I don't have very much time for this diary - but I'm going to write it as quickly as possible before doing one of the last GOTV shifts of the 2008 Presidential election.
The canvass I did last night and the one I just finished half an hour ago were emotional, rewarding, and deeply moving. If you follow me over the fold, I'll give some details before I head back out for my next shift.
I've been canvassing everywhere. Well, everywhere within the Northern Virginia area - Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax City, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, and Stafford County (oh - and a sliver of Falquier County). As we've gotten close - meaning, starting last Saturday - I've wanted, as much as I can, to ensure I showed up in high-demand areas. Let me explain that.
There are parts of each of the areas I referenced above that are predominantly (in excess of 80%) Democratic in terms of voter profile but that are also among the lowest, percentage-wise, in voter participation. These have been key targets.
That's how last night's canvass developed. I presented myself at the King Street office of Virginia's Campaign for Change only to find out that they had more volunteers for canvass than they had packets to give to them. I was ready to go into a separate room and simply phone bank when one of the staffers - who I have seen and has seen me repeatedly - asked if I wanted to do a "unique" canvass. She had been getting calls in the previous hours that a certain area of Alexandria - predominantly African American, and predominantly modest-income - were confused about voting. Specifically, the callers somehow believed that their registration process was an absentee balloting process and that, therefore, they had already voted. The staffer wanted to send me and another experienced canvasser to one particular area to knock about 120 doors with a special flier they had compiled to inform the residents that they still had to vote.
Anyone who has canvassed knows what a walk list looks like - you have an address, the name of the voter, their age and gender, and often a phone number. This wasn't like that. It was a sheet with addresses all in a row, no names or anything of the sort.
So we set off and found ourselves in four-story walk-up apartments to start the canvass. We knocked on the first door and found someone home. She looked skeptical about us until she saw our buttons and Obama insignia. Then her face literally LIT UP. She broke into the most beautiful smile, and proceeded to tell us that she had planned for voting the next day (this canvass was yesterday - don't panic) and had allocated the hours she felt might be necessary. Score!
We moved on to the next door and knocked - two young (under 18) kids answered the door. Same kind of look - the kind I give people - like, "what are you doing at my door?" - until we identified ourselves as being from Virginia's Campaign for Change. The mom came to the door and told us that not only were she and her newly-registered son going to vote first thing in the morning - but that they were taking two of their older neighbors. They had planned - they had easily-transportable folding chairs for the older neighbors and the mom planned to take a small igloo cooler filled with sweetened ice tea. She shook our hands and thanked us for our work and then said that she was so excited she could hardly bear it. The two kids pushed to the front and proudly proclaimed that they had voted in a mock election at their elementary school and that Barack Obama, "the next President", had won it running away. They retrieved and showed us their "I voted" stickers from the "election" the day before. The boy - who was older - perhaps sixth grade - informed us that he would run for President one day.
Every address that we knocked where someone was home took us through the same thing. Their excitement was totally palpable and each one thanked us. One lady asked if someone would be there to help if she didn't know or understand how to use the machine - we assured her that the poll workers were required BY LAW to assist her and that, if for some reason they did NOT, there was a phone number on the flier we were distributing that they could call AT ANY TIME and someone would ensure their right to vote was protected and fulfilled.
It was deeply, deeply gratifying and infused us - and we were tired - with new energy to press through the other apartments and townhouses on our list. The story was the same with different variations at EVERY door.
And so today - I presented myself at the North Arlington office. They were out of activities for canvass volunteers (so many had shown up), and out of space for phone bankers. They asked if we were willing to drive - and of course, we were. I wound up being dispatched to Dale City, south of DC along 95 in Prince William County. I did a pass 2 canvass down there - all the door hanger staff and volunteers had been out through the overnight hours placing hangers that told people where and when to vote. Pass 1 had been out earlier in the day to ask voters if they had voted. Pass 2 went back to hit those who had NOT voted or who were not at home. They explained that the neighborhood in question was similar to the others - high Democratic representation but relatively low voter turnout.
Happily, about 60% of those who were home had already voted. But one lady really caught my eye. I would say she was 60-ish, African American, and had a slight accent. She explained to me that she had gone to vote right before lunch and had had no problems at all. She said:
"Let me ask you a question. When McCain loses, will that Sarah still be able to be Governor of Alaska?"
I explained to her that yes, she would finish her term as governor.
She shook her head in disgust. She then went on to tell me that she had been so excited to cast her vote for a mixed-race candidate with such high qualifications. She herself was half African American/half Panamanian. I explained to her that we're all pretty much half-something. To which she replied:
"They're half-something, too [referring to Republicans]. Difference is, they're not very proud of it."
Sage words and a great and interesting observation, if not strictly true in every case.
She put her hand on my arm and said, "THANK YOU for doing all of this. For helping us and for helping him win."
I smiled, bid her a great day and an exciting evening, and went to the next door.
Never have I gotten such warmth and appreciation from people for my efforts. And frankly, Virginia's turnout engine for Obama is MONEY - at least here in Northern Virginia. The offices were and remain jammed with people showing up. Since June, all of the offices have been abuzz with energy and activity.
It will be sweet tonight when Virginia comes in for Obama. First time in my lifetime. And it will be due in large part to our stellar candidate - but in some small part as well to each of us volunteered in whatever capacity. It makes me very, very proud.