Missouri did not turn blue this week. But we got close. This does not diminish the joy of this victory one little bit. I safely speak for all the volunteers that I met and got to know during the long hours of the last couple of months. We were working for a President of the "United" States of America, not the State of Missouri. That is one of the greatest promises of this moment. That we can come together to answer the challenges that lie before us.
Many times over the past 10 months a constant criticism of President elect Obama has been that he hasn't done anything of merit. That he is able to give a good speech but what else. I can testify first hand what an inspirational leader can achieve. In a run down storefront in a small University town in the middle of the deep red ocean here in Missouri he brought people together for the common good, to continue on the path to make this a "more perfect union".
In that room on this election day volunteers from all around the country converged for a singular purpose. As a result of this combined effort by 5:00 pm on election day we had made over 10,000 phone calls to voters. Over 850 people had been out on the streets knocking on doors and encouraging people to get to the polls. We provided over 40 rides to the polls, many times with 2 - 3 voters per ride totally about 100 additional voters, voting due to rides. Many, many of these rides resulted from a knock on a door or a well timed phone call. I am guessing one quarter of the rides were generated by such voter contact all the way up until 5:30 - 6:00.
This was a labor intensive effort. But truly a "Labor of love." The end result may not have been an electoral victory in the state of Missouri. It was definitely a victory for democracy. By comparison to the last two Presidential elections.
Voter Turnout
2000 - 56%,
2004 - 67.5%
2008 - 83.65%.
In 2004 Kerry lost Boone County Missouri by 158 votes.
In 2008 Obama won Boone County Missouri by 10,157.
The watch party was a thrill. A group celebration and a collective sigh. The sentiment that was passed around from volunteer to volunteer was that of "Thank You". This has been a wonderful chapter of my life. I wish I had to writing ability to express what I have experienced in a way that could be understood. I just wanted to say "Thank You" to all out there who invested themselves in "perfecting" this democracy and the United States.
When I woke up on Wednesday Nov. 5. It was a sunny day unusually warm and pleasant for November here in Mid-Missouri. It was fitting way to start off the day after a historic night. The symbolism came to me immediately of a fresh new beginning.
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3 comments:
What a cool experience you have had throughout the campaign. You, and thousands like, you are the reason for the success and the country is going to be a better place because of it. Thank you for everything you gave to the campaign!
Although Missouri didn't turn blue, the statistics are incredible! Great work!
I hope you don't have too much of a letdown now that it is all over...
Let down are you kidding. I have got a house to clean. A fridge to stock. Plus I have promised the little man we would color tonight until we get tired.
Well good to hear :-) Have fun coloring!
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