I'm seeing good things in the neighborhoods.

[Occam Bandage]

A few brief notes from today/yesterday's targeted GOTV doorknocking:

1. Democrats are a lot more enthusiastic/optimistic/cheerful this time around than they were in 2004.

2. I'm not seeing any complacency whatsoever. Even though Minnesota looks to be absolutely safe for Obama, more than a few people have said that we need to push for an overwhelming popular vote mandate. I agree.

3. That same enthusiasm does not extend to Al Franken. I think we've got the infrastructure to drag him across the finish line, but there's a big difference in the reception we get by saying "I'm with the Obama campaign" and "I'm with the Tinklenberg/Madia/Ellison (depending on the district) campaign" versus "I'm with the Franken campaign."

4. Republicans are a lot...touchier than they were last time around. We're doing targeted (and reverse-targeted) doorknocks, so we skip most Republican households, but when we run into one, they tend to be much more hostile/sarcastic than they were in 2004. "Enjoy the socialist" seems to be the send-off phrase of the week; it's like someone shipped them a manual or something.

5. Many people still don't have a clue where they vote. Maybe one out of six Obama-supporting households we've come across has been unable to say where their polling place is. That can lead to frustration, confusion, and ultimately a ballot not cast. GOTV operations are essential.

6. We need more volunteers. Everywhere. Corporations don't run ads just one or two times. Magazines don't come with just one or two subscription cards. GOTV works the same way--repeated contact is key. To put this race away, we need to make sure every single Obama-leaning voter gets to the polls--and to do that, we need to hit each of them multiple times. If you have any time at all to spare, show up at your local office. They will not turn you away.

7. The McCain GOTV machine is being stripped to a skeleton crew. They think their only hope is to run ads aimed at weakening the resolve of soft-Obama supporters, and their ground game is suffering. I'm not seeing much in the way of the competition this time around. If we keep up the pressure, we can build a tidal wave capable of overwhelming the Republicans.

[Occam Bandage]

1. kick.

[rvablue]

2. K&R....love on the ground reporting like this. thanks for posting!

[Jack Bone]

3. I'm seeing them as well...K&R

I just got done w/ today's canvass here in Indiana.

hopes are high here too. Thanx for doing all that yer doing in MIN!

I loved yer #6 point...never thought of it like that b4...Thanx!

[MJkcj]

4. Your point #5 is key: so many people are confused abou where to vote

I have done some canvassing in Virginia. I dont find very many undecided. I do find a lot of very excited Obama people and some McCain supporters who dont want to talk to me. But i also see a lot of first time voters who are very uncertain about how to vote. they need reasurrance that they are going to the right place and have lots of questions about what kind of ID the need and ask questions about whethe the lines be long etc etc.