So my bags are packed (nope), the keg is ordered (yup), and fundraising party plans are well in hand. (This Saturday, 8:00 pm. The theme is "America" so be prepared to get down red white & blue style.) All that's left to figure out is where I'm headed next week.
The electoral map is changing day by day and I'm trying to stay on top of it while plotting out my course. The debate last Friday resulted in a bump for Obama in the polls, which was good to see. Apparently people like polite/informed more than grouchy/patronizing. Sorry, John McCain. I liked you so much more when you were trying to beat Bush in 2000.
So—where to go? The Midwest makes sense to me. My family is from there (Michigan), I can drive there pretty easily (by "easily" I mean 15 hours instead of the 25 it would take to Florida) and I feel like I can connect with values-voters. In fact, Michigan itself is one of the things that made me want to venture out on this little trip in the first place.
I have strong feelings about the state. I’ve been going there about every summer since I was six weeks old, and even though I heard that Beach Boys song about girls in California a lot while growing up on the West Coast, in many ways I’m secretly the midwest farmer’s daughter (you know, the ones who "really make you feel all right.") A few weeks ago I was checking an electoral college map: the ones all decked out for the season in shades of red & blue. Michigan showed up in the pale periwinkle that denotes "barely Dem." Not dark blue, like Michigan usually is. No. Such a light blue I could practically see the stain of pink creeping up against its borders.
There are reasons for this. Obama didn't campaign there at all during the primaries (to respect party rules that the state violated by holding those elections early). There's a somewhat unpopular Democratic governor and a very unpopular (i.e. fired) Democratic mayor of Detroit floating around the state giving people pause. Not to mention the auto industry that has been a bedrock of the state may be more interested in McCain's "drill baby drill" stance than in hearing about efficiency and conservation. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, "If John McCain becomes the nation's 44th president, it may be thanks to Michigan--a prize the Republicans think they can claim for the first time in nearly 20 years." However, the last two weeks have been good to Obama's chances there; just an hour ago it was announced that McCain has decided to pull his campaign ads out of the state. This may mean that Michigan is even now deepening into that lovely shade of midnight blue I want to see.
Then there's Ohio. You may remember it as the state that lost John Kerry the election in 2004. It (specifically Cleveland) was also the subject of a very funny "30 Rock" episode last year. Ohio (specifically Jacobs Field) was also the place where Pedro came out in relief to mow down Indian after Indian for six no-hit innings during a spectacular Game 5 of the 1999 ALDS. That concludes the entirety of my associations with Ohio.
But in fact, the state looms large. It's been said that as Ohio goes, so goes the nation. The state is apparently a microcosm of the country as a whole, with a nice mix of urban, suburban, and rural voters. Bush only won Ohio last time around by 118,601 votes; that's about nine votes per precinct. I don't know anyone who lives there, but I'd like to take a stab at getting some of those nine votes that could make a difference.
So, only a few days before I pack up the car with roadtrip snacks and head west, I'm still not exactly sure which address I'll be typing into mapquest on my way out the door. Does Michigan still need help? Is Ohio more important? Will I brave bunking up with whatever strangers are offering "donated housing" to the campaign in Cleveland or Columbus? You'll know as soon as I do.
Tonight: Don't forget to make the popcorn and cozy up to the TV for Biden-Palin, 9 pm EST. I'm guessing Palin has added "Names of some other Supreme Court cases besides Roe v. Wade" to her crash-course study list since the Katie Couric interview. But other delightful surprises may nonetheless emerge tonight in the category of "shocking things not known by the next potential President of the United States." You wouldn't want to miss that.
The electoral map is changing day by day and I'm trying to stay on top of it while plotting out my course. The debate last Friday resulted in a bump for Obama in the polls, which was good to see. Apparently people like polite/informed more than grouchy/patronizing. Sorry, John McCain. I liked you so much more when you were trying to beat Bush in 2000.
So—where to go? The Midwest makes sense to me. My family is from there (Michigan), I can drive there pretty easily (by "easily" I mean 15 hours instead of the 25 it would take to Florida) and I feel like I can connect with values-voters. In fact, Michigan itself is one of the things that made me want to venture out on this little trip in the first place.
I have strong feelings about the state. I’ve been going there about every summer since I was six weeks old, and even though I heard that Beach Boys song about girls in California a lot while growing up on the West Coast, in many ways I’m secretly the midwest farmer’s daughter (you know, the ones who "really make you feel all right.") A few weeks ago I was checking an electoral college map: the ones all decked out for the season in shades of red & blue. Michigan showed up in the pale periwinkle that denotes "barely Dem." Not dark blue, like Michigan usually is. No. Such a light blue I could practically see the stain of pink creeping up against its borders.
There are reasons for this. Obama didn't campaign there at all during the primaries (to respect party rules that the state violated by holding those elections early). There's a somewhat unpopular Democratic governor and a very unpopular (i.e. fired) Democratic mayor of Detroit floating around the state giving people pause. Not to mention the auto industry that has been a bedrock of the state may be more interested in McCain's "drill baby drill" stance than in hearing about efficiency and conservation. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, "If John McCain becomes the nation's 44th president, it may be thanks to Michigan--a prize the Republicans think they can claim for the first time in nearly 20 years." However, the last two weeks have been good to Obama's chances there; just an hour ago it was announced that McCain has decided to pull his campaign ads out of the state. This may mean that Michigan is even now deepening into that lovely shade of midnight blue I want to see.
Then there's Ohio. You may remember it as the state that lost John Kerry the election in 2004. It (specifically Cleveland) was also the subject of a very funny "30 Rock" episode last year. Ohio (specifically Jacobs Field) was also the place where Pedro came out in relief to mow down Indian after Indian for six no-hit innings during a spectacular Game 5 of the 1999 ALDS. That concludes the entirety of my associations with Ohio.
But in fact, the state looms large. It's been said that as Ohio goes, so goes the nation. The state is apparently a microcosm of the country as a whole, with a nice mix of urban, suburban, and rural voters. Bush only won Ohio last time around by 118,601 votes; that's about nine votes per precinct. I don't know anyone who lives there, but I'd like to take a stab at getting some of those nine votes that could make a difference.
So, only a few days before I pack up the car with roadtrip snacks and head west, I'm still not exactly sure which address I'll be typing into mapquest on my way out the door. Does Michigan still need help? Is Ohio more important? Will I brave bunking up with whatever strangers are offering "donated housing" to the campaign in Cleveland or Columbus? You'll know as soon as I do.
Tonight: Don't forget to make the popcorn and cozy up to the TV for Biden-Palin, 9 pm EST. I'm guessing Palin has added "Names of some other Supreme Court cases besides Roe v. Wade" to her crash-course study list since the Katie Couric interview. But other delightful surprises may nonetheless emerge tonight in the category of "shocking things not known by the next potential President of the United States." You wouldn't want to miss that.
2 comments:
Not even a mention of Virginia?!
I guess if VA is not in the running for your volunteer time, then I vote for lodging with strangers in Ohio. (It seemed like you were asking for opinions, but I'm thinking now as I write this that you probably weren't.)
I look forward to more posts! Especially with inside information on the campaign and its young organizers. I've been seeing bits here, but I'm sure you'll see a lot more dedicating 40+hours each week.
Seriously do a home stay with some random Ohio family! What a quirky adventure! :)
we'll get our cleveland rocks chant going saturday night!
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