Senator Obama, Philadelphia is Yours!

Here it is in black and white:

I've been canvassing in Philly for the past two days with a TON of other volunteers, and it's been amazing.

Here's a little photo diary, heavy on the photos, light on the diary.

Yesterday I worked with a group of volunteers out of the Chinatown office. Here is Anna, one of the volunteers who runs the office. She and Matt ROCK!

We got our instructions and walk lists from Peter, one of the Philly field organizers.

My canvassing partner and I walked an area not too far from Chinatown. Many people on our list were out enjoying the beautiful weather (it was in the 80's), but we did manage to find a few home.  Here's a particularly pretty block we came across.

My canvassing partner was Cynthia, another New Yorker who is originally from Trinidad. She's a lovely woman who always liked Hillary, but who says that Barack just pulled her over to him. The more she heard him and read about him, the more convinced she was that she had to support him.

Anna, Matt and the others organized a dinner at a Chinese restaurant.

Here are Anna and Matt, recognizing the people who have done so much for the campaign in Chinatown.

CT State Representative William Tong joined us for dinner. He's an inspiring person and great advocate for Obama, who was his professor in law school.

This morning some of us were sent to an office south of Chinatown.

Here are volunteers getting orientation in the satelite office .

And here's the satelite office getting a facelift.

My canvassing partner today was a fellow NYer and fellow Kossack, mad cow. She found some matzoh to munch on (it's Passover, you know).  We had a great time and knocked on over 200 doors.

I canvassed another really beautiful neighborhood today near the river. The streets all looked like this.

Signs of spring are everywhere, as are the signs of HOPE)

Here's a closer look at the HOPE.

Tomorrow I'll be joining my friends Jacob, Susan, Howard and Jonta to GOTV in Southwest Philly before heading back home tomorrow night.  I wish I could stay for the primary -- it's killing me to leave -- but I have to work on Tuesday. I'll leave the primary in the capable hands of all of the fantastic PA Obama staff and volunteers.

I can't speak for all of Pennsylvania, but Senator Obama, Philadelphia is Yours!

•  All of these cities are yours.

  Except Scranton.

  Attempt no campaigning there.

  by sea2008 on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:23:24 PM PDT

  •  Too Late

    Happened a few hours ago...

    7:00 pm
    Barack Obama hosts an "On Track for Change" Town Hall with Sen. Casey and Caroline Kennedy in Scranton, Pennsylvania

    by huckleberry on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:37:10 PM PDT

    •  That's awesome.

      Obama Defeats Monolith!

      by sea2008 on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:38:51 PM PDT

    •  Heh

      Every state. Every city.

      by casperr on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:39:38 PM PDT

      •  Hooray, casperr! Great diary!

        I am green with envy.  I used to live on one of those beautiful, little streets.  Have a great day tomorrow in West Philly.  (And if you are still jonesing for a cheesesteak, check out my comment to you in Elise's action diary.)

        by mindoca on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 07:51:18 PM PDT

  •  RIP Arthur C. Clarke

    LOL sea2008.

    by slippytoad on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 07:02:26 PM PDT

•  Thanks for the photos, update, and...

  all the work you did!!!  

  by Kid From Vegas on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:24:43 PM PDT

•  Thanks! What would you say is the ratio of Obama

  to Clinton supporters in your canvassing?

  by ObamaManiac2008 on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:25:22 PM PDT

  •  Depends on the area

    The areas I've canvassed are skewed Obama, some heavily, but other canvassers have been to neighborhoods that were closer to 50/50. Of course, a lot of people aren't home, so it's hard to know how accurate our impressions are.

    by casperr on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:26:45 PM PDT

    •  Where in Philly did you canvass?

      And what were the demographics?

      by NJ Boomer on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:29:48 PM PDT

•  heh i made a few calls for him today,

  and at least 4 people i called said that door to door Obama volunteers came by right before i called.  It was kinda cool to know we were calling who ya'll were door to dooring.

  on one side note one guy that made a somewhat racist comment asked about my southern accent and i told him that yeah i was from alabama.  He then told me "you do know he is black right?" upon which i replied, "yeah but he is half white too"  :)

  we had a good talk and i told him that hey, i am for anyone who is for the working man and against the companies shipping jobs overseas.  I then told him about the plan to cut out loopholes for companies sending jobs overseas etc. Upon ending our conversation he told me that he was undecided but that he would at least think about all the stuff i told him!

  Was good fun calling PA!

  by wargolem on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:25:30 PM PDT

  •  That sounds like a great call!

    Good for you for turning it around.

    by casperr on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:28:01 PM PDT

    •  another great call

      and my first one of the day. an undecided woman who i was able to talk to about the righwing media and clinton adopting their strategy when she said she was really getting upset with Clinton and so didn't know how to vote. When i told her about the 35,000 in Philly and the 10,000 in Harrisburg she was literally aghast that thre had been NO notice of this in any media she accesses. She also had NO idea that almost 1.4 million individuals have contributed to Obama's campaign. When I told her my ex was from Altoona and how muchI used to love going to PA, i think I sealed the deal! We talked for a good 10 minutes.

      by boatsie on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:42:14 PM PDT

•  Man, I love these ground reports.

  Thanks for digging through the trenches to GOTV. May all our efforts be rewarded this Tuesday.

  by haruki on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:26:27 PM PDT

•  America: All Your Bases Are Belong To Us! ;P

  by kingfishstew on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:29:32 PM PDT

  •  There should be an Obama T-Shirt that says that.

    ;)

    by kingfishstew on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:31:24 PM PDT

    •  Even Better:

      Republicans: All Your Base Are Belong to Us.

      by kath25 on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:57:12 PM PDT

      •  Cafe Press n/t

        by mad cow on Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 06:28:59 AM PDT

•  Thank you for the pix and your

  wonderful on the ground diaries. Also, a big thanks for all the shoe leather you've put in for Obama.

  by peraspera on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:32:59 PM PDT

•  The best thing about the Obama campaign ...

  ... is the participation of the youth of this country. Do I trust these young people to take leadership of this nation? Hell, yes!

  by highfive on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:33:11 PM PDT

•  Fantastic diary!

  Great photos. Thanks for your work casperr. Keep it up!

  by Populista on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:33:19 PM PDT

•  Streets of Philly

  

  

  

  by Al Rodgers on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:34:19 PM PDT

  •  These are super, too!

    Thanks, Al!

    by kath25 on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:57:37 PM PDT

•  From new york's chinatown

  It sounds like you are doing a great job.  I wish I could join you.  Pounding the local pavement this weekend.  I'm still hoping to come down on Tuesday (don't tell my campaign manager).

  by Paul Newell on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:34:23 PM PDT

  •  Good luck, Paul!

    by casperr on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:41:39 PM PDT

    •  Thanks n/t

      by Paul Newell on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 07:19:17 PM PDT

•  Winning Philly is not sufficient

  To give Obama a chance in the state, we need a 500K vote turnout with 70% for Obama, or a 200K margin out of Philly.

  by IhateBush on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:36:29 PM PDT

  •  Well...

    Obama's got people knocking on doors throughout the state...so I'm sure we'll do the best we can.

    Hillary will likely win...but every voter we gain now helps us with the delegate count...and helps Obama in November.

    by Elise on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:38:20 PM PDT

    •  And helps the perception...

      ...for once Clinton has not one the expectations game and anything under a 10pt. victory will spell big trouble for her.

      by cavebird on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:41:31 PM PDT

  •  I've been telling people this all week, but

    no one understands what I am saying...  I completely agree.

    Or at least 450K turnout with 68% just to offset the wide swath of northern and western counties where Obama will get crushed.

    by ObamaManiac2008 on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 09:19:46 PM PDT

•  Yay casperr!!

  Thanks for the report from the field!!

  Hope you got yourself a cheesesteak :-)

  by Elise on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:39:18 PM PDT

  •  Not yet :(

    I have one more chance tomorrow.

    by casperr on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:42:46 PM PDT

    •  Eat the cheesesteak!

      I didn't get one when I was in town for my conference, and I regret it. Eat the cheesesteak!

      by kath25 on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:58:15 PM PDT

    •  p.s.

      I will ship you rolaids if I need to!

      by kath25 on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:58:31 PM PDT

      •  I think I need them already

        A bit of stress here ;)

        by casperr on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 07:00:26 PM PDT

        •  uploading tums.

          i keep a huge bottle on my desk. :-)

          by kath25 on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 07:02:54 PM PDT

    •  you need to work on that

      I'm a Pat's man, myself.

      by Paul Newell on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 07:28:42 PM PDT

•  Philly

  has a special place in my heart.  These pictures make me sentimental, and hopeful.  All of them.  Cheers.

  by huckleberry on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:39:55 PM PDT

•  Ta Ma De

  Zheng hao!

  by kaleidescope on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:39:58 PM PDT

•  Paul! Come join us on Tuesday!

  You are, afterall, your campaign manager's boss.

  Help Paul beat Sheldon Silver!

  http://www.NewellNYC.org

  by SuzeNYC on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:42:49 PM PDT

  •  I'll try

    at least for the morning

    by Paul Newell on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 07:20:01 PM PDT

•  Ben Franklin is smiling n/t

  by Cuseology on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:44:40 PM PDT

  •  Kindly

    below comment was meant for here.  Ooops.

    by huckleberry on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:48:47 PM PDT

•  Kindly

  to be sure.  Brotherly love ain't fairy dust.

  by huckleberry on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:48:20 PM PDT

•  These are just great.

  I am so amazed at all of your travels for Obama, casperr. It's so exciting to see these first-hand accounts.

  Thanks for your commitment and effort! It's great to have you out there in the field. Lucky you spending the day with a Trinidadian -- I love those accents!

  by kath25 on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 06:59:33 PM PDT

•  Only one question: Can I please marry mad cow?

  You know, your fellow canvasser from NY. Please?! Please??! Love you guys. And more power to you.

  by eddie233 on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 09:46:20 PM PDT

•  I found that satellite office for the campaign!

  Coming late to this diary after Passover and I'm sure no one will see this comment - but I found that office!  I've been working with Peter (shown in the 3rd picture above) and he asked me to find a place for a satellite office.  I called a bunch of realtors and hit pay dirt with Steve who said he was a big supporter and would do what he could to help.

  He found that space and the campaign went to town decking it out.  Every time I walked by there, more signs had gone up and there were always people streaming in.

  Peter sent an email that the volunteers knocked on 10,300+ doors in South Philly JUST THIS WEEKEND! That compares to 2000 2 weekends ago and 3000 last weekend.  WOW!!

  by ItsJessMe on Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 06:15:56 PM PDT

  •  Thank you!!

    That office was booming this weekend.

    by casperr on Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 08:51:48 PM PDT