US Politics / Editor / 01 November 2008 /

This post was left as a comment to the Pennsylvania state profile here on Betting@Betfair, and it was so good we thought it should be reposted as an article for all to see...

Last Thursday evening the McCain office in Willow Grove (Montgomery County) Pennsylvania had one person present. This has been red territory in many prior election cycles but Montco has been turning blue in the past few years, although not yet this exact voting district (unless this recently changed during the recent registration push). When we went in, he jumped up from his computer and excitedly offered us one of the hundreds of lawn signs stacked all along one wall. There was a table stacked high with sweatshirts, t-shirts, bumper stickers. One wall had a few posters, mostly blank space.

My daughter and I had stopped in, just to see what was going on. We had heard stories of AZ campaign offices where the Obama office was bustling with activity and the McCain office inactive, so wanted to compare two neighboring offices on our own turf - in a highly contested area of a battleground state.

After a little conversation we left, declining offers of a lawn sign (or three) and drove about three miles south to the Obama office in Jenkintown.

The office was packed with volunteers - two people at the front desk directing visitors and volunteers, no open seats to be found - every seat taken by one the dozens of people on their cell phones, tapping data into their laptops, or studying lists, readying walk packets, etc. Not a postage stamp speck of blank wall space open - walls completely papered with planning charts, sign-up sheets, walk information, call information, posters, inspirational messages, and so much more. The noise level was pretty high (how can those callers hear, on their cell phones?).

Not a lawn sign or bumper sticker to be had. We were told that a box might arrive for distribution and within hours the contents are gone. The office can't keep anything in stock.

There are two dedicated and earnest paid staffers, one of whom is local and has been a longtime Obama supporter, having organized primary voting. Hillary took the primary here, but not for lack of trying. The other staffer is on leave of absence from her Washington DC job. Their dedication and enthusiasm is obvious and contagious. Volunteers are upbeat and happy, if they harbor any anxiety it is well masked.

The mass of volunteers and the organization these organizers have built is amazing and they are an inspiration to all who enter. We forgot to ask how many volunteers on their roster, but it was in the hundreds a few weeks ago (we asked, on an earlier visit). (In the interest of full disclosure, we are also volunteers for the office, since the primary when we too worked for Obama).

The contrast between the two offices can't be any more distinct. Now it is 9:15 Saturday morning and I cannot wait to get to the office for my day's workplan.

Bobbi

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