THE Number - 56. Canvassing in Manatee County, Florida on Saturday.

[FlaDem83]

At a GOTV meeting yesterday, I learned that if 56 more voters had voted for Kerry, per precinct across the state, Kerry would've won Florida in 2004. 56. Every vote, every call, every door knocked makes a difference!!

And a report from the ground - I am a neighborhood team leader for this extremely red county in Florida on the gulf coast. We had great results yesterday - 5 of us went out, knocked on 113 doors, identified 24 strong Obama supporters (including 2 "rehabilitated" Republicans), 3 leaning to Obama and several undecideds. We also had a GOTV meeting earlier in the morning and had about 30 people attend. The GOTV operation here Nov. 1-4 will be the largest in Florida history - if you can call for us, if you can travel here, please contact your local Obama HQ and they give you more specific information. We are planning on something like 400,000 (yes, 400,000) volunteer shifts between Nov. 1-4, for phonebanking and canvassing.

We have a phonebank set up for this coming Wednesday, just for my neigborhood team area, and 12 people signed up to phonebank! Another canvass next Saturday, and then an early vote carpool on Tues, Oct. 21. I encourage ALL of you to do everything you can! We are fired up in Manatee County. Yes we CAN!!!!

[yellerpup]

1. Way to Go, FlaDem83!

Your enthusiasm is infectious! K&R! :dem: :dem: :dem:

[saltpoint]

2. Thank you for the footwork and concentration.

It would be sensational if Obama/Biden defeated McCain/Palin in some of those red states down in Florida, and in your district, do whatever you can to unseat the loathsome Vern Buchanan. He's essentially a thug and an ignoramus and Christine Jennings is such a bright soul.

We're rooting for ya!

[alcibiades_mystery]

3. Woot woot!!!

Keep on kicking ass!

Way to be, FL!!

[Sebass1271]

4. I went Canvassing yesterday also here in Palm Beach

county with my team leader yesterday. Our group was 5 and canvassed in one district alone. It was hot, humid and we walked for seven hours. It looks for Obama, HOWEVER, there are still a lot of seniors supporting Mccain. Obama MUST talk about Medicare and Medicaid will be jeopardized by a Mccain presidency. They don't know this. If Obama on the next debate can bring this and talk about this these senior citizens will give him a second look.

I spoke to three undecideds yesterday (yes, they are still out there) and after speaking to them for awhile and giving them Obama's materials as to where he stands on the issues that most matter to them, they gave us positive reactions. One voter for example had just giving birth and carrying her newborn baby when she opened the door. She said she did not watch the debates cause she was at the hospital and had not seeing anything on the news as to where both candidates plans were, that all she has been seeing was negative things and the muslim charge rhetoric. We talked to her and gave her brochures and at the end expressed and asked her that before she makes up her mind to please give Obama a look and read the materials we were giving her. She said she will and she thanked us for visiting her. - She seemed grateful that we were there.

In short, Obama must clearly state what his plans will be in the next debate and MUST talk about McCain's plans with medicaid and medicare. There are still people that because of their day to day life have not been really paying attention and only listen to smears provided ONLY by our media.

OVerall, I have a good feeling about Obama wining this state. If he just talks about what Floridians care the most, jobs, medicaid and social security.

[Jane Austin]

7. Great report, SeBass!

I'm dying to know what you meant in your second sentence.

"It looks for Obama, HOWEVER, there are still a lot of seniors supporting Mccain."

It looks good? great? tough? possible? doable?

Thanks!

[Sebass1271]

8. I am sorry, i was typing fast... what i meant to say

It looks good for Obama. We had positive responses but with some skepticism on where he stands on issues. That's why i brought up the Medicare,medicaid issues. Also, there are some misconceptions that he voted to raise taxes 94% of the time!!!..

Obama should debunk these lies himself and stop during the debates "playing it safe".. It is not him alone on the "line" here, it is our country.

[Jane Austin]

9. Thanks for the clarification.

That's what I hoped you meant.

[Hope And Change]

5. K & R!

[Patiod]

6. Try ELEVEN. We lost a Congressional race by ELEVEN votes

Joe Hoeffel was running in suburban Philadelphia against a guy who eventually was crowned among the Stupidest Congressmen in several national magazines, and in private polls among his fellow critters (Jon Fox).

Joe, his staff, and we volunteers worked incredibly hard, stuffed envelopes, phone banked, knocked on door after door, and lost by ELEVEN in the initial count (84 in the recount). And that's in a Congressional District of over 1/2 million people.

When you lose by a few thousand, that's one thing, but when you lose by eleven, you start to think "what if I had knocked on just a few more doors?" "what if I had stayed out a few hours longer that one nice day when I knocked off early?"

Very motivating post, FlaDem83