Like many fellow Kossacks, I started out giving small $50 donations during the primary. But as the general election campaign began, my isolation in a non-swing state made me question what else I could do. So I began phonebanking to swing states from home on weekends using Obama's terrific web site. Every weekend I used my free cell time to make it a habit to call at least 25 voters. Some good, some bad, some rude, but mainly talking to answering machines. But let me share my favorite GOTV experience after the Jump /\.
Between the "Leave it all on the Road" campaign and my fear that the polls might be tightening, I did something I never did before. I signed up with the local Obama-Biden campaign office to travel to Scranton, Pennsylvania on the Sunday before the election. I didn't know what to expect, and being somewhat of an introvert, I wasn't sure I could muster the courage to talk politics with strangers face to face. But I felt if I didn't go, and McCain won Pennsylvania, I would be kicking myself in the a...s for the next four years.
So I went to the Obama office, got teamed up with 2 passengers and drove 3 hours to Scranton. An uncommon three-some we were, me being a rural middle-aged white guy, teamed up with a college student and an African-American mother of four. Together representing the many facets of the Obama-Biden coalition. The Obama-Biden Scranton operation was tremendously well organized. We were immediately trained, given maps and "walk sheets", and took to the streets. Fortunately for me and the college student, the mother of four was a veteran canvasser and kept us going in the right direction. Ten hours and 200 doors later we had finished our walk sheets and were dead tired but exhilarated.
Returning to one of the Scranton offices, we turned in our walk sheets and were told Senator Bob Casey and Caroline Kennedy (and family) would be speaking at a rally downtown and sign holders and supporters were needed. So exhausted operating only on coffee and a few apples, we went to the rally. Standing there in the sea of fellow supporters, and watching Caroline speak, I couldn't help the feeling the way I did listening to her uncle Bobby decades earlier. Holding back tears of joy, I joined the crowd in fired up cheers.
All in all, the day was one of the best in my life. And when Pennsylvania went to Obama-Biden on Tuesday night, I new that our little team of 3 had done good!
One final note to those who may be wondering if their GOTV efforts made a difference. Howard Dean mentioned some interesting statistics at a post-election Q&A section. He stated that exit polls showed that an estimated 1 out of 4 voters were personally contacted in person or by phone by at least one Obama-Biden supporter. Of the 25% of contacted voters, about 65% indicated that they voted for Obama-Biden. For those not contacted at all by the Obama-Biden troops, only about 47% of these folks voted for Obama-Biden. Yes, we made a difference!
Well that’s my GOTV story, what’s yours?