Our night at the Va. State Fair

[underpants]

I will keep this as short as possible but will respond to any questions you might have.

So my wife and I volunteered to work the Va. Dems booth at the state fair. I had read here on DU that I should expect to see a lot of Bush stickers, I did.

Our booth was/is in the big exposition hall-mostly product demonstrations and Dale Earnhardt's image on just about anything you can imagine. We were there, the fundies (2 booths) were there, the "Right to human life'rs were there, the Libertarians (Badnarik IS on the Va. ballot) were there, and the matching blonde Repub girls were there. On a smoke break I had a discussion with one of the Libertarians (really nice guy)-he reads DU from time to time but said that he can't stomach the Freepers.

The Repubs and the Libertarians (especially the Repubs) had choice booth locations. Ours was stuck over on a far wall beside the vacuum and window salesmen.

The couple we worked the booth with were Cubans who came here in 1960 a year after the revolution. A chemist (worked for a MAJOR aluminium company that might be located in Richmond) and his wife of 49 years. Great couple. I could write pages of what he told me and she told my wife (they REALLY bonded and exchanged phone numbers) but suffice it to say that they have lived in a dictatorship and they see another coming. The were Clark supporters to start with but they see Bush as another Hitler. Again I could go on and on but moving on....

We had a lot of people who wanted stickers, bought bumper stickers, and window signs. The ladies over at the Great AMerican Candies booth came over to get stuff, wear stickers, and hand them out-they had a great location and 3 groups of people came looking for us. They made us a FREE box of their AWESOME hand made chocolates.

Well we did have the smarta**es though most people just said "No thanks" and kept moving. One guy who over his shoulder said "No I didn't wear my flipflops" and the three uh.... well girls (two with strollers and one VERY pregnant)who laughed and said "Good Luck" in a very sarcastic way giggle giggle giggle are going to be my sweetest revenge when Kerry wins and especially if he takes Virginia (OH my GAWD those people at the fair were right....did you vote...uh no I thought it was wrapped up..)

The funniest part was walking by two guys working on the Fair crew (black guys) who were surveying the crowd (I was passing behind them) and one turned to the other and said "White trash OUT IN FORCE!" I laughed and the guy turned around and said "Oh not you man you are alright". And then we continue laughing, I shook his hand and told him to come over to the booth and get some stuff-he did.

[fudge stripe cookays]

1. Good work my dear Mr. Pants!

Looks like you made some new friends! I also have a friend whose family escaped from Cuba. She was 6. Her family has fortunately started to come around, since they had voted Repub for a long time. Not anymore. They realize what could be coming.

I used to live in Viginia, when I was a wee Fudge. In Hampton. My dad was stationed at Langley.

Thanks for all you're doing to make the Dominion blue!
FSC

[underpants]

2. This couple were Republicans until 1992

They had seen enough and switched.

I "grew up" (moved there at age 12)in Yourk County. :hi:

[flpoljunkie]

3. Thanks for the report. Loved the last paragraph!

[underpants]

4. Did I mention buying a slice of pizza from a guy with a swastika tattoo?

Looked to have done time.

You couldn't miss it either.

[Frances]

5. Me too

So glad that you helped out. Thanks.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. I thought there was a chance we could win Virginia, but then I

looked at the population stats, which show that not even half the state lives in cities.
Metro DC is about 2 million people and richmond 1 million, but the entire state is over 7 million and only 20% black.

http://www3.ccps.virginia.edu/demographics/estimates/city-co/2003estimates.xls

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/51000.html

[underpants]

7. Ah yes but you are missing a couple of things

First of all the census link says 19.6% black :shrug:

Second you are discounting the heavily Dem Roanoke area (understandable as Roanoke seems to be its own state pretty much)

Hampton Roads -Okay Va. Beach votes heavy Republican but the rest of Tidewater voted for Mark Warner pretty heavily.

SW Viringia has actually been paid attention to by the Dems a BIG win area for Warner as well.

We will see but I think it will be razor tight.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

9. I agree it could be close

but getting a majority will be a huge task. There's all the difference between winning and just being competitive.

[underpants]

10. Yes I know

I just think that a lot of people around here think it is over in Va. which is good for us---ssshh only the really faithful will show up to vote and that means US!

[spooky3]

8. Great report, thanks!