Just finished walking my precinct, going door to door doing the GOTV for the Obama campaign, and I have to tell you, I am impressed with the level of organization. I was given a packet that included google maps, lists of supporters names, addresses, and how they are trending (strong supporter, undecided, etc.), literature to hand to people with the address of the precinct polling place and time the polls open, and literature to place on the door knob should they not be home.
I fully expect Hillary to win tomorrow, but I don’t think we are going to see a 40 point or whatever margin. At least I hope not. I can tell you this, however- Barack’s support here may not be as broad as Hillary’s, but it is deep. The people I spoke to were all folks like me- crawl-over-glass voters. They would, to a person, crawl over glass to pull the lever for Obama tomorrow. No one needed to be told when the polls were opening tomorrow, they knew. No one needed to be told where to go, they knew where they had to be tomorrow to vote.
I don’t know if this is simply a result of my lists being highly refined after weeks months of phone-banking, and I don’t know if there is a similar such level of organization or commitment on the Clinton side, but I can tell you that the people I visited were extremely motivated. On several occasions (three, to be exact), people were fielding phone calls from the Obama campaign while I was at the door. Additionally, I have personally received multiple calls from the Obama, yet have not received so much as a mailer from Clinton. As I am a newly registered Democrat with accurate phone and address on my registration, I thought at the very least the Clinton campaign would call or mail something.
In fact, I was thinking that the Obama folks I saw were so motivated, that bad weather tomorrow could really work in our favor. As Hillary’s only remaining weak argument is the popular vote, poor turn-out due to weather could really help Obama. His committed voters are going to show up regardless. Will hers?
Also, my feet hurt.
*** Update ***
WVA Blue has a report from Obama’s appearance in Charleston.
wvng
Thanks for your hard work John. I hope you are right about the result tomorrow. I even have the audacity to hope you are right.
But I expect a blowout.
Zifnab
More blisters means more voters! Pain is merely GOoPerness leaving the body! Other vaguely stereotypical body builder pep talk advice!
Hehe. If only this John Cole could hop into a magic time machine and knock on the door of John Cole from 2002. I’d just want to see his face.
Ted
Ah yes, the way the MUP wins is people not voting. What confidence the Obots have!
/Myiq
schtum
Some comic relief seems in order after such a long day’s work:
Tenure Decision for Assistant Professor Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr., Department of Anthropology.
null pointer exception
Another Hillaryous video
Conservatively Liberal
Good job John! If you think bad weather will help, I hope you get a bunch of it! ;)
Then I will hope that the day after the primary you get nothing but sunshine and birds chirping.
Now that is ‘fair & balanced’! :)
Really, I don’t hold much hope for Obama in WV (or KY), but the people there have every right to do their duty and vote, regardless of who they support. To this Obama supporter, all states count (as long as they follow the established rules), not just the ones that support my candidate.
Stuff that in your pipe and smoke it Hillary.
null pointer exception
Oh well. Here’s the link
SamFromUtah
I have personally received multiple calls from the Obama, yet have not received so much as a mailer from Clinton.
This is like what happened here in Utah. We got half a dozen calls and two visits from Obama volunteers, and zero from Clinton. It was the first time in my life any national-level Democrat had made anything like that kind of effort. Not that I would have blamed the MUP for writing the state off completely, because I think Romney will get more votes here in 2008 than the MUP will – but you never know.
vwcat
Good to know Obama has support in WVA. From the way the news makes it sound, it’s like everyone in the state hates the man.
Nice to see that is not the case. But, then, what else do you expect from the bubble heads in the news.
ThymeZone
As one who spent most of his childhood doing this kind of door to door campaign work or tagging along with adults who did … I am impressed as hell and congratulate you for doing this work.
The other comment I would make is that I hope and expect that the GOP is going to be in for the surprise of its crummy life this November when a tsunami of energized voters propels John McCain into well-deserved ignominious defeat, making him the New Goldwater, the latest Arizona presidential candidate to fail in spectacular fashion.
McCain, of course, will not be the beginning of new movement. In fact, he will be the bookend, the end of that movement, and good riddance to it.
John Cole
Don’t get too excited- we are going to get blown out tomorrow. Think Cowboys/Bills.
I knew the Bills players ate arugula.
craigie
Let’s hope it rains glass!
null pointer exception
I’ll take an Obama loss by 10 points.
Ted
I wonder how many other John Cole’s there are out there. Conservative/libertarians who are so pissed they’ve become Democrats with a Vengeance.
Dug Jay
If true, this news report is somewhat interesting. I guess there must be something about West Virginia, or you will do just about anything in order to avoid losing by 30 or more points
cleek
similar in NC. i think we got one robocall from ‘illary, at least four from Obama. i only saw Obama ads on TV. i only saw Obama yard signs.
the NC result reflected that, of course…
John Cole
I guess we now know that wearing a lapel pin means “doing just about anything” in wingnut world. No wonder none of you shitheads volunteered for the army or marines. You already think you are “doing just about anything” for the war when you wear a lapel pin or slap an “I Heart The Troops” bumper sticker on your car.
Zuzu
As the little church ladies used to say, we’ll see the back of John’s head in heaven.
TR
Good for you, John. Nice to see you’re a democrat as well as a Democrat.
SamFromUtah
the NC result reflected that, of course…
As did the Utah primary. Pity it didn’t count.
The Other Steve
Criticize guy for not wearing flag pin.
Criticize guy for wearing flag pin.
you are, if nothing else, consistent.
AkaDad
You’re a good man, John Rove.
Mary
Al Giordano has his predictions up. Nothing from Poblano yet.
Zifnab
Dude, this is WVA. I’ll take an Obama lose by twenty and thank the heavens.
Genine
Wearing a flag pin is doing “just about anything”? Please. From what I understand, Obama had no problem with flag pins. His problem was when the “patriotism” extended no further than that. That, and waving the flag, and saying “America is Great”. He said actions show true patriotism and he wanted to show his patriotism with his actions.
Which is more than quite of number of people do.
MNPundit
They aren’t calling because they’re aware you write this blog.
Damned at Random
OK, this is funny. I just got a call from a Clinton volunteer, who I chatted with for a few minutes. I told her I was originally a Richardson supporter and I was hoping he would be Obama’s VP pick- and she told me that Obama would be running with Huckabee!!
Some folks should just stick to the script
merrinc
Trending info? That’s interesting and something I didn’t see in canvassing packets in either state.
If the activity in Fairmont today was any indication, Hillary finally got her ground game right. Her hq is right in the center of downtown while the Obama office is in a less desirable location at the edge. Around 10am, there was one person in the Obama office while the Hillary office was quite busy.
I walked around town taking photos and passed the Hillary office on my way back to the car. Four Indian women in saris came out clutching canvassing packets and clipboards, chattering excitedly in what I assume was in their native tongue. They climbed into a SUV with Virginia tags.
Would it be terribly mean to hope that they were sent to canvass in one of the little coal mining communities tucked back in a hollow?
Seitz
It’s very simple, John. They know you’re a former Republican, so they gave you all the easy ones, all the die hards. They’re just making sure there’s no dirty-tricks like funny business, and if there is, you’re only reaching the true believers anyway. :)
NR
I think even that’s too much to hope for. Hillary will win WV by her biggest margin of any state in the campaign, except maybe for Arkansas.
Zuzu
Yeah, from what I can tell he’s worn ’em occasionally. Like in Pennsylvania.
Politico
Zuzu
I should clarify. A disabled vet gave it to him at that PA rally as he was going up to the stage, and he put it on in front of everybody. No pandering involved.
Bigforkgirl
Way to go, John. I’ve been seriously sick with a virus that won’t go away, and I’ve had trouble talking in the evening, so haven’t been calling. But it sounds like many others have. And thanks so much for the door-knocking; it is tiring, but, hey, you’re getting needed exercise, right?
It’s all about the lists and getting voters to the polls. Too bad about the weather forecast. However, as someone said, it may not be all that bad, given that some lower motivated voters may skip it.
travis
thanks for the crawling-over-glass comments, John, that is very cheering. I have the under bet for a 30 point loss, but I am very nervous even about that.
Chuck Butcher
If you’ve never worked for a Party you have no idea how important and difficult it is, what John is doing. (jeeze that’s an akward construction) Knowing that you’re working to minimize the damage is tough and you sure don’t get a lot of applause.
Thanks John,
Chuck Butcher
4th Precinct PCP
Vice-chair Baker Co Democrats
DPO SCC Delegate
Gun Owners Caucus, DPO Vice-chair
2006 OR2 CD House Dem Primary Candidate (2/3 OR landmass)
“Chuck for…”
Brachiator
Thanks for the report from the field, and the positive notes. I have heard stories about people rudely hanging up on phone bank workers.
It is also very impressive that you would not simply re-evaluate you political thinking, but actively support Obama in the field.
TurkoAmericano
Did you receive the calls from the Obama campaign? Or from “the Obama” himself?
BAH
I for one could use a little less love from Jay “Telecom Immunity” Rockefeller. But I see WVA Blue has a sense of humor about it, referring to him as” “Sen. Rockefeller (D-AT&T)”
kid bitzer
hey john–there’s a big piece in the wapo this morning talking about obama canvassers encountering the uglier sides of lingering racial resentment.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/12/AR2008051203014.html?hpid=topnews
did you get any of this?
zzyzx
Too bad it looks like it’ll be nice and sunny today. Oh well, we’ll get ’em in the next state.
Doonhamer
Good Kos diary that resonates with John’s message about the voters of West Virginia and how the efforts of volunteers there are not wasted.
Tax Analyst
I second all the kudos tossed John Cole’s way. As another commmenter remarked, he not only re-evaluated his political thinking but is actively working to convince and motivate others to do the same…and that in addition to doing a whole lot of heavy lifting on BJ – not to mention his regular gig.
Just as a personal note I tried door-knocking once for an environmental group and found it extremely frustrating. It’s really easy to get down when you run into several consecutive negative encounters. So I salute those who can muster up the energy and fortitude it takes to get out and do the leg-work and put their hearts and minds into trying to convince other hearts and minds that there is a better way and there is hope.
I guess I could have shortened that and just say that Cole has shown he can do more than talk-the-talk. He’s walking-the-walk.
Bravo.
mere mortal
The level of commitment from Obama supporters is something I’ve noticed as well. Originally, it was off-putting to see people react that way about what amounts to one smart, qualified job candidate among several.
But this level of support and activity will be vital in the general if Obama is the Democratic nominee, because McCain’s support among the nutters on the right is going to be lukewarm, and we’re going to need turnout advantage among the partisans to seal the deal.