| Okay. Here we go. Forget all that panty-waist non-partisan stuff, you know what you want, right? Tomorrow officially kicks off the campaigns' get-out-the-vote efforts for, perhaps, the biggest election in your life, and you can --should -- be a part of it.
Now Matt's been talking a lot today about the "ground game." Door-knocking. Canvassing. The mobilization of the people. Call it what you want, but it's the way we win elections. We round up all of our targeted voters, innuendate them with campaign materials and polling place information, and we make sure they vote.
Matt's got the numbers in his post. Let's just say that this works.
Don't have enough time? You'll have less time after the election when you have to get that third job to pay for gasoline, health care, and education costs should the conservative, free-market ideologues get another four years in the White House and win control of our state legislature.
All you need to do is commit to few hours of work. Consider this: roughly every shift you do gets a vote.
Never knocked on doors before? A little nervous? Yeah, it's a little weird at first. But GOTV is the easiest, most fun volunteer work you can do. They're expecting you; most of the time, they're friendly voters; and people, even those disposed against you and your candidates, rarely treat you poorly to your face. (Unlike, say, on the phone or, even worse, in the comments of blogs.)
This is the last push. This weekend, and Monday and Tuesday. I'm out here in Erie knocking on doors, and I've got a full-time job, two kids, and an ugly blogging habit. You can, too.
Here are the meetup places, days, and times, across the state:
Kalispell: Friends of Max Baucus office, 419 1st Avenue East, 406-755-5180
Flathead County Democrats office, 627 Denver, Whitefish
Canvass begins on Saturday at 10:00 am, and on Sunday at 12:00 pm.
Missoula: Friends of Max Baucus office, 218 East Front Street, Missoula 406-830-3500
Volunteers can show up anytime after 9:00 am on both Saturday and Sunday
Hamilton:Friends of Max Baucus office, 127 W. Main, Suite 10, 406-546-9450
Volunteers can show up anytime after 9:00 am on both Saturday and Sunday.
Great Falls: Friends of Max Baucus Office, 319 1st Avenue North, 406-453-0059
Volunteers can show up anytime after 9:00 am on both Saturday and Sunday.
Helena: Friends of Max Baucus Office, 326 Fuller Avenue, 406-422-1500
Canvass begins on both Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 am
Butte: Campaign for Change field office, 110 S. Dakota (right behind the uptown post office), 773-459-7391. Canvass shifts are 9 am to 1 pm, 12 pm to 4 pm, and 3pm to 7 pm on Saturday. 12 pm to 4 pm, and 3 pm to 7 pm on Sunday.
Bozeman: Friends of Max Baucus Office, 422 East Mendenhall, 406-551-2502
Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 am and again at 1:00 pm for canvass Monday and Tuesday anytime.
Billings: Friends of Max Baucus office, 906 Broadwater Ave, 406-839-9500
Call ahead for shift sign up. Canvass shifts will be 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm to dark. |
