I'd asked one of our blog readers to check in while he was away volunteering for the week to help get the vote out in PA. Here are some excerpts from his report:
Hi John -
As promised, I'm writing to you from a week of volunteering for the Kerry campaign in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
I live in New York State (about 2 hours north of NYC), but grew up in Pa. I still have relatives here so it was fairly easy coordinating this time. I'm staying with a sibling in the area. I can't tell you how happy I am I did this.
First, let me say that the Pa Democrats are so organized, it's been
impressive every day I've come in to volunteer. This is the website of the group I'm volunteering with http://www.pavictory04.com/. They are organized and extremely focused on specific ways to make sure Kerry wins Pennsylvania big on Tuesday.
The buzz in the office is so high. People are really energized and
hopeful. That alone would've been worth this trip, but having had an opportunity to help out has made this week's outcome beyond what I had ever imagined. I really feel a part of the Pennsylvania campaign.
The locals papers are split. One endorsed Kerry (Allentown) and one
endorsed Bush (Easton/Bethlehem). I'm only reading the Allentown paper (because it's delivered to my host's address each morning). That paper, The Morning Call has been doing a great job covering the visits by the politicians, the local and national races and had an excellent endorsement of Kerry in their Sunday section last weekend. In 2000, they endorsed Bush, so their endorsement of Kerry this time was BIG.
Before arriving I wondered just how important my coming here might prove. Well, since I've been here, this is a list of the people who've campaigned in and around Allentown (this week):
John Kerry
Bill Clinton
John Edwards
Teresa Heinz Kerry
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Howard Dean
George W. Bush
Valerie Harper/Rob Reiner/Carole King and Ed Rendell (governor of Pa.)
Michael Moore
Rudy Giuliani
and Dick Cheney tomorrow.
The fact that both parties are focusing so much attention on eastern
Pennsylvania and specifically the area north of Philadelphia reinforces my belief that everything from the heavy hitters down to people like me volunteering their time the week before the election is important.
I know I went on and on here, John, so you may not want to share everything I said in your column, but please make sure your readers understand that the vibe here in Allentown is positive and hopeful... we are going to win.
I really believe people will go into the polls on Tuesday and vote their gut. I think they are angry and sick of the lies and the misuse of their money in regards to Iraq and the general US economy. I believe Kerry will win big enough that this will not have to be handed over to the courts.
