I'm finished with my precinct walking and

[MineralMan]

door-knocking. I knocked on every door in my precinct, finishing up yesterday. It's a solid Democratic precinct, so the outcome of individual races in it aren't in question. This year, as in other years, the goal was to get as many voters out to cast their votes to add to the vote count for every Democratic candidate on the ballot, for district and statewide races.

The election is just days away, and tonight the trick or treaters show up at my door. Last year, we had almost 250 costumed kids, but it's going to be chilly and windy tonight in St. Paul, MN, so I'm not sure if we'll get that many. But we're ready. We have full-sized candy bars to drop into bags, pumpkins and pillow cases. We'll eat pizza and hand out goodies.

Over the weekend, I'll be giving my neighbors a break from my door-knocking. I've talked to a good percentage of residents in the precinct over the past two months, and am sure that I've convinced many people who weren't really planning to vote to get out and go to the polling place on Tuesday, if they haven't already turned in their absentee ballots.

Like most DUers, I'll be up late on Tuesday night, watching election returns across the country, keeping my fingers crossed and my hopes up.

Let's win this one!

[freshwest]

1. K&R

[MineralMan]

2. Thanks very much!

[No Vested Interest]

3. A job well done! Bringing it home for Al Franken - and others! nt

[MineralMan]

4. Thanks. I've been precinct walking since the 1960s.

I've never had lots of money, but plenty of time, so I spend that time to get out the vote. It's been very rewarding, and I've met so many people over the years. I don't know if I've helped elect Democrats for sure, but every place I've lived has been represented by Democrats almost all of the time, so something was working.

Good luck with all of the election races in your area!

[Yo_Mama]

5. Thank you for all you do

The life of country is really strongly dependent on individuals like you. I realize not everyone can do this, but as long as we do have those like you among us, the country can't go too far wrong.

Again - thanks.

[MineralMan]

6. I wish I could do more, but I'll just keep doing what I can.

I know that many DUers are doing everything they can to make this country a better place. Every one of them deserves thanks!

[riqster]

7. Kick and Rec for a true patriot!

[MineralMan]

9. Well, at least an activist. The word "patriot"

is used too often in the wrong way, I think, so it's not a word I use.

[riqster]

11. Fair enough.

Regardless of the moniker, thank you.

[JoePhilly]

8. Great job!

[MineralMan]

10. Thanks. There are tons of DUers doing similar things.

Thanks to every one of them!

[Liberal_in_LA]

12. good work

[MineralMan]

13. Well, I'll be interested to see the turnout percentages

for the precincts in St. Paul, and see how the one I live in did. If it's higher than most, I'll feel like I succeeded to some degree.

[Brigid]

14. Go you, MM!

[MindPilot]

15. Is this really effective? Do you generally get a positive response?

I ask because I'm never just sitting around the house wishing someone would show up at my front door to sell me something or tell me about their candidate. An interruption of the 2 or 3 hours I have between work and bed is almost always unwelcome and would probably make me less likely to see things you way. And I already know who and what I'm going to vote for; no one banging on my door is going to change my mind.

Or maybe it's just me and I'm an anti-social old codger.

[MineralMan]

16. It is effective, and the response is mixed.

Some people want to talk about the election and others don't. A few express their dislike of being interrupted, and I make a note of that so I don't go back there.

The precinct I live in consistently has higher turnout than surrounding precincts. I don't know if my efforts are the reason, though. For each election, I manage to convince a number of people who say they weren't planning to vote that they should go to the polls. That's the reason for canvassing.