The numbers showing up at K/E rallies & at the local level to volunteer !

[Lex]

That's what is telling the story about who will win in November.

10,000 and 15,000 and more showing up at Kerry/Edwards rallies!

Local Dem headquarters, even here in a "red state," beseiged with volunteers, some of them first-time volunteers. I'm talking 3 to 5 times the number they usually get.

My city newspaper reported that the Board of Elections has received a surge in calls from voters 'making sure' they are still registered since they haven't voted in many years. (Believe me, these AREN'T voters for Smirk.)

2 months ago I went to a local club to watch a young friend of mine in a band (place was full of 20-somethings) and there was a kid in the back registering voters and the band's lead singer said "F*ck Bush--man, you gotta go register in the back and VOTE or you might find your ass in Iraq because of bringing back the draft!" Yes, they went to the back and registered to vote--I watched 'em.

Listen, don't let the staid, old national pollsters fool you. They're not even using cell phones in their polling? Whaaaaa ?

I know what I see and feel about this race--don't you see and feel the same thing?

[seabeyond]

1. love your story lex

thanks for sharing. i livein a bubble here. so i need to hear from people elsewhere

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

2. Plus all the first-time money contributers

When I went to my town's caucus in the primaries in March, it was something you could see with your own eyes. The Democratic party leaders were so excited because the whole high school cafeteria was filled with people and they knew it was the same in every town and city. They said every year, just a few people show up for the caucuses, but this year they had the hugest turn-out they had ever seen. They knew it meant an amazing turn-out for November.

[Road Scholar]

3. Thanks

We needed that.Very good Post. The du'ers need more cheerleaders like you.

[NMDemDist2]

4. i feel it, i see it, I'm stoked in Arizona n/t

[Joe Turner]

5. That is great news

What a telling difference in character. Kerry opens up his speeches to all, drawing 10s of thousands while Smirk, terrified that someone may say something challenging to him, only allows his party faithful to attend his speeches. Smirk was a COWARD in 1969 and remains a COWARD today.

By the way, one of the great under-reported story in this election is that Smirk has lost a good part of his base and the local grassroots republican support around the nation that were integral in 2000, are for the most part, unenergized...RNC rhetoric aside. It's true.

Polls cannot capture this development and IMO Smirk is going to have a rude awakening come Nov 2 when his "get out the vote" effort falls way short of projections.

[wildeyed]

6. Love the band story.

And yes, I feel it. I am a first time volunteer this year. I have fallen in with a group of other first timer/e-activist types. So far we have done 5 tabling events averaging 75 dem registrations per event. And we do not even show up on the radar of the regular campaign/dem organizers since we are indy.

I have talked to many volunteers who are frustrated with the local organizations. They are not getting calls back, etc from the organizers b/c the organizations are so inundated with volunteers.

Here is my advice. Don't wait for a call back to get active. Just do something. Go to your local Board of Elections, pick up some forms and start registering. There are tons of resources on the web that will tell you how to get started. It is not hard. It is lots of fun. I know, I did it.

Or print up a bunch of anti-draft/pro-kerry flyers and pass them out at your local college. Time is a-wasting and John Kerry needs our help!!!!

[RobertDevereaux]

7. Yes, we had 300-400 in Fort Collins, CO, last Thursday...

...many for the first time. And we hit the precincts this weekend.

Astonishing, the level of rage and commitment!

[cheshire]

8. Yes and it feel strong that folks are not going to take this crap anymore.

[ClassWarrior]

9. I see it every day, Lex.

Several days ago, someone here posted a reflection on Truman's spectacular win - despite what the "chattering classes" were all saying about Dewey being the next president. The picture of Truman, on the day after the election, holding the newspaper with the headline, "Dewey Wins!" is a classic.

We're gonna win. So let's get out there and win EVEN BIGGER!!