My experience at the opening of the Annapolis campaign office

I wanted to share my experience last night, because it was really eye-opening for me, and goes counter to all the accepted "wisdom" of the MSM.

I got a text on Wednesday that the local campaign office was opening last night at 6:30, and since its only about 35 minutes from me, and I've been feeling called to take some concrete action, I decided to go. For those who read my phonebanking post, you can imagine I was a little nervous. I fully expected to be the old lady in a crowd of college kids and to be the odd one out, but I was okay with that. I just wanted to go and check it out.

I got there at 6:40, and it was in a narrow storefront. The room was already crowded. I'm not too good at estimating crowds, but later on we broke into three groups, and our group had 36 people, so I think there were between 80-100 people there.

I really had no idea what to expect, but it turned out to be a planning meeting for the next two weeks in Maryland, and they made the really good point that people in other states can phonebank Maryland, but only we can get out in person to canvass.

So, the makeup of the crowd:
I was not even close to the oldest person there, by a long shot.
This is a very rough estimate but it broke down about like this:

70% white
30% POC (AA, latino, asian, etc)

15% 70+
40% 45-75
35% 25-45
10% college students

50% female/50% male - so close I couldn't really put one higher than the other

I was standing next to an old man who lives in a retirement community and wanted information on canvassing there since its a closed community. There was a white-haired man from Missouri with a strong southern accent who said he was raised die-hard Republican. Quite a few retirement age women, and a couple women who had to be in their 70s or older. Several families, including a young latino family with two really cute kids. Several young, working class men who would stereotypically be considered Trump supporters. Me, a nerdy 40-something woman. I could go on, but what was most striking about the crowd is that there was nothing striking about the crowd! There was no "type" at all.

They had us introduce ourselves and say briefly why we supported Bernie - and what a great cross-section of the reasons - it ran the gamut from LGBT issues, to economic inequality - a big one, to the recurrent integrity - "He's someone I can trust" "He's a once in a lifetime politician" "He says what he means"

And the coordinator asked who had never volunteered for a political campaign before - almost half, maybe 40% raised their hands, including me. And he said "THAT'S why I love Bernie!"

Beyond that, there was just a bunch of planning and information collecting in order to set up canvassing just about every day between now and then. So, I've committed to go out and knock on doors at least a couple of times. Its absolutely terrifying, but I know if I don't take action, and he loses, especially by a small margin, I'll always wonder if doing something could have made a difference. I think a lot of people feel that way now, that they have to "do something!" and its great.

So, I just wanted to share a great experience among fellow Bernie supporters, and to let you know that the lies about who supports Bernie are just that. "College kids, Berniebros, white people"

Bullshit!

I've rarely seen a more diverse crowd at any event in my life. Diverse in every way - race, age, economic class, gender, and on and on. He's truly a candidate of the people, ALL the people.

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Lookout's picture

Thanks for calling and canvassing. If we win this it will be due to efforts like yours. Let's keep working and make it happen.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

gulfgal98's picture

I hope you will do a followup after you have done some canvassing and let us know what it was like for you.

BTW, will you be wearing your pink wig or your yellow one? Lol

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

Haikukitty's picture

Don't you think? Biggrin

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Alison Wunderland's picture

How you like the latest Moi?

Some canvassing tips:

1) Wear comfortable shoes.
2) Be sure to wear several Bernie buttons in plain sight. Makes you instantly recognizable.
3) Memorize your bullet points. (from the blue leaflet.) Be brief. Just one-liners.
4) Load up on Bernie buttons, bumperstickers, and signs. (if you can) Makes the people more involved once they toocan show their support.
5) (I've found it useful to) remind people of Clinton's weak points. "Bought and paid for by Wall Street, the Banks, and lobbyists." No need to say more than that.

The first couple of doors are frightening. After that it gets easier, much easier. Good luck on the sidewalks.

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Haikukitty's picture

But you keep changing so often its hard to keep track of you...

The catface is a good look!

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gulfgal98's picture

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

gulfgal98's picture

I vote for the yellow wig. Biggrin

One tip. You might not want to show your teeth or claws. Wink

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

OLinda's picture

We all appreciate it!!

I hope the door knocking goes well, and look forward to hearing about it.

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riverlover's picture

And I am doing the same thing Sunday, and was expecting me, the older lady, and college kids (Cornell and Ithaca College). I will report back as well, this keeps the together we will try.

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

Granma's picture

has been my experience at Bernie gatherings, barnstorm and large live stream event. People present have been all ages, races, and backgrounds. Most had never been involved in a campaign before as donors or volunteers.

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Granma's picture

has been my experience at Bernie gatherings, barnstorm and large live stream event. People present have been all ages, races, and backgrounds. Most had never been involved in a campaign before as donors or volunteers.

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I'll be canvassing in Catonsville tomorrow and this is getting me excited to be out there. Thanks!

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Haikukitty's picture

I'd love for you to come back and tell me how tomorrow goes for you. I'm nervous, dammit, but I'm going out there anyway!

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I salute you for canvassing. I think you will be surprised how rewarding it is and how receptive people are – even if not to Bernie, to the idea that someone has actually thought enough about them to approach them face to face. It's flattering!
After one or two doors, you will get into the swing of it and the feeling it engenders is pleasant, energizing. The few times I have done it, I have carried voter registration forms and have registered dozens that way. If Bernie wins, it will be because of you and people like you. And remember that this is a situation where the older you are the better it is. People will definitely admire your spunk and will have to think about it, more seriously than anything they see on TV. Good for you!

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defaultcitizen