I had someone knock on my door yesterday afternoon

[William769]

And I just had a gut feeling looking out the windows these people were here campaigning for someone (I was right).

Given the fact of the area I live in I was half tempted to run them off without even talking to them but instead I was polite when I answered the door (then they were going to get the boot).

Low & behold they were from the Obama campaign. Not only urging people to vote but to vote early & where the early voting places were.

I was going to wait till election day to vote but they convinced me to go vote early.

I offered them coffee but they declined & said they had many more homes to visit.

For some reason this gives me hope for Florida.

[LWolf]

1. I just don't get it.

I'm probably the only person in the nation who thinks that strangers walking onto my property and knocking on my front door is an invasion of privacy; that people ought to wait to be invited. Of course, I'd never invite anyone.

Someone invading my privacy to campaign isn't going to change my mind or my vote; it's just going to irritate me.

I guess some people must not be able to find their polling place on their own, or must need an extra push to do their civic duty and vote. Or maybe they even need to be told whom to vote for. That's sad.

[William769]

2. Well in their defense.

Early voting is not done where you normally vote.

And the place they told me to vote is closer than the place I early voted in 2008.

[amuse bouche]

16. I early voted yesterday

because I hate waiting in long lines and I highly recommend it.

The voting places were listed on a sample ballot I got in the mail but you can find them easily online too

The Obama campaign has a link and so does the county you live in. My election day polling place does not do early voting
but there were several close by and you can vote at any early voting station

I went to a library in Temple Terrace and was in and out in 15 minutes. Having already looked at the ballot plus getting recommendations by the Women's League to vote no on all amendments and yes on judges, made it a breeze

Early voting in Fl continues thru Saturday Nov. 3 and the hours here are 7am-7pm

I had to show my voter I.D and license. They input to the computer. They mentioned I requested an absentee ballot. I did and told them I hadn't received it in the mail yet. 'No problem, just throw it away'. I really don't think you can vote twice because the scanner takes the information when it sucks in your ballot. At least that's how it works in Hillsborough County

There were 12 candidates for president listed, including Rosanne Barr and Cindy Crawford as her V.P

[LWolf]

47. Not "early voting" the way you mean.

We probably have more people voting early, though, since we ALL get our ballots 2+ weeks before election day.

That actually makes the big push the week before election day redundant; all those mailers, all those phone calls that get my answering machine, all those expensive tv ads, are all irrelevant for the many that already sent in or dropped off their ballots.

Not that any of those things ever influenced my vote.

[FSogol]

3. What a sad post. I feel sorry for you.

[NJCher]

15. yeah, that is sad

These people are not getting compensated.

They are attempting be a part of a "participatory democracy," something we sadly need in this day and age.

A person-to-person visit is far more effective than a phone call or an email.

When people come here, I thank them for what they're doing. I thank them for their time, their effort, and for caring.

lworf is a long-time, well-respected poster here. I am surprised to hear this sentiment from her.


Cher

[LWolf]

49. It's actually a sincere question.

Do people really decide their vote based on these things?

I guess they could, since many seem to decide based on what someone on tv or the radio says.

I'm a self-identified Lone Wolf in real life; a true loner. I like people, and get along with them well, but need my privacy and prefer to choose the time, place, people, and number of people I get together with carefully. Also, since my professional life is all about being surrounded by large groups of people who all need my attention at the same time, all day, every day, my capacity for the same once I get home is severely limited. I guess I view any intrusion into my home, through the yard or phone lines, as unwanted solicitation.

I have volunteered for some campaigns as a letter writer; when I do that, I write letters by hand so they won't feel like a bulk mailer to the recipient. I don't man phone banks or knock on doors, because I'd be really uncomfortable violating people's privacy that way.

I sometimes show up for local political meetings, and participate that way; outside of my own sanctuary. I've been known to stand on corners holding signs with people, to attend rallies and marches, etc..

There are many ways to participate.

[coalition_unwilling]

20. +1 - Actually, a bit on the creepy side, I thought - n/t

[LWolf]

48. Why?

What am I missing?

[FSogol]

58. These sentences are very sad:

"I'm probably the only person in the nation who thinks that strangers walking onto my property and knocking on my front door is an invasion of privacy; that people ought to wait to be invited. Of course, I'd never invite anyone."

Your front door is the transition point between your private world and the public world. In many areas, mail and packages come directly to the front door. In the past, milk, newspapers, and groceries came to your front door as well as tradesmen, such as meter readers, rag collectors, knife sharpeners, etc. Before television and radio, entertainment consisted of sitting on the front porch or stoop and talking to whoever walked by. As a person, you are part of a community. That community includes kids selling things for schools and clubs, neighbors with issues, and random people knocking on your door. The idea of community is essential to liberal thought. We are not on our own since we can reply on the help of others when needed. We help each other. That is in sharp contrast to modern day conservative thought which is survival of the fittest.

Even your notion of private property is askew since there are utility corridors and easements on your property and these can be torn up at any time without your permission.

Sorry, but your sad sentences show a bitter hatred of community, a hatred of other people, and the sort of simpleton view of private property more often seen on rw blogs and the gungeon. It is the sort of misguided notion that leads to Castle Doctrines and gated communities.

So, hide in your "castle" and snivel when neighbors knock on your door. I suspect you'll especially have a lot of fun on Halloween, grumbling alone in the dark as kids knock fruitlessly on your door.

While you may think this is an attack, it is not intended to be. You asked why and I explained my reasons. I don't hate or dislike you, I feel sorry for you.

[LWolf]

60. Thanks for sharing your interpretation.

It's wrong. I can see how you'd make that mistake, though, based on my remarks without any background information.

Some of my pov is based on culture: the culture in which it is not polite to intrude, in which religion and politics are not topics for polite conversations, and opinions aren't given unless asked for. I was raised that way. That's one reason to come here, or to attend a political meeting; an open venue to discuss topics and share opinions that don't happen elsewhere.

I don't live where anyone I don't know is going to be walking by, outside of the occasional group trying to give me watchtowers. They don't get past the gate.

My mailbox is a mile away from my house, and when packages come, they are left at the gate. I'm generally not home during delivery hours anyway; I'm at work.

No trick-or-treaters are going to be hiking out here to find my place; we are on private dirt roads a couple of miles off a county dirt road, with long driveways and trees blocking our view of neighbors a few acres over. Still, we know each other. We talk over fences, share garden produce, help out when a horse or sheep or goat or dog gets loose, meet to decide how to fund road maintenance, wave when we pass, and organize volunteer crews to do periodic cleanup of the public lands adjacent to our little community. We don't hire road maintenance; we buy gravel and neighbors with the implements to do so take turns grading and spreading.

Since more people in my area live in similar settings than in town, we gather downtown for Halloween and do trick-or-treating on the main street at local businesses. This year, we have a fundraiser and contest going on for the best scarecrow out of the many on display down that main street.

I attend many community events, including political meetings and rallies. Just because I don't want people in my personal space doesn't mean that I have a "bitter hatred of community." As a matter of fact, I hate very little. I don't like to admit hate into my life. It's destructive.

When I DID live in town, I lived in a small community of the working poor, a few blocks down from the local projects. We got along well; I wasn't the only one with fences and locked gates, but that didn't stop us from communicating when we wanted or needed to.

My very humble home is not much of a castle, but it's mine. It is my sanctuary. Which has nothing to do with "sniveling." Neither is it a "simpleton" view. While the meter reader can read from the road, there is a gate without a lock that they can get to when necessary. The only easement on my property is the one that allows them to get from the road to the meter. Everything beyond that is my responsibility. That same gate gives access to the pump house, so that if there is a problem with the pump, the family that dug my well and set up the pump can get in to work on it whether I'm at home or not. Around here, everyone understands about keeping gates closed and animals in.

Liking and protecting my privacy doesn't make me an outcast or a sad person. It might make me different than you, than many, but that's okay. We should, imo, celebrate our differences as well as our commonalities.

[Ron Green]

4. You're not the only person in the nation

with that attitude, unfortunately. As a candidate who's knocked on thousands of doors and will knock on another hundred today, I know you are in the minority and also mistaken about being persuaded.

[LWolf]

50. Do you mean that

I'm mistaken about others being persuaded, or mistaken about myself?

I see that some people must be persuaded; why spend all the time, otherwise? I just don't get why they would be.

[Ron Green]

64. Many people are afraid of what may come to their door,

and initially resist an important encounter with a candidate. Once their fear is somewhat overcome, they can be persuaded that the present candidate is the best choice.

[GoneOffShore]

9. You kids! Off my lawn!

[frazzled]

13. In some places it's totally normal and expected

First, canvassers don't knock on doors to convince you who to vote for. When you get your walking list from a campaign, it consists of people who have voted your party in the previous election cycle's primary. Canvassers' goal during primaries and early parts of a general campaign is simply to ID voters. You're there to find out who the person is planning to vote for, and the campaign has a system for marking them as "strong supporter," "leaning," or "voting for the other person." (Plus some in-between categories, depending on the campaign.) Data is then input at the offices, and next time out, people who have definitely said they're not voting for your candidate are not on the list, and won't be contacted (either by phone or in person).

Toward the end of a campaign, canvassers are there to essentially get out the vote among the group who has been identified as supporters or leaners. If you've ever done it, you'd be surprised at how many people don't know if they're registered or where to vote.

I used to live in Massachusetts, where canvassing for local and state elections is totally the norm. And for presidential elections, everybody goes up to New Hampshire for the primaries to canvass. People there completely expect to have their doors knocked on. Sometimes lists have errors in them. My husband and I were canvassing in NH in 2003/4, and one lady came to the door and said, "I'm a Republican." We apologized and said our information must be off, and as we were heading down her drive she stopped us: "Thank you for doing this work, anyway" she shouted to us. "You must really like your candidate a lot to be out in this cold working for them." It was a very pleasant encounter.

In 2008, now living in Chicago, we were sent by the Obama campaign to canvass in Jackson, MI—a depressed city known as the birthplace of the Republican party. We met racists and crazy people shouting Muslim conspiracy shit, but we also met desperate single moms who wanted to vote but didn't know how. We helped them to find out if they were registered and where and how to do it. We gave them phone numbers for rides and assistance. Obama won Jackson, MI that year.

Sometimes, all it takes is someone taking the time to remind or help you. Making a personal contact to show you care. Those votes add up. Hopefully to victory.

[William769]

14. Good information. Thanks for posting!

[coalition_unwilling]

21. You totally rule. My compliments! - n/t

[SunSeeker]

28. Thank you for your service to your country!

[sarge43]

36. It feels great to make a difference, doesn't it.

and thank you.

[mike dub]

39. Great post, frazzled

Thank you!

[Cha]

43. I love you and all the others who are out there doing this for us and our Country,

frazzled!

[LWolf]

51. Okay. I can see that. nt

[stevenleser]

68. I would just add that some people get lists with independants and swayable Republicans and

get the assignment of canvassing those folks. I've done that a few times in my past. That really takes some psyching up to prepare for because you really get some bad reactions and get them more frequently than on the other types of canvassing runs.

Also, the independant/swayable republican canvassing isnt usually done in the last week or two.

[sarge43]

18. Then put up a no trespassing or no soliciting sign

If you don't tell people how you feel, how are they suppose to know.

Can't speak for other OFA offices, but here we won't go on property that has one of those signs.

As for why, door-to-dooring this Saturday we encountered three people who weren't sure about registering, early voting, the id requirement or where their polling place was (just moved here). We briefed them and we may have gotten three more Dem votes.

We don't tell them who vote for. We ask. If they say Dem, we ensure the above, thank them and move on. If other, we thank them and move on.

President Obama made his political bones with local community activism. He knows its value and that's why the Democrats are doing it. What the Repubs are up to, don't know, don't care.

[OldHippieChick]

38. No trespassing might work, but

No soliciting will not. We are specifically instructed that we are NOT soliciting and told to knock on those doors.

[sarge43]

41. Technically we're not, but in a SYG state we'd rather be safe than sorry.

Now if they're confirmed Dems, then yeah. However, during the shake out phase, rather not chance it.

[eridani]

44. With No Soliciting, I just hang the literature on the door and don't knock.

Some people just aren't very social, and it's not likely you will change them.

[LWolf]

52. Actually, when I lived in town,

I simply locked the gate on the fence around the front yard. That worked pretty well.

I learned to do that to protect myself from the competing bands of people walking the streets trying to convert people house to house every Sunday.

[AAO]

19. Not everyone spends all day on DU, and are not necessarily high-information voters.

If that were true, we'd get 538 electoral votes!

[LWolf]

53. I don't spend all day on DU, either,

but I AM a high-information voter.

[grantcart]

23. Publishing Clearinghouse tried to stop by yesterday but changed their minds.

What ever happened to the idea of neighbors just talking to each other?

Now in my mind people in Malaysia are still in my neighborhood, but if you are from Mars, call ahead.

[yurbud]

25. it's not so much to change minds as to get out the vote and give the final nudge

and it works or it wouldn't be done.

[SheilaT]

26. No, you're not the only person who thinks like this.

Unfortunately.

Knocking on your door is not an invasion of privacy. Walking in without even knocking would be. And a surprising number of people aren't sure where their polling place is. Not to mention, in some places the polling place gets changed with every single election. Phoenix, AZ was like that when I lived there.

[LWolf]

54. Knocking on the door

without invitation interrupts whatever I'm doing; that's an invasion of privacy.

We can argue about it all day, but it won't change the reality. I don't have a polling place anymore, but when I did, I didn't have any trouble knowing where it was at or finding it, and it changed frequently. I'm not everyone, though.

[SheilaT]

57. Do you own a phone?

Every time the phone rings that's an invasion of privacy, isn't it?

I'm sure all your acquaintances are aware of your dislike of interruption and so would never think of going over to your home uninvited. For those who don't already understand your feelings, you need to post prominent signs warning people not to knock and disturb you.

And since political canvassing is actually protected speech, you need to have an additional sign letting those people know that should not knock either.

[LWolf]

61. I have 2 phones.

The land line phone has the ringer turned off, and is set to go straight to the answering machine. I check it once a week.

My cell phone # is given to those I want to receive calls from.

The only people who will be knocking will be neighbors, friends or family who know I'm home; they don't wait for an invitation.

The rest will stop at the gate to avoid being harassed by the dog, who will, in typical aussie fashion, herd them back from the house if they enter the yard, while wagging, wiggling, and offering herself up for any attention and affection they might want to bestow.

[Politicub]

30. Door to door canvassing is effective

It matters that volunteers are committed enough to wear out some shoes to get people to vote.

Often times it's what it takes to get an independent or wobbly dem to the polls. Enthusiasm is contagious and a face to face visit is a powerful thing.

I actually get a little misty thinking about the Obama army of volunteers out there knocking on doors and making calls. They're the unsung heroes of this election and far more important and effective than the latest super pac ad.

[classof56]

32. Well, given Oregon's Castle Doctrine, I'd be nervous to do the door-to-door campaigning

What with the shoot-first-ask-questions-later mentality these days, I figure it could be all one's life is worth to knock on doors. I've done plenty of phone banking for Dems in previous years, but all that entailed was people slamming phones in my ear. Would rather not risk facing a loaded and cocked .357 at someone's house. Plus with vote-by-mail, our citizens don't need to be informed about polling places. However, I have no problem with canvassers doing direct contact, especially in places where voter suppression is to prevalent, with a goal of denying or totally confusing voters as to what their rights are and where to cast their ballots. I simply don't understand all the "undecideds" this late in the game, but I commend those who are willing to enlighten them.

OBAMA/BIDEN

[eridani]

45. Undecideds are the people who are too frantically busy surviving to pay attention--

--until the very last minute.

[LWolf]

55. I think you've nailed it, lol.

There are plenty of places and people outside my experience that have different needs.

I've never phoned, but have spent many hours writing letters for campaigns.

[davidpdx]

56. Interesting because I grew up in Oregon and did plenty of canvasing

The only places I can see what you say being possible is on the eastern side of the state or in places Josephine County (if you haven't been to Josephine County take my word on that one). Thankfully Jackson County went for Obama last time even if it was by a narrow margin.

[classof56]

63. Yes, you are correct about the eastern side of the state.

Up until this year I would not have been concerned about canvassing, even here in Central Oregon, but following all the local cheering for "stand your ground" that went on awhile back, I'm very leery of going door to door. I've been to Josephine County (not a place you want to go hiking in the woods, I hear), and know what you mean. For 10 years I lived in a town east of here where they passed an ordinance prohibiting the United Nations from entering the county (go figure that one), and the prevailing mentality was that the government is evil and Tim McVeigh a hero. Finally got out of there, reducing the number of Democrats to maybe two. I'm grateful for those of you west of the mountains, who help keep Oregon sane and blue.

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

[heaven05]

34. I do understand

well you still have the freedom to feel as you do. You're entitled although I don't agree with the "invading" and other sentiments you expressed. Once every four years is not bad and this election cycle, with all the voter suppression tactics employed by the rethugs, the "invasion" and information giving is necessary. He's my President and I AM proud of him for being a real one. GO OBAMA!!!!!

[KarenS]

35. No, you are not the only person,

plus I detest all the damn telephone calls,,,, interruptive.

[dixiegrrrrl]

40. No, you are not the only one.

In my small southern town, it is considered "not done" to bother people by going door to door.
The one exception is local town candidates for office, and they usually only leave their literature, and most people know them by sight.
Otherwise, you call ahead if you want to drop by, even to neighbors you know well, so as not to
inconvenience them.
folks down here are a friendly lot, but NOT to strangers knocking on the door.

A funny story...
Harper Lee, whose house is a few blocks from me, is an extremely private person.
An eager out of town reporter who wanted an interview actually walked up to her house and knocked on the door.
She answered, he explained who he was,and she replied, very firmly.." I never SEE people".
and shut the door in his face.

[LanternWaste]

59. Someone knocking on your door is "an invasion of privacy?"

Someone simply knocking on your door is "an invasion of privacy?" How precisely does one arrive at that particular conclusion?

[LWolf]

62. That's pretty simple.

It's an uninvited interruption.

[llmart]

66. Well, I hope to God you never have a stroke or heart attack.....

or some other emergency and someone knocks on your door to help you.

"No man is an island....."

[LWolf]

67. I expect I'll go just like that someday.

I don't mind. I'd prefer to go in my sleep, in my own bed, when the time comes, but we can't have everything.

If I were having a stroke, heart attack, or had fallen and broken something, nobody would know, so they wouldn't be knocking on my door to see if I was okay.

My family, if they had reason to be concerned, would show up to check on me. They've done it before when my phone died and they couldn't reach me. While they tolerate my living alone, they expect to be able to reach me, or to hear from me, every day that I'm not at work.

My doors aren't ever locked, so they'd come right in.

[llmart]

71. You sound just like one of my brothers.......

who has boasted about being a "hermit" all of his life (he's now 64). Lives out in the boonies by himself. The rest of us siblings have heard this mantra for years and years and he wears it like a badge of honor. Mr. Tough Guy. I love him dearly, but while walking through the woods two years ago about this time of year, he got an extremely sharp pain in the back of his head. The way he tells it is that he thought he got shot since it was hunting season and even though there are no trespassing signs, well, you know - some guys don't obey those - that's what he thought. He fell to his knees in the woods. No one around. He, too, always said, "Well if I die alone, I've lived alone so I'm OK with that." Hmmmm...... Really? That's easy to say when it hasn't happened yet.

Long story short, he admitted to all of us that he crawled on his hands and knees back to his house, got in his very old, in very bad shape jeep and drove to the nearest veterans clinic since there wasn't a real hospital anywhere close by, then drove 75 miles with one hand over one eye because his vision was blurry (taking others' lives into his hands on the drive there), checked himself into the Veterans' Hospital. He had had a brain aneurysm. Later, he said to me, "I didn't want to die." Of course, we were all glad that he lived and all, but funny how he changed his tune when it actually happened to him.

Never say never.

[LWolf]

72. I do sound a little like him.

I don't think there is anything wrong with being an introvert vs an extrovert, just as there is nothing wrong with being gay rather than straight, or any other human trait that doesn't fall within the majority.

I haven't been a hermit all my life, but I've always craved more alone time, and now that I live alone, I can have it. Nothing wrong with that.

I WAS raised to respect people's privacy, and to believe that others should do the same, regardless of how outgoing, or not, anyone is.

My professional life has me multi-tasking, serving the needs of many and over-scheduled every second of the day. Even more out-going people need more time to themselves after spending all day every work day like that.

I do tend to wander out into the woods; my private dirt road ends at miles of public land, and I ride my horse out alone, just the horse, the dog, and me, all the time. I did once, about 12 years ago, run into trouble on my horse when no one was around. An equipment malfunction left me unconscious until someone showed up, but I was on the ranch at the time, expecting people. I recovered from the skull fracture and severe frontal lobe concussion, but my olfactory nerves were permanently damaged and I never recovered my sense of smell. It didn't leave me fearful of riding alone, though. I got back on my horse way too soon, based on the headache walking sedately in an arena gave me, but I was fine with it. After another month of healing, I was back to riding alone as if it never happened.

I'm just not a very fearful person.

[llmart]

73. I liked your last sentence.

I am very much the same - not a very fearful person. Sometimes I don't know if it's naivete or just that I'm someone who doesn't fret over things. As a woman, though, I get so much flack from people like I should be afraid of all the things that could befall a woman living alone. Hell, I'm probably more like my hermit brother than people know My favorite book? Walden. Always wanted to live like that when I was a younger person. Not so much now. My brother always chose jobs for loners too. He worked landscape until he was 61. He couldn't stand being in an office or anywhere else where he had to play the game. That's probably the difference between you and him. Well, except that my brother would never own a computer! LOL He doesn't have a checking account and he saved up little by little all his life so he could pay cash for a small place of his own. He didn't get that until he was probably 60 or maybe late 50's.

Hell, my brother wouldn't even open the door for me when I knocked on it. Now that's not very social at all. To me, it's a bit narcissistic such as "I know it's you and I know you're there but I'll come out to see you when I'm in the mood."

And I do fully understand how being surrounded by people every day in the work world can make you value your privacy more. I just retired from a job in a postgraduate setting and having to deal with coworkers and students all day long - well, I couldn't wait to retire and enjoy the peace and quiet - long walks in the park, reading endlessly, listening to music. Still, I do have some very good friends that I enjoy talking with and doing things with. I've gotten choosier about who and how I spend my time now that I'm older.

[marions ghost]

5. have lived in the same place 20 years

and have NEVER had any canvassers. The location is out of the way and secluded--we've never had a Halloween visitor either. The Jehovahs DID find us, but y'know they have amazing perseverance...

Anyway, this year for the first time we have had two from OFA, trying to make sure we know the places and times for early voting. They had a little handout. Obviously college students--young and bright-eyed and "fired up." It was beautiful to see. Such hope, such faith in a better future. I got energized by their visit. Really, a first!

I'm in a swing state so all I've got to say is --this "ground game" rocks!

[William769]

6. This is the first time I actually had canvassers.

The Jehovahs must have me in their GPS system!

[marions ghost]

10. LOL I ALMOST wrote that...about Jehovahs with GPS

We get visited periodically by "The Two Helens"--black Helen and white Helen. Both so sweet and cute. Doin' the Lord's work. With the fundies taking over the government, tho...I feel I need to know about their political affiliations...I don't want to hate them.

Was pleasantly surprised to find the Obama workers instead of the Helens at the door...

[ET Awful]

31. In the interest of not being insulting . . . it's "Jehovah's Witnesses", not "Jehovahs"

They are, according to them "witnessing" for "Jehovah". I only know this because many moons ago when I was a young lad (30 years ago or so at this point), I was being raised as one, we had pretty much left by the time I was 14 or 15 though.

That said, the GPS comment was funny as hell .

Also - the "Witnesses" (which is the abbreviation they prefer if you're going to use one in my experience) don't engage in politics, they believe that voting and participating in politics is "worldly" and the frown on it.

[marions ghost]

33. Thanks for your points

from one who should know.

Glad to hear the Witnesses are not affliated with the fundy politicians. I would have thought they were. Sorry to hear they don't vote tho. While in this world we do have to fight evil, or the devils will certainly subjugate us.

[newspeak]

69. oh, i love debating JWs

the thing is they never come back, same with the mormon missionaries. i think they put a mark somewhere on the fence saying to all "don't come near this house, it's the devvvvil."

last pres. election i got in a debate with a woman calling from georgia attempting to convince me to vote for mccain. i had to laugh at her because she kept saying "i don't know, but i just don't trust that man (obama)." i asked her, "is it because he's black?" "oh, no, no, it has nothing to do about race, there's just something i don't trust." making points about the damage of little boot's administration and the economy came down to she didn't trust that man. had a great debate on their dime.

[newspeak]

70. oh, i love debating JWs

the thing is they never come back, same with the mormon missionaries. i think they put a mark somewhere on the fence saying to all "don't come near this house, it's the devvvvil."

last pres. election i got in a debate with a woman calling from georgia attempting to convince me to vote for mccain. i had to laugh at her because she kept saying "i don't know, but i just don't trust that man (obama)." i asked her, "is it because he's black?" "oh, no, no, it has nothing to do about race, there's just something i don't trust." making points about the damage of little boot's administration and the economy came down to she didn't trust that man. had a great debate on their dime.

[KatyMan]

7. Maybe it's just where I live

but I have more Mormons knocking on my door. Some Jehovah's Witnesses.

[William769]

8. Interesting.

I did not know Mormons were big in Texas (unless they consider that missionary work).

[KatyMan]

11. Perhaps they are

trying to make inroads. There is a Mormon temple here on the far north side of town. It took my wife several times of saying "no, not interested" before they moved on.

[KatyMan]

12. I do agree with you

though. I really don't like strangers knocking on my door.

[AAO]

22. Especially if you are walking around the house with little clothes on!

[evirus]

17. Had a DNC pollster call me a few weeks ago at the end of the day.

She seemed delighted at the fact that i wasn't another republican d-bag (not using her words)

[malaise]

24. My Florida sis was a volunteer on Saturday

She is delighted with the turnout.

[OriginalGeek]

27. We early voted in FL yesterday too

and it was directly because a nice young man knocked on our door and handed us the info for where and when (It was different from my polling place from a couple months ago).

We decided to skip the lines - in 2008 we waited close to 3 hours on election day. Yesterday it was about 45 minutes total from the time we pulled into the parking lot until we went to celebratory soup and salad at Olive Garden.

[JDPriestly]

29. We had a similar visitor last night -- about 6:30 p.m. -- already getting a little dark.

She was a sweet young woman. We assured her we would vote for Obama.

It's great to see everyone out in force.

No. You aren't going to persuade anyone to change their mind about who they will vote for, but you give a lot of encouragement to people who might get distracted and not vote as a result.

Thanks so much to everyone who is out there knocking on doors or making phone calls.

(Just no robocalls, please.)

[whistler162]

37. I might be tempted to play with them a little..

Tell them I can't vote for a muslin. Wait a little bit and say I can only vote for a denim or polyester!

Of course not everyone gets my warped sense of humor!

[eridani]

46. But would you vote for a Linenist or a Satinist? n/t

[Cha]

42. Sweet Sweet Sweet! Thanks for the report, William!

[woo me with science]

65. Republicans call here, with lies.

We have repeatedly gotten a message on the machine in which Mitt Romney's voice declares that he called hoping we could speak in person about his vision for the country and so that he can answer any questions we might have. He says he's sorry that wasn't possible but then gives info. for supporting the campaign.

It's a pretty slimy message that is clearly designed to LIE to the gullible who would believe that Romney would actually have been there on the line, had they answered.

The only campaign workers to actually come to our door so far have been Democrats.