I will make this short as I have been up since 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning west coast time and it is now 10:30 p.m. Sunday--short story I was returning from Ohio to California this morning on a very early flight.
Over six or so weeks ago, I responded to a staffer for Jeff Seeman's Congressional campaign inviting Kossacks to come work for Jeff's campaign in the Canton area of Ohio. My husband and I are in the process of opening a franchise, which is head-quartered in Parkersbury, WV where we had to go for training, and just happens to be a couple of hours south of Canton, so I jumped at it.
So I get in touch with Megan, Jeff's volunteer coordinator, via Tim and I commit to canvassing for Sept. 25th. My husband says he will do office work, ends up he did fundraising research all day, a very important- yet at least to me- little known reality of how fundraising works outside of the internet.
Jeff and I hit the streets of Alliance which is east of Canton at 9:30 AM. It was a great day. We canvassed 140 houses, lots of positive feedback and had some super conversations. This was in a sort of Republican leaning town. Canvassing is a different animal when you are with the candidate, because he was doing a quick meet and greet essentially and we usually didn't engage too much but were really trying to raise awareness of his name, who he is running against- that would be Ralpha Regula- and to gather data on whether they are supporters.
If you have not given to this campaign, I heartily urge you to. Jeff is a delightful man, with a lovely wife and darling six year old daughter. He has given up his job to give this his best shot and he is literally wearing holes in his shoes in the process. I learned so much and enjoyed myself thoroughly. In our second go around, after the rally, I told him that I would be happy to walk one side of the road and he the other so we could cover more ground and we really cooked.
Ohio is an economic disaster from what I saw. People are really struggling in these towns where good paying industrial jobs were once available. Meanwhile Ralph- the incumbent is holed up at his farm or in D.C.- freaked out that he won't get to retire on his terms.
So, again, give to Jeff if you haven't. If you live close enough to help him canvas, go and bring a friend. You will glad you did because just to meet him he is a great guy!! We want him in Congress working for the American people and those folks in Ohio that I met.
Sorry my entry is not too detailed, but I have brain drain and know I will have no time to post this during the upcoming week.
Thanks again Jeff, Megan, Tim, Mia and Mike for a great day!