Over a hundred volunteers showed up in Raleigh, NC to man phone banks

[KoKo]

Canvass, or register voters today. The DNC operatives were surprised saying that they expected to have "one row of volunteers" show up on this "beautiful sunny, Sunday afternoon in Raleigh."

A hundred people today and there were at least 70 at only one of three "Dem Volunteer Training Sessions" that I attended Thursday night here in Raleigh.

We watched a short tape of Kerry telling us that "This Election depends more on You than on Me!"

We broke up into three groups of interest for volunteers: Phone Bank, Street Canvassing, and Voter Registration.

It was a solemn group. But those "hundred" are multiplied from what I've seen probably by five.... And these are folks who are "ABB" more than Kerry supporters...ABB...

But, I would like to know that Kerry knows we are there...I don't think he does...his video clip was cold and removed from us...who are supposed to "lift the heavy weight."

I'll do it...and so will all the rest of us...but will he owe us anything in the end??? Will he?

[patricia92243]

1. Like Ann Richars of Texas said "if we vote, we will win".

[faithnotgreed]

2. sounded great until that last sentence. could you please explain

what you meant by a solemn group

thanks

[KoKo]

4. There isn't enthusiastic support for Kerry/Edwards. It's a grim group who

want Bush out. It's an "ABB" (anybody but Bush atmosphere) Folks who see beyond Bush, but don't have a "joy in their heart for Kerry/Edwards."

It was grim. And so was the training group I attended Thursday night.

There's no joy for Kerry. It's a determination that we MUST GET BUSH OUT...but we are "unsure of the replacement."

My and my husband's honest observation...

[faithnotgreed]

5. ok. thank you for explaining. it does seem that abb is making

a comeback unfortunately. i hope kerry will get out there soon and talk to the country via press conference or extensive interview

people are just waiting to vote bush out and need an adult to talk to them about what the plans are. i know kerry can do this and i sure wish he would,

[Sick_of_Rethuggery]

8. With all due respect,

what would get you excited about a candidate?

Here is Kerry: elite preppie who volunteered to serve his country when he absolutely did not have to, came back and steered the anti-war movement in a more constructive direction giving it legitimacy and respect which may well have ended the war and saved countless jobs, excelled in every job that he has held thereafter (look up his record, dont listen to the media, it is splendid, I tell you: and I supported Gore and Dean before I gave him a look) and in my opinion, ran one of the most memorable conventions ever, with his speech, by its sheer eloquence, artful critique of the incumbent pResident (the gem: "wouldn't it be nice to have a President who believes in science?") and a superbly confident demeanor that speaks volumes for his future courage under fire qualities (if his past is not an indicator to you).

Seriously, what does it take to get you all excited? Sure there are things about him that I wish he had done differently (the IWR), but I accept his explanation because I gained confidence in him on the other major issues (the environment and women's rights to just name two). If this is also your major concern with him, I can definitely try to present his side to you...

In my opinion, it is this completely irrational Democratic/Left tendency to always wish for the moon that gives the Republicans their power: they are rah-rah about a duffer who failed his way up spectacularly and we are not excited about a spectacular candidate.

Please elaborate on who *would* excite you and why? (I mean no disrespect, but I *am* a Professor and I believe in forming opinions that are informed and always questioning that which I dont understand -- and I am genuinely puzzled about this mantra on the Democratic side "lesser of two evils" -- and I really really cannot understand dis-enthusiasm for the terrific candidates that the Democratic primaries do seem to produce...)

[Sick_of_Rethuggery]

12. Oops, discovered error after edit period....

That should read "saved countless lives" not jobs...

[KoKo]

13. Carter, Clinton and Gore "excited me"...since you asked...they really

had alot to say..but when down the tubes because they couldn't fight back against the Repug machine which has existed throughout the "Cold war" and beyond...

Read Howard Zinn's "History of America" and particularly his 20th Century and just Google on PNAC and Kissinger. Then you will understand why no Democratic President can serve without being totally trashed in the eyes of the "average American." :shrug:

[PeaceProgProsp]

9. So, when Kerry & Edwards had that HUGE event a couple months

ago in NC, and over three hundred people showed up the day before to volunteer to work it, and 20,000 showed up for the event, you're saying all those North Carolinians did so with heavy hearts and doubt in their mind?

Are you sure that you weren't projecting your own bad feelings on the other volunteers? I find it so hard to believe that you'd get 350 people to show up to help a candidate and that a large % would show up with doubts. It just makes no sense. I think it's more likely that when you get that many people you're bound to get a minority with feelings like yours, and I also think people like you tend to talk to other people and your audience might find you so absurd, they're more likely to look at you and nod to get you to go away, rather than try to argue you into getting excited. Therefore, you get the misimpression from others that they share your opinion.

[JI7]

17. of course

"Are you sure that you weren't projecting your own bad feelings on the other volunteers?"

just check the person's other posts on kerry and you will get your answer. also the fact that everyone else who attended his events LOVED him and are excited and don't have the same opinions as this person.

[cheshire]

3. Smiling here, I love this kind os post, a real positive one.

[Hans Delbrook]

6. More good news

All right, I'm giving up my long time lurker status to post more good news.

I'm a Kerry volunteer in Bucks County PA. For the sake of perspective, you should know that no Democrat has ever won PA without winning Bucks County. We had a organizing rally for volunteers to be precinct captains and the like today.

We were volunteering to RUN phone banks, street canvassing and voter registration drives. So we are really the tip of the iceberg as there are more people who will work with us when we are actually doing these things. The campaign people were blown away when almost 350 people showed up; they've never seen anything like it before.

Also I talked with one of those people and she was originally a Dean worker in Iowa and she kept telling people that Kerry was the best and smartest candidate/campaigner she had ever seen. She said Dean people especially can tell you that polls 2 months out are meaningless and that Kerry really knows what he's doing.

[blue neen]

11. Thanks for that good news and

Welcome to DU.

[newyawker99]

19. Hi FAWATSON!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[KoKo]

7. NC is Definitely "In Play" it is......and we Dems should be very happy

about this...but not illusioned to think that "our leader" is what we hoped for...

[PeaceProgProsp]

10. Right. I believe you. (Not.)

So, when Kerry & Edwards had that HUGE event a couple months ago in NC, and over three hundred people showed up the day before to volunteer to work it, and 20,000 showed up for the event, you're saying all those North Carolinians did so with heavy hearts and doubt in their mind?

Are you sure that you weren't projecting your own bad feelings on the other volunteers? I find it so hard to believe that you'd get 350 people to show up to help a candidate and that a large % would show up with doubts. It just makes no sense. I think it's more likely that when you get that many people you're bound to get a minority with feelings like yours, and I also think people like you tend to talk to other people and your audience might find you so absurd, they're more likely to look at you and nod to get you to go away, rather than try to argue you into getting excited. Therefore, you get the misimpression from others that they share your opinion.

[KoKo]

15. You are confusing "favorite son" enthusiasm with grassroots Dems in NC

who have been through the Civil Rights Movement (remember this is the South, here and there are folks in Dem Party who remembr when they worked to overthrow Segregation) and it wasn't so long ago.

And, that Edwards was NOT popular with the anti-Iraq Invasion Left wing of the Party and that Kucinich and Dean had the minds and hearts of the activist voters in NC and not just the young ones but the over 50 voters also (believe me on this...I've seen the donations) and you've got folks who were so pumped to overthrow Bush...but Kerry has been lacking and Edwards didn't listen to us.

But...we've gotten beyond that and are working for the Kerry/Edwards ticket..but only because it's what we are left with..

But we are fighters...and we know Bush MUST be OVERTHROWN!

[JI7]

18. oh, so you were only talking about your own little group

well, the others who go to see kerry and edwards matter also and are also important and do hard work. they worked hard for edwards to win the north carolina caucus. and kerry came in second in the state.

and the huge turnouts with large number of volunteers is happening across in the country in all states. so it's not just a "favorite son" thing.

[rookwood]

14. fawatson...

...i live in a "safe" kerry state, but would like to assist in pennsylvania. bucks county is relatively close.

whom should i contact re helping out with the bucks county effort?

let me know, when you catch a moment...

thanks and cheers :)

[Hans Delbrook]

16. Help in Bucks County

Rookwood,

As a matter of fact they told us today that they had been getting contacted by a lot of people from NJ and NY who wanted to help and now that we're "ready" they would start bringing them in. I'm sure they will be glad to hear from you.

Call the Bucks County PA Victory '04 main number <215-348-2140> and they should be able to hook you up with the right people. If you need a name - ask for Emily Hard.

Glad to have the help :)