Tuesday, September 21, 2004

The media have it wrong about voter apathy I went canvassing in New Hampshire this past weekend with ACT (America Coming Together), which is a coalition of labor, environmental, women’s and other progressive groups all dedicated to the effort to turn out the largest number of democratic voters in history.   Sept. 18th was designated a day to canvass to get more women out to vote, and health care was the major issue.  More than 300 volunteers gathered in Manchester NH, and there was a kick off rally with John Sweeney, Pres. Of AFL-CIO,  Ellen Malcolm, president of ACT and founder of Emily’s list, and Larry Fahn, Pres. of the Sierra Club.   After the pep talk, we paired up and went canvassing among “undecided” voters, who were primarily those not enrolled as either democrat or republican.   If you have ever canvassed, which I have now done about five or six times this year,  you are given a list of specific names and addresses, and your job is to talk to as many as possible.  Most are not home, often people are too busy, but in each day I have done this, there are usually two or three good conversations.    Saturday, what struck me was that there are no “undecided” voters.  We were supposed to ask about which issues were important to the person, and then to engage them on that issue and how Kerry represented things that were important to them.  We were supposed to identify and engage people who were undecided, and record the others who were leaning toward Kerry for get out the vote efforts later..   I found, among the people I talked to (about 6 or 8 in two hours) was that there was a high interest in the election.  I saw no apathy or sense that it does not matter.  I was working a lower middle class neighborhood, with both union members, and the occasional NRA sticker.   The union people were solidly for Kerry—they almost took it as a given.    The one person who may have been persuadable leaning for Bush was a young contractor, who said that for him personally, business was very good and the economy was getting better.  His issue was security, and he seemed to feel that Bush was a more steady hand than Kerry—but he felt there was a real mess in Iraq, and didn’t know what we would do about Iran and North Korea.   I think the great under reported story of this election is the intense interest, and the potential for a resounding decision one way or the other. I found almost no one resentful of my knock on their door.   I am not certain of a Kerry victory—although I have been feeling better lately.  Bush’s support feels hollow, like people are waiting to be convinced otherwise, but just haven’t yet.  It makes me feel that there could be a decisive swing away from Bush given the right set of circumstances.   Remember the phrase “riding the tiger”.  Well I feel the electorate is like a tiger, casting about, ready to pounce.  So far, Bush has managed to stay on top, but one slip, and watch out.  He’ll be devoured so fast it makes your head spin.  The feeling from that day in NH is of the enthusiasm of the volunteers at ACT (virtually all of whom were from out of state) and the tiger like intensity of the general voters—casting about, not knowing which way to turn—but definitely not undecided. 12:55:29 AM   comment []

© Copyright 2004 Toby Sackton. Last update: 10/1/2004; 4:52:43 PM.