Precinct Walking Yesterday in Saint Paul, MN

[MineralMan]

Tomorrow's the primary election in Minnesota. Turnout is predicted to be very low, but there are important choices on the Primary ballot for Democrats. So, yesterday, I finished up my precinct walking for the primary, hitting the sidewalks, knocking on doors, and chatting with about 50 residents of my own precinct in about 4 hours. Fortunately, the rains held off, so there were lots of people out mowing lawns and doing other outside activities. That makes the process a lot easier.

I do this because I'm the DFL chair for Ward 6, Precinct 13 here in Saint Paul, and I want our precinct to show one of the best turnouts in the city, and because we have choices in this primary for Governor and our local State Senator candidates. The Precinct is pretty strongly Democratic, but this year, the primary is very important to Democrats.

In talking to people, I noted some lack of interest in this primary election, but was able to convince many of the people I talked to to change their minds and go to the polls tomorrow. I wasn't promoting any particular candidates, since this was a pure GOTV effort, and it's not really the time to promote particular Democrats.

After the primary election results are in, I'll be posting them on the precinct's web site, one of the few such precinct websites that exist in the area: http://saintpaulw6p13.blogspot.com/ I'll also link to the websites of every Democratic candidate who wins in the Primary.

Then, it's time to do candidate advocacy, and I'll be out between now and November meeting a lot of the same people again, and encouraging them to turn out and voted for the DFLers who won in the primary. When I talk to residents in the precinct, they have lots of questions and concerns, so I study the candidates literature and have met most of them in person. That way, I can answer questions about candidates and address concerns when I talk to those I meet in the precinct.

I encourage everyone to get active in their own precincts and get involved with GOTV activities for the November election. It's really an enjoyable thing to do, and you get to meet lots of your neighbors. Most precincts, at least in cities, are pretty small, and you can easily walk them right from your home. You can walk for particular candidates, or represent all of the Democrats running in the general election. I do the latter, since I'm walking for the DFL organization.

Please help get Democrats to the polls in November. It could mean the difference between a Democrat being elected or the unpleasant prospect of another Republican in office.

Thanks for all efforts you can make, even if you just help for an hour or two. It's all part of the process.

[RBInMaine]

1. I have been canvassing a lot for local candidates in Maine.

[MineralMan]

2. Excellent! Individual efforts really make a difference.

Thanks for helping Democrats!

[ellie]

3. Kicking for you!

Way to go! I have done this in the past, I haven't done anything this year yet.

[MineralMan]

4. As November approaches, I hope you will

find some time to get out there and help Democrats win. Thanks!

[lonestarnot]

5. K & R

[Brickbat]

6. Thanks for your work. The party has really been on my case the last few weeks. I'm

undecided, and tell the callers that, and the same one checks in once a week to give her pitch for MAK. They're doing good work.

[MineralMan]

7. Yes. The phone banking campaign is in full swing. I'm getting

a lot of calls, too, and for all three Democratic candidates for Governor. Lots of mail pieces and emails, too. That's very good. I'll be supporting whoever wins this primary. I don't do phone banking, because I dislike the constant interruptions they create. I really, really prefer the precinct walking approach. But, that's a hard thing for candidates to do in a Primary race.

I'm leaning toward MAK tomorrow, but I'm not pushing her at this point. It's going to be close between her and Dayton. Either way, it gets decided by those who show up at the polls tomorrow. Those who don't show up have no grounds to complain about who wins.

[Brickbat]

8. Yeah, I don't get anyone at my door (I live in a rural, very blue area).

It is going to be a close race! I have to say I'm not on fire for any of the candidates, which is unusual for me.

[MineralMan]

9. You're right. Rural areas are tough to do door-to-door in.

I live on the eastside in St. Paul. It's incredibly easy to do it here. If you look at the map on my precinct website, you can see clearly just how small an area the precinct is.

[Bigmack]

11. Everybody be careful in those rural areas...

Not all are blue... hell, not all are sane.

When I lived in the woods, I know I didn't like people coming all the way up my long drive to the house.

I think the Freeptypes would like it less. And then if you start talking your Satanistic Socialism to them.... well.....

[FSogol]

10. Keep up the good work. n/t

[MineralMan]

13. I don't see any alternative, frankly.

I hope more and more people join in the effort, nationwide.

[mzmolly]

12. Go you!

:yourock:

[MineralMan]

14. Thanks. It's actually a fun way to spend an afternoon,

besides. It's amazing to meet all of those people and listen to them. I end up listening a lot more than I talk. Lots of good people out there. A few grumpy Gus types, too, but there it is.

[WI_DEM]

15. Good job, but of course they could also be saying they will go to the polls

to get rid of you. But I do the same thing here, too, and I'm sure some of them do tell me that to get rid of me--and a few actually will follow up and go to the polls.

[MineralMan]

16. Sure. Some do that, I'm sure. That doesn't stop me, because some

do turn out. Every single vote is important at the precinct level. If I can get 20 people to vote in this primary, it could change how the precinct goes. It all matters. Besides, I get to meet lots of my neighbors, and that's always a good thing.

[Scurrilous]

17. Good job MineralMan.

:thumbsup:

[MineralMan]

18. Thanks. I'll feel better once November is here and Democratic candidates

I've supported win. That's the entire goal.

[FrenchieCat]

19. That's what I'm talking about.......

and that's what "real" Democrats do. :thumbsup:

[MineralMan]

23. I agree. That is the base of the party. It is those who work to

elect Democrats. Those who do nothing but criticize are the base of nothing.

[grantcart]

20. excellent

[MineralMan]

24. Thank you. We need all the help we can get.

[Cha]

21. It's worth repeating..

How Inspiring!

[MineralMan]

25. Thanks. It is the key to change. It is the key to progressivism.

There is no alternative, IMO.

[Cha]

22. Thank you so much for doing this, Mineral Man..

you are inspiring and make a good role model for those who'd like to see their candidates win:patriot::bounce::fistbump:

[MineralMan]

26. Either our candidates win, or the other side wins.

I don't consider the other side to be an acceptable choice. So I do what I can. Everyone can help. Even if it's just talking to the people who live next door to you or across the street, it's all good.

[scheming daemons]

27. MineralMan, *YOU* are the true base of the party.... not those who...

rant and rave while they sit around in their parents' basement in their Che Guevera T-shirts crying that Obama isn't listening to them.

[treestar]

29. +100000

[treestar]

28. That's terrific!

:yourock:

[quiet.american]

30. MineralMan - thank you. Well written and well-taken advice. nt

[eridani]

31. Exactly right. This ongoing conversation you are having with your neighbors--

--is essential to democracy.