On the ground in Florida

[Coexist]

First, pardon my poor writing skills tonight, I am really tired from hours of walking and talking.

Canvassing went well today- again, I am very pleased with how we did. People check to see who may be listening when they express their support for Obama, and get big smiles when I tell them that in my canvassing, I have discovered that there are a lot of other Obama supporters on their street.

When they learn how important the I-4 corridor is, and how much their vote matters to the country, they are excited and eager to not only vote, but make sure their Obama supporting friends at work and relatives get their collective butts to the polls.

Our circle of staffers/volunteers is pumped up and knocking on doors and making calls like crazy; we're taking Florida back.

The stuff I see from Independents and Non-affiliated voters is positive, the reports from Republicans I know is not good for McCain. I don't know who these people are polling, but its not the undecideds I am talking to, and not the tens of thousands of newly registered voters who can't wait to cast their first ballot for Obama.

Screw Zogby's silly internet polls, Florida is Blue.

[blue neen]

1. Good report.

Central Florida is huge in this campaign.

[LiberalAndProud]

2. Good news!

Do you ask them why they are whispering?

[avaistheone1]

4. I am wondering as well.

[Coexist]

6. no, I live here too, I know why.

lot's of obnoxious good ol' boys around here. Also, we're not canvassing Dems, but indpenedents and people who don't choose a party. There are more pick up trucks than SUVs in these suburbs.

Better news - I only saw one singe McCain sign, and NO McCain bumperstickers in this deeply red area.

I asked one of my republican friends to poll his cronies, and to a man they are all disgusted with the Palin pick.

[LiberalAndProud]

9. All the more good that you're passing on the word then.

I did flashback to the primaries though, when Barack asked a supporter, "Why are you whispering?"

'disgusted with the Palin pick': I noticed a missing McCain sign on a highly-visible corner disappear after the Palin pick. I'm befuddled by the post-convention polls, because I sure don't see the Palin energy working around here.

[flamingdem]

3. Thanks. Please keep reporting. My family is out there canvassing in that area

and I know they really need volunteers. Florida is so important!

[Kdillard]

5. Thanks for all your effort. I very much hope that the people

doubting Florida will turn out to be wrong.

[Frances]

7. Thanks for your hard work

My brother lives in the panhandle of Florida. He has always voted Repub, but because he likes his former boss, an African American Republican who supports Obama, my brother is considering Obama. I will be so happy if he does vote Obama.

[stillcool]

8. Yes!!!

It is a lot prettier out there than it is in here, isn't it?

[JohnnyCougar]

10. I knocked on 100 doors today in South Lakeland.

A lot of people not talking or not home, but aside from about 7 Obama supporters, I found about 4 people truly undecided and one leaning McCain. I think I really connected with all of them, and the leaning McCain one started to talk about how he has time to change his mind as we ended our conversation.

One lady said she was sick of the lies from both candidates, and that both of them were too rich and didn't understand the needs of the poor. I reminded her that Obama was raised by a single mother and that at one point, they were on food stamps. She said "yeah, I would expect Obama to understand the poor more than McCain." We left on a good note, and I handed her the literature. She was in her 70s, and she was concerned about who would be best for seniors, as well. I also noticed she had a "Support Education" license plate on her car, so I circled "Education" as one of her topics of interest as I was walking away. She will now be getting micro-targeted mailings about these two issues.

Two people were completely undecided, but didn't want to talk further, so I just handed them the literature. There was another undecided Democrat that had a USMC flag up. I was a little scared at first that he would be one of those conservative, central Florida Democrats, but he was really receptive. His complaint was that no one was talking about the economy enough. I told him that Obama would be in the closing days. I also gave him a flyer for US House candidate Doug Tudor. I told him I saw his Marine Corps flag, and that he might be interested in Tudor since Doug had been in the Navy for 20 years. He seemed pleased that someone was talking about the military. He is now going to get a mailing about Obama's plan for jobs and the economy.

Again, these were all independents, no party, or registered Democrats that haven't been voting much lately. I even had my field organizer include unregistered people on my list. I didn't get any new registrations, though.

[Coexist]

11. great work! you are seeing what I am seeing - a larger percentage for Obama

[usregimechange]

12. Florida is blue because of you (and others like you), damn good job!

[Hope And Change]

13. Thank you FLDem5 for all the great work you doing my friend.Keep the good work.K & R!

[ThatsMyBarack]

14. Polls aren't "real votes", are they?

You've obviously found out the TRUTH! Good job! :patriot: :yourock:

[Coexist]

21. and polls aren't newly registered, haven't voted for awhile, etc.

[saltpoint]

15. I like it. Thanks for the hard work and encouraging assesment of

our chances in Florida. :thumbsup: :dem: :hi:

[Coexist]

17. Old Crusoe - the last 4 polls had us tied and one outlier had us down

and all of a sudden we are losing Florida big??

A republican friend of mine was just contacted by phone - they are working on contacting Republicans for support, which means they aren't reaching out to Indys and NPs. Why do they have to reach out to their base first? Because they have to make sure their own wil vote for them before they can work on others. How is that a good sign for them?

[1776Forever]

16. We just moved from Florida - There are few good jobs left there & taxes & insurance skyrocketing!

We just couldn't make it there. We are both in our early 60's. I lived there for 20 years but after my 38 year-old son developed MS with no insurance we spent most of our savings on him to keep him going because he had no minor children so no help from the government at all. We did find about 2 years later that there were "faith-based" organizations, that could have helped us, who get money from the government but we weren't told about these when we went for help for him from the Florida Adult & Children Services. So much for support for the least of these! We are doing OK now but will have to file bankruptcy soon. It has NOT been a good 4 years for us but we will make it. I pray for Obama to win everyday! Thank you for all your are doing!

Go Obama!

[The Backlash Cometh]

18. Job well done. I tip my hat off to you.

[Cha]

19. You know what the really hard work is..thanks

FloridaDem!

Rec'd!

[President Decider]

20. K&R for the Florida Obama Ground Team ..... YOU ROCK!

[MamaDem]

22. Ground team here is outstanding. It's turning blue in Central FL nt

[graywarrior]

23. Good for you!

When you canvass, you really find out what people are thinking. I love canvassing more than anything else I do as a volunteer for Obama.

I notice that the republican campaign office in my town is lackluster. Our office is open from 9 am to 9 pm seven days a week. Their office is closed weekends and locked up tight after 6. I don't know if they figure the election will be stolen by McCain so WTF or they just figure they're gonna lose.

[Moloch]

24. I've noticed that, too...

while canvassing in Polk County. Obama supporters are excited and energized while McCain supporters tend to only be retirees.

[Coexist]

25. how does it look there?

are you doing Dems, or Indys and NPs?

Don't give me exact numbers, but how does it look?