The race is not given to the swift, nor the battle to the strong...
Is presidential politics usually a sprint? Well, in my mind, the Good Doctor's 50 State Strategy is like a relay race. And until the Potomac Primaries? We regular Michigan folks for Obama were standing on the sidelines. Cheering, waving at the runners, reaching in our coolers to hand a bottle of water. But never in the race itself. The coaches responsible for us violated the rules, and as a result, our part of the team was benched.
"No fair!" some of us said. "It was the coaches, not us!"
"Rules are rules," reminded others. "We chose these coaches, and we've got to run a clean race."
So we watched from the sidelines, watching the baton get passed. Iowa. New Hampshire. Nevada. South Carolina. Each state's team would run as fast as they could, as hard as they could, and as swiftly as they could.
There were a couple of times that we thought the baton was dropped... but no, that was just a fumble. We were still in the race. Amazingly, impossibly... but still, in.
Something even more wonderful happened, the last time the baton was passed. You see, our team was never the favorite. We were younger, less experienced, and didn't have any gold medals yet. But wonder of wonders... on February 9, 10, and 12... we watched our relay team...
Inch ahead.
We roared from our vantage point in the crowd of spectators. We screamed at the top of our lungs. We cheered like mad. We almost didn't feel the vibes of our cell phones going off.
Much to our surprise, it was the guy whose smelly, moldy red socks* stunk up the locker next door.
"Michigan, we need you. Come help!"
I am a graduate student and member of the unofficial groups, Michiganders for Obama and U-M Students for Obama. We are fortunate enough to live within a stone's throw of the Ohio border, a fact that never mattered so much as it does now.
Today, we were able to do the work (and have the experience) that student groups in 34 other states have done thus far... do the clown-car thing by packing too many undergrads and grads into the compacts and parental hand-me-downs that we tend to drive, chat about our experiences on the sidelines during different parts of the relay ("I did Iowa for a weekend!" "I saw Barack in New York over break!"), and look forward to helping out our Buckeye brethren to the South with whatever tasks they saw fit.
We met at the University of Toledo student union when we arrived in the morning. As a Michigander, it was my first time seeing official Obama campaign merchandise (other than my "Got Hope?" t-shirt) in person. I blinked, feeling surreal, but listening as we got our canvassing assignments.
Today was one of the most productive times I've had as a citizen. I only signed up four people, but my team did well, especially those who were experienced. I was sure to give everyone I saw a big smile. The last guy I signed up patted me on the back... and it was not creepy at all. He, and several others, talked about how proud they were of our generation.
There were several encounters like that. A fiftyish Boomer who was abrupt with us, but then came back, apologized, and poured our his heart about being so disappointed with politics until he was afraid to hope. (Actually, that happened more than once.) One of the volunteers running the downtown Toledo office, with word that perhaps Barack or Michelle might make it to Northwest Ohio... close enough for us to perhaps volunteer. Word from several that hundreds showed up to the Toledo office opening. And personal invitations, to come back, to volunteer and contribute from one of the student staffers from the national campaign, who was overseeing efforts in the NW part of the state (can't remember his name, but he was from UF).
There was a lot of camraderie between the Michigan and Ohio supporters. We shared two meals, encouraged each other when we had the occasional rude person to keep smiling and wish them well ("after all, Barack would want it that say"), making sure everyone could take the occasional break from the bitter cold. When my team was kicked out of a public place for canvassing, we called the campus and state chairs, who were immediately responsive.
And then, all too soon, the day was over, and it was time to head back north... back to Michigan, our home.
The thing is, no one wanted to stop.
"I'm coming back next weekend," said several people. There was news of Obama Buses, leaving from various points in SE Michigan, financed solely outside of the camp by interested Michiganders, running from March 1st through the 4th. There were offers of places to crash, and promises to drive and carpool.
The state that's been benched is humbly doing its part to help carry the baton. We will help Ohio run as hard and as fast as they can.
We're fired up, and ready to go.
*Couldn't resist the OSU dig. Hail to the victors valiant. :)