Just a brief post from one happy canvasser here in Mt. Lebanon, PA, a small community 6 miles south of Pittsburgh. I can't believe how many people were out and about today! It was like being a part of the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
I reported at 10:00 this morning, only to end up in the wrong location. This was the phone bank, stocked with about 30 people just getting their training. I was told to go a few doors down the street where the canvassers were meeting.
I arrive at the canvassing office to find about as many people as in the phone banking office. Well organized, well run, top marks all around. So I collect my route, my materials and I'm out the door. What an easy job folks, and that's coming from a fairly introverted guy.
What made it even easier was the fact that all, or nearly all, of the addresses were certified Obama supporters. No worries about doors being slammed in faces or arguments being yelled at you, just friendly faces glad to see you, glad that Obama's ground game is in evidence.
Don't be shy, go canvass! It's easy. It's fun. It's rewarding. Plus, it's darned good exercise. I made 80 attempts this morning, verified 31 Obama supporters, and lucked into finding 2 undecideds who had moved into a home previously owned by Obama supporters. We talked about the direction of the country and agreed that McCain would continue the direction forged by Bush, whereas Obama would take us into a new and better direction. Will they vote for Obama? Who knows; but they are a lot more likely to vote for him now than before I knocked on their door.
I also ran into a Republican who said he was going to vote for Obama; he was not on my list, but his house was sporting a shiny Obama sign. We talked a bit about how different 2008's John McCain is from 2000's John McCain, and about how bad a pick Sarah Palin was. Good news all around for our side.
Volunteers were everywhere today Think of the image people will have about a candidate who gets people so excited that they spend their Saturdays/Sunday's/Monday's or Tuesday's going door to door for him. As I was doing my job, I spotted several other canvassers working their routes. And then on my way back to the office, I saw so many people coming and going, either bringing back their canvassing results or just beginning their shift. Cars with Obama stickers here and there, carrying volunteers. The excitement is up, up, up, people!
Again, I'm a shy guy. If I can do it, so can you. I have an arthritic disease that makes my body/joints ache severely when I exercise/walk/stand/sit, and yet I still managed to make 80 attempts. You can too. Go by your neighborhood office, volunteer, get out the vote, and then on Tuesday night, you can glow with pride at having participated in one of the most historic campaigns in US history!