Liberal Oasis: Lots of states are possible for Kerry, so volunteer.

[Eric J in MN]

http://www.liberaloasis.com/archives/101704.htm#101904

NOTE TO ADMIN: I don't think Bill Scher would mind my quoting half his blog article.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Case in point: Colorado wasn't on the battleground map four weeks ago.

In turn, where the ad buys were in early Oct., doesn't necessarily predict where the action is in late Oct.

Take MO. The Establishment has tried to write this off for a while.

The NY Times said three weeks ago: "Is Missouri a swing state that has already swung? So it seems to many...".

But Newsweek is reporting that Kerry's camp may be headed back into MO as well as AR.

A head fake? Maybe. But there are poll numbers saying both states are too close to call.

And while no one is really talking about it now, don't be surprised if NC returns to the battleground.

Swing The State puts NC on its top 5 states it is recruiting volunteers for, saying:

According to our affiliates on the ground, if we can increase the Democratic voter turnout in Wake County, North Carolina by just 15%, then we can take North Carolina.

Are they crazy? No. A new NC poll has Kerry behind by only 3 pts.

Also, yesterday's LA Times reports continued grassroots activity for Kerry in AZ.

And on the other side, the Bushies are trying to at least give the appearance of making a play for NJ, though the Kerry folks and some unaffiliated analysts think it's a head fake.

What's the point of getting into all this?

Because anyone who is able to should be heading to a swing state to campaign at some point, particularly to do GOTV on Election Day.

And while the biggest needs are in the biggest states, that does not make the small and mid-size states unimportant.

Your help is valuable in any battleground state, defined broadly.

Remember, in 2000, Gore got spooked by Ohio polls that showed a big Bush lead and pulled out major resources.

Yet a good ground game made it very close, only a 3.5% difference. Which is why it's seen as a battleground state today.

Of course, Gore had less resources to work with, and had to make tougher calls.

Yesterday, Kerry's top ground game strategist, Michael Whouley, sent this mass thank you email to supporters:

Towards the end of every presidential campaign, strategists like me crowd into small conference rooms and huddle around spreadsheets with polling data and financial reports.

We argue about the best course of action in key battleground states and then we argue with the finance guy about if we can afford it...

...The meeting we had this weekend was different.

Time and time again when we decided on the best strategy to win a state and turned to the finance guy his answer was "go for it."

The campaign is feeling bold. You should too.

Don't let the CW shrink our ground game. Let's get out there in as many states as possible.

If we do our job, it won't be a squeaker, hashed out by courts and lawyers.

It will be a clear mandate bestowed by the people on to John Kerry and the Democratic Party.
----------------------------------------------------
Places to volunteer:
https://volunteer.johnkerry.com/event/search/?TimeSpan=WholeCampaign&Type=30&&Image1.x=22&Image1.y=5

http://acthere.com/

[burythehatchet]

1. I signed up today to travel to eastern PA for the four days prior to 11/2

[Eric J in MN]

5. Thank you. I'm volunteering on Election Day to get-out-the-vote (nt)

nt

[XanaDUer]

2. Eric

tonight I went to our Democratic Meet up. You will be glad to know that hundreds of attorneys, and SWAT attorneys will be in place to make sure Duval county is counted correctly for Dems!

Also, we were told to vote early and to make sure we have a paper trail (only one place here has touchscreen voting machines), and that early voting should help Democratics much more than Republicans.

We have our local 800 #s in place, and we are organized and psyched!

[Eric J in MN]

3. Thanks, that's good (nt)

nt

[Ksec]

4. LO is a great site.

Read it all the time.