Nine weekends left until the election on November 4. That's nine opportunities to plant a subliminal message in the minds of Midwestern swing state voters. The next nine weeks is peak season for community festivals. Just to name a few, we have festivals celebrating apples, walnuts, potatos, popcorn, sauerkraut, mums and a really big one for pumpkins. Since most have political party booths, these festivals are a great chance to implant a subliminal message - there is a wide diversity of people supporting the Obama/Biden ticket.
An idea occured to me after seeing a few people carrying Obama yard signs at a festival this weekend. Groups of Obama supporters with a diverse mix (white, African American, Hispanic, young, old, male, female, etc.) could go to upcoming festivals and pick up yard signs from the Obama and/or Democratic Party booth instead of party headquarters. What would really be sweet is a woman wearing a Hillary shirt carrying an Obama yard sign. But anyone wearing a Hillary shirt would reinforce the party unity we've experienced. Don't underestimate the power of a subliminal message.
That idea was generated after hearing a few comments from some older people at a festival this weekend in a Republican-dominated community near the Dayton area. When two African-American families walked by carrying an Obama '08 yard sign, the comment was made "that's the only people who'll be picking those signs up today." Obama yard signs are beginning to pop up in that community, so I know he has support there. But visually linking a person instead of a house with Obama support is much more effective. Look at the reaction to Barney Smith at the convention.
Ohio has numerous community festivals in suburbs and small towns between now and the election, many in the suburban and rural areas that could complement his lead in urban areas. Here are links to a few in southern and northwestern Ohio:
9/11-14 Peebles Old-Timers Days
9/12-14 Xenia Old Fashioned Days (big one)
9/12-14 Washington Courthouse Festival
9/12-14 Salt Creek Valley Festival
9/19-21 Tiffin-Seneca Heritage Festival (college town)
9/27-28 Germantown Pretzel Festival
10/3-5 Minster Oktoberfest (big one)
10/3-4 Cambridge Oktoberfest
10/4-5 Spring Valley Potato Festival
10/4-5 Lima Apple Festival
10/11-12 Waynesville Sauerkraut Festival (really big one!)
10/15-18 Circleville Pumpkin Show (really big one)!
In closing, where is the TV ad in Midwestern swing states featuring Barney Smith and his lovable "We need a President who puts Barney Smith before Smith Barney" line? Plastering that statement all over Ohio and other swing states is a winning tactic IMO. There's a whole lotta Barney Smiths in Ohio.
Obama/Biden - '08
Yes We Can