Thank you again for featuring the deplorable strategy of vote suppression to keep mostly older people of color from voting by the grotesque proof of citizenship requirement. Your readers may not know that in the segregated south, pre the 1960s Civil Rights Acts, hospitals were oftentimes white only, so home births were the norm, often without the resulting correct papers sent to register the birth. In addition, to obtain certified copies of your birth certificates takes money and time: in short supply amongst people living below the median income and the delays at State offices often months long. And many vote suppressing states have very limited. hours for voters to obtain state IDs with pictures for the many especially elderly who don't drive. VoteRiders.org is a superb organization doing the best it can; and many voters don't even know they need these special IDs to vote. We the people were whipped by Citizens United that put corporations into power in too many of these repressive states. Sorry to rant... but vote suppression is very much alive and well. John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would have remedied this but Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema thought the filibuster was more important than a federal standard for voting rights in January 2021.
I was part of a letter-writing campaign for VoteRiders earlier this year for NC voters. It was basically to print out a fact sheet specific to NC, add a brief note, hand wirte an envelope, provide postage and mail.
Once we are past the election, I would like to make this part of my year-round activism. I currently volunteer with my local League of Women Voters chapter to register voters at the naturalization ceremonies for new citizens. The Charlotte office for USCIS has several ceremonies every week. (They are one of two offices in NC).
I have been doing some poll observing during early voters. The poll workers announce whenever there is a first-time voter and there have been quite a few people who match the profile of our newest citizens (older people with younger family members to help with language barriers).
Fantastic, Cheryl! VoteRiders would LOVE to work with you on an ongoing volunteer basis! Indeed, I hope everyone will sign up as volunteers (https://www.voteriders.org/volunteer/) - including for this election!! Check out our DIY Letter-Writing Guide and you’ll be ready to go in no time (https://www.voteriders.org/letterinfo/?swcfpc=1)!!!
Thank you so very much, Alice, for your ongoing leadership and support to ensure eligible voters have the ID they need to vote - and the confidence that they do! The VoteRiders team (employees; contractors; 12k+ volunteers; 2,200 partner organizations) is tackling these barriers head-on and making a truly meaningful difference in this election!! Laser-focused on voter ID education and FREE assistance, the basis of VoteRiders is citizen helping citizen, so what we do is immediately scalable and tangibly impactful. I hope everyone spreads the word that people can call or text our Helpline: 866-ID-2-VOTE.
Yesterday, a car flying a large Biden/Harris flag down a major roadway in my MAGA,Fl community brought a smile to my face.Thinking of Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss driving Giuliani’s vintage Mercedes….priceless!
“Rudy Giuliani must turn over sports memorabilia and other prized possessions to two Georgia election workers who won a $148 million defamation judgment against him, including his New York City apartment, more than two dozen luxury watches and a 1980 Mercedes once owned by movie star Lauren Bacall, a judge ruled Tuesday.”
Kamala stickers are appearing on more cars in my neighborhood. I was wearing my Harris shirt when a neighbor (with Trump bumper stickers) walked by. We chatted pleasantly but still, I felt stifled. What to talk about when you know you are on opposite spectrums? It hit me later that I should have used a “kill them with kindness” approach. After all, kindness is basically the Harris/Walz brand. Rather than clamming up—I’ll resort to engaging more proactively next time.
Harris/Walz is on my 🚙 ! I didn’t wear my t-shirt to Vote on Day 1 but did wear the Vote Kamala bracelets, received as a direct result of my wearing a Harris/Walz t. The retired military couple behind us in line noticed my bracelets and stated they were voting for Team Harris. We had a great convo with them about many things while waiting for about an hour to cast our ballots.Then we got a couple more Harris/Walz signs from Dem table and loaded them up on our bikes,so we were outed !😜 The Trumpers were at their usual station, very visible and loud but non-threatening.
I have done a few shifts of poll greeting (with another one Satuday) and when someone refuses a blue ballot, I smile and say "Thank you for voting" even though I'm thinking to myself "and if he wins, I bet you'll come to regret it" to those who appear old enough to be taking Social Security or to the white women who still appear to be in their child-bearing years. (All the AA women are taking the blue ballot or telling me they already have one).
Cheryl, I feel the same way. Compassion. These voters, unthinking as they are, are SO going to regret it if the orange person wins. But it will be too late.
Shawn, I love the idea of killing them with kindness! Don't "talk politics"-- just ask them with great interest what their issues are and why they like Trump's stance on them. Be prepared to say nothing about your own position--they probably won't ask. It just returns civility to the cultural exchange. It's not much, but it's something. Assuaging anger, minimizing differences.
I agree with you, Robert. CNN confirmed for me their bias at the "town hall" on Wednesday. Cooper stooped to silly questions immaterial to our deadly situation -- asking about her grief? Really?? Just because it's interesting to you, Anderson??? Then, the follow-up "panel" of actual and apparent R's (talking about the lame Dana Bash and the odious Scott Jennings) immediately hitting against Kamala. Not one of them said TRUMP DID NOT SHOW UP. I can barely stand CNN now, including Jake Tapper who once was a respected journalist.
Anderson Cooper has become a prime example of the corruption of power. He started out so promisingly speaking truth to power during Katrina; that's essentially what he owes his meteoric rise to. But now he's invested in his status and position and salary, etc, and he has absolutely become a mealy-mouthed snake, a Stepford talking head.
I'm with you, Linda. And I'm so disappointed in Anderson Cooper ... have been for some time now. Stopped watching CNN a long while ago where watching him and it were part of a daily ritual.
Anderson Cooper, who until this moment, I thought somewhat better, says 'that's bullshit' finally in response to focusing on Kamala being black more than Trump being a fascist. Or that is the gist...
Charlamagne tha God is awesome! Intelligent, assertive, focused, ON POINT, not being willing to take Cooper's pure, unadulterated b**st, and returning time after time to the point. Wow! This is our news media now. Charlamagne asked a simple question: "Why does CNN have roundtables about whether Kamala Harris is black, while having zero discussion, much less roundtables, about Donald Trump's being a fascist, wanting to put Americans in camps, and sic the military on people he doesn't like???" And Cooper squirmed and smarmed all around it and sideways. If you need a lift, watch this short clip that Theressa has so kindly provided!
Trump taking a lie-detector test actually could make for a nice SNL skit. The needle would remain flat after whatever blatant lie he comes up with. Only when answering the question "Is your name Donald J. Trump?" in the affirmative the needle would swing violently, resembling his signature.
I'll bet my life: Harris will dominate the bejesus out of Xi. Why does no one remember she's a veteran prosecutor who has spent her life besting low life bullies like Trump and Xi?
To the extent that I understand lie detector tests, I think DFT might “pass”. “Lie detectors” are designed for normal people, people who display signs of nervousness when lying. DFT, however, is known often to say whatever comes into his head, without remorse or nervousness.
Michael, what a good (and horrifying) point. TRUMP's a certified, diagnosed psychotic. They do pass lie detector tests very well, don't they? Psychotics like Trump literally can't tell wrong from right.
I saw the rally on YouTube, Laura! Absolutely amazing! Reverberating with energy, passion, and dedication! How thrilling it must have been live and in person!!! 🇺🇸👍🏼😃
I read Joe Klein's Substack today with a gas mask on to deal with the panther sweat of his oh god this poll is terrible and that one is worse post. To which I posted that if we'd had to listen to drivel like that in 1942, we'd have lost the Battles of Midway and Guadalcanal. 20 minutes later, Substack notified me that Klein liked the post. Go figure.
Please help flip some of them. Please repeatedly post "not suckers or losers" comments in social media. According to Facebook, there are 4 million veterans and active duty members on Facebook, as well as 12.5 million family members and 242 million friends with veterans or active duty members. Military sites, veterans' organizations, historical sites.
Vote vets has already flipped many 2016 and 2020 Trump voters.
It's up to people like you who are on social media.... when you comment you'll see what I mean. Many of the people involved are dependents, family members, friends and neighbors who are interested in the military and or national security and for whom this is news. Takes repetition and substantiation by people they trust.
I am a Vietnam combat veteran -- probably the lone survivor from my units. I have been a "veteran" since Jan 21, 1968. The grandchildren (or great-grandchildren) of my late colleagues want to hear from someone like you.
When you post on say a FB history site, you may start a conversation with potential who may flip on this basis.... Yesterday was a big day.... positive comments.
I quit reading Klein a few days ago. Your history lessons are much more interesting and informative and I can't get any more motivated about the election than I already am.
I did another shift of poll observing yesterday here in Mecklenburg Co., NC - 5 more (including a Nov 5th shift) to go!
There were ~20 people waiting at 8 am (when the location opened). Over the course of my 5.5 hr shift, the line got as short at 10 people and as long as 40 or 50. But there was never a minute when there wasn't a line out the door. That means that people were willing to wait up to 45 min to an hour to vote! Same-day registration is brisk and we are seeing lots of first time voters!!
I've been tracking daily voting totals in my critical county. We are obviously nowhere near the mail-in vote totals from 2020, but are doing OK IMO considering the several-week delay in mailing out ballots due to RFK Jr. shenanigans. (We are currently at 46% of the *total* approved mail-in ballots in the *2016* election cycle with 11 days to go). Voters who don't want to mail them can drop off ballots at the BoE office or early voting sites, but we don't have convenient 24/7 drop boxes like many other states.
But in-person early voting is in great shape IMO. Adjusting for the shorter voting hours on weekends, it is remarkably consistent with less of the typical drop-off from Day 1 numbers. (In prior years, that would pick back up in the final 2 - 3 days of EV). Day 8 (yesterday) was at almost 94% of Day 1 (last Thursday) vs. 61% for the same Day 8 vs. Day 1 comparison in 2020!! So cumulatively, we are ahead of 2020 numbers for early in-person voting.
Canvassing and phone-banking is still going strong! See below, for anyone who wants to get in on the phonebanking for NC.:
I forgot to mention Tom Bonier's Target Early webpage/data tool, which allows you to slice and dice early voting data. It is free to all, you just need to provide an email to register.
I find the gender gap view most informative, since I think a larger gender gap is a promising sign for the success of the Harris-Walz campaign. Currently:
Nationwide: 52.9% for Women vs. 44.8% for Men (with remainder unspecified/unknown)
North Carolina: 54.6% vs. 44.6%
Mecklenburg County, NC: 56.1% vs. 43.0%
Wake County, NC (i.e., Raleigh): 54.3% vs. 44.5%
Durham County, NC (i.e., Durham): 56.6% vs. 44.1%
Guilford County, NC (i.e, Greensboro): 56.2% vs. 43.2%
Forsyth County,NC (i.e., Winston-Salem): 56.0% vs. 43.3%
Buncombe County, NC (i.e., Asheville): 55.4% vs. 44.1%
Cumberland County, NC (i.e., Fayetteville): 55.6% vs. 43.5%
So NC has a larger gender gap in early voting that the national average and most of the large blue NC counties also have a larger gender gap than NC statewide.
My husband and I were staying in a hotel in Burlington, NC this week and saw a woman with a Harris-Waltz tee shirt on sitting by herself in the breakfast room. We introduced ourselves and sat down to talk with her. Her name was Mary and she came from Massachusetts to canvass in the area. She told us that she canvassed mansions and trailer parks that day and most people were not at home or didn’t answer the doorbell. But In the trailer park, she met four young men of color, brothers, who engaged her in conversation and told her they were registered but had never voted. She talked with them about the election and they told her they were going to vote. We hope they did. Mary told us that in a day of canvassing when she didn’t get to talk to many people, this experience with the four young men made that day worthwhile.
Huzzahs to Mary. I have a firm belief that intention, not result, is effective. I've knocked on days when nobody is home, too. But I dedicate my intention and my effort to Harris'victory, not my result.
Thanks you for your encouragement and all the information and links you provided for us.
I learned a Yiddish word today - MESHUGAAS. It means crazy; idiotic behavior. You know who I’m thinking about. Then there’s Kamala with plans for changes not just “concepts of a plan”.
Together, we can make a difference. No stopping us now!!
That lie detector machine will explode if you get it anywhere near that. DAN OSBORN, yes, yes, yes. I began a year ago supporting him when he was down. He has risen to this level with grit and determination for our nation of laws and his work ethic. Being a fellow boiler man, and steam fitter, this guy, I call a true American Man, is going to be a terrific find, a diamond in the rough. Also, I don't make promises I can't keep, EVER! Everyone here must read the Stuart Stevens interview in Vanity Fair. I promise you'll finish reading the longer piece, and walk away with far more peace of mind than you now have. I promise. Stevens is a former GOP strategist who will amuse you, as well as inform you enormously as to why Tump is dead meat. He joined George Conway in 2016, and he does not hedge his bets as to where this election is going. I know your time is valuable. You simply must, must read it! With these new glasses, and my prepping to finally go vote this AM, please forgive my typos. Stay well all !
A new hook for religious conservatives is Kamala Harris's glib dismissal of hecklers who called out "Jesus is Lord". It's already faded from the news cycle-and here's the thing: Kamala Harris is not about to close down conservative Christian churches or call for censoring her critics. There is no such assurance from Trump, JD Vance, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Curtis Yarvin, or any of the other toadies in the phosphorous-filled room.
Keep the patient comfortable. Walks, if you are mobile. Get outside however you can, as many times a day as you can. Remember the bees trapped on the bottom of Mason jars without lids because they forget to look up. Look up, away from your feet and the GD screens. Hot baths, comfort food, People Magazine.
Take gentle care of yourself and each other. If you want to have loving feelings in these next few days, do loving things. Anonymously—or hell, show up with a bouquet or smoothie and get the credit. (That’s my way.) Pick up litter, make an Election Day plan, love and vote like your life depends on it. It does. And we got this.
This 82-year old Texas white woman is confident the persons of color (black, brown, yellow, and white) in the service sector who have committed to vote for Harris have the documents, determination, and intelligence to do so. Proof lies in their ability to eke out a decent, albeit modest, life against repressive state laws, customs, and attitudes.
Yes, I am nervous which is understandable after EIGHT years of this abuse. I checked my mail-in ballot three times to be sure my Harris/Walz vote was properly marked.
Thank you again for featuring the deplorable strategy of vote suppression to keep mostly older people of color from voting by the grotesque proof of citizenship requirement. Your readers may not know that in the segregated south, pre the 1960s Civil Rights Acts, hospitals were oftentimes white only, so home births were the norm, often without the resulting correct papers sent to register the birth. In addition, to obtain certified copies of your birth certificates takes money and time: in short supply amongst people living below the median income and the delays at State offices often months long. And many vote suppressing states have very limited. hours for voters to obtain state IDs with pictures for the many especially elderly who don't drive. VoteRiders.org is a superb organization doing the best it can; and many voters don't even know they need these special IDs to vote. We the people were whipped by Citizens United that put corporations into power in too many of these repressive states. Sorry to rant... but vote suppression is very much alive and well. John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would have remedied this but Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema thought the filibuster was more important than a federal standard for voting rights in January 2021.
I was part of a letter-writing campaign for VoteRiders earlier this year for NC voters. It was basically to print out a fact sheet specific to NC, add a brief note, hand wirte an envelope, provide postage and mail.
Once we are past the election, I would like to make this part of my year-round activism. I currently volunteer with my local League of Women Voters chapter to register voters at the naturalization ceremonies for new citizens. The Charlotte office for USCIS has several ceremonies every week. (They are one of two offices in NC).
I have been doing some poll observing during early voters. The poll workers announce whenever there is a first-time voter and there have been quite a few people who match the profile of our newest citizens (older people with younger family members to help with language barriers).
Fantastic, Cheryl! VoteRiders would LOVE to work with you on an ongoing volunteer basis! Indeed, I hope everyone will sign up as volunteers (https://www.voteriders.org/volunteer/) - including for this election!! Check out our DIY Letter-Writing Guide and you’ll be ready to go in no time (https://www.voteriders.org/letterinfo/?swcfpc=1)!!!
That's a really good idea. I don't have any year-round activism, but I need to start. Thanks for your work!
Thank you so very much, Alice, for your ongoing leadership and support to ensure eligible voters have the ID they need to vote - and the confidence that they do! The VoteRiders team (employees; contractors; 12k+ volunteers; 2,200 partner organizations) is tackling these barriers head-on and making a truly meaningful difference in this election!! Laser-focused on voter ID education and FREE assistance, the basis of VoteRiders is citizen helping citizen, so what we do is immediately scalable and tangibly impactful. I hope everyone spreads the word that people can call or text our Helpline: 866-ID-2-VOTE.
Many thanks Alice. No apologies. Speak to your peace of mind. WE WILL slay this drag-on our Democracy. Peace!
Yesterday, a car flying a large Biden/Harris flag down a major roadway in my MAGA,Fl community brought a smile to my face.Thinking of Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss driving Giuliani’s vintage Mercedes….priceless!
“Rudy Giuliani must turn over sports memorabilia and other prized possessions to two Georgia election workers who won a $148 million defamation judgment against him, including his New York City apartment, more than two dozen luxury watches and a 1980 Mercedes once owned by movie star Lauren Bacall, a judge ruled Tuesday.”
https://www.npr.org/2024/10/22/nx-s1-5161612/rudy-giuliani-defamation-lawsuit-watches-apartment
Kamala stickers are appearing on more cars in my neighborhood. I was wearing my Harris shirt when a neighbor (with Trump bumper stickers) walked by. We chatted pleasantly but still, I felt stifled. What to talk about when you know you are on opposite spectrums? It hit me later that I should have used a “kill them with kindness” approach. After all, kindness is basically the Harris/Walz brand. Rather than clamming up—I’ll resort to engaging more proactively next time.
Harris/Walz is on my 🚙 ! I didn’t wear my t-shirt to Vote on Day 1 but did wear the Vote Kamala bracelets, received as a direct result of my wearing a Harris/Walz t. The retired military couple behind us in line noticed my bracelets and stated they were voting for Team Harris. We had a great convo with them about many things while waiting for about an hour to cast our ballots.Then we got a couple more Harris/Walz signs from Dem table and loaded them up on our bikes,so we were outed !😜 The Trumpers were at their usual station, very visible and loud but non-threatening.
Never underestimate the power of the 👕 !!
I have done a few shifts of poll greeting (with another one Satuday) and when someone refuses a blue ballot, I smile and say "Thank you for voting" even though I'm thinking to myself "and if he wins, I bet you'll come to regret it" to those who appear old enough to be taking Social Security or to the white women who still appear to be in their child-bearing years. (All the AA women are taking the blue ballot or telling me they already have one).
Cheryl, I feel the same way. Compassion. These voters, unthinking as they are, are SO going to regret it if the orange person wins. But it will be too late.
I keep saying this on repeat. You’re right, Cheryl and Christina.
Shawn, I love the idea of killing them with kindness! Don't "talk politics"-- just ask them with great interest what their issues are and why they like Trump's stance on them. Be prepared to say nothing about your own position--they probably won't ask. It just returns civility to the cultural exchange. It's not much, but it's something. Assuaging anger, minimizing differences.
I sure hope they get their hands on those Yankees World Series rings (he has passed to his wannabe son… I don’t know how that works.)
Watch this takedown of CNN. Charlamange the God says what we would all love to say to corporate media.
It's priceless. More of this.
https://www.threads.net/@pshnw2020/post/DBhyQVXy6KV?xmt=AQGzwKf2o_Rj4oojIVrWqwBc0xG9oeCJQkBnEg-lJacFlA
Thank you! Charlemagne tha God kicked Anderson Coopers a**. Anderson Cooper is a mealy mouthed snake. This clip exposes him for what he is.
I agree with you, Robert. CNN confirmed for me their bias at the "town hall" on Wednesday. Cooper stooped to silly questions immaterial to our deadly situation -- asking about her grief? Really?? Just because it's interesting to you, Anderson??? Then, the follow-up "panel" of actual and apparent R's (talking about the lame Dana Bash and the odious Scott Jennings) immediately hitting against Kamala. Not one of them said TRUMP DID NOT SHOW UP. I can barely stand CNN now, including Jake Tapper who once was a respected journalist.
Anderson Cooper has become a prime example of the corruption of power. He started out so promisingly speaking truth to power during Katrina; that's essentially what he owes his meteoric rise to. But now he's invested in his status and position and salary, etc, and he has absolutely become a mealy-mouthed snake, a Stepford talking head.
Thanks for posting. This guy is great. He did not back down. We need more of this from folks on the air—shame on Cooper.
I'm with you, Linda. And I'm so disappointed in Anderson Cooper ... have been for some time now. Stopped watching CNN a long while ago where watching him and it were part of a daily ritual.
Yes, concur, excellent.
Anderson Cooper, who until this moment, I thought somewhat better, says 'that's bullshit' finally in response to focusing on Kamala being black more than Trump being a fascist. Or that is the gist...
Anderson wants to keep his paycheck, not his credibility
Wow! Thank you for this threads post!
Charlamagne tha God is awesome! Intelligent, assertive, focused, ON POINT, not being willing to take Cooper's pure, unadulterated b**st, and returning time after time to the point. Wow! This is our news media now. Charlamagne asked a simple question: "Why does CNN have roundtables about whether Kamala Harris is black, while having zero discussion, much less roundtables, about Donald Trump's being a fascist, wanting to put Americans in camps, and sic the military on people he doesn't like???" And Cooper squirmed and smarmed all around it and sideways. If you need a lift, watch this short clip that Theressa has so kindly provided!
Trump taking a lie-detector test actually could make for a nice SNL skit. The needle would remain flat after whatever blatant lie he comes up with. Only when answering the question "Is your name Donald J. Trump?" in the affirmative the needle would swing violently, resembling his signature.
Ed Kotch the former mayor of NYC once said “ I would never believe a word Trump said even if he had a lie detector attached to his tongue.
Trump remarks that Xi would bully Harris like a baby. That's what SHE DID to trump in the debate..
I'll bet my life: Harris will dominate the bejesus out of Xi. Why does no one remember she's a veteran prosecutor who has spent her life besting low life bullies like Trump and Xi?
To the extent that I understand lie detector tests, I think DFT might “pass”. “Lie detectors” are designed for normal people, people who display signs of nervousness when lying. DFT, however, is known often to say whatever comes into his head, without remorse or nervousness.
Michael, what a good (and horrifying) point. TRUMP's a certified, diagnosed psychotic. They do pass lie detector tests very well, don't they? Psychotics like Trump literally can't tell wrong from right.
I attended last night’s Atlanta rally. Thrilling! Those who joined VP Harris on stage spoke with genuine passion and conviction. A key message from the Black men - from local legislators to Raphael Warnock, Barack Obama, Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee and Tyler Perry: Kamala Harris is our American future. Please vote. Accessible article: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/24/us/politics/tyler-perry-harris-atlanta.html?ogrp=dpl&unlocked_article_code=1.U04.fblO.oErGIuc93Pyf&smid=url-share
I saw the rally on YouTube, Laura! Absolutely amazing! Reverberating with energy, passion, and dedication! How thrilling it must have been live and in person!!! 🇺🇸👍🏼😃
I read Joe Klein's Substack today with a gas mask on to deal with the panther sweat of his oh god this poll is terrible and that one is worse post. To which I posted that if we'd had to listen to drivel like that in 1942, we'd have lost the Battles of Midway and Guadalcanal. 20 minutes later, Substack notified me that Klein liked the post. Go figure.
Don't read guys like him for the next ten days.
Please help flip some of them. Please repeatedly post "not suckers or losers" comments in social media. According to Facebook, there are 4 million veterans and active duty members on Facebook, as well as 12.5 million family members and 242 million friends with veterans or active duty members. Military sites, veterans' organizations, historical sites.
Vote vets has already flipped many 2016 and 2020 Trump voters.
It's up to people like you who are on social media.... when you comment you'll see what I mean. Many of the people involved are dependents, family members, friends and neighbors who are interested in the military and or national security and for whom this is news. Takes repetition and substantiation by people they trust.
I am a Vietnam combat veteran -- probably the lone survivor from my units. I have been a "veteran" since Jan 21, 1968. The grandchildren (or great-grandchildren) of my late colleagues want to hear from someone like you.
When you post on say a FB history site, you may start a conversation with potential who may flip on this basis.... Yesterday was a big day.... positive comments.
It's up to you to educate them.
The Republicans are aware they are losing the active military vote and attack VBM. https://www.npr.org/2024/10/20/nx-s1-5150095/overseas-voters-military-lawsuit-pennsylvania-republican
Your post are always solid. Thank you Daniel for your time and work.
I quit reading Klein a few days ago. Your history lessons are much more interesting and informative and I can't get any more motivated about the election than I already am.
Donated to Dan Osborn. Thanks for the link!
I donated again!
Me too. First time. Thanks for the link.
Same here.
me too
Ditto. Thanks, Robert, for the inspiring recommendation!
I did another shift of poll observing yesterday here in Mecklenburg Co., NC - 5 more (including a Nov 5th shift) to go!
There were ~20 people waiting at 8 am (when the location opened). Over the course of my 5.5 hr shift, the line got as short at 10 people and as long as 40 or 50. But there was never a minute when there wasn't a line out the door. That means that people were willing to wait up to 45 min to an hour to vote! Same-day registration is brisk and we are seeing lots of first time voters!!
I've been tracking daily voting totals in my critical county. We are obviously nowhere near the mail-in vote totals from 2020, but are doing OK IMO considering the several-week delay in mailing out ballots due to RFK Jr. shenanigans. (We are currently at 46% of the *total* approved mail-in ballots in the *2016* election cycle with 11 days to go). Voters who don't want to mail them can drop off ballots at the BoE office or early voting sites, but we don't have convenient 24/7 drop boxes like many other states.
But in-person early voting is in great shape IMO. Adjusting for the shorter voting hours on weekends, it is remarkably consistent with less of the typical drop-off from Day 1 numbers. (In prior years, that would pick back up in the final 2 - 3 days of EV). Day 8 (yesterday) was at almost 94% of Day 1 (last Thursday) vs. 61% for the same Day 8 vs. Day 1 comparison in 2020!! So cumulatively, we are ahead of 2020 numbers for early in-person voting.
Canvassing and phone-banking is still going strong! See below, for anyone who wants to get in on the phonebanking for NC.:
To phone bank with Harris campaign: https://www.mobilize.us/?event_type=2&is_virtual=true&org_ids=37434
To call with Meck Dems: https://www.mobilize.us/?event_type=2&is_virtual=true&org_ids=1545
To call with Swing Blue Alliance/All in with NC: https://www.mobilize.us/?event_type=2&is_virtual=true&org_ids=1535&q=NC
I forgot to mention Tom Bonier's Target Early webpage/data tool, which allows you to slice and dice early voting data. It is free to all, you just need to provide an email to register.
https://targetearly.targetsmart.com/g2024
I find the gender gap view most informative, since I think a larger gender gap is a promising sign for the success of the Harris-Walz campaign. Currently:
Nationwide: 52.9% for Women vs. 44.8% for Men (with remainder unspecified/unknown)
North Carolina: 54.6% vs. 44.6%
Mecklenburg County, NC: 56.1% vs. 43.0%
Wake County, NC (i.e., Raleigh): 54.3% vs. 44.5%
Durham County, NC (i.e., Durham): 56.6% vs. 44.1%
Guilford County, NC (i.e, Greensboro): 56.2% vs. 43.2%
Forsyth County,NC (i.e., Winston-Salem): 56.0% vs. 43.3%
Buncombe County, NC (i.e., Asheville): 55.4% vs. 44.1%
Cumberland County, NC (i.e., Fayetteville): 55.6% vs. 43.5%
So NC has a larger gender gap in early voting that the national average and most of the large blue NC counties also have a larger gender gap than NC statewide.
I live in Mechlenberg County and very much appreciate your hard work.
Jill and I will be in Mecklenburg Nov 1. See you there!
Are you doing an event?
My husband and I were staying in a hotel in Burlington, NC this week and saw a woman with a Harris-Waltz tee shirt on sitting by herself in the breakfast room. We introduced ourselves and sat down to talk with her. Her name was Mary and she came from Massachusetts to canvass in the area. She told us that she canvassed mansions and trailer parks that day and most people were not at home or didn’t answer the doorbell. But In the trailer park, she met four young men of color, brothers, who engaged her in conversation and told her they were registered but had never voted. She talked with them about the election and they told her they were going to vote. We hope they did. Mary told us that in a day of canvassing when she didn’t get to talk to many people, this experience with the four young men made that day worthwhile.
Huzzahs to Mary. I have a firm belief that intention, not result, is effective. I've knocked on days when nobody is home, too. But I dedicate my intention and my effort to Harris'victory, not my result.
Thanks you for your encouragement and all the information and links you provided for us.
I learned a Yiddish word today - MESHUGAAS. It means crazy; idiotic behavior. You know who I’m thinking about. Then there’s Kamala with plans for changes not just “concepts of a plan”.
Together, we can make a difference. No stopping us now!!
That lie detector machine will explode if you get it anywhere near that. DAN OSBORN, yes, yes, yes. I began a year ago supporting him when he was down. He has risen to this level with grit and determination for our nation of laws and his work ethic. Being a fellow boiler man, and steam fitter, this guy, I call a true American Man, is going to be a terrific find, a diamond in the rough. Also, I don't make promises I can't keep, EVER! Everyone here must read the Stuart Stevens interview in Vanity Fair. I promise you'll finish reading the longer piece, and walk away with far more peace of mind than you now have. I promise. Stevens is a former GOP strategist who will amuse you, as well as inform you enormously as to why Tump is dead meat. He joined George Conway in 2016, and he does not hedge his bets as to where this election is going. I know your time is valuable. You simply must, must read it! With these new glasses, and my prepping to finally go vote this AM, please forgive my typos. Stay well all !
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/how-kamala-harris-wins
FYI: I read it’s my free first article.
Thanks for the tip.
Great article. Thanks for the link.
A new hook for religious conservatives is Kamala Harris's glib dismissal of hecklers who called out "Jesus is Lord". It's already faded from the news cycle-and here's the thing: Kamala Harris is not about to close down conservative Christian churches or call for censoring her critics. There is no such assurance from Trump, JD Vance, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Curtis Yarvin, or any of the other toadies in the phosphorous-filled room.
I read that hecklers said: A heckler then appeared to shout, “Lies!” shortly after, to which Harris replied, “Oh, you guys are at the wrong rally.”
There is always something that gets left out, with the MAGA crowd.
Politicized churches should be taxed.
A prescription by author Anne Lamott …
Keep the patient comfortable. Walks, if you are mobile. Get outside however you can, as many times a day as you can. Remember the bees trapped on the bottom of Mason jars without lids because they forget to look up. Look up, away from your feet and the GD screens. Hot baths, comfort food, People Magazine.
Take gentle care of yourself and each other. If you want to have loving feelings in these next few days, do loving things. Anonymously—or hell, show up with a bouquet or smoothie and get the credit. (That’s my way.) Pick up litter, make an Election Day plan, love and vote like your life depends on it. It does. And we got this.
This 82-year old Texas white woman is confident the persons of color (black, brown, yellow, and white) in the service sector who have committed to vote for Harris have the documents, determination, and intelligence to do so. Proof lies in their ability to eke out a decent, albeit modest, life against repressive state laws, customs, and attitudes.
Thanks for the daily inspiration - continue to remind us to look up in awe.
Thanks also for the "marching orders."
We are all "in the margin of effort."
Let's win this election!
Yes, I am nervous which is understandable after EIGHT years of this abuse. I checked my mail-in ballot three times to be sure my Harris/Walz vote was properly marked.
Can you track your ballot in MI to make sure it is counted?