OpEdNews - Page 2 of Article: Canvassing at a farmers market in Central Bucks PA

Most of the people were friendly. A few Republicans got a little nasty. Most were nice, and I was nice back. If they said they weren't a PA Democrat, or got more specific, that they were registered Republican, I'd smile to them, say, "Have a great day," and continue on. The women were more civil. The handful of RRs-- rude Republicans, were almost all guys.

And there a few rude Democrats too, who just kept walking. But there just two or three of them. Most NJ Democrats wished us luck, and most PA Democrats took a moment to talk.

I would tell the Democrats, "I'm supporting a candidate for the US senate who I am very excited about. He's someone you will be proud to have representing you in congress."

People would look at me with interest when I said this, and said it with a lot of enthusiasm. A lot of people started off the conversation that they were sick of politicians, that they are all crooks.

"Not this guy," I'd reply. "He's the most honest politician I've seen. He refuses to take PAC money. Compare that to his opponent, Bob Casey, who has taken money from ove 120 PACs that also gave money to Rick Santorum."

I'd pull out a pamphlet, which has a cool chart showing how, on about six or eight issues, Casey has the same position as Santorum-- abortion, stem cells, Iraq, National health Care... and I'd comment on how Casey looks more like a Republican, more like Santorum than he does like a Democrat. If I'm talking to a woman whol looks like she has still functioning ovaries, i talk to her about women's rights. If I'm talking to African americans, who I know, from my poll, that they really oppose Iraq and want us out, I talk about Pennacchio position on Iraq, and Casey's lack of a clear position.

I hand the pamphlet to the PA Democrat, and I point out that primary is next Tuesday, that in an off year, only about one in ten people vote in primaries. I say, "If you DO vote, it's like your vote is more powerful. You can make a real difference." I ask for them to support Pennacchio.

With some of the PA Democrats, I'd bring up a few of Casey's selling points. "They like to brag that he got 3.3 million votes in the 2004 election. Do you remember his opponent in the treasurer's race?" Never, not once, has any person, in person, on line, on the phone, been able to answer me with Casey's opponent's name. One liberal independent told me he voted for him because he remembered his father was a Democrat. People all know who Rick Santorum is.

He will not be an unknown. He will be a formidable opponent, a shapeshifter who will do his utmost and spend millions in TV ads to re-create his image from right wing extremist to moderate. Casey has never encountered anything like the hurricane he will be duelling with. The closest thing to it was his race with Ed Rendell, where the 17 point lead he held a month before the election was pulverized.

With a few, I pointed out that Casey was the latest in a long line-- a 40 year succession of PA Democratic party picks for regular senate elections-- and every single one was a loser. I pointed out that Pennacchio was NOT the pick of the party machine or the out of state the power senators from Washington.

I would finish by enthusiastically saying, "He's a candidate you will be very proud to have representing you. When's the last time you had an opportunity to vote for someone like that?" And I'd tell them, "Please make sure you get to the polls to vote next Tuesday." Then I'd shake their hand. Pressing the flesh, as well as talking face to face is an incredibly powerful tool. It takes the person's relationship to the "idea" of the candidate to another level with deeper more multidimensional aspects. It's so simple, but it works.

I must have spoken to about 60 or 70 Democrat registered in PA. Of those, all of them said they liked what they saw in my candidate. Not one said, "sorry, I like Casey," or "I'm going to support Casey." Every single one, except one, said they really liked Pennacchio and would go the polls and vote for him. One said she was a teacher and listened to her union, which was supporting Casey. I pointed out, "Pennacchio is a teacher. He's a professor at the University of the Arts, in Philly. Who do you think will know your needs and interests as a teacher better-- a politician or a teacher?" But she seemed bent on obeying her union. But she was one out of at least sixty. Overall, the results were far better than I'd expected. Even the teacher didn't say she liked or was excited about Casey. No-one was. Once they found out about the two candidates and their positions, they all liked Pennacchio and said they'd be at the polls voting for him. Some people already knew about him. Every person who knew about him said glowing, great things. One was a Viet Nam vet. He was talking to another vet and told him that this was the guy to vote for.

I made the rounds of the whole farmers market and came back to the booth. Janis had been doing pretty well. Between us, we'd both gotten more aggressive. We were going after every single person who passed by. "Are you a Democrat registered in Pennsylvania?" we'd ask.

Through most of the morning I was very well behaved. (My readers know what I think about putting up with Republican guff) When people said they were registered as Republicans, even if they said it with an attitude, I just smiled and said, "Have a great day. I'm look for Democrats for the primary," and moved on. But near the end, one guy replied, when I asked him if he was registered as a PA Democrat, "I'd have to be an idiot to do that." We were getting ready to leave, and being true to myself, with this most obnoxious person of the day, I replied, "Yes, if you're still supporting George Bush."

After that, I did politely ask a few people who said they were Republicans if they still supported George Bush, with mixed replies.

Just short of noon, we cleared the table. Between us we'd probably talked to about 120-150 registered Democrats and a good number of independents. Time well spent and probably more people reached than if we'd been doing door to door canvassing.

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