South Carolina is "Fired Up!" It has been a beautiful day in Columbia, SC. Just perfect for spreading our message of Hope and Change. With tons of first time canvassers going door-to-door at 31 staging location in 26 counties around the state, this has been an enormous grassroots effort.
Below are some photos and short stories from around the state, texted in from our amazing South Carolina volunteer leaders:
A volunteer texted in this photo of our Orangeburg office. Anton Gunn, our South Carolina political director, is leading the volunteer troops in a canvass training:
John and Alester texted us this photo. They are celebrating after registering a first time voter today!
Ian, a 28-year-old, and Annie, an 85-year-old, canvassed as a pair in Columbia. Ian says, "It was fun going out together. It was a beautiful day, and people really responded well to us." Annie adds, "This is the way to get it done. We need to do more of these walks."
Elswehere, in SC, Lowcountry canvassers texted in this photo of volunteer walkers.
In Florence, canvassers texted us a photo of their morning training outside of our Pee Dee regional office.
Other stories continue to come in from across the state. In Greenville, two walkers had to call in for more pledge cards they found so many supporters in the Upstate. Other volunteers, Lewanna and Michael, met two voters, a freshman in college and senior in high school, who jumped off their porch and joined them canvassing!
Mrs. Robinson also just fed over 60 canvassers at her beautiful home in Lexington. Might have been the best southern-cookin' ever. Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson!
Our Political Director Anton Gunn led the volunteer troops in Orangeburg a few minutes ago. Canvassers are now out going door-to-door all across Orangeburg County. Check out these two photos that were just texted in:
When they come back in from a hard days work, Ken will have the fish fry ready to welcome them!
Speaking of celebrating a hard days work with some home-cooking, Yvonne in Irmo is busy right now cooking up a southern-style meal for our Richland canvassers. Something about Barack Obama and South Carolina. This is community.
Some problems are good to have! We are running out of walk packets here at the headquarters. It's amazing how Barack inspires people into action.
There is a huge USC football game here in Columbia today. No matter. Our volunteer are fired up. They came in droves. Pairs of canvassers are walking all over Richland County. We have them walking in Irmo, in Greenview, in Northeast, downtown, lower Richland, Denmark, all over.
Just got a message from Beaufort. 24 walking there. 71 in Florence. A volunteer leader just texted she is leading a team of 20 walkers in (Ba)Rock Hill.
Here's our volunteer canvassing team heading out in West Ashley (Charleston area of the Lowcountry). They just texted in this photo from a cell phone.
Got hope yet?
Waking up the morning of a massive canvass day is always a great thing. I mean, it is usually hard to get to sleep at all with all of the excitement in the air. But, I managed a few hours.
The first thing I always do, with a bit of trepidation, is walk outside, look up at the skies and pray it’s going to be a good day. Well, we are blessed in South Carolina today. It is sunny and mid-80s outside. Ah, a perfect day to Walk for Change!
I’m here at the main office in Columbia where canvassers are already showing up. But, the main office is only one of six staging locations we have here in the Midlands Region alone.
We’ve got 31 different sites where canvassers will be meeting this morning. In 26 counties. They are walking in rural Bamberg. They are walking in Hampton. They are walking in Greenville, Anderson, Union, Greenwood, Charleston, Beaufort, Horry, Chesterfield and more.
I’ll keep you updated throughout the day. We’ll post some photos and stories from the streets.
If you’re in South Carolina and want to walk, it’s never too late... we’ve got some extra walk packets... just in case you feel moved to join us. You can find all our staging locations here.
Let’s go change the world.
