50 State Canvass: Making North Carolina a Blue State in '08
Posted by Mark Hufford on April 27, 2007 at 08:57 AM
This weekend, Democrats will ask friends and neighbors across the country to join us in making positive change in America as part of the "50 State Canvass." Mark Hufford reports from North Carolina--and from the heart of Republican territory.
The 50-state canvass got underway last weekend here in North Carolina, where we're setting our sights on making NC a Blue State in '08.
Canvassers in one of our mountain counties hit the streets on Saturday with doorhangers in hand, and with open ears. Here in the TarHeel State we're considering this to be a "listening canvass,"--gathering information about perceptions and about issues that are touching the lives of our neighbors (and concurrently finding more volunteers to join us).
Just as the 50-state strategy is putting on a full-court press even in states considered "unwinnable," we're reaching into some counties historically considered Republican territory.
The Democrats pictured here live in a county where we're outnumbered by Republicans 55 percent to 30 percent (with 15 percent unaffiliated). Do these Democrats look demoralized or like they're ready to give up? No!! Because they're part of a four-county area that in 2006, in a huge upset, elected Democrat Steve Goss to our State Senate. Steve was on hand Saturday to spur canvassers on.
In Western North Carolina, and throughout our state, we've seen widespread proof that even in the rural South, even where we're outnumbered, Democrats can win elections. Especially when we stress direct voter contact, neighbor-to-neighbor. I strongly believe that most Unaffiliated voters, and even Republicans, are Democrats at heart--we just need to stand on their doorsteps and remind them in a neighborly way.
Lastly, thanks to the DNC for the doorhangers, which make this process easier and more professional.
(Mark Hufford is the DNC regional organizer for Western North Carolina.)
Comments (7) «
Congratulations Western NC Democrats. Getting Started is half the battle. I hope we do as well.
Mark and all my Dem-kin back home in the mountains,
You're doing an incredible job! There was a time, only a very few years ago when my cousins in Jackson, Haywood, Buncombe, and Macon Counties wouldn't discuss politics with one another at all. Many of us had been repeatedly shouted down by the influx of rabid Republicans and weren't ready to invite more abuse.
Them times have changed! Now we're not just discussing, many of my cousins are actually participating! We've all had enough of being run over. I'm so proud of your courage to stand up and speak up, and very grateful to you for bringing Blue back to the Blue Ridge.
HillWilliam, thanks for the kind comments.
Let me point out that this transformation isn't just in the mountains, it's statewide. My counterparts in the Central and Eastern regions (Kristen Ward and Mira Jones)are working as hard as I am to get neighbors talking to neighbors.
Derwin Dubose on our state party staff headed up our canvass effort for this national canvass day, and is also doing an extraordinary job organizing special constituency groups statewide.
These folks, and the rest of the state party staff, officers, volunteers, and county party organizers everywhere are all envisioning a Blue NC presidential vote for the first time in 32 years. But not just envisioning it -- working to make it happen.
I wonder whent the National Democratic Party will start taking South Carolina serious as far as the General Elections? It always seems to be only certain southern states that the National Party evens considers trying to get: Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, and Virginia. But never: South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi (which is over 50% black), Tennessee, Arkansas. Not everyone in the latter states are backward and ultra-conservative, contrary to popular opinion.
Lavonia,
I hear the frustration in your comment.
Let me assure you, however, that the 50-state strategy is just that. Under Howard Dean's leadership the DNC is committed to fighting in every state, in partnership with the state party.
When I took this position two years ago, in fact, I trained at the DNC headquarters with organizers from both South Carolina and Mississippi.
Please contact your state party to let your organizers know how you can help.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SUGGESTION TO THE DNC. I BELIEVE OUR CANDIDATES SHOULD STOP APOLOGISING FOR THEIR VOTES IN FAVOR OF THE IRAQ WAR. THEIR DECISIONS WERE BASED UPON THE FLAWED INTELIGENCE AND OUTRIGHT LIES THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION PORTRAYED TO THEM AS FACT. THIS RESPONSE WOULD NOT ONLY COUNTERACT THE REPUBLICAN STRATEGY OF TRANSFERING BLAME FOR THIS WAR BUT CAST THEM IN THE LIGHT OF DISHONESTY. A STAGE THAT THEY HAVE TRULY GIVEN THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY AND ESPECIALLY OUR TROOPS AN OSCAR WINNING PERFORMANCE. NO MORE __APOLOGY FOR DISHONESTY!__
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SUGGESTION TO THE DNC. I BELIEVE OUR CANDIDATES SHOULD STOP APOLOGISING FOR THEIR VOTES IN FAVOR OF THE IRAQ WAR. THEIR DECISIONS WERE BASED UPON THE FLAWED INTELIGENCE AND OUTRIGHT LIES THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION PORTRAYED TO THEM AS FACT. THIS RESPONSE WOULD NOT ONLY COUNTERACT THE REPUBLICAN STRATEGY OF TRANSFERING BLAME FOR THIS WAR BUT CAST THEM IN THE LIGHT OF DISHONESTY. A STAGE THAT THEY HAVE TRULY GIVEN THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY AND ESPECIALLY OUR TROOPS AN OSCAR WINNING PERFORMANCE. NO MORE __APOLOGY FOR DISHONESTY!__
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