I struck out at getting votes for Obama.

[angrycarpenter]

During this election season my friends and co-workers have no doubt who I support in the upcoming election.

I have debunked all of the right-wing smears that most of them seem to know my rote. I took every step I can come up with to get at least one Obama vote this year, alas it was all for nought.

A co-worker who was a red blooded republican disillusioned by the disaster that is GWB is now saying they are both liars and if he votes it will be Libertarian. Strike one.

The other co-worker is a convicted felon but declined trying to get his rights back saying "I don't care about nothing but fishing and f---ing". Foul ball

Another neighborhood character said point blank that there was no way that he would ever vote for a black man. Strike two.

Another friend who a couple of months ago had jokingly called Obama a muslim came over the other day. He had watched the town hall debate. McCain had him scared. He said that he was going out to register and vote for Obama. This was a few days after the deadline. Strike three.

I live in a ignorant little corner of Florida's gulf coast. I work and come home and that's about it. I know a few people who are voting Obama but most are for McCain because Obama is black, there I said it. To these people that is a good, valid reason to vote against Obama.

Sometimes I really hate living in the south. Every time I have ever voted Florida went republican. I would turn a backflip with joy if just once Florida went democrat and my vote counted for something. But with Floridians like these it will be an uphill battle. Beware the Bradley effect, I think it is in operation here.

[tsuki]

1. I live in NW FL and I count it a good day when I can get someone

to vote for Bob Barr!

So, don't be down.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Don't feel too bad

After all, you got one person to vote Libertarian, which means one less vote to McCain. Anyone around here who hasn't made up their mind isn't going to vote for a black man, so I'm trying my best to convince them to vote for Bob Barr.

[tblue]

14. Perfect. Bob Barr.

Or Ron Paul. Isn't he running in some states?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

31. Some people are writing him in

Write ins aren't allowed in my state, hence the Bob Barr suggestion. On second thought, though, perhaps it would be better for our candidates down ticket if they DID write in Paul and have their ballot tossed.

[frogcycle]

3. you live in a shithole

sorry to be so blunt, but, well, there it is.

[angrycarpenter]

15. I wouldn't go that far.

I live in a place where one of the last unspoiled rivers flows in to a scenic bay with a barrier island with 22 miles of beautiful white sand beach. The fishing is outstanding and Eagles come here to raise their young. You can see both sunrise and sunset over the water. I love it here and apart from the ignorant hillbillies it is not a bad place to live.

[frogcycle]

26. I stand corrected

sounds great

but it is infested with cockaroaches

:rofl:

[sandnsea]

4. I just wrapped up my neighborhood voter reg

I wanted to make sure that everybody in my immediate vicinity was at least regitered, so today I hit all the people who had move in recently.

All registered.

Oregon is easily going to go for Obama.

I feel rather useless too.

:shrug:

[ddeclue]

16. REMOTE PHONE BANK INTO A BATTLEGROUND STATE!

If you live in a solid blue state like Oregon, California, NY, MA, etc. contact the Obama campaign about how you can remote phone bank into swing states. If you can take time off and afford to travel, travel to the nearest swing state and volunteer THERE.



Doug D.

[sandnsea]

22. We have a tight Senate race

and a town that is finally trending blue. I have plenty to do. I was just pointing out to the OP that you don't have to live in an all red state to sometimes feel like you're not real useful.

[ddeclue]

27. OK then you ARE useful.. fight for that Senate Seat!

:)

[Disorientedx3]

29. swing state travelers

I live in Milwaukee, WI...and the Illinois folks who come up to canvass are a god-send! In the northern part of the state, I'm sure they are just as appreciative of the folks who come down from MI.

[elocs]

5. You have sown the seeds and you never know what might happen

when someone gets in the privacy of the voting booth. Depending on where one lives, there are those who are afraid (of what people would think or how they would be judged) if they came out and actively support Obama.

[CC]

6. Around here if I can't talk

them into voting for Obama and I know they can't stand McCain I direct them to Barr or another party. If they can't stand them I talk them into staying home. Might seem mean but rather an idiot stay home and not vote than chance them voting McCain.

[rurallib]

7. I have heard there is a McCain effect or a reverse Bradley

people saying they will vote McCain and then secretly vote Obama.

[csziggy]

8. Don't worry, parts of Florida are blue enough to make up for your corner

Here in Leon County, the crazed McCain/Palin supporters are rare enough that they are a source of amazement. While there may be few people who will get in the booth and suddenly overcome with racism, I think 99% of our Obama supporters will come through with their votes.

[angrycarpenter]

24. I live down in Apalachicola

We are practically nieghbors. So you know what I am dealing with.

[csziggy]

41. Oh yeah - that is why I don't down to that part of the coast much!

Have you tried working with the Obama campaign at all? They do have a field organizer working down there and were trying to set up some teams to contact people in the area. If you PM me your info, I can find out who is working down there - I know who was but they shuffled FOs since then.

I don't have the HQ number for Tallahassee here but I can PM you that tomorrow.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

9. Don't Sweat It. You Could Borrow A Few Of Mine.

I've easily converted 30 people by now. I'm sure many others here have as well if not far more. What matters is you tried, you planted seeds, and if anything you've at least gotten mccain LESS votes. That counts for something as well.

[riley3]

10. Florida didn't always go Republican

There was Gov. Chiles and we have Senator Nelson to name two. I think we have had the most difficulty with elections in FL since the Bush brothers. They messed with redistricting and that resulted in people like Feeney who got to write his own ticket at our expense. Also, the votes were for a Democrat but the "chads" were left hanging.

[ddeclue]

18. Feeney is actually vulnerable this election.

Suzanne Kosmas is polling even with her in FL-24.

Alan Grayson is polling AHEAD of Ric Keller in FL-8.

[Not Me]

43. I just today, put up OBAMA and GRAYSON lawn signs

having already cast my absentee ballots for both.
God, I can't wait to see that asshat Bush-enabler Ric Keller sent home packing.

[Wiley50]

11. Same here in TN. At least you have palm trees and a gulf sunset n/t

[tblue]

12. Do you honestly think a racist will say they'll vote for Obama?

I don't believe in that Bradley effect. Maybe with some of the undecideds, it applies. But not with the people who claim they're voting for McCain. SP has given them all the cover they need to justify voting for the Republican ticket so they don't look like total backwoods bigots.

I'm sorry you have to live in the bowels of right-wing world. I couldn't do it. Or else I would end up telling everyone who said they could never vote for a black man to "Go straight to hell; the South lost, so get over it." I'd make a lot of enemies.

One thing you can do is give them reasons to not for McC. Don't worry about convincing them to vote for Obama if you can tell they never will. Just make voting for McC such a repulsive idea that they either vote for Barr or Paul or decide to just stay home on election day. Otherwise, just work on getting Obama voters to the polls -- for early voting, if possible.

Good luck.

[godai]

20. Here's data related to the Bradley Effect.

Q: Would You Vote for a Qualified Black Candidate of Your Own Party? (among whites)







http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2008/10/12/GR2008101200182.html?sid=ST2008101200232&s_pos=list

[ddeclue]

25. This is overstated and the pollsters compensate for this these days.

It is already "baked in" to the race, it's not going to matter.

In fact, one thing that is NOT being considered is the "reverse Bradley effect". Obama is going to bring out the African American vote like you've never seen. Usually AA vote turnout is 10 points lower than white voters and Hispanic voters turn out at even lower rates than African American voters.

You can also expect to see a lot of demoralized and angry Republicans sit on their hands this race and even a few that will cross over and vote for Obama (mostly fiscal conservatives).

This is going to be 350-188 or better for Obama, 56-58 Dems in the Senate, 250 in the Congress or better and 2 Governor pickups.

Obama's latest poll I saw put him up 52-41. That is Dukakis territory for McCain..he's going to be crushed.

Doug D.

[ddeclue]

13. What part of Florida EXACTLY do you live in?

I am well connected in the FDP and Obama campaign and can hook you up with people who will help you be more effective. I do a lot of voter targeting work for Democratic candidates in Orlando and a lot of this has to do with working off of good voter lists that target the right voters.

In your case I would want to target newly registered Democrats and independents in the last two years, all African American voters, Hispanic Democrats under 40 and white Democrats under 40. These people are all likely to be friendly to Obama.

What county do you live in and what is your address?

Send it to me by private mail.

Thanks

[JNelson6563]

17. Join the official effort

The campaign has made a lot of progress. In part this is due to the targeting they do with their efforts. It's far more rewarding than what you have experience and a more effective use of your time & talent.

Thank you for your efforts thus far. Reward yourself by being part of the successful campaign we are all a part of and help make history as well as feel really good about your contribution.

Hugs and encouragment--

Julie

[NC_Nurse]

19. I feel your pain. My entire family is from cracker Fl, mainly Jacksonville. They

are tough nuts to crack for sure. At least you've tried and it sounds like you've done well to move some
McLame votes to Barr. Good for you!

BTW, my grandmother used to call us all Florida Crackers, I did not make that up myself. She was actually
proud of it. :D

[Incitatus]

21. There are two people I work with who I was unable to convinve, however, a Republican

who also works there kept on making racist and bigoted remarks about Obama and they got so disgusted that now they are voting for Obama. Previously they said there was no difference between the parties and that they rarely vote.

This guy would call Obama a crazy terrorist Muslim and go on incoherent rants about putting in Allah we trust on our currency and saying hes going to kill our kids and take everything over. He even included some racist jokes I will not repeat.

I live in FL, BTW.

[garlicmilkshake]

23. I hear that too..."I just cannot vote for a black man" and it's damn near impossible to

overcome that sort of stupidity. I don't know how. I've said much the same as you just did here on DU and I get savaged and insulted for even mentioning the "Bradley effect" as if it doesn't exist and I'm a racist for even bringing it up. I read hundreds of posts saying more or less "The election is in the bag for Obama"...and counseling caution or warning against monkeyshines is a surefire invitation to abuse. That's
the sort of overconfidence that gave us Bush in 00 and again in 04 despite all our certainty he'd NEVER live in the White House. :shrug:

[Incitatus]

28. Actually, when I was in high school I said and thought some extreme things.

I am embarrassed and ashamed of them now. I have completely changed.

[garlicmilkshake]

32. I was raised to be a total racist/anti-semite and held to those views until I got to college.

To my own shame but in a way it's like religion I believe...a kid is inculcated with his/her parents' positions without knowing why, let alone if they were reasonable. I don't know if I've received redemption but if not it isn't because I didn't seek it. :shrug:

[angrycarpenter]

33. Right

This confidence of victory is a new feeling for me. I will have to get used to optimism. I will not believe it until he takes the oath. My hopes have been crushed before.

[Coyote_Bandit]

30. Hey

I live in (J)Oklahoma where McCain has a double digit lead over Obama. Obama didn't campaign here against Hillary and she took the state by about 15% or so. I think I've seen a total of maybe 3 Obama yard signs here. There are folks here who are highly offended by the Tina Fey portrayal of Palin. The Okies are complaining about oil prices declining. And just last week I saw my first broadcast tv ad for Obama. It certainly makes more sense for him to put his time and effort and resources into contested states. There is no contest here. That is not to say that there isn't a lot of discontent. And that is not to say that there aren't Obama supporters who are afraid to display their loyalties. I think McCain will take the state but I also think Obama is going to make a stronger showing than many expect.

[garlicmilkshake]

34. I'm also (legally) an Okie and I have not seen one single Obama sign except my own

within several miles. I run into people every day who are suffering majorly from Bush economic policies but still aren't willing to vote for
...you know. :grr:

[Coyote_Bandit]

39. I know several folks here

that have no intention of voting for either Obama or McCain. Most have expressed an intention of voting for a third party candidate. One swears she is going to vote for her cat. Another swears she is just going to vote for the Tulsa mayor who she considers far more qualified than Sarah Palin. Another seems to change her mind with the temperature - but she has every intention of voting against both Jim Inhofe and John Sullivan.

I've been having fun teasing a couple of fundies I know. Started telling them weeks ago that Obama was going to win. It was an observation that I made aobut once a week. At first they just kind of ignored the commentary. Now they are arguing the validity of poll numbers - without me ever making mention of polls. They know they are going to get beat.

[Mojorabbit]

35. I live in Orlando

and I have turned five people who have never voted Dem who now are voting Obama. Take heart. There are lots of sane people here even if we do have some crazys.

[ArmedAmerican]

36. a lifetime of ignorance isn't easy to change in one day

it can be changed but it'll take a while, and more than just a 10 minute conversation. I'd say the best tactic is to just let them listen to Barack talk about something, anything, the guy's just plain reasonable, intelligent and likable. If they won't even do that, then there's nothing else you can do, anything you say they'll have a defense for. There's always Plan B, moving to another state, getting different friends.

[angrycarpenter]

38. I'm moving to Alabama next year.

My parents are having some bad health problems, I am having trouble keeping work. We are banding together to help one another. Alabama will vote hate and Jesus until the end of time.

[GreenEyedLefty]

37. Yikes, that's tough. I'm so sorry.

On the Bradley effect... I'm not sure how this would play out on the national stage. The country isn't all "ignorant little corners." Thankfully.

[jrockford]

40. Jokingly calling Obama a Muslim is really funny. I mean, being a muslim is hilarious. *sarcasm*

When I hear someone is a Jew, tears come to my eyes and I nearly collapse with laughter.

WTF kind of friends do you have?

[jberryhill]

42. Just make sure they know that Democrats will be voting on Nov. 4th, and Republicans on the 5th

Due to heavy expected turnout, Florida will be voting on two days.

:-)