Polls -- they look so nice, the trendlines all going blue, the spread too decent to close in so little time, no game changers on the horizon, there's a huge money advantage, the opposition acting demoralized -- for once there is joy in Mudville!
We feel good about our chances, and we should. We feel GREAT that the nightmare of the last 8 years has a chance to be partially wiped away at long last.
But the polls are absolutely MEANINGLESS unless the Obama vote turns out.
This may seem self-evident, but it can't be stated too often. We've seen plenty of diaries warning against complacency -- keep donating, keep canvasing, keep fighting the smears. But in the end, no matter how many minds you change, no matter how many people you reach, no matter how many more ads Obama can run, none of it makes any difference if the Obama vote doesn't actually go to the voting booth on election day.
I believe now is the time to start encouraging all your Obama supporting friends, family members and associates to MAKE SURE they turn out on election day. It doesn't matter if you're in a blue state, a red state, or a swing state. It doesn't matter Obama's ahead by 30 points or two. Polls are meaningless if the vote doesn't turn out! Tell your friends those exact words, and don't be shy about it.