Day One

So, I show up at Edwards HQ in downtown Iowa City about 9am. Introduce myself. A college-age woman named Nancy says, "Oh, have you been in contact with Ruth?"

"Nah. A couple people at the national office, but I just thought I'd show up."

"Where you from?"

"Oakland. California"

"Ooooh. Wow."

And we were off. At first they asked me to phone bank, but I requested going door to door. The phone sucks. How annoying and impersonal are people calling on the phone? Especially to these Iowans who've been inundated for over a year?
I figure I'm at my best smiling at the front door. People can still be rude to you, but the fact that you're traipsing around their neighborhood in the freezing cold probably earns you at least a momentary audience.

I got sent to another office about a mile away to meet Robin. According to Nancy, I'd know it was him because he was one of the only Indian guys in Iowa City. I found Robin in a tiny plumber's office that had been donated for the campaigns use. (Obviously a fervent democrat, this female plumber had half-naked pictures of JFK Jr. on the wall. Dude worked out!)

Robin was way cool. 26 years old from LA. Been in Iowa a month. Unpaid. Left his job in LA for the cause. We chatted briefly, he handed me a packet with directions to a neighborhood, a google map with little flags for each house to visit, and additional sheets with each household listed along with data of each voter.

It should be noted that, at this point in the process, the campaign is in GOTC mode. (Get Out to Caucus) Basically, we're sent to make sure people that support us or might support us make it to their caucus on Thursday. That's a big emphasis "Thursday." After a year of crap, it's finally over THURSDAY. We also want to make sure people know where their caucus location is.

Anyhow, I made it over the the neighborhood on Iowa City's lower east side. Working to middle class neighborhood. I was pretty nervous to knock on my first door, so I set about procrastinating. I figured I better go find the caucus site, so I used made my way over to the local elementary school. I drove back to my first house, sat in the car, looked over the formalized "message" I was supposed to deliver, listened to a song on Air One Radio--more of that later. Finally, I had been enough of a weeny. I marched across the street to a duplex, knocked on the door. It was the perfect home to start with. A young couple with loud dogs. They said "Oh, yeah, we're all about Edwards!" while holding back the doggies. I said, "Oh cool, you know where you're caucusing?" They said yeah, and I wished them well and went on my way. Success!

I made my way all over the neighborhood, up and down cul-de-sacs, looking for house numbers. I felt like an intruder. I felt like everyone who drove by and saw me with all my bling thought, "Oh GOD, there's some campaign person. Ugh." Of course, I was universally well received, even if people didn't want to engage, they said no nicely; I said have a great day, and I was off.

Couple funny things, once in a while, people invited me in. Normally, just into the entryway, but it's much warmer there. I had one middle-aged couple early on who invited me in and said, "Why not Biden and Dodd? What's wrong with them?" I replied, "Well, nothing, except they haven't gotten any traction. Frankly, if I could caucus, I would probably go with them and then drop down to Edwards." They were shocked, but entertained. They told me not to let the Edwards people catch me saying that.

I don't know if I really would caucus for Dodd, (I like him over Biden.) but agreeing with the people you're talking to really helps establish rapport. I find myself telling Obama supporters that my "dream ticket" has Obama as VP to Edwards.

Another family I visited had a rambunctious black poodle. She got away from the man, and just ran like a shot, a half mile up the street. He kept yelling her name to no avail. I kinda felt responsible and that I should go run after it. But I talked to the wife while the man did that.

The biggest thing was surprised to learn was how much Richardson support there is. I would say I see about as many Richardson signs as anything else, and people often bring him up. If that happens, I always try to slide in Edwards as their second choice. I think his "all troops out now" Iraq policy is the main reason.

I canvassed from about 10-3. Then dropped by and gave Robin the stuff. We got chatting and he was going on and on about why Edwards is gonna win, and Obama doesn't have as much support as he thinks. We debated the fall-out of the various possible finishing orders. I really enjoyed it. I just don't have any friends in Cali that would like to talk about such things ad nauseum. Fun!

Two other things. Both soporific, so please don't read on if you think better of me.

Funniest voter name of the day: "Tani Cac" Say it three times fast.

Funniest street of the day: "B'Jaysville" It runs right by Sigma Pi Fraternity. Hmmmm.

Oh, before I go, "Air One Radio." So, I'm scanning through the FM stations, and I hear some passable rock music and keep it there. After a few minutes, the DJ's come on and I realize they're doing a fundraising drive. They're non-stop with this, NPR-style. I realize they keep talking about the hope that the music from their station brings, which is funny cuz the music is fairly hard. When they mention that you can call in anytime to pray with them, I figure it out. I'm listening to a Christian Rock station in the middle of Iowa. Awesome!

Oh, the final final thing, I got a $5 parking ticket while getting coffee this morning cuz I didn't pay my meter. (For some reason, on a Saturday, in the freezing cold, with snow banked high, I just didn't even consider paying my meter.) But seriously? 5 bucks? Take that San Francisco! I'm moving here. No more 50 dollar tickets for bullshit streetcleaning.