This morning, hundreds of northeasterners from all over have descended upon Easton, PA, as well as other towns in PA, to help with GOTV.
They come to canvass the nitty-gritty neighborhoods of the rust belt. They brave the rough and rugged streets, the crowded neigborhoods, the tight parking spots and take the bus, the train, carpool. They come from the Bronx: Brooklyn; the Upper West Side and the East Side of Manhattan; Jersey City; Bloomfield, NJ; Massachusetts; Long Island; and all over.
They have come in buses, get off the bus and walk to the Obama office, then get shuttled by residents of Easton and surrounding areas to the canvassing headquarters. They file in to the staging area in groups of ten or more, get their marching orders from long-time PA volunteers and file out to the neighborhoods of Easton, Wilson, Palmer, and other suburbs and exurbs. They work the neighborhoods on foot, in cars, knocking on doors, leaving literature, calling and reminding voters of the poll hours, that there might be a line, so bring your jacket, your lawn chair, your bottled water. Here's where you vote, here's where you get more information. Leaving messages and talking with new voters, helping them prepare.
Shifts are assigned, people come in all day, from early morning to late afternoon.
Baskets of fruit, fresh-baked and home-made lasagna, cookies and a variety of pastries, cider, coffee and tea are replenished constantly, and consumed with gusto. Bright red sweatshirts with "Easton for Obama" written in proud black letters across the chest are being sold, groups sit around and get ready to go out and canvas for hours at a stretch.
In general, the troops are ready and the troops are moving.
Will we call back if you're not home? Will we call back if you need more information? You betcha!
Believe me, folks, if Easton is anything like the rest of PA, we'll have more voters for Obama than all the other states combined!
We could always use your help, however, so if you want to go on the Obama website and give some shoutouts to PA residents, you're always welcome!
Obama has a few friends in Pennsylvania!!