I'll make this short because I need to get back out there. There are soooooo many people to talk to, and it actually does some good.
Over the last couple of weeks I have spoken to a lot of people in Arkansas about the upcoming election. These are people that I did not know before I rang their doorbell or called them. Here are some general observations about the state of the race:
1. The sometimes voters ARE going to vote this year. Actually, the sometimes voters are already voting. They have gotten the message that they need to pay attention and vote in non-presidential years. Based on observations in other states, I think this is a national phenomenon. I wouldn't be surprised to see turnout approaching presidential year numbers in the states that have competitive statewide races.
2. The lists that were generated by the campaign are really good. They present us with people that need to be called on. Most of them were going to vote anyway, but there are plenty in the group that needed the push of being contacted again.
3. There are a few from the other camp on the lists and those people are interesting. Obama is really unpopular in this state and there are plenty of people voting against Pryor as a way of voting against Obama.
4. There are plenty of people on the lists that are genuinely undecided. They want to vote against Obama but they really do not like Tom Cotton. These are the people that can be persuaded. These are the ones that I really need to get back out there to talk to.
One story to relate:
I was talking to a former school superintendent yesterday. He was undecided, but leaning toward Pryor. We got to the subject of Obamacare and he complained about it. I agreed that it wasn't perfect or what I would have preferred but that it was better than what we had before and that I was benefiting from it. I explained as I often do that I am not getting a subsidy, but that with Obamacare my rates cannot be raised if I get seriously ill.
His response was that I was the FIRST PERSON he had ever talked to that had benefited from Obamacare and liked it.
He went on to explain that he is very upset with the system they set up here in Arkansas and that he would prefer that they had just extended Medicare to everyone.
And he was/is considering voting for Tom Cotton. Figure that one out????????
I told him that he really needed to vote Democratic. He didn't argue the point.