Report from the ground in Florida, another Saturday, another walk list...

[Coexist]

Well, fall has arrived in the Tampa Bay area, which would feel like a regular summer day to you northerners. Lots of people outside with their families today, enjoying the low humidity and sunshine.

When I first entered the gated community we were asked to canvass today, I got an icky feeling in my stomach. It was pretty fancy. My Gators had lost, far fewer volunteers showed up than expected, and my local staffer had dropped off HUGE walk lists this time. I was tired from staying up for Rachel's post-debate show, and it all just felt like things would not go well.

I dragged my butt to the first door, and was greeted cheerfully by an Obama supporter. Then another. Then a Republican who told me he'd vote for Daffy Duck if it had a D after his name this time around. We had great new Economic flyers to leave for the folks who weren't home this time, which was really nice. Met an undecided who said Taxes were her greatest concern. I showed her page 4 of this, which helped, I think. One woman was so excited that 'the Obama campaign' (as she referred to me when she shouted to her husband) came to her house, I thought she was going to cry! Another lady with a heavy southern accent referred to herself as a 'Palin girl' which I found really amusing for some reason. Early Voting information was very popular, which lightened my heart.

Far fewer undecideds, far more Obama supporters, McCainiacs are few and far between. Obama signs in windows and on lawns, not a single McCain one. I definitely see a trend. It put me in a better mood, although now I am wiped out so bad, I asked my son to come into the room to hand me the remote because I can't manage to get up!

Oh, and just so you know - almost all these people were white, middle and upper middle class people.

38 DAYS LEFT!

What did you do to help elect Obama today? What can you do tomorrow?

We really do need your help... please consider it. If you help out and knock on 25 doors, someone like me gets to go home 1/2 hour earlier that day. Pretty please?! I ain't too proud to beg - old folks like me need your strong legs now more than ever. Everything is getting ramped up and we need YOU today, tomorrow and every day you can spare through November 5th.

Thanks and GOBAMA!

[wildeyed]

1. GOBAMA!

I'm going out tomorrow. :kick:

[Coexist]

9. thank you for your hard work!

you rock.

[roguevalley]

14. Bless you, FLDem. I have only seen two tiny Palin/ McCain signs

up here. Very strange and nice. :)

[my3boyz]

2. Thank you so much! You are making a huge difference. Now get some rest. :)

[snacker]

3. That's good news...

and, thank you for your dedication!

[Jennicut]

4. Thank You! You are doing a great job for us.

:hug:

[Skarbrowe]

5. I'm house/cat sitting in Port St. Lucie West and I had OBAMA canvassers today!

Trouble is, the person I'm house sitting for has not yet committed to voting for Obama. I'll have to work on that. I gave them a big thumbs up and told them I was waiting for my absentee ballot down south a bit. Thanks to all you hard walking people for all your hard walking. :) Spread the word!

[Hope And Change]

6. FLDem5, thanks for sharing your story and all the great work you are doing to get Obama elected.

K & R!

[liberalmuse]

7. Thank you for sharing.

Even though you are worn out, you are still doing good work. I'm impressed! I'll be working tomorrow to register voters in a more conservative county in WA. I can't wait! Again, people on DU sharing their experiences working for the Obama campaign are most welcome. They inspire!

[Coexist]

11. thanks for helping

we're going to win this one voter at a time!

[blondeatlast]

8. Did a precinct walk in 100 degree weather. Here in AZ we

have to start early so we missed a lot of people. All of those we talked to were very enthusiastic with the exception of one--I think racism played a part in that. I know the woman, she kinda hates everyone.

All in all, a hopeful, positive day.

[Coexist]

12. good for you.

I know how hard it is to walk when just standing still dehydrates you.

Great work, and Thank You!

[Tutonic]

10. I sent him and Darci Burner some moooooooolah today!

[Coexist]

13. Darci's one of the good guys!

that is great.

[BlooInBloo]

28. She's as good as a guy gets - for a gal.

:P

[Coexist]

29. I know she's a girl!

I'll never forget the photo of her after her home burnt to the ground, wearing a 'less war' t-shirt. I wasn't being sexist or anything. She IS one of the good guys.

[marew]

15. Hey, I'm in Tampa Bay!

I've seen maybe only three McCain signs/bumper stickers in the last week or two. Lots more Obama stuff. I personally know no one voting for McCain. But then my friends are smart!:hi:

[Coexist]

23. Hey neighbor!

there are tons of Obama offices around here, please consider popping by your local one and seeing if they need anything.

TIA!

[marew]

25. Will do.

I am scared to death the rethugs will get in. Fear is a great motivator. I did some knocking on doors for Kerry. Was in a depression for a week after that one.

[spartan61]

16. Thanks FLDem5 for your service.

It sure is a wonderful feeling, isn't it??? I have been canvassing and phone banking in Maine all summer and I have met some wonderful and intelligent people who are supporting Obama. I have also met some McCain supporters, but they really couldn't tell me why they were supporting him except for "I always vote Republican because my parents were Repuke." Guess they can't think for themselves or just aren't paying attention.

Next week we will be heading home to Florida and I will volunteer there for the last couple of weeks before the election to help any way I can. I live in The Villages area and it is really Repuke Hell, but I am happy to see a wonderful, well organized group of Democrats who are working tirelessly for Obama. Looking at the polls in FL and reading your post has made me start to believe that my vote in Florida could actually count this election.

[prolesunited]

17. Knocked on 23 doors

today in Indiana, which is now in play. A lot of people not home, but I did get someone set up for a ride for early voting, got two absentee ballot apps (one definitely Obama, the other leaning), got a visiting teen from Illinois set up to register (friend told him he didn't have to register since he still lived at home. d'oh. hopefully, he'll get his friend's straightened out.) and got another Obama supporter's voter registration straightened out since she was registered at a different adress.

And, I'll be back and do some more next week.

In the coordinator's office, he has a hand-lettered poster saying, "Don't wake up on Nov. 5 and realize you didn't do enough to get Obama elected and CHANGE THE WORLD."

[Coexist]

21. thank you so much, I LOVE that slogan.

I'm adding to my sig line!

[Indiana_Dem]

18. Hello there from here in Indiana! We've organized a big kickoff for our U.S. Rep.

The unions are joining the party and the Obama people and we're saturating one of our biggest areas of swing voters!

I've been canvassing since the primaries. Obama is looking good in all the samples. Today I spent my afternoon going back to people to take their registrations and absentee applications. I knocked on a few doors from the Neighbor-2-Neighbor tool and found a few more Obama supporters! One guy couldn't register here in Indiana yet as he had just moved from Ohio and couldn't get his birth certificate in time to get a picture ID--so I pleaded with him to go back to Ohio to vote then--I didn't have to do much convincing since he saw me from his apartment window and came running down the sidewalk to see if he could vote since he just moved!!! lol

Then I was in the grocery store and sold an Obama button by advertising on my purse.

One of my other volunteers passed out one bumper sticker to a girl at the drive-up window of McDonald's last night at midnight--all of a sudden he had a crowd (he called it an McDonald's Obama rally) and passed out 9 more bumper stickers to people who were very thankful! Then he gave 2 more bumper stickers to a pizza girl today who was happy!

Tons of sign requests we can't meet the demands of.... I TRULY believe Indiana is going to turn blue.

This is a coming from North Central Indiana, small town of 10,000 registered voters in the past election. Area surrounded by corn fields and farmers! I can't believe what I'm experiencing here. I swear.

[PerfectSage]

20. Wow! If Indiana can turn blue. Your talkin' possible landslide.

:sweet:

[PerfectSage]

19. kick for FLDem5

:kick: Thanks for putting FL in play.

[Hepburn]

22. Thank you, thank you, thank you...

...for all the hard work you are doing!

I am going to go to the new Obama HQ in my area that my bestest gal pal found the other day. I cannot walk any precincts cuz of my bum left knee...but I sure am gonna see what assignments they can give to us two old gals who would love to kick some butt for Obama!

:hug: and another thank you! Great story and wonderful to hear how things on the ground are def looking good!

[Coexist]

26. thank you so much

[LiberalAndProud]

24. Wonderful news!

:yourock:

[BlooInBloo]

27. We LOVE you FL ground-game folks! You've turned the tide! Keep it up!

WOOT!

[WA98296]

30. Great news, and thank ((((you))))

[sandnsea]

31. I did an upscale community too

Saw my first couple of McCain signs. :cry:

But most everybody is going for Obama, a lot more made their decision after the debate. I met this cute couple in their 80s. Chatted for the longest time. At one point she whispers to me, "I don't know if people realize men have such big egos". lol.

I also got to rescue a teen-age couple stuck on the side of the road. And registered a new voter.

I love canvassing.