Democracy-to-Go
Contested States Are Magnets to Droves of Mobile Activists
By Dale Russakoff
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 24, 2004; Page A01
With the presidential election likely to be decided in a handful of closely contested states, thousands of Americans are now practicing democracy-to-go, leaving home for days, weeks and even months to try to sway votes in the few battlegrounds where they feel they still can make a difference....
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Some are working through the campaigns, national parties and interest groups on canvassing, phone banking, poll-watching or driving voters to the polls. But the outpouring, particularly among anti-Bush forces, has in many cases overwhelmed the infrastructure set up to capitalize on it.
While pro-Kerry volunteers were eager to talk about their travels and efforts, Republican volunteers even in small towns referred a reporter to the Republican National Committee, saying they have been instructed not to talk about their activities....
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The pro-Bush effort is far more centralized, run out of the Republican National Committee, which refuses to release details and has instructed volunteers through a Web site to "have NO contact with the media." The Bush campaign Web site recruits volunteers, and the RNC is deploying them through its 72 Hour Task Force, assigning each person a state and district and paying plane fare, hotels and $25 a day in expenses....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57360-2004Oct23.htmlNOTE: Is the secrecy/control aspect on the Republican side unsettling to anyone else?
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