Canvassing today in NH

[Bad Thoughts]

I canvassed a rural area of New Hampshire today, and it was a rough experience. This was not my first experience at canvassing, and I expected that I would be received better than I was.

Most of the houses I was assigned were on steep dirt roads that cut through the hills. The houses did not have visible numbers–perhaps two inch high numbers that could not be seen from the road 150-250 feet away. Sometimes I could not even tell if a path actually led to a house or was only an access road. Furthermore, they were so far apart that it was impossible to walk between them–I had to drive from house to house. For three hours I crisscrossed this small town, missing the houses I was asked to visit and not really sure of where I was.

The people were not friendly. Where they anti-Kerry? It is hard to say. When I announced myself, people usually reacted by saying that they were uncommitted and that they did not want to talk about politics AT ALL. In essence, I was refused before I could get in a kind word. However, some of those same people gave me an earful of how fed up they were with the political process. And I stood there like a dope, listening to them, hoping for some opening that would allow me to talk about the candidates. They would not let me talk about politics, but they used me as their political psychoanalyst.

What were my results? I don’t know how many houses I assigned, but there were a few I could not find. There were five I could not visit because the roads were not suitable for my car. Two people refused to answer the door (I wore no button, so they could not know which campaign I worked for). Two people turned me away before I could even say hello. A bunch of people said they were not interested in talking to me after I announced my intentions. Three women were undecided with hostility, and said they would make up their minds nearer to election day (nonetheless, I think they will end up voting for Kerry). Finally, two women were enthusiastically pro-Kerry. Technically, no one said they were pro-Bush, but the hostility made knowing difficult.

After today, I am down and exhausted. I really need someone to tell me that I am having an effect, not that this is a worthy cause.

[Eric J in MN]

1. Were you volunteering with Kerry-Edwards or the Dem. Party or what? nt

nt

[Bad Thoughts]

3. Kerry/Edwards n/t

[canuckybee]

2. From someone who is unable to get out and canvass

a heartfelt thank you. I can see how discouraged you are feeling, but you ARE making a difference. You know that, you just needed to be reminded. There will be better days. And on Nov 3rd you can know you had a part in it all.

[Bad Thoughts]

9. If you can't do it ...

It is a good reason for me to keep going.

[roseBudd]

4. If you want to have a positive experience canvassing

concentrate on African Americans and low income urban whites.

I even canvass the boys selling crack on the corner. In Ohio.

Bush is a punk assed bitch!

[Bad Thoughts]

6. This is as white as New England gets

I would have preferred to have been in the cities, but it is too far for me to reach from Western Massachusetts. I bet that African Americans are revved up and excited.

[roseBudd]

10. African Americans are definitely hatin

but they need reassurance that we aren't gonna let them steal it. I say "we got lawyers, guns and money"

[Bad Thoughts]

17. Reassurance--great point

[Eric J in MN]

21. Can you go to a modest-income suburb instead of

a rural area?

[Bad Thoughts]

23. Working the Keene area

Keene is the closest office in NH--I drive eighty minutes to get to Keene, and I think that Concord and Manchester are another seventy minutes. There aren't many cities in New Hampshire, and they are far apart. It is a very rural state over which people are spread thinly

Keene itself is a college town, and the democrats in the area can be quite liberal, especially around the state college. But the area is not developed. Another poster pointed out that some of these people who live in isolated areas probably wanted to be isolated.

[Bad Thoughts]

24. I should add that ...

I know a few people in the Keene area from previous campaign experiences. It's more fun to stay at that office.

[Carolinian]

5. I'm not sure I agree with canvassing unless it's in a neighborhood where

everyone knows you. People don't like to be disturbed when they are at home on their own time. I know I don't like it when someone does it to me. Another thing, people love to give their opinions but don't want to listen to yours, eh? I find that I'm better received if I let them do the talking first. Then I can get an idea of where they're coming from and if I'm wasting my time. I don't feel like I'm helping you but I wish I could.

[roseBudd]

12. I like street canvassing especially at bus stops because people

are not busy and waiting anyways.

I also canvass outside temporary labor places and homeless shelters.

ACORN, ACT, MoveON and VIP got everybody registered now I just try to close the deal. I use the TWO-FACED graphic to initiate conversation.

Go to http://somnamblst.tripod.com to download high resolution TIF or PDF file to print and distribute everywhere. Utility poles, bus stops, bulletin boards, newspaper racks, car windshields, phone booths, etc. Guerilla marketers needed to create MAXIMUM BUZZ!

[Eric J in MN]

20. I've thought about that issue, and decided that it's worth annoying

people.

Yes, it's annoying having a stranger ring your doorbell.

Meanwhile, in Iraq, people are getting bombed.

The importance of this election is tremendous.

If I annoy people this month, big deal, I won't be annoying them again for at least 2 years.

[Indiana_Dem]

7. Oh you'll have your good and bad days!

I just keep that smile on my face and be happy because I know I'm representing the Dem party. One day it was very hot and I sweat myself to death! I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I didn't realize how difficult door-to-door canvassing can be--you don't want to walk across people's yards and you have to avoid dogs, try to find the house numbers. I went down one street where there weren't many house numbers on the houses. Whew! I went up to one house and you could hear really loud music coming from it but outside the door were 2 newspapers on the mat and containers that looked like someone who had left food for the occupant at the front door--kind of like they were too afraid to give it to them personally. Immediately, I had this notion that it could be some serial killer or somebody like that who doesn't socialize with others, etc.!!! lol

Most of the time, if I encounter some staunch Republicans by accident, I stay cordial and kind. I acknowledge their respect for their beliefs and thank them for listening to me or letting me leave some material with them. One Republican mentioned Kerry's flip flops and I just said "ah, well, I guess that's all in they eye of the beholder!" He really liked that one. I questioned him about his views and pinpointed certain aspects and values that some of my Dem candidates had and he actually took the literature. I have many stories to tell but too much for here in one post!

I have my ups and downs. Another experience I had involved a lady who had a UAW t-shirt on who just came home from work at one of our local factories. The house was kind of shabby looking and I approached her as she climbed out of the vehicle. I introduced myself as being with the Dem party and asked if everyone in her house was registered (she was registered but has never voted before). She said "no" and so I offered some registrations. After I gave her the registrations she said her nephew worked for the secret service and has done work with the Bush administration. She seemed receptive and I gave her literature on local and state candidates. Two weeks later, I drive by her house and her yard is FILLED with Republican signs and a B/C one to boot!!!! This house is located on a busy intersection nonetheless. I was DEVASTATED! But a couple days later, I drove by again, and 2 houses down, someone has made a HUGE homemade K/E sign that nobody can miss! It was BEAUTIFUL! I drive by there everyday to see it!

So don't let one bad day get to you. You are doing more than you think. Just think if you weren't doing anything? Would that make youf feel better? Thanks for helping out.

[Bad Thoughts]

13. My previous experiences were deceivingly postive

I canvassed in January for Clark (if you couldn't guess). Everyone I spoke to was talkative and nice, even if they were clearly not voting for Clark. I preferred canvassing to getting on the phones.

Going into this experience, I figured it would be even easier: there are only two campaigns trying to contact people, not ten.

On your last point, you are completely correct. If I were not doing it, perhaps no one would have. I sense that everyone dreaded this town. One person related afterwards that he went there once to canvass. He was speaking to two women when their husbands pulled them away, saying that they did not want anyone putting ideas in their wives heads. In fact, I would have gone elsewhere had I not arrived late and been more familiar with the area. (Why couldn't MA be a battleground? Oh, that's why.)

[Demi_Babe]

8. you did a wonderful thing today and you WILL be rewarded come Nov 2nd

[usrbs]

11. I'm canvassing there tomorrow. I hope it will be better.

I have to admit that I have asked myself the same questions after each time I've done it. I wish someone would do a study of how effective all of this is, so we could concentrate on what does work. And I think New Hampshire has been too overrun with politics - they're getting tired. Still, at least we are trying. And all of this energy and spirit must do something.

[Bad Thoughts]

15. You're right: NH is too overrun with politics

Most volunteers that I meet are from neighboring states. Part of my frustration is that NH Dems are not themselves more active.

[Indiana_Dem]

14. Oh I for got to mention the day

I went to the local old folks home! They called the Dem party HQ the next day and told them not to send anyone there again. I found later that the board of directors are all Republican. What they don't know is that I found a strong Dem living at that home who is going to get a ride from me to the polls!!!

Just leaving literature can have an effect!

Remember that what you're doing is IDing voters who really don't know who they want and it's your job to convince them who to vote for.

[NMDemDist2]

16. sorry you had a tough day

:hug:

i have canvassed in 110 degree heat and had people slam doors and make cracks as i walked by. I always dress like a walking campaign poster, I find folks are more likely to open the door instead of thinking I'm selling something

lately i've covered my hat with K/E pins and give them away freely

you did good! :bounce:

[Bad Thoughts]

19. Wonderful outfit

I did not dress the part. I come from Los Angeles, and the New England weather is a little cold for me--I always look out of place. On top of that, I wore a long sleeve, pastel blue shirt with a grid texture, gray slacks, black loafers. I thought professional was the way to go. The homeowners probably thought I was a "fruit."

[NMDemDist2]

25. thank you LOL n/t

[Indiana_Dem]

26. Actually, I dressed nicely, too.

I am a middle-aged woman who copies off of her daughter's fashions. I wear hip-hugger flares and a pea-coat but then I dress up a bit with a classier look than what a teen does (my belly doesn't hang out, in other words). It is heck trying to walk door-to-door in my Eastland brown leather slip-on shoes but I want to look kind of middle-class midwestern soccer mom-like. People seem to be pretty accepting of that look and I feel the look sometimes has been captured by the Repubs which is not always true. I've been well received even by Republicans and sometimes I feel the way you look also influences how people perceive things. Ask Donald Trump!

I'm afraid that if I appear too "Democratic" with all kinds of campaign advertising on me, people will immediately shut me off if they don't associate themselves with the Dem party. So I go "incognito"!

on edit: I try to take AZDem's advice about wearing patriotic colors, too. I wear a white pea-coat and carry a huge red leather bag to keep all my campaign material in. Then I either wear blue jeans or a blue shirt! Hope that passes as patriotic AZDem!! lol

[NMDemDist2]

29. as you can see by the pic I'm a middle aged woman too

and since they told me i can't argue this is my little way of rebelling and being "in their face"

i also love doing all my errands after the canvass in all my kerry gear.

i have gotten some "looks" but have also helped folks with questions about the senator and gotten many "thanks, I thought I was the only dem around" type comments

[Indiana_Dem]

31. I have a "MOB-Mothers Against Bush" t-shirt

and I've worn it a couple of times when I've been in a fiesty mood and I get lots of looks. It's my way of rebelling I guess! I went into the courthouse to drop off registrations one day in it!!!

[wellstone dem]

36. From another mom

who gets attire advice from her daughter, thanks for campaigning.

My daughter will take one look at me some days and say, "I see frump woman has returned." On another day, after I bought a dress on my own that my daughter liked, we returned to the store. After looking at the selection she said, "I'm really surprised, all these ugly dresses and you managed to pick the one nice one."

[Kat45]

18. I did some canvassing in NH a few weeks ago, and some friends

have been doing it more recently. They talked to undecided voters, perhaps leaning towards Kerry, and after their conversation, they said they will vote for Kerry.

Yes, you are having an effect. At the very least, you are getting some information useful to the campaign. They will know about the two pro-Kerry women you saw and call them on election day to make sure they get to the polls. It sounds like you had a tough area, just the terrain alone. And I think that a lot of the folks in rural areas in NH live in those areas partly because they don't want to be bothered by anyone--that's probably what you were facing. When my friend and I were canvassing, we had a main street for which we could only do two houses at a time, then get back in the car and drive to the next house. And there weren't exactly prominent numbers on the houses either.

I'm hoping to get up to NH again, because I do feel that in as close an election as this is, that every single vote we get is important. If you can get up there again, please do, and good luck--perhaps you'll get a better area next time.

[Bad Thoughts]

22. I will volunteer more

IN fact I will do office work next friday. And I will call people, stand at polls, knock on doors, beat back fascists--whatever they need me to do--from 8am to 10pm on election day. I just don't feel as confident about going door to door, something which is more important at this moment.

[NMDemDist2]

27. don't let it shake your confidence, remember those Northeasters are

a dour lot mostly

don't smile too much, be serious and ernest in your passion

offer them a button or sticker

ask them what their biggest issue is then listen

tell them how Kerry will work that issue and how Bush has ignored/ruined/otherwise screwed up that issue

try it :bounce:

[Indiana_Dem]

30. I started phone canvassing my precinct yesterday since my last

lit drop and it is working well! I think phone canvassing is much easier than door-to-door if you don't keep getting the answering machine!

[CBHagman]

28. Thanks to you canvassers!

:hug:
:grouphug:

You are the best!

Yes, it is exhausting to get out and about. I distributed door hangers (i.e., with poll times and place, plus candidates' names) to Democratic voters in 2002 and will be doing swing state work in the days just before the election. It can be exhausting, and I consider myself lucky that we didn't have to approach the house with the pit bull.

May you be rewarded a thousandfold for what you are doing. You are the people who get things done.

[Renew Deal]

32. NH voters are a lot more savvy than most.

They are courted more than anyone in the country. They have a 400+ person legislature. 70% are undeclared and can vote in either primary. They could be sick of politics or pro-Bush.

[Ravenseye]

40. I think they're sick of it

I did some canvassing during the primaries for Clark. The people in New Hampshire get the double whammy of being an early primary state, as well as a swing state. The people in Iowa I would imagine are probably fairly similar. The difference though is that New Hampshire is in New England, and the people there are true New Englanders. That doesn't mean that they are rude or evil or anything, just a bit more....sparky...cynical...independent...you get my meaning. Imagine a Normal Rockwell painting of a guy sitting on a porch saying "Cahn't get thaya from heeya" while refusing to actually give you directions.

When I canvased back in January, we ran into all types, but it was clear even then that the people didn't want to talk with people walking by. They were sick of commercials, sick of road signs, sick of news crews, sick of canvassers. One person said that for the past two weeks she had been 'acahsted' by a different campaign every day.

I think canvassing works well in other states, but the feeling I got was that in person canvassing and phone bank calling was much much more difficult in New Hampshire because they're just so flooded with it, that they're cynical and immune to it at this point.

Don't let your experience get you down. New Hampshire is a tough nut to crack.

[Renew Deal]

33. BTW, talk to Raven.

I think she canvasses in NH.

[elderly man]

34. Original message

I noticed in your profile that you are from Massachusetts.Were
you driving a late model vehicle with Massachusetts plates?
If so, I suggest that you try again driving an older four
wheel drive pickup with N.H. plates.

[newyawker99]

35. Hi elderly man!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[SpiralHawk]

38. elderly man is on the mark - You need to get a Granite State of Mind

you know, "Live free or die," and all that.

Woodchucks don't need no Taxachusetts liberal skulking about.

So just pay your highway toll, and then stop at the state liquor store to buy some booze on your way back South.

- A former Granite Head from the Monadnock Region

[WI_DEM]

37. You had a very tough route

I think in NH democratic strength are not in these little rural areas but in the mill towns and college towns and bigger cities.

[noamnety]

39. If they aren't interested in talking

That's fine. Be prepared with some handouts. If they seem fed up with the political process, you can use that as your opening ... instead of starting with who are they supporting, you can ask about if they feel fed up with media coverage of the election, and try to go at them from the perspective of someone who sympathizes with the frustration of never feeling like you are getting the straight story when you watch tv.

And give them a handout with something like factcheck.org - you never know, if they start looking at that, they may start to get a bit educated about what's going on.

Instead of being frustrated that they are so uninvolved, think about how they got to that point, ask yourself why they feel disenfranchised, and why they aren't outraged. If they don't want to discuss particular candidates, try to find out what are their two main issues, and give them a handout of Bush appointees in the subject they care about: http://ideamouth.com/appointments_and_disappointments.htm

If you feel like you are being their political mental help, even that isn't necessarily worthless, it's making them talk about politics ... and making them feel at least like someone is listening to their opinions, which is part of drawing them into the process. Ask them some good questions that play into their hands, if they talk to you for a while, they will be more open to accepting a handout from you at the end of the conversation, at least.

You can always stick the flier in their door, if they won't answer it.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

41. If NH votes Bush this time, Can We Extract it from New England

and stick it between Alabama and Mississippi? They are a weird bunch up there-good luck.

RR, A Masshole who summered in NH