Early voting started in New Mexico yesterday. On the backside of the mountains east of Albuquerque is a rural area that includes Tijeras, Cedar Crest, Sandia Park and other unincorporated areas. On the whole it's a fairly conservative area but there are a lot of liberal activists and an Obama office that opened in Cedar Crest a few weeks back.
While we didn't have the 100,000 folks that St. Louis had, we had a good turnout for lunch, music, comments, and a one mile walk from the local community center to the polling place at the Tijeras city offices.
Not only did a good number of locals turn out to vote, but also a lot of kids (and their folks), organized by "Kids for Obama," the project of 11-y/o River who spoke so eloquently at the opening of the Cedar Crest Obama office. Food! Music! Activism! Who could ask for more! Plus it was a beautiful fall day.
Some of the Obama volunteers, inclucing Kossack jancw on the left
11 year old River was again busy recruiting volunteers.
I didn't catch this young man's name but he was proud to be there!
River addressed the crowd: "I want to go to sleep on election night knowing I'll wake up the next day as if it was Christmas morning."
Bay Stevens is one of the East Mountians most active volunteers.
OK, so it wasn't the same turnout as St. Louis, but every vote counts!
We received support and encouragement from New Mexico's Attorney General, Gary King. He's originally from our neck of the woods and he's well respected. His farther was NM's Governor three times between 1970 and 1995:
Following the opening festivities, the party took off for the polling place:
I love "Palin Against Polar Bears!"
The Governor of Alaska was not popular among the participants.
At the polling place, voters dropped of their signs, buttons, and t-shirts and cast their votes for Obama. Jancw, however, forgot to take off her Obama earrings (purchased from a Kossack) but no one seemed to notice.
It was a great day for all!