I have struggled to come to grips with last Sunday's canvassing for Obama. I have struggled trying to write about what happened. I chose to try to persuade uncommitted voters in a neighborhood close to where I live in Sanford, North Carolina. The experience was very uplifting and encouraging. I was surprised to find so many of my southern white neighbors supporting Barack Obama enthusiastically.
That is, until I walked into the face of hatred.
"I'll take this area because it's hard" I said confidently, as I selected an neighborhood to canvas. "It's close to where I live." I thought, as a fifty-something green-eyed male I would be well suited to the job at hand. My job was to encourage Obama supporters to vote early - that's easy; and to persuade uncommitted voters to support Obama - that's hard. The message I had been given to use was about tax cuts but given the news of the week I focused my message on the economy.
Perfect mid seventies temperatures, sunny skies and the dappled shade of large trees, some beginning to show the golden tones of early fall, were ideal for walking door to door.
I began with a "persuade" house. A guest was pulling out of the driveway, so I didn't even need to knock. I said to the white, middle-aged woman, who had just seen her friend off "Hi I'm George, I'm a volunteer for Barack Obama." That was all the persuading I had to do. Not only did her whole family support Obama, but she had just registered her daughter to vote.
Lots of folks were in their yards enjoying the beautiful afternoon. I continued to get positive responses. The early voting houses were really easy. I talked to several African American men about how voting early downtown would be much easier than finding to the polling place and waiting in line on election day. (NC polling place finder) They were enthusiastic about voting early downtown. North Carolina also makes it easy to check your voter registration. Check here. The enthusiasm was contagious. I found it easier to knock on new doors.
"If we are doing this well with white people in this neighborhood in this conservative town, we are going to win North Carolina", I was thinking.
A few houses were hard to find. I finally found them in a dead end, but no one was home. As I was getting ready to leave a burly white man about my age drove up and parked. It was a persuade house. I thought it was going to be a tough sell.
He said in an east coast accent
I'm a union man. I'm for Obama.
He reassured me that his wife, who's name was also on the check list strongly supported Obama too. There was no one home at the house next door, so I left literature at the door. It looked like the house was set up as a duplex so I tried to check the other door but had no luck.
As I was leaving a middle aged white couple drove up on separate motorcycles. I introduced myself and asked about the name on the list and they said she had moved over a year ago. The woman biker said they were leaning towards Obama and she was interested in the Obama literature. I could hardly believe it. In my previous days canvassing here I had never seen this kind of support in mostly white neighborhoods.
As I walked down Knollwood Drive, I came upto a recently developed area with short immature pine trees and uniform white-siding covered southern traditional style single family homes. The gaps between doors to knock on grew.
I knocked on an door listed as undecided and middle aged man answered with a southern accent. The best I hoped for was a polite "I'm a McCain supporter". But I was surprised. He was truly undecided. I talked about how Obama had a better plan for the economy for the middle class. And I said I thought Sarah Palin wasn't ready to be president. He said politely,
I like Sarah.
"Whoa", I thought, "I bet he's an evangelical white male who likes Sarah Palin but is still thinking about voting for Obama." I responded politely "I don't think she's ready." I quickly realized the campaign script was absolutely correct to talk only about Obama's tax cuts and the economy. I had no idea that people like this gentleman were considering voting for Obama. I very politely asked if he wanted the Obama literature and he said yes.
It was a long walk to the next house. I noticed a small statue near the front door. It looked like a statue of the Virgin Mary, but I wasn't sure. On seeing it, I hoped I would meet a friendly Hispanic family.
A lightly built forty-something man dressed in loungewear, the pants looked like pajamas, answered the door. I said, "Hi I'm George I'm a volunteer for Obama and I'm looking for ..."
And he said,
He moved.
Before I could say "I'm sorry for bothering you, have a wonderful afternoon", he muttered something about knowing about Obama and
If anyone in this house votes for Obama, I'll shoot them.
I wasn't sure if it was hyperbole so I said,
You have a right to your opinion.
He reiterated, that he would shoot anyone in his house or around him who voted for Obama. I don't remember his precise words, but he was very clear and very angry. I have done my best to report what he said from memory.
I quickly left.
There was one more door to knock on the street. I was determined to finish. Young kids were playing happly in the yard. A gentleman answered the door, expressing dislike for Obama. I said" So you strongly support another candidate?" He said yes.
I walked quickly back down the street keeping my eyes wide open for trouble as I passed the house of the angry man. I felt relieved when I got back into the neighborhood with the tall trees.
Sanford's one tourist destination is the Tobacco Road golf course.