First Day in New Hampshire (unedited version)

First day in New Hampshire doin’ a little direct voter contact for our native son and look who shows up to sit down at the phones. He’s using my husband’s line but don’t worry, we made sure they used plenty of lysol.

We entered the state on Rt 202 at Rindge and came up through the countryside. If yard signs told the story, Hillary and Ron Paul have this thing wrapped up, with Gravel close behind.

If our two or so hours of phone banking are any indication, almost no one has made up their minds. John Edwards is the top two of most people, at least the ones who would speak to me. Perhaps they’re being nice to the Edwards supporter on the telephone, but I don’t think Hillary and Obama have the support that pollsters attribute to them. Many people want to vote for someone “who has a chance.” They’re waiting for the Iowa results.

Now, I’ve posted the above and the very final paragraphs below the fold at BlueNC but because Scrutiny Hooligans is the blog home of my heart I’ll write below what I didn’t tell the BlueNC folk (It’ll be our secret.)

Okay, either I’m getting old or presidential campaign staff haven’t graduated from high school.

Now, I’m not a big phone banker. I like calling for volunteers. They either sign up to help or they don’t. And in the last week of a campaign I’ve done zillions of GOTV calls (Get Out The Vote) but that’s calling people who have already said they support our candidate.

My issue: I have a hard time calling voters who are undecided because some of them, just a few of them get mad. And they are really mad. I want to support my candidate. But I don’t like it when people are mad at me.

But this is a primary. By the time I ever get to vote in a primary, the election is over. So, calling the people of Iowa or New Hampshire or South Carolina is the only way I have to influence the selection of my party’s candidate. So, I went to New Hampshire knowing I would have to deal with my reluctance to expose myself (again) to getting yelled at by perfect strangers. For two solid weeks. On my Christmas vacation.

Part of our phone script was to say why we supported the Senator and then to ask what issues were of concern to them in relation to choosing a primary candidate. In my first few phone calls, one man said, “I’ve got an issue. I’ve got an issue about being harassed by all these God damned phone calls.” Okay, well there goes my phone-banking New Hampshire cherry. I said, “Sorry to bother you,” but the fact of the matter is, hello people: your vote always counts and mine never does.

Huff called a woman who’d received seven calls that night. I had a few who said they weren’t going to vote for anyone who calls them too much. But people always say that. Apparently, the studies show they lie. A few people seemed angry that I was interrupting their dinners. Why did they pick up the phone? I don’t see how I can interrupt their dinner if they don’t let me.

Another man was glad to talk about the issue he found important: restoring our dignity as respected members of the global community. When I asked which candidate he felt could best do that, he was insulted. I don’t mind if they don’t want to tell me. But I do mind that they think it’s wrong for me to ask. Isn’t this America? Can’t I ask? Why is it wrong for a volunteer for a campaign to ask? I’m glad the vote is private and I have no problem that people might not want to talk to me. But I don’t understand why in America someone wants me to be ashamed to ask.

As to people who don’t want to be called by a campaign in general. Most campaigns won’t call anyone back who says they’ve decided for another candidate. Maybe there is some campaign out there that has the volunteers and time to harass people who say they are for an opponent but I’ve never worked on one. Best way to get rid of us is to tell everyone who calls that you strongly support someone else! (Shhhhh. That’s our secret.)

Overall, I talked to a lot of really interesting and interested people of all ages and philosophies. (I have to admit I prefer the conspiracy theorists, much like those who say it doesn’t matter who we elect. “It’s all over.”) Most of my calls were to people who hadn’t made up their minds and wanted to talk to someone.

And even with all my bitching, I’d have to say most people seem excited to be deciding the next president and take it quite seriously. It’s just the very few angry ones that make it hard to go back the next day and start all over again. And perhaps it’s good that it’s a hard thing to do. Perhaps it keeps the casual supporter from influencing the vote.

As you can imagine, I particularly appreciate the candidates who understand how important it is when their volunteers phone bank. It’s a donation far more valuable than money. Money can only buy robocalls and ads. It can’t buy real people of heart-felt conviction.

Unfortunately, I can’t upload the video I took of JRE’s speech to the volunteers. (This Apple PowerBook has no movie editing software and apparently Apple expects me to pay for it even though I can see that they now and in the distant past offered such software for free . . .) I’ll post it when I find a friendlier computer.

Meanwhile, you don’t need to schleck all the way to New Hampshire if you’re inclined to support the Senator in this primary. Here’s a link for lists to call the snowy, icy, and moosey north from the comfort (and warmth) of your North Carolina home.