Well, we seem to be getting into full swing with our voter registration drive efforts, but sometimes it's like pulling teeth getting places to agree to let us do this.
So far we have a solid list of places to register voters, including grocery stores, hair salons, churches, and just individual neighborhoods in general. And the good news is, there is the entire Summer to work with. Then, in the Fall, we are going to try to hit every college campus and as many high schools as we can.
As of now, there are events scheduled next weekend (June 28th and 29th) and the July 4th weekend (July 4th, 5th, and 6th). I think a fairly reasonable goal would be to register 2,000 new voters over these two weekends. And if everything goes well, it would be a good idea to repeat the process until we register 10,000 new voters between Harrison and Jackson counties by the end of the Summer. Hopefully, we can register an additional 5,000 in the month of September.
To put this in perspective, just by adding an additional 15,000 votes to Kerry's total from 2004 between Harrison and Jackson counties, this would move his combined percentage of the vote there from 33.8% to 41.47%, which is above the 40% target that Obama would need in these counties to win the state as a whole. Add to that a motivated Democratic base and it's conceivable that Obama could get around 45% of the vote between these two counties. Not likely, but conceivable.
The other main targets are as follows:
Hinds County:
Obama would need a sharp increase in voter turnout in Hinds County (Jackson), winning at least 72% of the vote and netting at least 62,000 votes there, which would be a net gain of 44,000 votes over Kerry's take from 2004. It's completely possible - turnout was less than stellar in Jackson in 2004 and the county is trending even more heavily Democratic.
The Delta Counties:
Obama would need solid voter turnout in the counties bordering the Mississippi river, carrying many of them with 70-85% of the vote.
Memphis Suburbs:
Obama would need to get around 40% of DeSoto County, which is just south of Memphis and is solidly Republican. However, the county is trending Democratic and with a comprehensive voter registration drive and GOTV effort, 40% is well within the realm of possibilities.
In any case, if anyone wants to sign up for next weekend, here's your chance. Email me at ObamaManiac2008@yahoo.com. And here is the link to the event on barackobama.com:
http://my.barackobama.com/...
If you do make it there, please bring clipboards, pens, scratch paper, sunscreen, water, and/or anything else you think would be helpful.
And if anyone has some more specific ideas for places to canvass in Gulfport / Biloxi / Pascagoula, feel free to chime in!
Thanks. :)