Jane and I worked in Aurora, CO today, just south of Denver, CO (10 mins.). We received a well-prepared and organized walk packet, considered large, from very professional staff. We assumed we could tackle a large packet and did. We knocked it out of the park: 134 knocks, 30 contacts, and verified new residents (not included in number of contacts) mailed or walked in their votes. It was something I’d never been able to do before, walking alone or with a partner. With Jane’s help and Colorado’s superior organization we were able to efficiently work to the very best of our ability.

The Get-out-the-Vote (GOTV) walk packets include all the information to which we’re accustomed, in addition they include the previously canvassed or phonebanked information of “previous id” and “date of last contact” so we knew we were speaking with 2s or 3s. Phonebanking into Colorado is so critical at this time. We truly felt we were effective because we had so much information on our walk sheets. Please keep gathering intelligence by phonebanking into the battleground so we don’t spend time knocking on doors of voters who’ve already voted or who are not on our team. Please keep gathering intelligence so all Obama-Biden-Udall voters are able to vote and have their votes get counted.

As has always been my practice and has been my advice to travelers, Jane got a local newspaper for us to read together over breakfast. We learned 11,000 MIBs in Denver, alone, were never mailed to the voters.

We also learned that Friday, John McCain and John Elway (if you’re unfamiliar with football or Colorado, you need to research both) didn’t get more than 1200 supporters to turn out (capacity = 2500 minimum). Story from Rocky Mountain News and from some other news post.

We learned after our canvass that Senator Obama will headline a rally Sunday morning 3 blocks from where Jane and I are staying. When we heard the news we picked up our Sunday walk packets so we could start canvassing directly after the rally. The Colorado field staff looked surprised that we’d do it. After all, we came here to work our tails off and getting to see Senator Obama will only be the bonus. We intend to do another 100+ knocks before I fly back home Sunday night. Jane will stay for the week.

Colorado is ready for all we can provide. Can we show them how committed we are to change and to lending them the hand they so desperately need? A strong victory in Colorado will be news to the
entire world after the election.

The weather is warm. We wore t-shirts until nightfall. Though Friday predicts rain, we can change that too.

Sunday’s Activities

After the big Denver rally, Jane and I hit a whole walk packet in Aurora. Were it not for the rally, we could have done two walk packets.

While canvassing at 22nd and East Carmel Circle in Aurora, we found ACORN had already canvassed the territory, left door hangers (I said, “Shit!”). When we were about half finished with our walk packet we found Kevin Priola’s people canvassing. It took a lot of poking around on his website to figure out he was Republican, running for CO house. The peculiar thing about this election, especially in the battleground states, is that republican candidates don’t say they are republican. I had to go to Priola’s CV to find that he was chapter leader of the Young Republicans to determine his affiliation.