Well, I am back from New Hampshire after volunteering with the Dean campaign out of their Dover office weds-sat (wish it could have been more).
First, I'll say I feel great. If the doc doesn't do well on tuesday at least I feel like I did something instead of sitting on my hands at this crucial time. It wasn't a problem for my bosses and only cost me about $100 (bus tickets and food mainly since a friend let me use his couch). I arrived home on saturday in time to work 3rd shift at one job and when I told my union steward where I had been and who I had been working for I was told that the council is leaning heavily towards a Dean endorsement- awesome news.
I have absolutely no criticism. The people working for Dean are amazing, sincere and genuinely friendly. I was incredibly impressed with their grit and determination (my first day working with them was before the St. Anslem's debate, a tough time for Deaniacs IMO). The level of organization is what one would expect in a campaign that is so "bottom-up"- that is to say, it's more fluid than etched in stone. There was always work to do; whether you went out canvassing, hit the corner with signs for visability, stuffed envelopes or put together signs. The computers and telephones were in constant use. At the same time it didn't feel regimented but more layed-back which in my opinion, is very healthy for a campaign in the midst of mounting a comeback.
The people of New Hampshire I spoke with either at the door or on the street seem flummoxed over which canidate they will support. People say they like two or even three- only a few were committal. That's why I've been telling people to be suspicious of the polls. One thing I noticed is that many view the "scream" as an attack on Dean by the media and think it's been blown way out of proportion. I think some of you will be relieved to hear that, even if it is ancedotal based on my short time instate.
I am not going to make a predicition but you can be assured of my hopes. I percieve that Independents will be drawn to Dean and to a lesser extent Clark and that is a tremendous wild-card.
More than anything this trip made me realize something- I am a Dean Democrat. Before the election, I intend to register with the first Party ever in my 12 years of being voting age. The doc has inspired me and many, many others. Hopefully, I can find other Dean Democrats locally and we can organize within our local Party structure to begin the process of taking this Party back.
For those of you who have disparaged Dean time and time again I urge you to look closely at his canidacy- it's the best choice to defeat Bush this year and make positive changes to the Democratic Party and bring people into the Party. I don't have harsh words for you, just a hope that you will at least realize the value of Dean's canidacy and what it means for the future of the Democratic Party.
The revolution is coming.