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biophile

(1,386 posts)
Mon Nov 4, 2024, 05:34 PM Nov 2024

Report from Berks County PA

Berks County is usually reliably red with the exception of the Reading City area proper and some blue suburban districts. I went to the Berks Democratic office to get my poll observer documents and it was mobbed! People coming and going - canvassers, people getting signs, people getting poll observer certificates, etc. Always at least 20-25 cars in the parking lot. Poll watchers coming in from all over - NY, Seattle (!) and DC! Buses across the street with people from other areas volunteering. Flags and banners and signs all over!
Out of curiosity, I drove to the Republican county office. Looked deserted- two cars, a few puny signs. No one left or entered while I sat there a few minutes to watch. Now, Trump purportedly has his own office in Reading which might have more activity. But that just goes to show that the Republican Party is just about Trump. The contrast between the two offices was dramatically different. I think it bodes well for our team! Go Kamala!

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Report from Berks County PA (Original Post) biophile Nov 2024 OP
That is so heartening! ananda Nov 2024 #1
I think so too biophile Nov 2024 #4
Love it! Easterncedar Nov 2024 #2
Thank you - I'm cautiously optimistic. biophile Nov 2024 #5
Thank you for the report! nt spooky3 Nov 2024 #3
Fingers crossed 🤞 biophile Nov 2024 #6
There were a lot of empty seats in his rally in Reading. lees1975 Nov 2024 #7
It might not be as good a sign as I hope but you are right biophile Nov 2024 #8
My husband went to Oley HS AwakeAtLast Nov 2024 #9
Oley Valley is probably one of the primarily red areas biophile Nov 2024 #10
I grew up in Lebanon County next door to Berks. yellowcanine Nov 2024 #11
Very red indeed! biophile Nov 2024 #12
Lebanon, Lancaster and Reading have a fair number of Puerto Ricans though - we will see how that plays out. yellowcanine Nov 2024 #13

biophile

(1,386 posts)
4. I think so too
Mon Nov 4, 2024, 06:06 PM
Nov 2024

I’m sure the Trump office was active though. Probably everyone was there because the Republican Party is the Trump party. 😏

biophile

(1,386 posts)
5. Thank you - I'm cautiously optimistic.
Mon Nov 4, 2024, 06:09 PM
Nov 2024

As mentioned, there is a Trump office separate from the Republican Party office. I didn’t drive by that so there could still be a lot of energy there. However, I don’t see why they wouldn’t have activity at both, it’s an important election for all offices not just president.

biophile

(1,386 posts)
6. Fingers crossed 🤞
Mon Nov 4, 2024, 06:12 PM
Nov 2024

Thank you - I guess it’s possible that they have transferred all activity to the Reading Trump office but most of his supporters won’t go into the city, because “illegals” and Hispanics and “crime” 🙄
So I’m surprised they would abandon the suburban office 😏

lees1975

(7,017 posts)
7. There were a lot of empty seats in his rally in Reading.
Mon Nov 4, 2024, 06:17 PM
Nov 2024

And what's amazing to me is that when a rally for Harris is announced anywhere in Pennsylvania, the tickets go like wildfire.

But it's a dead heat, ya know.

biophile

(1,386 posts)
8. It might not be as good a sign as I hope but you are right
Mon Nov 4, 2024, 07:05 PM
Nov 2024

We definitely have the momentum!

AwakeAtLast

(14,315 posts)
9. My husband went to Oley HS
Tue Nov 5, 2024, 04:36 AM
Nov 2024

He misses that area, too bad we can't afford to move there.

When we visit, we get our fill at Mike's Sandwich Shop.

biophile

(1,386 posts)
10. Oley Valley is probably one of the primarily red areas
Tue Nov 5, 2024, 07:19 AM
Nov 2024

Their school board went to the Moms for Liberty last election, I think. I’ve never been to Mikes - will have to check it out!! Thank you! ☺️

yellowcanine

(36,773 posts)
11. I grew up in Lebanon County next door to Berks.
Tue Nov 5, 2024, 07:31 AM
Nov 2024

Very red. In 2016 Lebanon County reported their results last so I knew we were screwed.

biophile

(1,386 posts)
12. Very red indeed!
Tue Nov 5, 2024, 11:32 AM
Nov 2024

I worked at the Lebanon VA in 2016 - 98% of my co-workers were Trumpers. I never felt confident about Clinton because of that despite the polls. And it’s easy to see why they might have thought 2020 was stolen since they live in that bubble. I tried to tell one lady that more people live in West Philadelphia than in all of Lebanon county but they just cannot wrap their MAGA brains around that. 🙄

yellowcanine

(36,773 posts)
13. Lebanon, Lancaster and Reading have a fair number of Puerto Ricans though - we will see how that plays out.
Tue Nov 5, 2024, 11:56 AM
Nov 2024

May help to hold down the Trump margins in those three counties.

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