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Edited on Thu Jan-03-08 08:41 PM by ClarkUSA
I've been here for days phonebanking at Obama GOTC (Get Out The Caucus) HQ in Des Moines. This evening, I dropped off Obama caucus goers at their respective caucus sites and will be picking them up after 8 p.m., then it's off to watch the caucus results with the rest of the HQ gang in downtown Des Moines where Barack Obama will be putting in an appearance at evening's end. I'll take my computer there and see if I can get in a quick report on this thread later.
Some random thoughts:
:redbox: I'm staying at a hotel where a TV crew with a humongous TV satellite truck is also camped out. There have been lots of Romney supporters at the breakfast buffet, along with a handful of Obama supporters (everyone wears their buttons). I'm here now getting a bite to eat before I head out again.
:bluebox: One of the men I met is a lawyer who was a year ahead of Barack in law school. He's a native Iowan who's caucusing for Obama tonight. Nice guy who said he didn't know Barack personally but he did know of Barack because "he really stood out and was a star on the Law Review". I also met members of Obama's national finance team and national government reform team who were phonebanking and doing visibility exercises with the enthusiasm of college kids. This is a great grassroots movement where there is no stuffy hierarchy, just a desire to be of service in the drive to make Obama come out on top.
:redbox: Iowa is C-C-COLD as soon as the sun sets.
:bluebox: Native Iowans and everyone at HQ are very very nice people.
:redbox: I saw Barack Obama in Cedar Rapids and at his last rally at Hoover High School in Des Moines. In Cedar Rapids, I sat right behind Barack Obama and can be seen on the YouTube video. Afterwards, I got to talk with him and shake his hand. Great eye contact from Barack and a genuine smile during our brief conversation. I told the Secret Service at his side to take good care of him. His speeches at both rallies were different yet hit similar riffs. The events were packed to the rafters. It was fantastic, historic, and moving to be present at both events.
:bluebox: Within a half-hour of arriving at Obama GOTC HQ, I met someone who I knew four years ago from a candidate fundraiser in a town over a thousand miles away from Des Moines. And the guy next to me had a girlfriend who attended the same high school as I did. It is truly a small world.
Tomorrow, I'm heading back home. I drove 16 hours through a blizzard to get to Des Moines. The experience has been worth every minute. Pictures to follow in a couple of days. I have to head back to the caucus sites soon but I thought I'd drop this report off.
Spirits are relaxed and confident at HQ.
GOBAMA!!! :hi:
P.S. Before I go, feel free to ask any questions. I'll try to answer them when I get back later tonight. Hopefully, we'll all have something great to celebrate!
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