GOBAMA! WALKING IT, TALKING IT AND ORGANIZING IT IN NEW MEXICO

Albuquerque, New Mexico is flooded with political activity. There are five Obama offices alone in Albuquerque and I have seen more Obama lawn signs and bumper stickers here than in the most liberal areas of Northern California. This great presence of Obama support does not go uncontended as, although limited, there is a presence of McCain signs. I find the “Another Democrat for McCain” signs most disturbing.

The current polls reflect Obama up by 5 or 11[1], depending on the poll. Although, NM is looking blue, it is of a light shade. In 2004, New Mexico’s 5 electoral votes went to George Bush, who beat Kerry by only a .8 lead. This will be another close election and Obama’s lead has not slowed the pace of his supporters.

In addition to Obama offices, local/state/national labor organizations are sending representative to work together through AFL-CIO’s Labor 2008 offices in Albuquerque. The task is to support Obama and other labor friendly political candidates. Two significant candidates are Udall for Senate (he has a significant lead) and Heinrick for Congress (he’s falling behind).

I arrived in New Mexico late Monday afternoon and made my way to Labor 08 to introduce myself to Don Manning, the Coordinator of New Mexico State Labor Federation. I was promptly redirected to Tiffany, the Coordinator for Labor 08. After standing by amid the shuffling of groups here and there, Tiffany welcomed me warmly and gave me a brief orientation of the space and the type of work they are doing; phone banking, canvassing, mailings and pushing the early vote which begins October 18th. Between now and November 4, there is an enormous about of work to do and every day will be busy.

After departing Labor 08, I stopped by one of the Obama campaign offices to check in with Ed Webster at the Central office. Ed seemed highly stressed and wanted me to work before and after Labor 08 and on the weekends. I told him I could only commit to canvassing two shifts Saturday and two shifts Sunday -- any other time would be dependant upon free time at Labor 08. In any rate, Labor 08 sends their volunteers to Obama offices (“in your Union shirts!!”) if they have extra volunteers.

I returned to Labor 08 on Tuesday morning. The office was bustling with volunteers phone banking, entering data and preparing to depart en-mass to canvass areas in and around Albuquerque. I wanted to be rolling out to canvass the reservations with a group of AFT members but … alas… I was asked to display my superior mass mailing skills. Soooo, along with about 15 other folks, we proceeded to fold, stuff and pack thousands of mailers asking union members to vote for Obama, Udall and Heinrick.

Later, with canvass and phone results coming in, I was set to scan results of member polls into our system.

At around 6:30 I drove across town to meet a friend of mine at a Northern Obama Campaign office and to attend their canvass training. I love this little office, it's run by two very young, very passionate women and set in a tiny pueblo style house. It’s just rustic as hell and packet to the gills with folks. An interesting note: the Obama office shares a little dirt parking lot with the house next door. Unfortunately, the guy hates Obama and stands outside screaming at people who even come near his property -- as if the nasty signs he’s posted all over are not enough -- “DO NOT PARK HERE OBAMA.” Luckily, the little fruit store across the street loves Obama so they let volunteers park in their lot. The city is truly split, but Obama’s lot is full. (I think that's cute but I may just be delirious).

Today’s work was even less interesting at Labor 08. My day started with filing boxes and boxes of canvass packets and then filling out scripted “vote early” post cards by hand. The last two hours were spent phone banking for Heinrick.

Regardless of the tedious and dry work I’m still having a blast and I feel helpful. I’m meeting new folks every day; many of whom are local and many from out of state. I’ve stuffed envelopes with a young plumber from Texas, laborers from Northern and Southern California and teachers from Boston. I’ve commiserated with a United Airline union member about how laborious it is to hand write post cards (who hand writes anymore???). I really got to know everyone when I had to announce to the entire office that my name is not “J-la” “J-Lo” or “Jamala.” It’s agreed everyone will either call me Jilala, J or Lala (if you insist).

I should also mention that David Rosenfeld is a superstar. People keep saying “Rosenfeld!!! You work with Rosenfeld!?” I say "yes" and smile ... I know what is coming ... “That guy’s crazy!” They then go on to tell me how much they respect and admire him.

Tomorrow will be my most exciting day yet. I’m going canvassing!!! I'll be heading out with a bunch of Laborers from Northern California to an outlying area of Albuquerque.

I’m off for some well needed reset. After spending two nights with my brother, sister-in-law and their two children (both under 18 months) I’m looking forward to sleeping through the night. If those two little ones were’nt so frigging cute and loved, I would have growled at them for alternately waking up every hour during the night.

Lastly, before I sleep, I’m trying to shake the image I got from watching the debate tonight…McCain and Palin’s “breath” spreading over our nation. It will be a cold day if that happens.

[1] New Mexico: McCain vs. Obama
Polling Data
Poll.
Date
Sample
Obama (D)
McCain (R)
Spread
RCP Average
09/17 - 10/02
--
49.8
42.5
Obama +7.3
Albuquerque Journal
09/29 - 10/02
659 LV
45
40
Obama +5
Rasmussen
10/01 - 10/01
700 LV
49
44
Obama +5
SurveyUSA
09/29 - 09/30
689 LV
52
44
Obama +8
PPP (D)
09/17 - 09/19
1037 LV
53
42
Obama +11