The race is on in Hillary's firewall states: Texas and Ohio. And this is the almighty challenge.
I arrived in Houston a few days ago to canvass again for Obama and to do voter protection at the polls. I am having a real getting-to-know-you tour of precincts within the democratic primary from Iowa, to New Hampshire to New Jersey, Milwaukee, and now Texas.
I have barely recovered from the 'flu and possible pneumonia which knocked me out right after Milwaukee. I had previously committed to Cleveland, OH for this week but thought the heat of Texas would be better for me (I'd already had my dose of the 5 degree weather of Milwaukee). Passions are riding high in Texas, and in Houston we're facing the mighty forces of Congresswoman Shirley Jackson Lee.
Yesterday we started at ground zero: all streets perpendicular to MLK Boulevard. Lots of friendly faces who whisper about Congresswoman Jackson Lee’s support for Hillary but state that their vote is for Obama. Canvassing in Houston is a challenge, not only because houses are spaced some distance apart but we find many abandoned homes in-between, foreclosure and tax signs everywhere and this lengthens the time we have to spend on the road between each contact. Several times I've been warned by homeowners when I knocked on their doors to be careful because of crack dealers on the street - I guess I stand out from the folks who have known each other for generations. I’m not alone canvassing however.
I’ve been inspired by a janitor (Rosa) from Los Angeles who is here for the week with SEIU. She doesn’t speak much English, but she is passionately supporting Barack because of what he means to her and her efforts to motivate janitors to get involved in organizing. She talked (with the help of “Memo” and Reed’s translating – two local Latinos who are literally clapping her on) about how before Obama they could hardly get 10 people to a meeting and now meetings have 70 people everyday. This story was repeated by a fired up Asian American man here organizing garbage truck drivers in Houston who talked about how the passion for Obama has helped get these drivers organized and who would be soon voting on their first collective bargaining contract on Wednesday the day after the Texas Primary and Caucus.
Our legs and knees are hurting by afternoon (Sunday), however, it had started to rain. Our mood was starting to change but thankfully we are joined by a wonderful mother (Debbie a Verizon employee) and son (Robby a party promoter) team – he’s 28 and she’s 54 and they are from DC and NY respectively meeting in Houston to canvass to change America. After a particularly long stretch of road Robby told us his key to keep fired up: “sh## … I was singing negro spirituals on that damn street bro – “wade in the water” - how else can you survive this sh##!” We all collapsed in laughter (his mother gave him a clap behind his head in response) and that good humor lasted until we called off canvassing for tonight at around 8PM.
I’m heading back to the hotel to meet Hai, who is Vietnamese American, and who was canvassing the large Vietnamese population in Houston this afternoon, and my friend Byron from Boston, who’s the worse for wear: himself only now getting over the flu. Then gang is all going to Dave and Buster’s tonight for down time. Tomorrow we start at 6AM for the homestretch. I know this is supposed to be Hillary’s firewall, but I’ll relate one last story: on our way back we passed a group of middle-aged Latino men on horseback in the middle of the street. We offered them Obama buttons and told them to consider voting for Barack on Tuesday both in the primary and at night at the causus. Their response: Si se puede! I’m feeling good right now!
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