a coordinated campaign, Casey won Westmoreland in 2006. There was every indication that he could win this county if he just delivered tonight the same way he did in Pittsburgh. What struck me first at the event was the number of people that I did not recognize. These were not the party regulars. This was a group of people coming to get involved and to see in person the reason why.
He delivered! The speech was very similar to what had been delivered that morning in Pittsburgh, though few had seen it. But the way he answered questions posed by the audience was what he was there to do. Show the difference between a person who sticks to the plan, and one who listens to the question asked, then responds directly. He doesn't just deliver inspiration speeches, he responds to people with some actual understanding of their concern. Honest about not being able to fix all the economic problems for the region, but outlining a plan that would start the process. Honest about not providing the universal healthcare that people where looking for, but detailing how it was going to actually be affordable for all who wanted it. He described how that plan was going to be hammered out in an open forum on C-Span, so that everyone would be able to see the process and the players. With many college and high school students in attendance, he described his plan to expand the pell grants and provide a $4,000 tuition credit for all those willing to serve their country in some fashion. The Kenndyesque "We will invest in you. You invest in America. Together we are going to move this country forward,"
He then proceded to Sharky's for one-on-one conversation with patrons, and reportedly a Yuengling (good stuff). Next day was Johnstown, and an unplanned stop in Altoona for bowling and more direct communication with people. Bob Casey right there with him. A town that will be forever grateful for the recognition and effort.
Today I read an article about the record crowd at Penn State, to meet the man who is going to make history. The number quoted was 22,000 and was apparently a record for a gathering of this sort on campus. Then I go to the local headquarters and see a line out the door for volunteers. Again, 90% of these people I have never seen before and many the white middle class men that aren't supposed to be supporting the guy. Organizationally, the staff was as efficient as I have ever seen. We were assigned and redirected very quickly. Teams sat down, apportioned duties and scheduled Tuesday night for the first phone bank. This is a process that usually takes 2-3 meetings for other campaigns.
Friday through Sunday, the man and his campaign have done nothing but impress. You see these amazing gains by his campaigns and try to figure out how they do it. This is it. A highly organized and clearly battle tested campaign team pointing a group of highly motivated volunteers in the right direction. It's something that is simply not possible unless their leader is a man who can reach out and inspire people to believe in the process again. It is history in the making and everyone feels it. Pennsylvania does not belong to Hillary Clinton!