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Apr 26
2008
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The Obama Campaign in North CarolinaPosted by bamgibbs in Untagged  |
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During the 25 years I was a working journalist, I wasn't permitted to outwardly show my allegience to any one political candidate. I was told I had to remain fair and impartial. Funny, coming from a medium that is anything BUT fair and impartial.
Well, I have to say I did oblige (publicly). But now that I am no longer in the "public eye" I can do and say what I want about politics---or anything else for that matter. Today, I decided to go out and volunteer for the Obama campaign. Following our 30 minute training session, I was paired up with a partner and we went canvassing specific areas of our community.
I have to admit I was surprised that the "key" folks in the Obama campaign office were white. Their strategy is to have volunteers go into African-American communities and encourage people to get out and vote early---as opposed to dealing with long lines on May 6. Maybe they think we'll get so impatient on May 6 that we'll go home if we have to wait too long.
My question was why aren't we going after the "Unaffiliated" voters---primarily white voters who haven't quite made up their minds yet? Ninety-nine percent of the African-Americans I spoke with today were definitely going for Obama so I felt like my time was wasted.
Why not give this affluent African-American woman an opportunity to go head-to-head with suburbia or rural America? I'm good at talking to people. After all, that's what I got paid to do for 25 years.
Could it be someone is underestimating us---STILL?
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I canvassed for Obama in Ohio, and this is a part of the standard tactics of the Obama campaign. They try to firm up the committed support by encouraging early voting up until the deadline, then they change tactics and go after those undecided voters in the last days leading up to the election. I would have thought that the deadline for early voting has passed (2 weeks before the election). If you continue to volunteer, the intensity will pick up in the last days. We selected a community that was primarily Republican (Ohio had an open primary) and had some very interesting discussions with undecided and committed Republican voters.
Your observation about the staffers is an indication that more of us need to get involved at the point where these tactics are being developed.