I'll be making calls to Minnesota for Kerry tomorrow

[cheezus]

I got a call looking for volunteers so the wife and I will be spending a few hours tomorrow evening making phone calls for Kerry at the IBEW. I've never done this before, so it should be interesting (although I hope it's not push polling).

I'll post back with some details afterwards. I'll also try to get some local contact info for ND DUers who want to get involved in local campaign activities.

[markus]

1. Is this in Fargo?

Looking around, I think my time would be better spent making sure Kerry carries Minnesota than 1) spending much time on Satrom. He has a couple hundred of my dollars and some signs, but his campaign doens't appear to be lighting any sort of fire and 2) I'm not worried about Byron or Earl.

But I am really worried about the future of our country in the face of a second Bush term.

If it is (and I couldn't make the thing in Moorhead today; I'm at work), email me direct at [e-mail].

[cheezus]

2. this is in grand forks (calling northern minnesota)

I agree with you on Satrom. I saw him, and he really didn't stir me up or anything... and I don't like his chances

i think Dorgan is safe, but I really should be helping out Earl.

[cheezus]

3. Follow up now that the deed is done

We went to the IBEW and my wife and I were the only ones who showed up. The union guy got the coordinator on the phone and got us going. We were doing a poll, calling Crookston, MN (Not sure where the DFL got the list)


Questions:
1 Kerry / Bush / Nader Bush seemed to be favored 60/40
2 Colin Peterson over his challenger - even the republicans liked him a lot
3 state house - those who knew the names liked the incumbent democrat, otherwise they seemed to chose along party lines
4 Party affiliation (I'm surprised how many people seem to think that party doesn't matter)
5 Prolife / prochoice (more lifers -- it's northern mn)
6 which issue from the list more important
taxes&spending/funding schools/economy&jobs/heathcare&drugs (you'd think the war would be on there...)

anyway, I learned a few things:
nobody is home
only half want to talk to you (some refuse to answer, others hang up on you)
it takes a long time. In almost 2 hours I only got through 11 completed surveys (like I said, nobody was home and the rest didn't wanna)

so... I dunno... I hope they get something worthwhile out of it. I hope next time I get a job that's more pursuading than just polling.

[markus]

4. Keep up the battle folks. MN must go Blue on Nov. 2

Here's my letter to the [e-mail]:

I just want to echo Dan Hannaher's encouragement to those of you in the Red River Valley to make some time to get over and help with the Kerry campaign in Minnesota. I just returned from DLF HQ in Morehead. MN is a swing state, and there were no callers there when I left, and plenty of work still to do.

I know we have North Dakota candidates to worry about, but lets face it--George Bush is going to carry North Dakota. We all need to do everything we can to make sure that John Kerry is the next president of the United States. Morehead is just across the river, MN is a battelground and they can use your help.

Calling for several hours into the rural 7th CD is a challenge. I know from my time in Minnesota how conservative this area---fervently patriotic and staunchly pro-life--can be. However, it was no more than 60/40 willing to identify for Bush over Kerry, and I found quite a few undecided voters willing to discuss specific issues, such as health care, the war in Iraq, etc.

Please consider doing what ever you can to make sure MN goes Blue on Nov. 2.

Moorhead DFL Coordinated Campaign Office
501 Main Ave
Moorhead, MN 56560
[phone]