I thought I might as well try it again.
In 2008, I was fortunate enough to partner up with Nate Silver just as he was launching 538. I hit the road with the inimitable Sean Quinn and took the photos to accompany his reporting. In his '95 Ford Escort, we drove east across the country, through almost twenty swing states, covering the ground game being played between Senators McCain and Obama. It was a pretty epic 8 week trip.
As the campaign heated up, I felt the itch. Nate was at the Times, and I hear they already have a photographer or two. So I contacted Talking Points Memo, packed up my '98 Volvo, and headed east from San Francisco. The photos below are the result of 16,745 miles, a couple laps around the continental US, and an overwhelming number of peanut butter sandwiches.
Hope you enjoy.
The president speaks to students at Kent State in Ohio. "Forward."
Michelle Obama tells students at Kenyon College in Ohio to rearrange their weekend plans and take their dates to GOTV.
Bob registers a voter in Roanoke, Virginia.
Students at a Biden rally with President Clinton in Youngstown, Ohio.
Mitt Romney talks to supporters two days before the election, who are holding signs that read "Can't lose" - Cleveland, Ohio
Obama campaigns in front of Air Force One on the tarmac in Cleveland.
The crowd on the tarmac watches Air Force One land.
Biden arrives on Air Force Two for the VP Debate in Kentucky. He looked like he was ready.
Joe Biden with Senator Bill Nelson at a retirement home in Sun City Center, Florida.
A volunteer makes calls for the President at a campaign office in Reno, Nevada.
Bill Clinton gives a math lesson in Youngstown, Ohio.
The President high fives a child in the audience at Kent State.
Ann Romney leads the crowd to pray for victory for her husband in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
A student of Grinnell College listens to the Vice President talk about marriage equality in Iowa.
Bill Clinton, with no notes or teleprompter, speaks for an hour just riffing off the day's headlines - Chillicothe, Ohio.
President Obama talks about integrity at Kent State, Ohio.
Michelle Obama talks about why she married her husband, "I didn't just marry him because he's fine. Character. I married him because of his character."
Paul Ryan caption contest! - Sabina, Ohio
Obama standing on GOTV packets at a field office in Denver.
Uncle Joe hugs a woman at a rally in Ottumwa, Iowa.
Obama in Kent, Ohio.
A UC-Boulder student canvases the apartment buildings adjacent to campus, registering voters.
Obama looking like superman at the fair grounds in Hilliard, Ohio.
KY Senator Rand Paul introduces Paul Ryan at Byer Steel in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Mitt Romney delivers commemorative 9/11 remarks to the National Guard Association in Reno, Nevada.
They listen.
Michelle in front of a 150-foot flag at Kenyon College.
The Romney campaign loved to hold events at manufacturing plants in Ohio. This one was American Spring Wire in Bedford Heights.
Obama brushes off his handlers to take an extra second to take a photo with some Kent State students.
A field office, a volunteer, and an organizer in Denver.
Obama in Hilliard a couple days before the election.
Paul Ryan talks about football at Young's Dairy in Yellow Springs, Ohio. There were a lot of pretty pumpkins.
You can actually see the halo around the GOP's golden boy in this one - Cincinnati, Ohio
A volunteer passes out flags before Obama gets on stage in Hilliard, Ohio.
Biden calls a few supporters himself while visiting volunteers at a field office in Ottumwa, Iowa.
Obama eagerly attacks the rope line in Milwaukee after giving his stump speech in the rain.
Paul Ryan sings "Can't Stop Believin" in Lima, Ohio.
VIP section of rebar - Cincinnati, Ohio
A huge crowd shows up to a Romney/Ryan rally to listen to Trace Atkins in Fisherville, Virginia.
Well before Hurricane Sandy, Chris Christie on the stump with Romney in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Obama's campaign manager, Jim Messina, in the spin room after the VP debate in Kentucky.
Romney thinks it's time to get mad, mad as hell - Canton, Ohio.
A woman holds a sign at a Ryan rally in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
A woman in Youngstown is very happy to see President Clinton again.
1 + 1 = 2 - Youngstown, Ohio.
An Obama rally in Mentor, Ohio.
Earl making signs at Obama HQ in Richmond, Virginia.
Volunteer training at an Obama office in Roanoke, Virginia.
Michelle Obama at UNC Chapel Hill.
A yak I saw on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina after the Michelle Obama event. He'd get some votes.
UC-Boulder students registering folks to vote.
Canvas packets at a field office in Boulder, Colorado.
Michelle hasn't lost her charm.
A Romney volunteer canvasing in Reno, Nevada.
Obama waving to a crowd in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Biden speaks to students in Grinnell, Iowa.
Biden: "I'm not used to being introduced by President Clinton. It used to be the other way around." - Youngstown, Ohio
Romney supporters pray for Paul Ryan at an event in Lima, Ohio.
Obama fired up after giving his speech in the rain in Milwaukee.
Romney at yet another steel plant in Bedford Heights, Ohio.
Biden works for a man who says what he means and means what he says - Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ashley Biden with her father at a campaign event in Sun City Center, Florida.
Florida Senator Bill Nelson listens to Joe Biden at the same event.
Biden campaigns at the port of Burlington in Iowa.
A phone bank at Romney HQ in Columbus, Ohio.
Biden talks to supporters at a coffeeshop in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
The Straight Talk Express got a new paint job.
Anticipation at Kent State, Ohio.
Mitch McConnell drinking through a straw to preserve his makeup before a Fox News interview.
Obama deplanes Air Force One in Cleveland.
Obama crosses the tarmac and bounds onto stage.
Paul Ryan thinking about the future at a Romney event in Canton, Ohio.
Obama in Las Vegas.
Michelle in Gambier, Ohio.
Preaching to the choir in Mentor, Ohio.
And a special bonus: The last campaign stop of Obama life, the day before the election - Columbus, Ohio, with Jay-Z & The Boss:
For each of you who voted or volunteered, there is a thankful President.
Thanks for looking! You can see the rest of my photos from the 2012 campaign on my Flickr page.
VOTE.
5:56 PM PT: Had a couple requests for prints, so if you're looking, you can find my contact at BrettMarty.com.
