Primary Day in Scranton (and meeting Hillary’s dad)
By NewHampster on April 22, 2008 at 3:15 PM in Hillary Clinton, Pennsylvania
Honking horns and thumbs up are the order of the day. It’s primary day. This morning I went sightseeing and headed into the hills near where Hillary spent some summers. I drove through Clark’s Summit and onto back roads towards Lake Winola. Tonight I’ll post some pics I took of Pennsylvania barns and farm country. Of course, if the party is what I hope, I may be too in the bag to write until tomorrow.
I returned to town for noon visibility at a city corner. There were women from Florida who’d ridden a bus just for today, and women from Syracuse who drove down for the day. People had “Honk 4 Hill” signs and I had a totem pole of 3 signs. The honking and “thumbs up” was almost nonstop.
Then I moved to the heart of the University of Scranton, standing alone on a corner wondering what would happen. Surprise. I got the same honking and thumbs up without a honk sign; the few college girls who spoke said good luck and go Hillary. This is true Hillary country. Then I took a canvass packet and went to meet Hillary’s Dad.
I didn’t know I’d be meeting him until. Well, I canvased this wonderful street and only one person was home. Afternoon on a Tuesday who would be home anyway.
I’m walking up the street and a little girl and her grandparents were on the porch of the next house on my list. I said the usual, I’m a volunteer for Hillary and wanted to be sure you remember to vote today. The gentleman said, “I will before the end of the day”, then he asked where I was from and came down the steps to chat. In fact the whole family came out to chat.
He was a summer friend of Hillary’s at the lake and likes to tell people he dated her. His lovely wife said it’s a good story.
So he gave me directions to the cemetery a few blocks away and I thanked them and drove off to meet Mr. Rodham. I’m not the type to usually care about this stuff but I figured any effort may work. I stood at the fence looking at the grave and thanked him for giving us his daughter.
As I drove away that bane of the post 50 man hit so I went back to the house and asked if I might use the boy’s room. Of course. And I walked in as another Fiona showed me how well she was cleaning the windows of the front door. Jim was in the kitchen and I went through to the bathroom. I was offered drinks and all sorts of great Scranton hospitality, chatted some more about my volunteering for Hillary then left with one big spot in my heart for Scranton.
I don’t know about the rest of PA but this place is very Hill Country. That’s why I came here. I didn’t want to fight for votes this time around, I just wanted to do a little bit more to help this incredible woman.
It’s almost time. Time to go to a polling spot for the final hours. In NH I was shocked at how many people make up their mind as they enter the voting booth. They’ll stop and ask supporters “why should I vote for Hillary”. I think they’ve heard all the ads and seen the debates but one last minute clarification from a real person is what they need to take the final leap of faith.
My goal is to get at least one more to take that leap.
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