Doing My Small Part

This past Saturday my wife,Katy, and I went to our local polling location and voted early along with thousands of other North Carolinians. To do so we had to stand in line for over two hours..IN THE RAIN! We felt like we were doing our small part in this ever so important election by braving the weather and the line to vote for Barack Obama. North Carolina is one of many states who offer early voting, and this year is seeing record turn out for this option. Many reports are indicating that minorities are turning out in record numbers for the early voting, and also that registered democrats are showing up in greater numbers then republicans. All of this means very little, but it does point in favor of Obama.

On Sunday I then went to the Obama campaign office in Greensboro and did canvassing for four hours. I was filled with optimism about this campaign as soon as I walked into the Obama office as it was a bustling building full of action. There were probably about 50 volunteers (young and old, black and white) and a number of other people there to get yard signs and bumper stickers. I was given another place to go and meet up with another team of volunteers. I drove to the east side of Greensboro to a residential area where I went to yet another Obama campaign office. There I met a full time staffer and was given some more instructions, my list of addresses, and a packet of campaign material and stickers to hand out. All I was simply doing was connecting with voters on behalf of the NC Democratic Party and The Campaign for Change. I informed them of where they could go to vote, encouraged them to take advantage of the early voting, asked if they needed a ride to go vote, and then asked if they had any questions on any of the local Democratic candidates. I then gave them some informational packets, thanked them for their time, and went on my way to the next house.

Going door to door, like my time at the campaign office, was reason for optimism for Obama supporters. I ran into many registered independents who were quite enthusiastic about Obama, and many of the people I talked with said they were more excited about this upcoming election then they could ever remember being for an election season. To me, that is one of the most important parts of Obama's campaign, optimism and excitement. Even though we're in an economic crisis and involved in two wars, I am excited and optimistic about our country's future, because I am excited and optimistic about who will be taking over the Oval Office.

By Eli Lovell