An invigorating visit to eastern Pennsylvania should be acknowledged.
Yesterday, two busloads of New Yorkers descended upon the Easton Obama headquarters to help us canvas outlying areas that are battleground areas.
For months, we Easton for Obama volunteers have registered thousands of voters, in cold February winds and steamy August heatwaves, stomping about in the inner cities of Bethlehem, Allentown and Easton, and driving the rural roads between the urban ones. We've met with a full range of responses, from "Oh, I'm definitely for Obama, and so's my whole family" to the response I had yesterday. I was in a community of sixty-plus year olds, well-to-do retirees, lovely well-tended lawns and gardens. I found several residences had cars in the driveway, but no one came to the door. Finally, in one household, I met a man who came to his door. He said he was not for Obama, and I asked if he might tell me why. He made some comments about "Communists eating up the country."
So it was with great relief that I turned to my two fellow Obama workers. Young, thoughtful and energetic, they talked to residents, listened, gave all the good reasons to vote for Barack, and did it with style, grace and diplomacy. Silly retorts from uncompromising, disinterested residents didn't faze them. When they came across people who were clearly going to vote for Obama, they jauntily reported, "Preaching to the choir!" and moved on. They were bouyed by the experience, happy to see these reputedly, and occasionally "bitter" people had among them some strong Obama support.
I've found that too, over the months, canvassing on foot as well as on the phone. Interest in Senator Obama has grown in the area, and support has grown with it.
It is clear that urban areas are stronger for the Senator, in general, than rural areas, but there continue to be around fifty per cent support for Senator Obama among respondents in even ex-urban areas here in the eastern corners of Pennsylvania.
Let us hope other battleground states are receiving the kind of assistance and cross-state support we here in Pennsylvania received yesterday from those great, hearty and positive folks who ventured here from New York City!