Week Two

Well, week two. It seems like I have been here for a very long time. It was a busy week. Wednesday the Mi Familia Vota town hall was great except for the low turnout. Not sure what happened, but we recorded it so it can get out to voters. Friday Obama came to town. Saturday we went out to Casa Grande to canvass; Sunday we were canvassing here.

I had gotten an invitation to go to the Obama event from both the campaign and from our host, Diana. Neither Gail or Diana felt like going. I biked! It was only about a 12 minute bike ride from here. Diana lent me her bike, helmet and lock. I pumped up the tires and took a pleasant peddle over to the University. The bike infrastructure here is not bad. Some the intersections are unprotected leaving me to go a couple blocks down on the sidewalk to cross a busy street. But it was nice to be out in the cool afternoon sun riding a bike.

I found secure parking (no other bike parked there - sigh) and met up with the other orange-shirted brigade. Orange is Engel's color so everything is orange. Tim, Taylor, and Enzo are three of the six organizers on the campaign. I only felt a little old while they talked music and movies. We got a spot behind and to the left of the speakers so not a front view but still a better view actually than the bleachers. They only saw the back of heads.

It felt a little fan-girl, but I really enjoyed seeing Obama speak. He was preceded by all the other Democratic candidates including our candidate, Kirsten Engel. She did us proud. It is really nice to work for a candidate who is hard-working, smart, cheerful, and serious. Obama was funny and thoughtful. He can deliver messages as if he is speaking extemporaneously when you know there is a script. He joked about Trump's "town hall" without questions and just a weird playlist. He also laid out some good talking points that I used at the doors during the weekend. I got within a few feet of the man. For me, weirdly inspiring. It feels silly to be so star-struck but... I was.

We had pulled together the campaign literature for the canvass in Casa Grande - about an hour and ten minutes up the Rte 10 corridor. The Democratic Coordinated Campaign in conjunction with the Harris campaign were hosting a half dozen canvass launches in and near Tucson so we were only Engel organizers/volunteers in Casa Grande. We knocked on 400 doors. This is a district that is key for Engel and Democrats. We have to pull as many Harris and Dem voters in these places to keep ahead or have a fighting chance against the incumbent and Trump. Next weekend, we are hoping to have more volunteers coming out with us.

Sunday's canvass was in Tucson. I got a turf/area with hills and long driveways. I drove door to door. It took nearly four hours of non-stop canvassing to cover 60 doors. This more wealthy area had lots of already voted (by mail) and motivated Dems; however, I did have several people who were undecided. I did my best to try to let them know why I was supporting Harris and Engel - much having to do with the incredible dysfunction in Congress, Trumps recklessness, and the vitality of a new leadership for the country.

And the abortion rights issue. I was wearing a Yes on 139 t-shirt. That is the abortion ballot measure to restore Roe protections for Arizona. When Dobbs came down, Arizona had an 1864 law on the books that the Republicans were none too happy to keep in place. With the furor of the women in Arizona, this was struck down. Reproductive rights is a strong motivator and an easy issue for me to talk about from all my abortion rights work back in the 80s and 90s.

In between the campaign work, I have been cooking - I know that if I don't, I will eat badly - which is not so good for my body and my mood. I cranked out a vegetable frittata, asparagus and lemon pasta, chicken and sun-dried tomato pasta, vanilla pound cake, and olive oil cake. It keeps me fed and grounded.Okumaya devam et