This is one my last pre-election diaries as Congressional Candidates Wife. Of course, some already know that my husband is
Barry Welsh, Candidate of Indiana's 6th Congressional District.
I'm excited, anxious, curious, overwhelmed and tired. Barry and I have been busy today, we have celebrated our little church's 160th Anniversary. We had such a nice crowd in the church and the singing was beautiful and so heartfelt. Barry went a little long with his sermon but no one cared and quite enjoyed his enthusiasm and message. There was a brunch afterwards, and might I say Methodist women really know how to cook.
We then went to a poll workers meeting in one county who are coming out in droves to help get the vote out. There were more people there than at any other time in past elections, we were told. Then it was off to another county's potluck dinner as a fortifying get together to encourage and pep up the candidates, poll workers and volunteers.
During that time, we are putting signs out where we find there are places to fill in.
I've been up and down and all around when it comes to emotions for this race. I've felt low, low despondency at seeing Pence on the National news and our campaign at times working so hard to get the press releases out everyday. I've felt so excited as if possible to touch the moon when really good things like the free press or the great articles that have come out on Barry. (Newspaper Ad also viewable at this link.) I keep saying to myself "How does Barry do it?" Barry has been so calm and well, himself. I'm a mess, if by election night (if I make it) I would not be surprised if I was curled up in the fetal position, and asking "did the press releases go out nationally?" or "yard signs, did we get enough yard signs?" I know, pathetic as that seems, I must be honest with you that I have never before been involved in a Congressional race. As if that weren't apparent, I have also been trained in the unorthodox way of conducting a campaign, as so many politicos and party people have told me. I think Barry has been brilliant in his campaign, his strategy and his use of any opportunity to further the campaign, to reach the constituents within the district has been not only an amazing thing to watch but I can't help but be reminded of the story of the Little Engine that could. Barry has had an uphill battle the whole way through this election campaign and it's paying off with his personable demeanor and his honest and unchanging positions. He's taken this battle personally in the sense that something needs to be done; something needs to be done quickly and for the people, not for the betterment of a political career.
We run a food bank from our little church, it's all volunteer donations and what ever we are able to provide, it's willingly given. We don't have a cash fund to give people who may need funds, but at least we can give them food. At the brunch at church today, everyone in the congregation is abuzz with Barry's campaign and they are all busting buttons on their "home town boy" going to Washington. They want all the details and they discuss with great earnestness, Republican farmers, bankers, retirees - all, they have vested interest in Barry and his race. They want him to win and they want him to improve things for this district and our nation. We were talking about the food bank provisions and what we need to get for Thanksgiving hampers or Christmas hampers. To my dismay, we have only $600 to get us to March of 2007. While we all do our part to help support this food bank, it's a very sad reality in our area, which I'm sure it is in many other places in this country. To see the worry on the faces of some of our congregation members on how do we feed 65+ families and feed them each month. Each month there is more and more that are relying on us and it's so sad to see this. The jobs are drying up, what little job industry that may be staying alive is with no help from Mr. Pence and his representation. In fact, Mr. Pence remarked in the local paper recently when asked about the very poor economy in the surrounding counties, "While Fayette and other surrounding areas may not be as prosperous as the rest of the nation, the rest of the county is in great shape with the lowest unemployment in years and that with the addition of the Honda Plant (in Greensburg approx. 1 ½ hours from Liberty, the location where Mr. Pence was interviewed) or the Cummins Plant in Columbus (approx. 2 ½ hours away) maybe people can get jobs there". This in a district where 300,000 manufacturing jobs have either left the state or the country, which equates to 12 Billion dollars in taxable income, left the state. The Honda plant is looking to employ 1,500 jobs and the Cummins Plant looking to employ 500 or 600 jobs. This is poor service to the people of this district; it is clearly showing the priority of Mr. Pence and it lays with his goal of running for President or Vice-President in 2008.
We need to get him OUT and your help and support both in the past and in the present is appreciated and welcome.
We are looking to put a final print ad in two of the biggest papers in the district for Election Morning and we are looking at big bucks. Big bucks for us anyway. One paper for a quarter page ad is $1046.70 and in the other $1065.00. Thanks in part to all of you, we raised the full amount for our radio buys and the rest of the paper buys for the district, but it would be so very helpful to be able to put the ads in the biggest papers.
If you can, please click to donate, we would be very grateful.
This is my diary and not vetted through the campaign, it's my perspective of a Congressional Campaign from the inside out.
Thank you for taking the time to read my diary and I appreciate your comments.
Love,
Sherri Welsh
