Why the Election May Be Won By Going Door-to-Door in Swing States

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/why-election-may-be-won-going-door-door-swing-states



I am in a nice suburban neighborhood, walking down a cul-de-sac with a notebook in my hand, watching as a canvasser with an iPad and a stack of leaflets knocks on doors and chats pleasantly with families about jobs, corporate accountability, education and retirement.

I could be anywhere in America; these people could be voters in any community. But this is Ohio, and these voters are the most canvassed, scrutinized, obsessed over in the nation, as their "swing" state could well decide a presidency. And the canvasser I'm following is a field director for Working America, the community affiliate of the AFL-CIO. They work to organize non-union households around the issues that matter to all working people.

Theresa Bruskin, the field director taking me around, tells each person who answers a door she knocks on that, “Our strategy is strength in numbers.” She's asking them to sign up as a member with Working America, which simply means giving her a phone number and email address to match the street address she already has. She also asks for a donation, either a monthly contribution or a few dollars on the spot, to keep Working America going. We go to every home but the union homes -- it doesn't matter whether there are registered voters, Democrats, Republicans, whomever. Everyone gets a knock.

Jack, a stocky grey-haired man sitting outside his house smoking a pipe, tells us he's a former cop, and that he'd been canvassed earlier by someone selling something. “Didn't like him. Ran him off,” he says. But he lets Bruskin talk to him about the issues, takes the iPad, nods at “campaign donations” but says the issue that most concerns him is a secure retirement. He gives Bruskin his contact info but no money, although he does ask for an envelope and says he'll send it later.

[liberal N proud]

1. That is how it was won in 2008

I did a lot of canvassing in 2008. I am guessing that I knocked on more than 5000 doors myself between September 1 and the election. I registered more than a dozen voters, that makes you feel good when you knock on the door to speak with someone and end up registering several others for the first time.

I lead the Get Out the Vote efforts in my community.

I am getting a late start this year but will be involved, trust me.

It is about the grass roots volunteers who get these elections won in states like Ohio.