You’ve seen the polls; you know what we are up against this November. You also know that the key ingredient right now is lack of enthusiasm among Democratic voters.
Our job, right now, is to tell our story and get our voters to the polls. If we are able to get our voters to the polls, we have a chance to hold our majorities. This, we must do:
(Thank you, clammyc, for this video!)
For motivation:
Do you want John Boehner as Speaker of the House?
Do you want Darryl Issa doubling his staff (yup, another anti-big-government Republican happily willing to expand government solely for partisan purposes) to spend two years “investigating” the White House?
Do I need to go on?
Well, OKAY then . . . it is up to US to make sure this doesn’t happen. And we can do this if we get OUR voters to the polls. YOU can do this.
Canvassing 101: YES YOU CAN
I’m still somewhat of a novice at this, and if I can do it, so can you.
The first campaign in which I actively worked (I did some campaign finance volunteering for Al Gore’s campaign for President in 1980 and some phonebanking for Howard Dean in 2004) was Jim Webb’s campaign for Senate in 2006. I signed up early, because I believed that Jim could win in Virginia and I really wanted to start the process of turning my Red State Blue. I stuffed envelopes (and while stuffing envelopes, met teacherken – how cool is that?), I compiled electronic lists of potential donors at home, I walked the streets and hung reminder cards on front doors.
Then it came time to phonebank. I’d never done much of this before. I was handed a script and my list of people to call (all the campaigns will supply you with your script and your list) – but I was sweaty-palmed. I was calling people I did not know to ask about them to vote for my candidate. What if they asked a question about a position that I couldn’t answer? Well, first, no one did. But, second, you will not be doing this in a vacuum. You can phonebank from your local headquarters, and there will always be someone there to help you if you do not know an answer. And I found that the most effective way to do this was just to be myself --- I did the intro from the script, but then I just talked. I actually convinced two George Allen voters to change their minds (well, maybe) . . . and when I got someone on the other line who was completely pro-Allen, I’d just say, “Well, okay then, thanks for listening” and end the call. YOU DO NOT NEED TO ARGUE, because that wastes time. And in an election year where time is everything (our goal is to turn out our vote), all you need to do is say "thank you," hang up and move on. (Please do not ever be rude. That does nothing to assist our cause.)
NOW: Canvassing.
I signed up to canvass for President Obama, Senator Mark Warner and Congressman Jim Moran in August 2008. I had never canvassed before. I was, frankly, weak-kneed about walking around and ringing people’s doorbells and asking them to vote. I got over it, and so can you.
First: Get your supplies. You will need a bag to carry your literature, your clipboard (buy one -- it will be enormously helpful when you are filling out your sheets), your pens and (later in the fall, depending on where you live) your sweater, windbreaker and flashlight. I bought a recycled rubber bag at Staples that I love. It has a deep inside pocket for the big stuff (and my cell phone, umbrella and car keys) and a nifty outside pocket for my literature. Don’t carry anything you don’t need – you’ll be doing a lot of walking.
Second: Get your comfortable shoes. I LOL’d when a trio of McCain supporters showed up in our driveway in October 2008. Besides being dumb (um – did they not notice the large Obama yard sign?) and besides being in a trio (a waste of resources – at most, canvass in pairs), this trio included a young woman who was wearing a short skirt and high heels. To canvass? Seriously? My Mom shoo’ed them of our driveway but not before I realized that McCain’s campaign was hopeless if his volunteers were canvassing houses with Obama signs in the front yard while wearing high heels. On one really tiring afternoon, I was assigned to 32 four-floor walk-up apartment buildings . . . do the math. I was glad to have my comfortable shoes on and not to be carrying anything I didn't need.
Third: Go to your local HQ for training. There, you will meet other novices (and some pros) who will literally walk you through the process and inspire you. The campaign workers are awesome; if you can, bring along some fruit or other snacks for them. The campaign workers will give you your canvass sheets and a script. The sheets will have likely Democratic voters on them (you will NOT be assigned to knock on the doors of Republicans – trust me!).
Fourth: OKAY, now you are actually canvassing! You will put all your canvass sheets on your clipboard. (You will probably also be given a map of your area – which will allow you to put your canvass sheets in order. Take a few minutes to do this, using your map. It saves time.) The sheets will have boxes on them that you will check after each house or apartment you visit.
Fifth: You will drive or take public transportation to the neighborhood you will be canvassing. And then you will get out of your car, or walk from the metro and you will start ringing doorbells and knocking on doors. If the people have a storm door, you will open it to knock or ring, and then close it and wait for them to answer, because you do not want to be in their personal space when they open the door. And when they do open the door, smile! Introduce yourself, cordially. Say: "I am (your name) and I'm canvassing today on behalf of (name of your candidate)." Then follow the script your HQ has given you or, if you have a compelling story to tell, tell your story.
Sixth: Take along a personal story. I will be wearing a button (I have yet to make) with a picture of my niece, Kate, on it. One of the reasons I will be canvassing this fall is that I am so grateful for the health care bill – a bill that means that my niece, Kate, who was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age 16 months and would never be eligible for any health care coverage, will now (thanks to the bill) be able to stay on her parents’ plan until she is 26 – by which time, she cannot be denied coverage. Gerry Connolly (for whom I will be canvassing) voted yes for that bill.
Seventh: Take along an older elementary school or middle school kid. Not having been blessed with motherhood, I borrowed by friend’s daughter, Della, who was 12 at the time. (Obviously, you do not want to bring along a small child or a child who is not interested in canvassing!) Della volunteered to help me because she was enthusiastically pro-Obama. She was a great ice-breaker with wavering voters and terrific company. (Plus, she actually persuaded a Republican we ran into on the street to vote for Obama!)
Finally and most importantly: Ask if they are planning to vote. If they say 'yes,' thank them and remind them of the polling hours and their polling place. (You will be given this information by HQ.) Ask them if they need a ride to the polls or a reminder. (If yes, mark this on your sheet.) If they say 'no,' ask them if there is any information you could provide that could change their mind. If there is, tell them that you will get it to them -- and follow up.
Telling our story and why it matters:
Read Winning Strategy? by incredible canvasser RenaRF.
Read Hope 2010 by GOTV expert Femlaw.
Read today’s column by EJ Dionne.
NO EXCUSES
I have no time. I cannot spend an entire day canvassing.
You do have time; and you will not be spending an entire day canvassing (unless you want to). You will be assigned to a shift that will take about two hours, plus thirty minutes at the beginning to pick up your sheets/map/script and find your destination and another thirty minutes at the end to return your sheets to HQ.
I don’t want to knock on the doors of Republicans!
You will not be knocking on the doors of Republicans. Your HQ has already done phone banking to determine likely voters for your candidate. Eight weeks out, the goal is turn-out-the-vote. You will not be knocking on random doors; you will be knocking on the doors of people who have already expressed interest in voting for your candidate. If you do run into someone who is obnoxious, just thank him or her for his or her time and go to the next house. Make a note on your sheet so that no one else will visit the house. Stay classy, move on, and don’t worry about it.
What if someone asks a question I can’t answer?
They most likely will not. I knocked on perhaps 1,000 doors before the 2008 election. No one asked a technical policy question. And if they do, you’ll have your cheat sheet with you. And if the answer isn’t there, ask if you could have the questioner’s telephone number and promise to get back to her. Then do it.
There may be moments of sheer joy. There may be a few ugly moments.
But you will have done your part. Can we do it? Hell, yes we can!
* * * * * *
Tonight’s Top Comments!
From Cedwyn (too late for last night):
You’ll laugh, HARD, at this comment from TooFolkGR.
From LandofEnchantment (too late for last night):
Barb Morrill said all that needed to be said in three words.
From JanF:
In my diary Hemmed-in Labor under a false assumption, where I took exception to an anti-labor editorial in my local paper, gulfgal98 added this excellent comment about workers being required to be “nimble.”
From zenbassoon:
In my diary about Keith Olbermann, I have a poll up asking "Who is the most intelligent person on TV/radio?" thismuch nails the analysis of the major pundits in the clearest way I've seen.
From drewfromct:
Why Beelzebud is back to unenthusiastic voting.
From briefer:
In response to the news that the Florida pastor may not burn Korans if the "ground zero" mosque is not built, jnhobbs had this to say.
From trashablanca:
With a single pic, A Siegal provides proof positive that climate change exists. Please give his diary a read and a rec if you're so inclined.
From sardonyx:
In indiemcemopants's diary Should LGBT's vote this year?, RadioGirl is not only voting, she's working phone banks and more at home and around the country.
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Top Mojo courtesy of sardonyx (thanks, dear sar)
Top Mojo (cskendrick/sardonyx-style) excluding Cheers and Jeers, search-identifiable tip jars, first diary comments, and various pooties:
1) Gawd can't this idiot remember the Clinton years? by FishOutofWater — 175
2) The Casino's Open All Night by JekyllnHyde — 175
3) How can a society survive by autoegocrat — 145
4) None of these people by Lost Left Coaster — 127
5) It's shooting yourself in the head after... by BoxerDave — 107
6) Honestly, I couldn't believe what I was hearing by Eclectablog — 95
7) Nor do I mind giving Sen. Voinovich kudos... by APA Guy — 95
8) A Bit Late, Don't You Think? by JekyllnHyde — 90
9) It's blackmail. by Diogenes2008 — 88
10) Gore would have been president, not Bush by FishOutofWater — 87
11) I heard that report this morning. It's absolutely by stegro — 84
12) I need sleep. by TheCavis — 83
13) They are trying to score a cheap by Its the Supreme Court Stupid — 82
14) Republicans held Congress 11 years after by Geekesque — 79
15) "No More John Kerrys" by Happy Days — 77
16) From Keith Olbermann on Twitter by Diogenes2008 — 76
17) This message warrants reiterating, jojo.... by cas2 — 74
18) Well said by RJP9999 — 66
19) FDL. by christine20 — 66
20) "Stalking" was hyperbole. by TheCavis — 64
21) If the Dems have 60 votes... by Jonze — 63
22) Why do you always spam the top of diaries? by Partially Impartial — 61
23) And this addition: by Diogenes2008 — 60
24) Do you have any idea how much by Geekesque — 56
25) I think it's great you did this. by not a cent — 56
26) The idea of not donating has definitely entered by TheFatLadySings — 54
27) Perhaps, but it still takes balls to do this... by APA Guy — 54
28) Retiring Republicans by Magnifico — 54
29) Well, at least until... by JRandomPoster — 53
30) Any progressive... by mistersite — 52
31) I didn't know you had done that! by myrealname — 52
Top Mojo with No Exclusions:
1) Tip Jar by Drdemocrat — 370
2) Tip Jar by Geekesque — 362
3) My first tip jar. by TheCavis — 247
4) Tip Jar by RenaRF — 247
5) Tip Jar by Eclectablog — 234
6) Let's do this thing by LaughingPlanet — 188
7) Tip Jar by WinSmith — 183
8) Gawd can't this idiot remember the Clinton years? by FishOutofWater — 175
9) The Casino's Open All Night by JekyllnHyde — 175
10) Tip Jar by BruinKid — 158
11) Tip Jar by TheFatLadySings — 155
12) Tip Jar by marabout40 — 152
13) Tips for reality by MinistryOfTruth — 148
14) How can a society survive by autoegocrat — 145
15) None of these people by Lost Left Coaster — 127
16) It's shooting yourself in the head after... by BoxerDave — 107
17) Scritchie Jar ! CSM again... ;-) by triciawyse — 105
18) Honestly, I couldn't believe what I was hearing by Eclectablog — 95
19) Nor do I mind giving Sen. Voinovich kudos... by APA Guy — 95
20) Tip Jar by slinkerwink — 95
21) A Bit Late, Don't You Think? by JekyllnHyde — 90
22) It's blackmail. by Diogenes2008 — 88
23) Gore would have been president, not Bush by FishOutofWater — 87
24) I heard that report this morning. It's absolutely by stegro — 84
25) Tip Jar by Julie Gulden — 84
26) I need sleep. by TheCavis — 83
27) They are trying to score a cheap by Its the Supreme Court Stupid — 82
28) Republicans held Congress 11 years after by Geekesque — 79
29) Tip Jar by Sydserious — 79
30) "No More John Kerrys" by Happy Days — 77
If YOU spot a top comment, send it in! Email to top comments at gmail dot com before 9:30 PM EST. Don't forget to provide your screen name, so we can give you a proper tip o' the hat!