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I took up my almost weekly task of canvassing this weekend in my precinct. Of the 43 doors knocked I had 15 Obama supporters, an undecided and lots of not homes and only one McCain supporter. I also got offers to help me on election day. One guy said, "I'll bring plain shirts". (Virginia plans to turn away people who wear a campaign shirt or buttons on election day - ACLU is opposing this). I said, that was a great idea and I would bring shirts too so that anyone wearing an Obama shirt can cover up before going in to vote. (I'm a precinct leader, so I will be camped out at the polls on election day). I also had a mother chase me down the street because she just got home and was so anxious to touch base with someone from the campaign after I spoke with her son. Her son had been so inspired at the door when I talked with him for a few minutes that I asked him to ask his mother to volunteer and bring him along. Later when I met her running toward me down the street I realized that this son was obviously like Obama, with a white mother and a black father. So his identification with Obama was on an even more basic level than I realized.
Let me say something as a white woman about voting for Obama "because he's the same race". I think it's wonderful that black people who have felt disenfranchised and apathetic for so long can get excited about Obama being our first black President. I'm excited about it too! We need someone in there besides white males all the time so whether you're a brother or a sister or white or black you can feel proud that we have overcome, as a majority in this country our heritage of race problems. Finally the hard work we have done since integrating our schools, in being able to judge someone for the "content of his character" is coming true. If only MLK Jr had been alive to see it.
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