Day Two in Scranton – HillaryLand
By NewHampster on April 21, 2008 at 10:56 AM in Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Pennsylvania
This place is HillaryLand.
On the way back to my hotel just now I drove by the Obama rally and the parking lot at the Ice Arena wasn’t nearly full. We had a a dozen or so Hill people there with signs but I decided to skip that in favor of family unity back in the north country.
If they claim 30 zillion people at tonight’s Obama/Kennedy Rally in Scranton, they are plain old fibbing.
Now about one of this guy’s best days of canvassing. And I’ve been canvassing NH since last June and RI before their primary … First a swig of Maker’s Mark.
Ahhh, that was good. And sorely needed.
So… this morning after my super waffle, I got to HQ early and the guy from Ohio said to comeback closer to 10. I drove around a little and went to see the outside of a steel mill and the Lackawanna river. Then at 9:30 I said to hell with it, I’m going inside to help.
I stapled canvass packs, filled staplers then registered some other early arrivals. One of the first in the door was the guy who had shown me how to make a waffle. Jim was alone too, so we introduced ourselves, paired up and spent the day on the pavement.
We grabbed a packet and headed out for early Sunday canvassing. Now I think going out on a Sunday before noon is dumb and I still feel that way. Yes, we got our share of supporters all smiles and telling us that “Hillary has to win”, but most people were either not home or came to the door in a bathrobe.
It was a good canvass though and we returned about noon, turned in our packet.
As I’m about to walk out of HQ the woman at the front desk asked if I was NewHampster. She is TheresaInPA and we hugged and said a quick howdy. Meeting fellow bloggers in real life is so cool, of course she said she thought I was a imaginary and even wrote about it. MyDD post
Jim and I went to the mall for some food court chow. I have a hard time choosing between the chickens and today I had bourbon 
chicken, noodles and broccoli. It hit the spot.
What was more important at lunch was Jim working on this die hard HillBot to support Obama if he wins. I fit into that group of life long democrats who after a year long fight in the trenches, seriously question my ability to do that. I also fit into the really weird group of people who still think I won’t have to make the decision. Just like New Hampshire, I can’t see anything other than Hillary winning and truly wonder where the pollsters get their data.
We went back out from 1:30 to 4 and all I can say is Wow!
This was the largest packet I’ve ever had. The neighborhood was a typical Scranton mix of little tiny, wooden houses that looked like a big snowstorm would crush them and these wonderful old homes with huge front porches. A middle class neighborhood from almost anywhere.
One aside. This town loves fenced yards and golden labs. We met the sweetest lab with his paws on the fence asking us to please come over and scratch him. There is something magnificent about a strange dog that I can scratch behind the ears and know I have a friend for life. No worries at all about biting since his tail could power a small boat. They are the breed meant for dog lovers.
So we met one Hill supporter after another. They were out raking and painting or sitting on the porch watching kids play kick ball in the street. And that’s something else. The group of kids was a smörgåsbord of America. Black, white and Latino. The mother on the porch went and got her mother inside who said of course I’m voting for Hillary. I asked if she also wanted a lawn sign. Yes, and I got one out of the car.
The signs in my car were from NH. I cleaned up my town after the primary and brought about 50 dirty signs to Scranton with me. There are only about 10 left.
We had another family compound of two homes where grandma made sure I put a sign on her lawn and her daughter next door. The daughter told us about the entire family voting for Hillary including an 18 year old new voter. WhooHoo.
We virtually had only one negative house and that was the guy who said Hillary people had been there 3 times in a week and please leave him alone. He’s voting for her.
The women were interesting. Almost all said something like “she has to win” or “thank you for working for her”. Men would either “say I’m voting for her thanks”, or “she’s the best candidate”. We planted sign after sign and met some of the most wonderful supporters ever. Thank you Scranton for making this guy feel welcome.
Back at the office I zonked out on coke and pretzels while finally sitting down and chatting with T in PA. She is one of those locals who keep the kid staffers going. This office has what’s his name that is there every day taking out the garbage, cleaning up and generally managing the crap the staffers never think of. I also met two Mass. women I’ve only met on email and phone. It was old home day for New Hampshire and Ohio campaigners.
Then I was asked to join them in the Viz at the Obama rally. I drove over and almost got out of my car but when it comes down to it, I see that as something they do. I don’t need to be against him in order support her.
Tomorrow at 7am we support her at a huge rally in downtown Scranton.
Cool. My daughter just sent a text that she saw the Pope drive by in his caravan of police.
, the basis for the Best Motion Picture Nominee (Golden Globes) starring Brad Pitt.
, the novel by John Le Carre, a new motion picture starring Gary Oldman and Colin Firth.
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