Thank you for your service to our urgent cause, and for writing this. I’ve been canvassing, too, in Pennsylvania every weekend for the past five weeks. I’ve had mixed results and sometimes feel discouraged except that each time I felt I had met a couple of people who thought twice about not voting, or who needed reinforcement to vote their conscience in a household that was largely Trump. One week I was a bus captain and we went to a very, very rural part of PA that was largely Trump voters. But there were those few who were Harris supporters, including an immigrant from Mexico, likely a farm worker, who is now a citizen and who will vote by drop box because of his work schedule. We made sure he knew how to do that so his vote would be counted. My canvassing partner said to me that we were doing a great deal of good making voters like that young man feel less alone. I think he’s right - let’s remember that sometimes people decide not to vote at the last minute because they feel it won’t make a difference. We know it will and can encourage them. In that same rural neighborhood I got chased off a property by a man with four dogs. I’m glad he didn’t have a gun with him. I felt unsafe. Even so, if you asked me if I’d do it again, my answer would be “ Absolutely, yes.” And in fact, I did go back out again the following week, and I will go again this weekend. Every vote counts. We are making a difference, and I hope we get the result we need.
Wow! You just described in far fewer words and far more effectively much of what it took me many words to try to express. I hope we are making a difference. If not, it's like Randall McMurphy ns One Flew Over Cuckoo's Nest says after he fails to move that block in the mental hospital's communal shower: "At least I tried." We tried.
I loved what you wrote! Your journal makes the experience of canvassing come to life - that’s why I was inspired to add a comment, something I don’t often do.
I hope when canvassing Cheltenham you invoked the name and spirit of the pride of Cheltenham High, Mr October himself, Reginald Martinez Jackson. His presence still carries juice there.
Hats off to a good read. And for doing important work on your own dime in places that are unfamiliar and perhaps uncomfortable. Did it take you away from seeing your beloved Yankee's? Here in Bend Oregon, we have something called the Neighborhood Leader Program. We walk our neighborhood and introduce ourselves as neighbors. We only knock on Dem doors. I generally make just two passes, usually under 50 knocks. It's easy and we always leave a slate card along with a personal message (computer generated and printed up to be included with the slate card), with dates, drop box locations, etc. We track everything via a software program that records our interactions or lack thereof. The data shows that the program works in driving dem participation. A small contribution to go along with yard signs, FB postings and my dedication to publishing comments in the NYT's readers section on articles of interest. Coming down to the wire, Harris is hitting home runs and Trump is stumbling. We've got the better ground game for sure thanks to dedicated volunteers like yourself. Bloomberg just kicked in some 50 million. I'm guardedly optimistic but still asking the question, how is this race even close? And why are my wife's parents voting for Trump, especially knowing that she's a healthcare professional and if she was in Texas, they could lock her up and throw away the key for providing lifesaving abortion care. WTF...
Thank you for giving of your time, and for sharing this with us. If I were physically capable, I would be doing this as well. I appreciate you SO much! Bless you...:)
That is very, very kind of you. It was my "duty." It could help. It can't hurt. This race may be so close in key states that it comes down to hundreds of people. Or fewer.
Yes. It does make a difference. Had you not knocked on those doors some may not have considered voting. Now, you have made them consider it’s important, by the very fact that you spoke to them.
In Canada, I do phone banking and run a political senior volunteer group. We phone banking, door knocking , organize outreach events before, during and after elections, staff up campaign offices.. I can tell you it absolutely makes a difference.
I phone banked for President Obama - when I lived in Texas. It was often unpleasant. Rude. Profane. But we won! Twice.
The “ground game” - a well organized, focused and very active one- is key to a win! Thank you for helping Kamala & Tim and Dem down ballot candidates win!
Thank you for your service to our urgent cause, and for writing this. I’ve been canvassing, too, in Pennsylvania every weekend for the past five weeks. I’ve had mixed results and sometimes feel discouraged except that each time I felt I had met a couple of people who thought twice about not voting, or who needed reinforcement to vote their conscience in a household that was largely Trump. One week I was a bus captain and we went to a very, very rural part of PA that was largely Trump voters. But there were those few who were Harris supporters, including an immigrant from Mexico, likely a farm worker, who is now a citizen and who will vote by drop box because of his work schedule. We made sure he knew how to do that so his vote would be counted. My canvassing partner said to me that we were doing a great deal of good making voters like that young man feel less alone. I think he’s right - let’s remember that sometimes people decide not to vote at the last minute because they feel it won’t make a difference. We know it will and can encourage them. In that same rural neighborhood I got chased off a property by a man with four dogs. I’m glad he didn’t have a gun with him. I felt unsafe. Even so, if you asked me if I’d do it again, my answer would be “ Absolutely, yes.” And in fact, I did go back out again the following week, and I will go again this weekend. Every vote counts. We are making a difference, and I hope we get the result we need.
Wow! You just described in far fewer words and far more effectively much of what it took me many words to try to express. I hope we are making a difference. If not, it's like Randall McMurphy ns One Flew Over Cuckoo's Nest says after he fails to move that block in the mental hospital's communal shower: "At least I tried." We tried.
I loved what you wrote! Your journal makes the experience of canvassing come to life - that’s why I was inspired to add a comment, something I don’t often do.
Thank you so much.
I hope when canvassing Cheltenham you invoked the name and spirit of the pride of Cheltenham High, Mr October himself, Reginald Martinez Jackson. His presence still carries juice there.
hopefully no side trip to nevada.
No, no side trips to NV that trip
Hats off to a good read. And for doing important work on your own dime in places that are unfamiliar and perhaps uncomfortable. Did it take you away from seeing your beloved Yankee's? Here in Bend Oregon, we have something called the Neighborhood Leader Program. We walk our neighborhood and introduce ourselves as neighbors. We only knock on Dem doors. I generally make just two passes, usually under 50 knocks. It's easy and we always leave a slate card along with a personal message (computer generated and printed up to be included with the slate card), with dates, drop box locations, etc. We track everything via a software program that records our interactions or lack thereof. The data shows that the program works in driving dem participation. A small contribution to go along with yard signs, FB postings and my dedication to publishing comments in the NYT's readers section on articles of interest. Coming down to the wire, Harris is hitting home runs and Trump is stumbling. We've got the better ground game for sure thanks to dedicated volunteers like yourself. Bloomberg just kicked in some 50 million. I'm guardedly optimistic but still asking the question, how is this race even close? And why are my wife's parents voting for Trump, especially knowing that she's a healthcare professional and if she was in Texas, they could lock her up and throw away the key for providing lifesaving abortion care. WTF...
I sure hope Oregon is at least safely in her column.
Oregon is good....
Thank you for giving of your time, and for sharing this with us. If I were physically capable, I would be doing this as well. I appreciate you SO much! Bless you...:)
That is very, very kind of you. It was my "duty." It could help. It can't hurt. This race may be so close in key states that it comes down to hundreds of people. Or fewer.
Yes. It does make a difference. Had you not knocked on those doors some may not have considered voting. Now, you have made them consider it’s important, by the very fact that you spoke to them.
In Canada, I do phone banking and run a political senior volunteer group. We phone banking, door knocking , organize outreach events before, during and after elections, staff up campaign offices.. I can tell you it absolutely makes a difference.
I phone banked for President Obama - when I lived in Texas. It was often unpleasant. Rude. Profane. But we won! Twice.
The “ground game” - a well organized, focused and very active one- is key to a win! Thank you for helping Kamala & Tim and Dem down ballot candidates win!
Thanks you for that encouraging comment. You try. You hope. I couldn't sit on the sidelines and just complain.