As one of a fluctuating group of 6-10 co-precinct captains (including my husband), or a precinct captain "team" as we liked to call ourselves, January 3rd is going to be a night that is forever embedded in our memories. I have to mention that our 9- and 7-year-old boys have been with us every step of the way and I hope their childhood memories will include shaking hands with Barack Obama, who then became the President of the United States.
Our Obama journey began officially when we saw him give a speech on July 4th. Prior to that, I really felt that Barack would be the candidate I would support and seeing him proved my suspicions right. The Obama candidacy really challenges us to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. It's about changing this country and our world together. "I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about change in Washington..I'm asking you to believe in yours."
The end of the summer didn't allow for much campaign related activites as we left for vacation for a month. We returned to Des Moines and continued to receive calls from the campaign field organizer inviting us to Barack events. In October, we received a phone call about joining as Obama Precinct 54 co-captains, a call that propelled us to be a part of this movement in ways that I never imagined.
The first meeting consisted of the group of us dividing up the neighborhood based on where we lived. These areas marked the specific area we were each responsible when it came to canvassing and phone calling, thereby reducing the chance of duplicate door knocking or calls. We were given great guidance by our field organizer who provided us with lists and anything else we needed to help recruit neighbors to the Obama camp. Canvassing occasionally included the boys riding their bikes along side us walking up and down the neighborhood. They became adept at spotting "opposition" yard signs and would boo when they saw them. ;-) At home, we began to talk in the coded campaign language: "I think he's a 2 (Obama supporter), she's a 3L (leaning toward Obama), he's a 3 (undecided) so we need to contact him again..." I don't think I'll ever forget those codes!
While the excitement of the campaign was tangible, one event in November sent Barack Obama and his presidential candidacy into unchartered territory. The event? The Jefferson-Jackson fundraiser dinner for the Iowa Democratic Party. And I was there to listen with my own ears what many have said was a superb, pivotal, and stunning oratorical piece of history.
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