On the ground in West Virginia for Obama

Just some quick hits before I take a nap.

We had several volunteers from out of town. I thought it was a bit confusing the way the setup was today with two "satellite" offices in different neighborhoods. So people who went to the main hq in Martinsburg were sent out to the other two offices to get canvassing materials. The usual people from the campaign we've dealt with were out in Morgan and Jefferson counties working and a new woman was in fresh from North Carolina as part of the reinforcements.

I canvassed today with an older, African American woman. We partnered and did a predominantly African American neighborhood in Martinsburg. It was an interesting experience. I've done African American neighborhoods before for other races, but there was such a -- I can't really think of the right word. Not just a vibe or a sense of excitement. Like a sense of participating in something historic.

After canvassing last week in Precinct 21, a ballbreaker with lots of DINOs, it was good this week to have so many strong Obama supporters. We did have one woman who already voted for Hillary Clinton, but she said she expects Obama to be the nominee and will vote for him in November because she can't stand McCain. (We have early voting or No Excuses voting in West Virginia where you can vote at the court house prior to the election day. Makes it very convenient. However, as much as people talk about the excitement of this year's presidential race, the vote tallies still trail the special election results in four counties over the expansion of casino-style gambling at the race track slot machine facilities. Politics is local.)

Our area also had part of a predominantly white neighborhood as well and we had some Obamas there as well. But possibly more interestingly was a conversation with a man outside his house who was not on our list. I suspect he's an R, but he said he has big money bet on Obama winning the general election and he'll probably vote for him over McCain.
...

It's official Barack Obama will be in Charleston on Monday. See the details here.

...

The Obama campaign has a new commercial airing in the state, the final one before the May 13 primary. Some of you might not like it, but I think it's really good for its intended West Virginia audience. See it here.

...

Hillary Clinton is going to win in West Virginia. The demographics of the state assure her of a big win. But the support of Democratic activists has been strong for him as I wrote about here. Even the most enthusiastic GOTV only carries you so far. There's lots of reasons why she'll win the primary here, but read this post by Clem. And as much as many like to dismiss Senator Clinton, she's a hell of a lot better candidate than McCain. Obama will have a much better showing in West Virginia against McCain than Clinton so don't be discouraged by her winning big in the Mountain State on Tuesday. I certainly won't be.

•  Tip

  I'm going to take a nap. Be back later.

  by Carnacki on Sat May 10, 2008 at 02:52:10 PM PDT

  •  Thanks for your hard work...

    and diary.

    by mayan on Sat May 10, 2008 at 03:06:47 PM PDT

  •  I was there it was a total mess-up

    On the part of the office. It was poorly planned. It would've been fine on election day. It wasn't fine today. That said, I think they have a handle on what's going on. I even met with some nice Hillary supporters on the corner on the way home and they asked me to put a button on. I did. I hope they e-mail me the picture.

    by The Bagof Health and Politics on Sat May 10, 2008 at 03:29:05 PM PDT

  •  Thanks for your hard work!

    There is nothing more taxing than canvassing in unfriendly territory.

    Can you tell us where pockets of Obama support might exist. I do imagine that there is a college or two as well as a few pockets where professionals (Saab drivin', latte sippin' arugula eatin' liverals) tend to live.

    by speck tater on Sat May 10, 2008 at 03:45:18 PM PDT

    •  oy

      I find it taxing even canvassing in FRIENDLY territory.

      The only thing I can say for it is that in 2004 I went canvassing on Halloween and that really put it in perspective. The first time I canvassed in 2000, I thought it seemed so hopeless and time consuming to go one house at a time and to seemingly cover no territory at all after hours. But when I went on Halloween, I remembered trick or treating as a kid (well, and i look so young the people all thought I was a trick or treater) and back then going house to house was very rewarding. It took some time but at the end you've got a big bag of candy. So perhaps canvassing is very worth it after all, even if it's slow going.

      by OrangeClouds115 on Sat May 10, 2008 at 03:50:39 PM PDT

      •  Canvassing is an additive thing.

        If you can identify a few supporters to be contacted later, convice 3-4 fence sitters, leave a pamphlet to show organization and enthusiam. It all adds up. Boots on the ground, this grassroots movement, is a key reason why Obama is where he is today, ahead on every metric.

        by speck tater on Sat May 10, 2008 at 04:07:04 PM PDT

        •  last time I just did a lit drop

          so that was easy. Didn't have to talk to anyone. It was for an incumbent who was going to win anyway, but whatever. My doctor prescribed 30 min/day of outdoor exercise so I did it by doing that lit drop.

          by OrangeClouds115 on Sat May 10, 2008 at 04:09:25 PM PDT

          •  I would highly suggest canvassing for Obama

            in a predominantly African American neighborhood. We were assigned a couple of areas just outside of Trenton, NJ. I have never enjoyed canvassing more! People were so willing to talk - discuss policy and frustration, express their hopes and fears, spell out needs and desire to be finally involved in a campaign that they believe in. History.

            Plus it's good exercise ;)

            by speck tater on Sat May 10, 2008 at 04:15:29 PM PDT

            •  Oh yeah, that's a blast,

              There's such a sense of being a part of history in the making, it's really great.

              by DrJeremy on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:03:28 PM PDT

      •  Seriously

        I've canvassed in Princeton NJ which is like a cake walk politically, but still somewhat frustrating because you can only do like 70 homes/day.

        Then i canvassed in Levittown PA last month and that was no fun.

        If 1 person is canvassing it's a waste of time. If 10000 people are canvassing it is the most powerful form of politics there is.  It's the only way Obama will win. Even in the general.  Door to door. Person to person.  That's a movement that bring in new canvassers and spreads support virally.

        by glutz78 on Sat May 10, 2008 at 04:16:51 PM PDT

      •  Canvassing is exhausting, but in friendly

        territory it is exhilarating as well.  In unfriendly, well, it's about the small victories.  Talking to people, face to face, is always more fun than I expect it to be.

        by DrJeremy on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:02:27 PM PDT

  •  Added standard tags.

    by Jacques on Sat May 10, 2008 at 03:47:26 PM PDT

  •  thank you so much Carnacki!

    diaries like this are why I love dKos!

    BTW - I've got a new T-shirt to unveil. I think you'll like it:

    

    Click the link in my sig to get one. Shirts are 100% organic cotton, sold at cost (incl shipping) for $18. Cat not included.

    by OrangeClouds115 on Sat May 10, 2008 at 03:48:09 PM PDT

    •  Cool shirt!

      But no deal if the T does not come with the pootie.

      by speck tater on Sat May 10, 2008 at 03:49:22 PM PDT

      •  if she keeps getting in all my damn pictures

        I might give her away after all.

        Cool handle!

        by OrangeClouds115 on Sat May 10, 2008 at 03:51:36 PM PDT

    •  great shirt, too bad you can't get them in

      little girl sizes.  I think my five year old daughter is changing her mind, but she keeps telling me to be "nice to Hillary" when I yell at the TV.

      by ksh01 on Sat May 10, 2008 at 04:48:21 PM PDT

      •  yeah, I can get them

        in kids sizes. want one? Let me know what size. My email's in my profile.

        by OrangeClouds115 on Sat May 10, 2008 at 04:59:14 PM PDT

        •  done, thanks!

          by ksh01 on Sat May 10, 2008 at 05:06:08 PM PDT

      •  My 10yr old tells me "I should respect Pres Bush"

        when I yell at him.  I tell her to respect the office and the country, but the person who occupies the office must EARN my respect.

        by CWalter on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:40:40 PM PDT

    •  your pootie ....

      looks just like our pootie Chase.  Black as the night, with those yellow eyes watching.

      by billlaurelMD on Sat May 10, 2008 at 05:05:24 PM PDT

  •  I love the on-the-ground diaries!

    Thanks for all your work. Every vote counts with proportional delgates. I think it is really important to keep the Clinton lead as low as possible. Thanks again! Fired up!

    by bethcf4p on Sat May 10, 2008 at 03:48:15 PM PDT

  •  Thanks for your hard work

    And I like the ad a lot.

    by St Louis Woman on Sat May 10, 2008 at 03:50:57 PM PDT

  •  Thanks, Carnacki

    Nice to "see" you again.

    by PatsBard on Sat May 10, 2008 at 03:55:36 PM PDT

  •  I actually really like that ad.

    It hits on so many points - Obama's roots with white culture through his roots, his Christian faith, his close and loving family. Looking at it through a WVa perspective, I think that this ad, coupled with maybe a stronger economic message, could net him a few extra percentage points here.

    by nautilus1700 on Sat May 10, 2008 at 03:57:33 PM PDT

    •  I do too!

      It's very warm and human and values oriented.

      For those who think he's "scary" and "different" and maybe "Muslim", this shows him as someone who loves his family, God and country "just like you."

      It's perfect.

      by Happy Days on Sat May 10, 2008 at 04:09:50 PM PDT

    •  I love the ad!

      I love the ad.  I am a Christian, and I think this will play very well with many parts of the country where Christianity is key.

      That is the primary reason why I support Obama...because of the fact that he walks the walk in terms of his Christian faith (in terms of honesty, humility, and following the Golden Rule of do unto others as you would have done unto you).

      I have historically voted Republican all my life (because the Republican Party seemed to be the party talking about Family Values, but not necessarily acting like it).  The Bush Administration has turned many of us Evangelical Christians off, and I think that this video is great and will help Obama a lot.

      Please keep making phone calls to West Virginia...I know I have made some today and will try to make more tomorrow (even though it is Mothers Day so it is potentially a bit of an awkward day to call).  GOTV does help, even in supposedly "unfriendly territory".  Be yourself and espouse why you support Obama.  Be understanding of others' viewpoints...and who knows, you might just be able to change some peoples hearts toward Obama.

      Keep up the great job on the ground in WV!  It pays off (just look at the recent results in IN and NC), and I believe that Obama can do well there in spite of the difficult demographics.  Yes We Can win the Whitehouse back from the special interests and stop the divisive politics that have stymied DC for far too long!  Go Obama!

      by seattlegirl on Sat May 10, 2008 at 04:23:46 PM PDT

      •  So do I, and I agree with you about Obama's

        walking the walk. That's one of the very first things I point out when talking to people who assume that if I'm Christian, I must surely be Republican.  (Honestly, why in the world does that make sense??  I don't see the correlation, but it's ubiquitous here in North Texas.)  

        by Integrity is fundamental on Sat May 10, 2008 at 05:12:25 PM PDT

        •  Obama's campaign targeting faith-based voters

          I completely agree with you, Integrity is fundemental!  You should sign up at http://faith.barackobama.com/... for Obama's campaign targeted at reaching faith-based voters.

          I am on the EvangelicalsforObama e-mail list, and this is an excerpt of the e-mail I got today from Joshua Dubois who is leading a really great effort in the Obama campaign:

          "As you know, Barack Obama is a committed Christian and he's never been ashamed to live out his values.  Barack believes that people of all religious backgrounds have an important place in American life.  From his landmark speech on faith and politics in 2006 to his groundbreaking work on the campaign trail today, Barack is seeking to reclaim the values debate and bring Americans of all moral traditions together to, in his words, "reconcile the beliefs of each...with the good of all."

          As we head into the summer and the fall, the Obama campaign will begin a new effort to reach out to religious voters and reclaim the "moral values" debate.  It's called the American Values Campaign and we want you to be a part of it!

          The American Values Campaign is about people of faith standing up to support Barack Obama and coming together around our common values.  Values like being our brother's keeper, and our sister's keeper.  Values like advocating for the 'least of these' in our nation and our world, whether it's standing up for health care or against hunger and torture.
          Values like trying to find common ground on even the most contentious issues, from abortion to taxes to gay rights, without being disagreeable.  Values like telling the truth to the American people, no matter how tough that truth might be."

          This sounds like an awesome way to reach people of faith.  Also, did you see Obama at the Faith and Compassion Forum?  IMHO, he was incredible and very well received...and John McCain did not even bother to show up.  Obama's vision for America, his policy positions on things like poverty, and his desire to use his faith as a strong moral-anchor was very positive.

          I think that the GOP has taken the Christian Evangelical vote for granted for too long, and GW Bush has done a tremendous amount to damage the relationship that the GOP had with Christians since he got into office and then started to act in a very un-Christian way (especially in the last 4 years).

          I understand that some people are concerned that faith plays too much in politics but the fact of the matter is that a person's faith (or lack thereof) is part and parcel of the person (just like a person's gender, skin-color, class, job, education, or marital-status).  That is not a judgment but a fact.  And faith is something that creates a bond for people.  So, I believe that Obama highlighting his background and his commitment to "moral values" is a positive and will benefit him strongly in the GE because many people end up voting for candidates that they feel hold the same values and beliefs as they do.

          by seattlegirl on Sat May 10, 2008 at 09:21:01 PM PDT

          •  Thank you, I will definitely sign up there!

            I know at some point I saw something about "People of Faith for Obama" but it didn't occur to me to look at his website.  

            When I volunteered as an usher in the overflow area at the rally he held in Fort Worth, I had a cool experience that still makes me smile.  There were 3 ladies who were so disappointed that they wouldn't be seated in the main arena that they were just going to leave.  We volunteers had been told we couldn't promise it, but there was a good chance BO would come to speak to the people in overflow, so I encouraged them to stick around and give it a chance.  They were obviously very skeptical but of course they could leave any time, and they had just gone to a lot of trouble to drive downtown, find parking, etc. so they reluctantly agreed to stay for a few minutes.

            Anyway, before he went into the arena to speak to the larger audience, he came into overflow & spoke from a small stage, afterward taking a few minutes to shake the hands of a number of people, including the 3 ladies.

            When he left our area, they came and found me.  With tears in their eyes, they hugged me and thanked me, saying they'd gotten to be much closer to him than they would have if they'd been seated in the arena, and had all gotten to shake his hand.  The oldest of the 3 took my hands and said what a blessing it had been for her, and that she could see he had "the Spirit of the Lord on him." That made my day, and it was completely worth standing on that concrete floor for all those hours

            Obama's authentic faith is evident in his character, attitudes and demeanor, and I believe that people who really do care about "moral values" will see him as the kind of leader we need.

            I do think that too much is made of candidates' purported faith as a marketing angle, but when it's a genuine factor in their lives, it's important.  I hope that when offered a real choice between someone who really walks the walk and someone who's trying to fit into a politicized contrivance, voters who long for leaders with integrity will not be manipulated by labels.

            by Integrity is fundamental on Sat May 10, 2008 at 10:46:36 PM PDT

      •  I am not a Christian

        or religious in any way, but I support people with values regardless of their formal or informal association with a religion.  Justice.  The golden rule.  Equality.  Peace.  Who can object?

        What I do object to is the widespread belief that values=religion, the Christian religion in particular.

        by Heart of the Rockies on Sat May 10, 2008 at 05:44:57 PM PDT

        •  Damn straight.

          Someone once told me, to my face, someone who had known me for years, and had told me, as a boss, that he trusted my judgment more than anyone else's other than his own, that he didn't think that people who aren't religious are moral, because they don't have a religion to tell them what is, and it not, moral.  And he knew that I wasn't religious.  Nor was he, btw, before he had children.

          I pointed out that I thought I was more moral, because I had to actually look inside myself and decide what was right and what was wrong, instead of just being told and blindly accepting it.

          by DrJeremy on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:08:00 PM PDT

        •  The Golden Rule is Christian

          as I understand it.  Love thy neighbor as thyself, same thing.

          by thatvisionthing on Sat May 10, 2008 at 09:53:50 PM PDT

          •  Golden Rule - part of Perenniel Philosohy

            This is only one example, but it is a foundation of all religions and wisdom traditions.

            Ethics of Reciprocity

            by Vicky on Sun May 11, 2008 at 04:30:35 AM PDT

            •  So tell me how we end up with Hiroshima and 9/11?

              See that's what I don't get.  Where do we get the "right" to kill--MASS kill--and where do they, if this is all about religion?  I think religion is ... what's a word for a reverse scapegoat?  False justification.  Flags and govts = false gods.

              Actually I think it's governments who have the cause to hide behind the skirts of religion, but when are the people going to see through it and say no?  Either religion isn't that strong, or governments are stronger?

              by thatvisionthing on Sun May 11, 2008 at 11:09:19 AM PDT

              •  Easy to spout,

                hard to live.

                by Heart of the Rockies on Sun May 11, 2008 at 03:24:51 PM PDT

                •  And damned hard to publicly recognize in yourself

                  or country.  Leads to utter nonsense.

                  by thatvisionthing on Sun May 11, 2008 at 06:06:52 PM PDT

          •  Not unique to Christianity n/t

            by Heart of the Rockies on Sun May 11, 2008 at 07:02:11 AM PDT

      •  Very smart targeting.

        When I canvassed in the Charlotte, NC area we were given two page "Barack Obama on the Issues" flyers and a glossy tri-fold (with mainly early voting info) to hand out.

        In the Clarksburg, WV office, the field organizer pointed me to a large box of "Faith. Hope. Change." leaflets. The front features Barack speaking from a pulpit; a text box reads:

        My faith teaches me that I can sit in church and pray all I want but I won't be fulfilling God's will unless I go out and do the Lord's work.

        The back prominently features the words COMMITTED CHRISTIAN and explains his experience as a community organizer. It also has that wonderful black and white photo of Michelle and him with the girls.

        I think this will work very well in WV.

        by merrinc on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:05:14 PM PDT

      •  It use to puzzle me that Christianity or family

        values were claimed by republicans. It made no sense.

        But I figured it out. The bibles they got must be filled with typos
        For instance all the Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! were written as Joy unto you, scribes and Pharisees, republicans!
        And things like
        whatever you did for one of the least of My brethren, you did unto me became
        whatever you did for one of the least of My brethren, you wasted, so give money to me

        Love one another was printed judge one another if they seem to be other

        Something like that. Or perhaps in large print it says "Whatever Jesus says and teaches, he is just being sarcastic" and they are to ask themselves "What would Jesus do" and then do the opposite.

        In their bible Jesus might talk a lot about abortion and gay marriage and maybe the good Samaritan really imprisons dark skinned people.

        I know they must have good intent so I'm sure it is error filled bibles because otherwise I can't put it together.

        by joynow on Sun May 11, 2008 at 06:54:04 AM PDT

    •  Agreed on the ad

      Very, very good -- well-aimed at the WV audience without coming across as pandering.

      by ETF on Sat May 10, 2008 at 04:40:06 PM PDT

      •  I agree, good ad!

        by Wary on Sat May 10, 2008 at 04:50:27 PM PDT

      •  It's the tag line shot with his daughter..got me!

        And as long as Barack keeps talking about us as a nation being our brother's keepers, I'm fine with his Christianity.  That's the last thing you hear rightwingers say.

        I saw a good bumpersticker once:  ANNOY A REPUBLICAN: SHARE

        by thatvisionthing on Sat May 10, 2008 at 10:53:07 PM PDT

    •  Me too, I love it! n/t

      by dawnt on Sat May 10, 2008 at 05:02:56 PM PDT

    •  I like the ad a lot.

      The only issue I have with that ad is the same one I have had with all the Obama ads that have VOs:  I HATE that guy's speaking voice!  I mean, I LOATHE it!!!!

      The Obama campaign should have a chosen a strong, warm female voice for their ads instead of that same damned cookie-cutter male political ad voice that always sounds like some sexist, sarcastic asshole.  IMO.

      by Mother of Zeus on Sat May 10, 2008 at 05:07:47 PM PDT

      •  You know Mother Zeus

        that voice never bothered me..... but after reading your post and replaying the ad...it now bugs the shit out of me.  Thanks for the mind worm :-)
        Seriously...a strong warm grandmotherly voice would make that ad perfect.  

        by ScienceMom on Sat May 10, 2008 at 05:49:18 PM PDT

        •  Someone should copy those last two comments

          and send them over to Obama HQ. Very perceptive, thank you both.

          by allep10 on Sat May 10, 2008 at 06:01:55 PM PDT

          •  Glad you said this! Howard Dean in 2004 too

            In the 2004 primaries I heard a lady-on-the-street being interviewed on NPR.  She had been inspired by Howard Dean, so much so that she had taken her kids and made a long trip at great sacrifice to see him or volunteer for him.  I think.  Her simple, quiet sincerity and reasoning was so human and so moving.  If only the Dean campaign had just used clips of her for their ads, Iowa might have loved Dean.  My friend in Iowa said she couldn't stand him because she couldn't stand his constant awful ads.  The ads I heard (not Iowa) had a really smarmy narrator, I couldn't stand him either.  But I yearned for Dean, he was the only candidate who had been against the Iraq war before it started.

            by thatvisionthing on Sat May 10, 2008 at 10:46:12 PM PDT

        •  ScienceMom, I looove the idea of "a strong...

          warm grandmotherly voice."  I agree that it would make the ad perfect.

          by Wings Like Eagles on Sat May 10, 2008 at 06:18:02 PM PDT

      •  A few years ago, on NPR,

        they interviewed one of the guys who does the smarmy campaign-ad voices. It was hilarious. He did nursery rhymes in the style of a negative ad:

        "London Bridge is falling down. Who voted to slash funds from the highway budget? My Fair Lady."

        by paintitblue on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:04:04 PM PDT

      •  Completely agree. The voice is driving me nuts.

        It's nice to know I'm not the only one.  Especially in the "contrast" ads.  That voice just sounds like a totally fake hired hand who you've heard before in dozens of commercials.  I don't know why they use him (no offense to the individual) its just so wrong for the message they are trying to communicate  - no more old politics.

        by choochmac on Sat May 10, 2008 at 09:14:34 PM PDT

      •  Get one of his volunteers--a real person for O

        ...Obama.  Nothing says genuine like genuine.  And ground up is exactly what he's about.

        by thatvisionthing on Sun May 11, 2008 at 11:13:15 AM PDT

    •  yup, it is good.

      by leema on Sat May 10, 2008 at 05:15:35 PM PDT

    •  Agreed. Good Ad.

      Truthful yet targeted.  Well balanced.

      by alouw1 on Sat May 10, 2008 at 05:50:44 PM PDT

  •  Rock on, Carnacki!

    Glad you are doing this.

    by willyr on Sat May 10, 2008 at 04:02:37 PM PDT

  •  What's to not like in the ad?

    by Krum on Sat May 10, 2008 at 04:03:55 PM PDT

  •  Well, I'm on the phone to West Virginia for Obama

    and if anyone associated with the campaign happens to see this: the phone message you are asking people to leave does not include asking people for their vote in the primary on Tuesday.  Listing campaign promises without an ask is not effective.  Please, if anyone knowsn anyone in the WV Obama campaign who can remedy this, pass this along.  "We hope that you'll support Senator Obama in this Tuesday's primary" would be enough.  I'm already saying this in messages, but many others who tend to read just what's in front of them no doubt aren't.

    by Seneca Doane on Sat May 10, 2008 at 04:22:15 PM PDT

    •  Seneca Doane

      It's like that with every campaign in every cycle.

      by Carnacki on Sat May 10, 2008 at 04:40:31 PM PDT

      •  Carnacki, I've called at least a dozen states

        (probably more) this cycle, and while I've generally been disappointed in the messages we're asked to leave (and so I rewrite them, as campaign field people have suggested I do), this is the first one I've seen that doesn't even have an ask.  It hasn't been like that elsewhere in this campaign, or in any other I can remember.

        I believe that these MyBO pages are controlled at the state level, and so I hope that they'll insert that one sentence; the criticism is intended to be constructive.

        by Seneca Doane on Sat May 10, 2008 at 04:50:46 PM PDT

        •  Seneca Doane

          Good point. I'll pass that on.

          by Carnacki on Sat May 10, 2008 at 05:05:54 PM PDT

          •  Thank you

            I seriously appreciate it.  I like to think I am having some effect.

            by Seneca Doane on Sat May 10, 2008 at 05:09:16 PM PDT

            •  Seneca... thanks again!

              I'd like to see a 10 point span instead of 20......or more.

              My friend will get it where it needs to go too... perhaps there will be a change for tomorrow. Let us know.

              by victoria2dc on Sat May 10, 2008 at 06:26:05 PM PDT

              •  Anything under 30 is good.

                eom

                by DrJeremy on Sat May 10, 2008 at 08:10:19 PM PDT

          •  Actually, if you do pass things along

            I made a couple of changes (in bold) that they might want to consider.

            Hi this ______________, I’m a volunteer for Barack Obama’s campaign for President.  We're calling your area [or "________ County," for people willing to look up where they're calling on switchboard.com] to ask people to support Senator Obama in this Tuesday's primary.  Senator Obama has strong plans to bring change to Washington, create more jobs and provide tax cuts to the middle class.  He wants to end the war in Iraq and provide quality affordable healthcare to working families. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the campaign in West Virginia, please call 304-346-2616 or visit wv.barackobama.com. Thanks so much and have a great day.

            That second change breaks up the list and makes it easier to say and hear.

            by Seneca Doane on Sat May 10, 2008 at 05:38:13 PM PDT

        •  I've consistently had problems

          with the scripts being terrible as well.  I haven't been calling W VA.  In fact, I stopped calling before PA, and haven't started back.  God, I so DREAD it!  But I should do it, huh?  How bad has it been?

          by Mother of Zeus on Sat May 10, 2008 at 05:09:32 PM PDT

          •  It has been pretty rough ... and then

            the last two calls I've had have been thoughtful conversations with older women who don't watch the news and "vote their gut."  I think I may have reached them pretty well, and that makes up for everything that came before.

            Seriously, if you dread it, call Oregon. instead.  People there have been pretty cool.

            by Seneca Doane on Sat May 10, 2008 at 05:21:37 PM PDT

    •  Seneca, I sent your post to a friend

      who is a biggie in the campaign. She will get it to the right people.

      Thanks for doing the work!

      by victoria2dc on Sat May 10, 2008 at 06:24:12 PM PDT

  •  Carnacki, thanks so much for all you do!

    Yeah, Clinton will 'win' here in KY as well, but we keep on canvassing, calling etc.  AND we WILL make a HUGE difference believe me, just as your efforts in WV are going to do!!!!

    Interestingly Obama will be HERE in Louisville, KY on MONDAY as well! Only at 7PM--Looks like he's working our side of the country, eh?

    Yeah, Clinton will 'win' these two states, BUT we ain't gonna just let her 'win' we are out here 'fighting', organizing, doing whatever needs to be done to GOTV for Obama and we will!!!!

    by Wary on Sat May 10, 2008 at 04:47:24 PM PDT

  •  Bless you, Carnacki!

    Thank you!

    by noweasels on Sat May 10, 2008 at 05:26:08 PM PDT

  •  BTW... I loved that ad

    and think it could be played in other states.  No???

    by victoria2dc on Sat May 10, 2008 at 06:10:10 PM PDT

  •  Carnacki, will Obama hit....

    some tough-as-hell places like Wheeling and Moundsville?

    I think he will do rather well if he gets some exposure.  Once they see him up close, and hear him, I think they will come away with a different opinion of him.

    But he needs to do well not only in the cities, but in the tank and mine towns like Clifton Forge too.

    by boilerman10 on Sat May 10, 2008 at 10:09:27 PM PDT

    •  boilerman10

      I agree, but I don't think he's going to for the primary. For the general, he definitely should.

      by Carnacki on Sun May 11, 2008 at 08:46:20 AM PDT

•  Thanks for sharing your experiences Carnacki

  Good diary!

  by wishingwell on Sat May 10, 2008 at 02:54:52 PM PDT

•  I love the ad