Kathy in NH
04-23-2008, 08:32 PM
Hello friends! Most of you don't know me as I am one of the quieter supporters on here, but I wanted to pass on my unforgettable trip to Scranton, PA! If you have the opportunity to go to another state, please do!
I got there Sunday night after a last-minute decision that I needed to be there - left at 5pm, drove straight thru for 6 hrs. Did visibility 8am Monday for Hillary's rally, and attended the rally. Then the afternoon canvassed with a woman from DC. Election Day I went out 3 times to canvass; the morning with a local gent 84 years old. What a hoot he was, got a taste of the local area, and he kept me in stitches with his jokes. Went out twice by myself in the afternoon, hit probably a total of 150 doors myself in 2 days. And then other odd times did visibility on street corners. Most people were incredulous that I was asking who they supported... of course, it's Hillary! Those neighbors were wired up and hot for Hillary, I'll tell ya!
The Scranton area community embodies the type of population that desperately needs Hillary's solid plans, hard work, and never-give-up determination. The 100 or so volunteers I saw were from all walks of life, lots of union people, a busload came in from New York, a huge percentage working class, low income bracket, and they were giving their ALL for Hillary. If they couldn't walk because of bad backs, or age, they were on the phones, all day. The local economy has been hard hit, though it's attempting a rebound with new construction projects, lots of empty buildings, canvassed neighborhoods with condemned homes next to families with young children. It was heart-breaking to see. I was imagining the feeling Hillary had when she canvassed as a young adult in poor neighborhoods, helping to get handicapped kids back in the school system. I'd say 90% of the doors I knocked on where someone there was 100% support for Hillary, plus their extended families. I knew she would take the area big, and she did -- 75% of the vote in that county. I believe this is one point the media doesn't mention. They do say she is strong with the blue collar population, but little is said about the fact that she also draws in large proportions, from my experience with this trip and phone calling and posts on this forum and the HRC blogs, those who are underprivileged and disadvantaged, the very people that the Democratic Party has been fighting for and making changes for throughout history.
They were so excited to vote in PA because the nomination is usually wrapped up at this point.
I am contemplating going to WV and possibly NC - I usually make a trip to VA in the spring, and the timing would be perfect, since my daughter would be done teaching for the semester.
Just as members on this forum were phoning until the last minute, the volunteers were phoning in the office right up until 8pm "Did you get a chance to vote today? Did you vote for Hillary? You did??? GREAT!!" The energy was palpable. I came back from canvassing at 7:45 and one fellow did a countdown... 10 minutes to go.. keep calling!! It was so noisy with all the callers I had to go outside to hear my phone.
I attended the election watch party after and just as in Philly, we jumped up and down, hugged, cried when the results came in, especially when her lead kept growing.
The friends I made asked "are you coming back in November???" You bet!!
Oh, a little side story. My first canvass trip on my own I managed to lock myself out of the car. One of my endearing qualities. Luckily there was a post man who asked an elderly woman for a phone book, and between the two of them I got a tow truck to my rescue. The tow truck guy got me into my car in a jiffy. "You canvassing? Well, I'm votin' for her!!"
As I was walking around I decided I needed to get that sweet lady some flowers. I was directed to a local florist by someone on the street. To my amazement, I saw pics of this florist with Hillary, Bill and Chelsea and another with Gov. Rendell. I said, "I guess I know who you're voting for!" He said he has known them 15 years, after Hillary's fathers' death (he is buried in a cemetary on one of the roads I canvassed). He does the flowers for the grave every holiday. When I told him my story, he said... "For Hillary? Well this is on me!" When I took the flowers to the nice elderly woman, Mary, she said "McGowins'"?? He's like a second son to me!" I went around the rest of the day glowing... nothing was going to get me down, and I KNEW she was going to take that area big time!
I got there Sunday night after a last-minute decision that I needed to be there - left at 5pm, drove straight thru for 6 hrs. Did visibility 8am Monday for Hillary's rally, and attended the rally. Then the afternoon canvassed with a woman from DC. Election Day I went out 3 times to canvass; the morning with a local gent 84 years old. What a hoot he was, got a taste of the local area, and he kept me in stitches with his jokes. Went out twice by myself in the afternoon, hit probably a total of 150 doors myself in 2 days. And then other odd times did visibility on street corners. Most people were incredulous that I was asking who they supported... of course, it's Hillary! Those neighbors were wired up and hot for Hillary, I'll tell ya!
The Scranton area community embodies the type of population that desperately needs Hillary's solid plans, hard work, and never-give-up determination. The 100 or so volunteers I saw were from all walks of life, lots of union people, a busload came in from New York, a huge percentage working class, low income bracket, and they were giving their ALL for Hillary. If they couldn't walk because of bad backs, or age, they were on the phones, all day. The local economy has been hard hit, though it's attempting a rebound with new construction projects, lots of empty buildings, canvassed neighborhoods with condemned homes next to families with young children. It was heart-breaking to see. I was imagining the feeling Hillary had when she canvassed as a young adult in poor neighborhoods, helping to get handicapped kids back in the school system. I'd say 90% of the doors I knocked on where someone there was 100% support for Hillary, plus their extended families. I knew she would take the area big, and she did -- 75% of the vote in that county. I believe this is one point the media doesn't mention. They do say she is strong with the blue collar population, but little is said about the fact that she also draws in large proportions, from my experience with this trip and phone calling and posts on this forum and the HRC blogs, those who are underprivileged and disadvantaged, the very people that the Democratic Party has been fighting for and making changes for throughout history.
They were so excited to vote in PA because the nomination is usually wrapped up at this point.
I am contemplating going to WV and possibly NC - I usually make a trip to VA in the spring, and the timing would be perfect, since my daughter would be done teaching for the semester.
Just as members on this forum were phoning until the last minute, the volunteers were phoning in the office right up until 8pm "Did you get a chance to vote today? Did you vote for Hillary? You did??? GREAT!!" The energy was palpable. I came back from canvassing at 7:45 and one fellow did a countdown... 10 minutes to go.. keep calling!! It was so noisy with all the callers I had to go outside to hear my phone.
I attended the election watch party after and just as in Philly, we jumped up and down, hugged, cried when the results came in, especially when her lead kept growing.
The friends I made asked "are you coming back in November???" You bet!!
Oh, a little side story. My first canvass trip on my own I managed to lock myself out of the car. One of my endearing qualities. Luckily there was a post man who asked an elderly woman for a phone book, and between the two of them I got a tow truck to my rescue. The tow truck guy got me into my car in a jiffy. "You canvassing? Well, I'm votin' for her!!"
As I was walking around I decided I needed to get that sweet lady some flowers. I was directed to a local florist by someone on the street. To my amazement, I saw pics of this florist with Hillary, Bill and Chelsea and another with Gov. Rendell. I said, "I guess I know who you're voting for!" He said he has known them 15 years, after Hillary's fathers' death (he is buried in a cemetary on one of the roads I canvassed). He does the flowers for the grave every holiday. When I told him my story, he said... "For Hillary? Well this is on me!" When I took the flowers to the nice elderly woman, Mary, she said "McGowins'"?? He's like a second son to me!" I went around the rest of the day glowing... nothing was going to get me down, and I KNEW she was going to take that area big time!