From a blood-red county in newly-deep blue New Mexico.

[blonndee]

I have been so lost and isolated down here in this backwards part of New Mexico the last year and a half. Even during my time in Oklahoma, I never encountered such pervasive hatred, closed-mindedness, and fear of anything "different." Volunteering for the Obama campaign helped a great deal in many ways. I have learned a lot about the local Hispanic community, and I have made friends I never would have met otherwise. Door-knocking has been terrifying and exhilirating. I've had the door slammed in my face, and I've been invited in for dinner. I've encountered the most ignorant smears and the most intelligent discussions, and NOT from those whom most would expect.

My fears and worst suspicions about just how bad (and even sick) too many of our fellow Americans are have also been confirmed. I asked for yesterday off a long time ago because I knew a friend would be visiting, but also and especially because I knew that, no matter what happened, I did NOT want to be at work the day after November 4.

Obviously, I came to work today still smiling. I just can't help it. But I didn't dare mention or even hint at the huge thing that has happened. I carefully avoided any conversations about the election and people I knew would still be fuming and ranting about it.

At the end of the day, a coworker (who I recently learned is a closeted Dem) said to me, very matter-of-factly, "You know...the results are still coming in and they're still piling up for Obama." We shared a cautious-but-knowing smile and I risked it and said, "Man, I just hope it will get to 64 . That'll be 10 million more than voted for Bush in 2004." My coworker assured me that with all the absentee votes yet to be counted it would indeed get to 64, more than any other presidential candidate, and then said, "You know, people say that this shows that America will change. I say that this just shows that America HAS changed." We just smiled at each other and then I (ironically and sadly enough) looked around to make sure nobody else heard. I just hope this part of America will catch on to that change. I'm afraid it will be slow in coming.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. There was a map of the country in the NY Times today. Each state was broken down

into counties and were colored based on how much more Democratic they were than in 2004. NM was the deepest blue, and it was solid...

Here it is...
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/11/05/us/politics/20081104_ELECTION_RECAP.html

[Cha]

2. You poor thing, blonndee!

I have so many people to share my happiness with at my job.

But, I imagine the upside of being there in the RED county in the Blue state of New Mexico are the treasures you find like your co-worker closted Dem.

Thanks for getting out there on the streets turning New Mexico Blue. What a gorgegous state!

[blonndee]

5. Thanks! It is indeed a gem in the desert, so to speak,

to find those rare people. It's not enough to make this part of the state livable, unfortunately, and I will be leaving ASAP, but it does help keep me going for the time being. I feel for those who are stuck here.

[Cha]

6. Yay, you're

getting out!

[PM7nj]

3. You wouldn't happen to be in Curry County, would you?

I have family in Clovis. It's... very different.

[blonndee]

4. No, but I grew up in Curry county!

This county is even more "different."

[Celeborn Skywalker]

9. Lea?

If it's Lea, I have family there and it certainly is very conservative.

[Corgigal]

7. I can relate somewhat as I sit here in South Carolina

but at 11pm on Nov 4th, someone in my neighborhood was shooting off fireworks. I ran to my hubby and said do you hear that? He did and we smiled. It was nice to know what we weren't the only happy house in our subdivision. This is more of an amazing story that words could ever tell.

[leftofthedial]

8. where in NM?

[Indiana_Dem]

10. See my thread above yours. I'm in the same spot only in Indiana. nt