A View from West Virginia

I did my first precinct walking tonight, just about an hour in the (middle class, white) neighborhood where my house is located. My partner was Deniece, an African-American college student from Marshall University Students for Obama. We talked to about fifteen households.

I'm not sure we changed anyone's mind (we skipped the three houses with McCain-Palin signs in the yard) but we assured a few folks that Obama is a Christian, his wife is not an heiress, he was born in Hawaii, etc. Still, no hostility, friendliness in fact, and a lot of curiosity about a middle-aged White woman and a young Black woman showing up on their porches.

Deniece was nattily dressed but I was a mess. I started out by apologizing for my appearance: I'd just come from work fixing up an old house and I was wearing dirt and drywall dust. This proved to be an 'in' when people realized I was the person behind the rehab of 'that little red house.' In consultation with Deniece, we decided to use my scruffiness as an example of Change You Can Believe In. We can change Huntington, we're doing it, and Obama is on our side. (Also, Deniece wants to help with painting the inside of the house.)

I'll get a few more hours of door-knocking in this week and I hope to rack up more this weekend. Anybody want to do the homework for me on Obama's bailout positions? I've got a toilet to plumb and some kitchen cabinets to install. Give me talking points!