Monday, September 24, 2018

What it is really like to work on a campaign: organized chaos prevails

Almost three weeks ago I posted a picture of "the calm before the surge" as we readied the campaign office here in Reno for the arrival of 35 canvassers and a revolving cast of volunteers.

Since then, the crew has settled into a rhythm, knocking on doors six days a week to identify supporters of US Senate candidate Jacky Rosen and of Steve Sisolak for Governor of Nevada. We've hit over 25,000 doors so far! And we won't rest until we get these voters to the ballot box. A little history reveals the scale of the problem we're working on: in 2016, seventy-seven percent of Nevadans voted, but in 2014 (the last midterm cycle) only 46 percent turned out. Republicans are more reliable voters than Democrats who are often poorer and more transient. Our candidates will only win if we can nudge more of our voters out their doors. To do that, we have to find them. And so we door knock.

Here's what that once quiet office looks like every morning as we go over the previous days' work, learn how voters are responding to issues, and get fired up to go out there again:

The true wonder to me is what the office looks like after this determined, boisterous crew takes off for the day:
We can only accomplish a huge, laborious project like finding and turning out our voters if we maintain discipline and order in our home base.

Volunteers are most welcome to join. Changing which party runs the US Senate depends in large part on what happens right here in Washoe County. Come work for a few days and we'll put you up. Read details and respond here.

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