It’s a ground game in Ohio for Clinton, Obama - MSNBC.com

[gateley]

How well the campaigns have organized volunteers will be key on Tuesday

Clinton
CLEVELAND - The callers, volunteers at a Clinton campaign field office here, had some exciting news last week for the randomly dialed Democrats on the other end of the line. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York was appearing at a high school in Toledo the next day, and there was still plenty of room for cheering spectators.

But after 30 minutes of cold-calling, the volunteers, a mix of soft-spoken professionals and grizzled unionists, were beginning to wilt from the rejections.

“Oh really?” one woman at the phone bank was overheard saying again and again. “Even though he’s only been in the Senate three years? Well I’m sorry you feel that way.”

Obama
Not far away, a similar phone-banking session was taking place at a campaign office for Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, but the task at hand was much different.

There, callers were trying to work their way through a list of people who were eager to volunteer but had been waiting days for an assignment. Some of the 100 or so names had been collected during an Obama appearance the previous night that drew 6,000 people to the Cleveland Convention Center.

“Our rallies fill themselves,” Ann Dailey, a worker, said with satisfaction. Ms. Dailey bolted to answer a ringing telephone.

More (the article is pretty interesting): http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23441464/


EDIT -- It was not intentional to BOLD all of the Obama snippet - just meant to bold his name as I had for Clinton's.

[yourguide]

1. Thanks gately

I phonebanked for obama calling both Ohio and texas, I didnt get a single HRC supporter. Not surprised that the HRC callers would be getting those rejections.

[gateley]

7. Wow -

When I was phoning for Joe Biden (remember him? ) the only people who volunteered who they were supporting were Obama folks. Others just said "not interested", but those voting for Obama said "no thanks, I'm supporting Obama". I thought that was interesting...don't really know what/if it means anything...

[rox63]

2. Tuesday will be an exciting night

Unfortunately, a night school class will keep me from checking the results until after 9:00 PM. I'm hoping for big Obama victories in both OH and TX. :D :D :D

[flor de jasmim]

3. I chuckled at the last paragraph of the article:

From a 17-year-old:

“I’m learning a lot about politics,” said Ms. Diaz, who had endured an eight-hour bus ride to Ohio. “The Democratic process is very exciting,” she said, pausing as an elderly woman in a Honda Civic offered a thumbs down. “I just didn’t know people could be so mean about it.”

Ah yes, well....

[gateley]

9. I know --

I thought that was sweet - and that she obviously has not been to DU. :evilgrin:

[Independent-Voter]

4. “Even though he’s only been in the Senate three years? Well I’m sorry you feel that way.”

That's telling. What a shrill bunch of folks the Hillary supporters are.

[gateley]

DELETE = DUPE

[Independent-Voter]

8. It starts from the top. HRC is just a shrill, corrosive person. No surprise that filters down into

her staff and volunteers.

[gateley]

5. That really left a bad taste in my mouth, too --

but be fair. That was one woman who kept saying that. I'm sure there are others, but not ALL volunteers behave like that.

:hi:

[catgirl]

6. It probably inspired the Obama supporter to volunteer!

And the supporter is quite happy about his/her candidate. I
wonder if that reponse (I'm sorry you feel that way) was on the
script that they read off of.

[Window]

10. Nice article.

Thanks for sharing.



Peace:thumbsup:

[Zachstar]

11. This is good to hear!

I am so ready for this race to end. People are FIRED up about this!

It is just so sad the Clinton supporters are somtimes falling to the lowest of tactics.

Common GOBAMA!! Just one more day of swiftboating and this is OVER till the GE RACE!!

[mtnester]

12. I don't even know if it is a ground game so much as

poll confusion. I have repeatedly talked about what I think will happen when an Indie asks for a ballot and poll workers are unsure as to how to explain what happens to that voter. Some may be unwilling to be helpful (and I am talking about people who have no business being poll workers)

My guess? Most people will walk into the polling area. They will go to the check in place, and sign their name in the book or however that precinct handles it. Some ID validation will take place. At that time, unless the person has specifically requested a Dem Ballot, or a Repub ballot, or an Issues only ballot, they will get the ballot specific to the party or non party they are registered with.

That person then gets to the voting booth, and realizes (if Indie) they have NO primary candidates on their ballot..it is issues only. Then the brouhaha begins. They want to switch ballots...will the poll workers or the local BOE let them as they have already been issued a ballot? If yes, will the Indie then actually switch PARTIES for the next two years in order to get a Dem or Repub ballot?

All of the above is where I believe there will be problems in Ohio, as we are a pure partisan primary, and these are the rules here. I hope poll workers are ready for this...I am myself, but the question of will the ballot be allowed to be switch...so far the answer is NO...once a ballot is issued...I hope this gets more clarification before tomorrow. for the sake of all voters and those helping at the polls.

For the record - I am undecided and will cast my ballot tomorrow first thing...that is when I will decide I am thinking.


On edit - I did clarify my position on confusion matters per the post I received from Kukesa...I wanted to make sure I was not insulting poll workers in general, as I am one too and it would be wrong if anyone thought I was referring to all of them.

[Kukesa]

13. Uh. . . I'm a poll worker and I'm not "totally clueless." n/t

[mtnester]

14. I am glad, you will be able to help people cast the ballot they want

and so will I...I was trying to show that the potential for confusion is high...a couple of people I was in training with last week seemed unable or unwilling to grasp the concept.

But thanks for making me clarify this better.