What's Happening in Ohio - Paul Hackett Campaign

globalvillage

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Mon Aug-01-05 07:52 PM
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What's Happening in Ohio - Paul Hackett Campaign

This post was intended for the Kerry group (shout out!!!), so please forgive the familiarity that I usually reserve for the JK gang, but I was encouraged to post here as well. Just my weekend in Ohio, doing my best for Paul.

First, I have to say that although Ohio is my neighbor, and it's border with Pennsylvania less than an hour away from my home, the City of Cincinnati is a five hour drive. So why, instead of sending cash to Paul Hackett's campaign, did I decide to embark on this journey? There are a few Democrats in Ohio, after all.
More than anything, the need to do SOMETHING has been building for some time. Dragging out the credit card just wasn't enough to get me going anymore. Posting on the DU forums wasn't really doing it for me either. I needed more.
So, after seeing Paul on Hardball the other night, I seized the opportunity. I could get behind this man, I thought. An Iraq war vet who rails against the policies of the administration over an unjust war. A straight shooter who says what he means, popular or not. Hmmm...why does that sound vaguely familiar?
So, I made the drive from Pittsburgh early on Saturday morning. Beautiful weather greeted me and stayed with me throughout the trip. Alternating Sirius Left with a variety of tunes, the road trip was pleasant enough. I traveled alone, both out of necessity (having blown off a friend's big summer party, the one that 'everyone' would be attending), and because my goal was introspection, as much as it was about Ohio's next District 2 Congressman.

The Highlights and the Heartache (and other injuries)

Day One:
First, and amazingly, I saw ONE, count 'em, ONE bush* bumper sticker in that five hour stretch between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. I good omen, I hoped. Getting off the highway exit, however, I noticed four large signs for Paul's opponent, Jean Schmidt. Her signs were pretty much everywhere, ours were scattered. Evidence of the disparity of campaign funding. We had quite a few, but the ratio was probably close to 2:1.
I got to the headquarters office around one in the afternoon, and immediately got my canvassing list. To my dismay, the 'girl from the suburbs' got unfamiliar territory, rural Ohio farmland. Few street signs, addresses that jumped around with no rhyme or reason, and only scattered house numbers, because 'everyone' already knows where everyone else's house is. Funny how some people are not aware that an address is not complete unless it comes with an apartment number and a nine digit zip code.
I did manage to find most of the addresses on my list and, for the most part, the interaction was positive. Most folks were home, almost all were pleasant, and expressing a preference for Paul. Of course, I was working a Kerry voter list, so that was expected. I couldn't help but wonder if all those folks' votes were actually counted last November. The questions of Ohio 2004 will not fade.
Very early on, I had my first encounter with western Ohio wildlife. At my second stop, I was attacked, YES, ATTACKED, by a mallard duck. Not once, but twice. OK, admittedly, I screamed like a little girl, all the while hoping tomorrow's headlines in the local gazette won't read "Hackett Supporter's Duck and Cover Moment", with accompanying photo. In an act of what can only be described as extreme stupidity, I went back to the scene for a picture of the offender. Bad move. The guard duck was having nothing of this silly woman with her exposed toes just ripe for the pecking. OK, just leave the literature on the mailbox and get the heck out while you have all your digits, GV. Obviously the duck is there for a reason.

Photo of mad duck laying in wait

Two houses later, disaster strikes. An extreme pro-lifer (Catholic variety). Abortion was not her most important issue, it was her ONLY issue. And she told me that in no uncertain terms, all the while holding back her dozen or so grandkids. I tried to explain the reality of pro-life, but when her daughter with the huge cross on her tank top stepped in, I backed off. I believe if she'd have had a shotgun handy, I might have been staring down the business end of it, but luckily, that was not the case. I made a somewhat hasty retreat.
Most of the rest of my visits were much more congenial. The dinner invite from a really cute guy (serious Dem) was a highlight. I'm already kicking myself for turning that one down. When I pulled into his driveway, he was at his elderly neighbor's house and came out to meet me, explaining that his neighbor was a Republican, but that she was still OK and would be voting for Paul. Sigh...onward.
One gentleman had just buried his father, and was obviously in need of an ear. I spent more time than I should have, but it was time well spent, I think.
Another said her vote was 'none of my business'. OK, that's fair, I guess. Rude, but true. I felt my participation was an act of civic responsibility. I guess hers was an expression of her right to privacy. Both valid. Oh, well...move on from that ugly encounter.
Oh, BTW, I have a great remedy for horsefly bites, recommended by a kindly Hackett supporter, if you ever need it.
Too tired to continue after the long drive and my first day in the field, I headed back to the office to check in. As luck would have it, I missed Max Cleland by a half hour. Damn me for spending so much time with cute guy and pro-life lady.

Day Two:
I guess I should tell you a bit about Hackett's campaign office. Located in the small town of Batavia, OH, the office is directly across the street from our opponent's. Ms Schmidt's is larger, plastered with campaign signs. Ours, a bit smaller, has a few
signs, but seemingly, a lot more activity. Inside, it's a frat house. The staff is young and inspired. They really believe in the campaign, and are working madly to get this guy elected. There are other campaign offices in the district, but this is the only
one I visited. I'm here a bit before 10 am, and find that, once again, I will not get to meet Max Cleland, who is such an inspiration. Max will speak at the county fair this afternoon, while I must head home to Pittsburgh. One of the staffers here, who seems
to know Max pretty well, says he's a true gentleman, and that I should stay. Sadly, that's not in the cards this time.
I will answer the office phones this morning, then do a bit of phone banking. Sunday mornings are difficult, as I recall from the Kerry campaign, but the election is two days away, and every call is the potential winning vote.
The calls are great. I left a lot of messages, pointing folks to the website, and letting them know how important their vote is to Paul and to all of us. The people I did reach were very positive. A few were not aware of the election, but most were, and indicated that they will be supporting Paul.
I met some Clarkies, who drove in from out of town to help. One was from Philly, so we were the Pennsylvania contingent. Nice folks, but wrong candidate. Of course, I told them that although I think the General is kinda hot, I'm a Kerry gal, and that's not likely to change.
The drive back was uneventful, and I'm beat. Bumper sticker count on the way home was bush*-ZERO, Kerry-two. Actually, one car had five Kerry stickers, so the tally is per vehicle, not per sticker.
Hope I haven't bored you to death. I realize this post is very long, but it was great fun working for Paul, and I wanted to share. It helped to be involved again and look forward to facing '06.
Will he win? It will be a very close race, but I'm hopeful. And that might have been my real reason for going.

As I'm finishing this little travelogue, I just received a call from the campaign. We covered 2,300 houses in Clairmont County on Saturday. I'm happy to have done my small part.