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mattybobviously
09/08/08, 05:46 PM
Hey everyone,

I've been wanting to write a post like this for a while, but haven't figured out exactly what I wanted to say. I haven't been posting around in here as much lately, and have been more just lurking discussion threads to see what people are saying.

There are a lot of people who post here actively who are passionate about this election. There have been countless discussions over polling numbers, arguments over small speeches across the country, and tireless debate over the role of pundits in this election.

I've been spending a lot of time on the ground for the Obama campaign in New Hampshire. This past Sunday, I was in Claremont, NH, a town that embodies the troubles this country is struggling with. A downtown area that had once been vibrant, now features only boarded up storefronts, the roads in a terrible state of repair.

Talking to the voters in Claremont, it was apparent immediately that these people are not exactly comfortable with Barack Obama. He is very much a foreign man to them, someone they don't relate to well, and certainly not the Hillary Clinton that many had wished to cast their vote for in the fall. But given the economic times, all of these people, regardless of background, understand that they cannot vote for four more years of the same failed policy. Overwhelmingly I talked to people who may not have been enthusiastic about Barack Obama the man, but sure as hell will be casting a ballot for Barack Obama, the president.

These people do not sit around all day watching cable news. They don't hang out on blogs reading over polling information. They may have severe misconceptions about many of the candidates, including Barack.

My point is this; Barack Obama will not be the next president of the United States because the internet community sat around and analyzed every minute detail of this presidential race (though I know it's fun to do); it will be won on the ground, talking to voters, and making sure that when they head to the polls, they remember the conversations they had with Obama volunteers and vote the right way. Please, get to a swing state as often as you can, and canvass as frequently as possible. This campaign has been built on voter contact, and now more than ever, people need to be walking through neighborhoods, making face-to-face connections with the people whose support we need in 57 days.

I just felt like I wanted to say something around here, because there is a lot of energy about this campaign, I just wish some people would get really active. Everyone is busy, and volunteering (especially when you don't live in a swing state) is a huge committment, but please try to find some time in these last two months to do everything you can, because the cost is too high this time around.

loveisdead
09/08/08, 06:12 PM
You're an awesome, passionate guy. Great points, I absolutely agree with you.

SockMonkeyRiot
09/08/08, 07:39 PM
Claremont has a great little treasure store where I got Blood On The Tracks on vinyl for one dollar

mattybobviously
09/08/08, 07:55 PM
Claremont has a great little treasure store where I got Blood On The Tracks on vinyl for one dollar
It's an incredible town, you can tell that at one point in time it was such a vibrant community. But the education system has failed them, and the economy has only crushed them further. There are some good people who just invested and are trying to re-invigorate the town, but they can't do it alone.

My other part of posting this was, I think if more people on here were on the ground, talking to voters, they'd be a lot more comfortable with how this race is shaping up, it has become increasingly clear to me how certain these people are that they can't take another 4 more years of the same. Keep in mind these are walk lists of mostly undeclared voters as well, certainly not fluff canvassing, but people who genuinely could go either way, and from the experiences I've been having, know that enough is enough.

WarpSpeedChewy
09/08/08, 07:56 PM
I'm definitely gonna volunteer sometime very soon. I feel like I have to do something this time around. I'm almost afraid to because I don't want my heart and soul crushed. At the same time, I believe in what Obama and his campaign represents and it's something worth giving effort to.

These past few weeks, I've been getting more emotional about the state of this election. Beyond the arrogance of patriotism, you never know how much your country means to you until you feel it going further and further in the wrong direction away from what it is supposed to represent and it's potential. I hope people my age decide to come out like an almighty force for Obama, because often it's our parents that voted for these people that got us in the position. We need to be relevant as young people again. The Obama campaign is really the first thing I've seen in while that will give us that chance. We need to show we aren't just people growing up, but we are also a growing cause onto ourselves that is different from what came before.

saysmydoctor
09/08/08, 08:03 PM
I'm working on forming a group to canvas the towns in Madison County, New York to get the word out. It's still kind of in development, New York is Clinton Country and needs to be reformed. I kind of would like to find out where the nearest campaign office is here, but alas.