Went to Grand Junction Colorado to volunteer for Obama this weekend. Amazing.

[Hamlette]

If you get a chance, go to your local office and volunteer or better yet, drive to a swing state (if you're in a deep red or blue state) and volunteer.

When we arrived at the Grand Junction Obama office Saturday morning there were about 100 volunteers. The local/organizing staff was amazing. It appeared at first to be disorganized and confused but once I stood by and watched I realized it was just BUSY! Each person had a different job and kept doing it all day long!

I knocked on nearly 100 doors, many Obama supporters but some neighborhoods were a tough sell for us. Very conservative. It seemed the poorer the neighborhood, the more conservative. Makes you want to cry considering how badly the GOP has screwed those people. And how hate filled some of them are.

Ran in to 2 over racists (there were 5 of us knocking on doors so that's 2 out of maybe 400) but it was still shocking. A few undecideds who were generally interested in talking about the candidates and admitted they had not paid as much attention to the election as they should have. Lots of misinformation: "Obama will raise my taxes" "Obama will take away guns" "Obama supports gay marriage". (wish he did but this guy didn't so I could say no, he doesn't but he does support civil unions.)

(Hint for those of you canvassing this year: I got a much better response if I complimented them about their yard or house. "I love the color of your house, its so warm and friendly" or "You have the most beautiful butterfly bush out front" even if the house was pink and the bush in need of attention. Talking about how cute their dog was was easy since they ALL had dogs, or so it seemed. Anyway, after a lead in like that, more were willing to talk.)

Only a handful were outright rude. But it was well worth it to convince a few (I hope) and meet the wonderfully nice Obama supporters out there. We really are a wonderful "tribe".

[Ichingcarpenter]

1. I know Grand Junction real well, its normally is Republican Bush territory

Sounds encouraging if Grand Junction has 100 volunteers in one day for a town of that size.
I'm impressed. Thanks for your hard work and story.!!!!

Colorado is gonna go Blue this year I'm sure.

[Hamlette]

4. I heard that too but wasn't sure (what do I know?)

the last two "turfs" (part of a precinct) we walked were alarmingly red neck. The homes were modest and in need of repair, the yards were ill kept (not all mind you but most) but they had new, fancy, large trucks and sometimes boats in the driveway. Those turfs were not friendly and and few Obama supporters.

Being from Utah, I should have figured Grand Junction (just over the border) would be pretty red.

And yes, there were 100 volunteers but many were from Utah (we feel left out. It doesn't do any good to get out the vote in Utah.)

The most interesting thing to me was the number of young women volunteers from BYU, the Mormon university in Provo, Utah. My son who has done field organization in Utah said the BYU democrats kick butt and are far more involved, organized and willing to volunteer/work than any other college/university democrats in the state. If you're from Utah, that is shocking. Mormons are usually republican and usually the staunchest Mormons go to BYU.

I was very proud of them.

[az chela]

2. my sister lives in the junction.Hope you went to her house

[Motown_Johnny]

3. Pretty country out that way, I drove through G.J. a number of times

and I agree with the other post, it is Bush Country.

I lived in and around a ski resort (Vail) for about ten years and I can testify that most everyone who lives in the resort towns are much more progressive.


I think CO will go to Obama this year also.. and that should be enough to put him in the White House