Really enjoying volunteering for the Barack Obama campaign here in Philadelphia, and the feeling here is really positive in this key swing state. I have been amazed at the responses whilst out knocking on doors though, even though you have candidates as different as Obama and McCain you still get some people saying “they’re all the same” unbelievable! In many ways it’s not so different to door knocking in Leeds. I was talking to one woman last night whose grand daughter was with her, she told me about her grand daughter’s fight with cancer and the numerous treatments and operations she’s had and how brave she’s been. The woman was undecided who to vote for so I told her about Obama’s plan to change health insurance so that pre-existing conditions could be included as they currently aren’t. She wasn’t aware of this so it was a really useful chat. She was also interested to know what people in the UK thought about the candidates and I’m sure I was right in telling her that most are routing for Obama. From being an undecided, I’ve helped to make her promise faithfully to vote for Obama.
We’re here for a break and are doing some sightseeing, but have managed to squeeze in some campaigning here and there too.
I was lucky enough, with Stuart and Esme, to watch the big debate between Obama and McCain live on Tuesday with a group of Philadelphia Democrats in one of the supporters’ homes so we’re all getting well into the election fever, we haven’t had such an exciting election since 1997, only sorry we won’t still be here at election time to help out and hopefully to celebrate!
Glad to see the two of you are making the most of your trip, am very jealous re:the debate, tried to watch some of it myself but failed and fell asleep. if you get a moment can you get stuart to check in? cheers and enjoy the rest of your stay.
Posted by: Sam Oakley | Monday, October 13, 2008 at 10:07 PM