With the campaign in its final weeks, I decided it was time to get involved above and beyond what I normally do. I had gotten an e-mail from the Obama campaign asking volunteers to travel to battleground states, and it sounded like a great idea. Being from New Jersey, we were mostly pitched on trips to Pennsylvania. I had other plans. PA definitely needs help, but there was another state that called to me. It was the state that crushed my hopes in 2004, and it's shaping up to be a prime swing state again in 2008. I was dead set on going to Ohio.
There were some practical consideration, too. My cousin moved to Cleveland a few months ago and had some extra room. I have a car at my disposal, and the drive was manageable. Also, I've been unemployed for four months, and my job prospects are looking pretty slim. So with loads of free time, a set of wheels, and a nice play to stay, OH just made sense. And let's not forget the 20 electoral votes.
So I packed my things, threw caution to the wind, and set out for a place that I had only briefly visited once in my life. Aside from my cousin, I didn't know anyone in OH. I had no idea what was waiting for me. I was jumping into the deep end of the pool on a cold day.
I've been working with the campaign here in Ohio for about a week and a half now, and it's hard work every day. The learning curve was pretty steep (I've never canvassed before), but I quickly got the hang of it. I no longer have reservations about making calls or knocking on doors. As a result, I've met a lot of interesting people here in Ohio. There are a lot of energetic supporters and most are nice to me, but every now and then I get a genuine crazy person at the door.
So I'm going to write about some of my more interesting encounters for you guys to enjoy, peppered with some campaign commentary along the way. First a disclaimer: I am in no way saying that any of these people are examples of typical supporters. The vast majority of McCain supporters I meet are nice enough and very respectful. They just don't agree with the Obama platform. In addition, nothing that I write here is endorsed or approved by the Obama campaign. This is just me writing about my experience for you to think about and enjoy. I have some great stories saved up, so check back here often.
I've got a good feeling about Ohio. We're excited about our prospects here, and the numbers are looking favourable. We have a great organization on the ground, and we're going to push hard through election day (and beyond, if necessary).
I'm going to work as hard as I can here in OH, but everyone needs to help out. Find your local campaign office, wherever you are, and sign up to volunteer. I'm not asking you, I'm pleading with you. There's a lot to do and not enough time. I didn't think I'd be able to do this, but I found new strength and courage to push myself. That's what Barack Obama has done for me, and you can find that strength as well. If you ever feel discouraged, just keep telling yourself that we can do this. Yes we can.