I've heard a lot about the organizing skills of the Obama campaign. These extend to Europe!
Last weekend a two-day celebration was held to commemorate the opening of the new US Embassy in Berlin. On July 4 an invitation-only party was held at Pariser Platz (right next to the Brandenburg Gate), where President Bush the Elder spoke amidst cold and rainy weather (great fireworks though). The next day, Saturday the 5th, was a German-American friendship festival held on Pariser Platz and into the Tiergarten. It was very well attended and had a friendly vibe. But here's the best part:
The Democrats Abroad had a booth at the festival, and so did the Republicans. Take a look at this picture; the Dems are in the right-hand booth and the Reps are on the left:
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The Democrats had a busy day handing out buttons and balloons, and information on how to vote abroad. The nearby Kennedys Museum had a voter registration table set up, and the Democrats were sending many Americans over there. Clearly they were determined to get Every Last Vote, and I was amazed and heartened by the energy and organization this far from home.
By contrast, as you can see, there was basically nothing going on at the Republican booth -- it was like this all day.
The Democrats handed out so many balloons that the festival felt like an Obama rally, which may have helped the happy vibe for Americans and Germans alike. See this picture:
So -- with all attempts to guard against another broken heart -- this gives me hope, my friends. We've had several achingly close elections in a row. Democrats have to troll for every single vote anywhere, anytime, at home and abroad. And if yesterday is any indication, the Obama campaign has gotten the message.