Yard signs in Virginia (road trip)

[helpisontheway]

I live in Williamsburg but had to drive up to Charlottesville today. I have mentioned in the past that there are not very many Obama signs in comparison to Romney signs in Williamsburg. I only noticed one Obama sign while I was out in Charlottesville. They had these huge Romney and Allen signs on all of the main streets that I traveled. I don't know if Charlottesville is traditionally a Republican area or not??? It is a college town so I would hope there are a lot of Obama supporters there. I was not near the UVA campus so I'm not sure what it looks like in that area. Anyway, almost ALL the Romney signs are HUGE. They are like forget the small ones and go for the large ones. I hope and pray that Northern Virginia pulls this out for us. Then if Obama wins I will smile every single time I pass those huge Romney signs(after the election). Until then I get a sick feeling in my stomach. Man I hope it is looking better in Northern VA than it is in the areas that I have been lately.

[BraKez2]

1. same down here in SWVA

Huge Romney signs everywhere.....makes me want to ...however like i said in another thread all the Obama signs I have seen around my area are now gone...THEY ARE BEING STOLEN... I live about 25 miles from Virginia Tech, not sure how the signs are out that way though, but I know Montgomery County was Blue in 2008, hopefully the same this time..

[helpisontheway]

5. I know...makes me ill!

[Island Blue]

13. The same thing is happening here in Dare County, NC (OBX).

To drive through the areas of the northern beaches as well on Roanoke Island, you would think that every single living soul supports Romney. That's all you see is Romney signs (besides of course, signs for candidates for lesser office, mostly Republican). The truth is, that while Romney will unfortunately win this county, Obama does actually have quite a few supporters. Problem is, the Obama signs get disappeared almost as soon as they go up. Signs for other many other Democratic candidates also go missing. It's disgusting. Republicans here are thugs.

[Robb]

2. I always say, buy as big of a Romney sign as you want.

You still only get one vote, same as me with my little Obama sign.

[helpisontheway]

6. I like the way you think!!! :) It will be the sweetest victory if Obama wins despite

Romney supporters putting those huge signs up!

[ruffburr]

9. WE Hope!!

That it will be 1 vote and not 10 from different addresses as the R's are want to do among other shenanigans.

[demwing]

3. I don't know whether to believe this or not

and I like things simple, so I'm putting you on Ignore till 11/7/2012. If you're still around at that time, and I was wrong, I'll be glad to hear it.

Vote Forward. Vote Obama.

[helpisontheway]

16. It does not bother me. You can keep me on ignore permanently.

I did not say or do anything wrong. All I mentioned was my experience today while driving through Virginia. I have no reason to lie about it.

[beac]

21. Please un-ignore the OP. It is true.

I posted in another thread on Monday about having a similar experience driving east-to-west in VA recently and WHY I think those signs are everywhere.

I drove across Virginia recently, from east to west.

LOTS of Romney signs but they were ALWAYS accompanied by Allen (GOP Senate candidate) signs and a sign for the local Congressional candidate. ALWAYS.

This makes me suspect the local GOP headquarters are giving away these sets free instead of asking for money for them. I saw these three-sets in the front yards of houses that I am pretty certain could not afford to spend $60 on yard signs.

I wouldn't be surprised if the GOP was going door-to-door and offering the signs to households that front on main thoroughfares.

The Obama signs I saw were varied in style (and some saved from '08). They sometimes had local or Senate/Congressional race signs along side, but that was infrequent.

I think the GOP has invested heavily in yards signs while Obama's team is working on a meaningful ground game.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=143870

FYI, Charlottesville is as about as BLUE as they come (I used to live there), so the OP's experience just reinforces my suspicions.

[AspenRose]

32. It's the same here in NoVA

The trio of GOP signs...clutters up everything

...much prefer the "Obama/Kaine/Moran" signs

[helpisontheway]

43. Wow..I did not think of that but I think you are right.

Now that you mention it all of those large signs always had signs of other Republican candidates alongside them. Also, you are right, most people can't afford to purchase all of those signs. Thanks for all the information.

[ncgrits]

4. Those signs will look even more ignorant on the day after Election Day!

Lots of slashed Obama signs here in NC. Instead of wasting energy defacing signs, Dems are VOTING IN RECORD NUMBERS! I can't wait to humiliate these a-holes with our awesome turnout!

[helpisontheway]

8. I'm seriously beginning to wonder if someone is removing the Obama signs

I would not put it past the Republicans to do that.

[LisaL]

12. Quire a few posters here reported their Obama signs stolen.

Don't obsess about the signs. A lot of people are afraid to put Obama signs out.

[boingboinh]

7. In 2008 Charlottesville went 79% to Obama on Election Day

So yikes!
Its possible those signs were placed their strategically to influence the locals to vote republican since if they were to look up the data that region overwhelmingly went democrat in 2008. If not then they really changed their minds...and double yiikes

[helpisontheway]

11. Hmmm...I was off a main street with shopping/food places. However, I did not go through

neighborhoods (only there for a soccer game..) so maybe there was more support there. I also did not go in the college area.

[beac]

23. Charlottesvillians have NOT "changed their minds."

It's been reliably dark blue for DECADES and will be again this year. (I used to live there and still know many people there.)

This story and my recent one (linked above) just prove Romney is spending lots of money giving out free signs and/or polluting public lands with them.

[The River]

10. Not What You Saw

C-ville is very dark Blue.
Albemarle county is kinda purple. It
went Dem in '08 but R in '10.
I think it will go for Obama this time around.

[helpisontheway]

15. Oh okay..Soccer game was off of Polo Grounds Road

so whatever the name of the major street over there (had Lowes,Chickfil,Taco Bell,etc). I can't remember the name of the street off the top of my head. I will check my GPS later.

[beac]

24. That's Route 29.

And most of those signs were probably on public land.

See my post (and defense of you) upthread on Romney's apparent prioritization of signs over substance.

I can assure you that those signs are probably pissing off more people than they are persuading.

[Sadiedog]

14. I wonder

does seeing signs really make a difference?

[helpisontheway]

17. I don't know. I just LIKE to see OBAMA signs..Gives me hope that people

are not insane enough to believe Romney.

[INdemo]

18. How about the area around Richmond..is that usually red?

[deafskeptic]

20. Depends on which part of Richmond u live in

I grew up in the Tuckahoe discrict in Henrico county which is a burb of Richmond. It was very red when I grew up there. Its full of professionals and multi-millionaries.

East End is mostly blue as is part of Northside. Southside is a mix but all the burbs around Richmond are pretty red.

Just so u know, I have not lived in Richmond for 18 years so I may out of date.

[humbled_opinion]

19. Very similar where I live

North East Florida is not a very liberal area to live, but I am confused by the amount of Romney yard signs, are these people all voting against their own self interest? I live in middleclass area of town, they obviously have no idea what Romney's plans will do to the middleclass.

[TalkingDog]

22. Pics or it didn't happen n/t

[beac]

25. See my post upthread on why I believe the OP and why

I think it doesn't matter at all.

[Chestrockwell]

26. yard signs

I was part of the 2008 absolute Obama blanket of signs in Pinellas County, Florida. This election the headquarters just sells them and are not handing them out for some stupid reason. They decided to go with spam mail instead of yard signs. I'm trying to get them to give me the remaining stock that they don't sell. To give you guys an Idea, I counted 41 Romney to 1 Obama in Seminole, Florida. In St. Petersburg where i live it's a little better but still not like last election. I keep hearing about this great grassroots game the Obama has here; so far, I've seen nothing great. When I call the St. Pete headquarters their phone doesn't work most of the time. I finally got called to work the polls last week. I had about 6 different jobs to help out last election. I do sales for a aquarium company who's the storage headquarters for Mitt Romney. They have the signs to go across the planet twice and are giving them out for free(even the big ones!).

[NRaleighLiberal]

27. They sell the signs? That's one I've not heard before...

[beac]

29. They are selling them at my local OFA office too.

Are they free in NC?? Hope so, since I know your neighbors have sticky (and maybe soon to be capsicum-burned) fingers.

[NRaleighLiberal]

30. Wow. Amazing. Free here, as many as we want. Local decision, I guess?

I haven't "fixed" mine yet - going to take them in tonight. haven't had time to make the magic sign treatment today!

[beac]

33. Can't wait to hear how that potion works!

[DURHAM D]

34. They were not free in Durham County OFA.

They are $15 each and bumper stickers are 2/$5.

However, you can get a free yard sign at Durham County Democratic headquarters. The local Dem party paid OFA for the yard signs. Shocking I know...

Are you getting the free signs at OFA in Wake County or the Dem headquarters?

[NRaleighLiberal]

37. Got them at a Wake County Democratic Party Sign Shop on Anderson Road in Raleigh

http://www.wakedems.org/

Free Dalton, Obama, you name it signs.

[DURHAM D]

38. That means the Wake County Democratic Party paid OFA for them.

[DURHAM D]

36. Please see my response #34.

I live one county over from NRaleighL.

I was told early on that OFA was using the yard signs and bumper stickers to raise money. I was also told the campaign does not think they do much good and it is not the best way to spend their funds. That is their decision but I find it odd in a battleground state.

Bottom line is that I think they want the state or local party (or local donors) to pay for the signs and stickers that are distributed.

[trayfoot]

39. Here in VA

at the headquarters where I work they are selling signs, buttons, stickers, etc. In 2008, we gave them away. I think it is a local decision, since the locals have to buy them from Obama Central. We've had a lot of complaints about this, also.

[beac]

28. Thank you for confirming my suspicions (see upthread)

about Romney and free signs.

Hope you can convince the local Obama people to give you that remaining stock. Might have even more impact for them to suddenly spring up everywhere days before the election!



ETA: And WHERE are my manners?? WELCOME to DU!!

[demwing]

31. Wereabouts in St Pete?

that's my neck of the woods - I'm in old Kenwood.

[Chestrockwell]

40. yard signs

Have you noticed the same thing? My nephew sees tons or Romney on his delivery routes; rural Florida always seems to go Repug for some reason(I know it's because of stupidity but I was just being polite).

[demwing]

42. Actually, my neighborhood is pretty blue

but I live a block from the Dem headquarters on 1st north. There is one guy in the neighborhood with a crazy home made Mitt sign, which he practically BEGS people to destroy. I bet he's got a trail cam on it.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

35. I live in Rhode Island

I have yet to see one Obama yard sign, but have seen tons of Rmoney signs.

Obama will win hear easily. So take it for what you will.

[DavidL]

41. It would have been a better thread if YOU had posted

9 or 10 signs.

If you want to make sure we vote your way, 100 signs will help you vote our way. No, signs are so 1800'a

They do nothing, take pictures of trees, not signs.

[Samjm]

44. There are a couple of reasons

1. The Repubs hand out the signs for free. Not only that, they deliver them to registered Republicans with a note asking them to please display the sign. Very easy to do. And if you live on a main road, then you get one of the BIG signs.

2. The Dems don't deliver their signs, and this time round at least they cost $. Our local office paid I think $20 per sign! They're only giving them to people who volunteer for a shift or donate.

I had a conversation with our local field officer about this. The Dem view is that yard signs don't vote and they're just an expensive excuse to not get involved. "I have a sign up, so I don't need to do anything else". My argument was that signs help excite people. When I drive around my town and see Romney sign after Romney sign it is demoralizing. I almost feel like there is no point in me bothering to vote because there is no way we're going to win this precinct. OF COURSE I will vote (already done in fact), but I'm one of the faithful volunteers. But what about the less faithful? The ones who kind of think they should vote for Obama, but would be easily persuadable to not bother. THAT'S where I think yard signs are valuable.

[LisaL]

45. I agree.

But hopefully people realize that signs do not win the election.

[Chestrockwell]

46. yard signs

I realize that; but advertising and perception are important to. I just think it's a mistake not to include signs in the advertising scheme. For the cost of a fraction of one tv commercial, our entire battleground area of Pinellas County would show Obama. Remember Pinellas and Dade County are what handed Obama Florida last election.