Don’t hang up … I made the mistake of calling a potential Kerry supporter during Sunday dinner on Halloween night. Making the cold call at 6 p.m., I said, “Hello, I’m with the Ker …” I was immediately cut off with a bellicose reply: “I can’t believe you have the nerve to call during Sunday dinner on Halloween,” he said. Before he could slam down the phone, I hollered, “Vote Bush.”
The Hatfields and McCoys … I was particularly struck that some neighborhoods had Bush-Cheney and Kerry-Edwards signs literally at every other house. Knocking on one door, I asked the lady of the house if she planned to vote for Senator Kerry on Nov. 2. “Of course,” she replied. “Would you like a sign for your lawn?” I asked. “Oh no,” she replied, shaking her head. “If my neighbors found out I was supporting Kerry, they would never talk to me again.”
You sank my battleground state … In Pennsylvania on Election Day, I visited a woman at home to remind her to vote for Kerry. She said she supported Kerry and had recently moved to the state, but was told she couldn’t vote because she wasn’t registered there. I asked if she had gotten an absentee ballot from her previous address. She said she hadn’t thought of it. Her previous address was in Ohio.
A day in the life … Going door to door in a retirement home, I encountered a senior citizen who assured me she would vote for Senator Kerry. Before I could thank her and move on, she told me that I was her first visitor in weeks and invited me to stay and chat. I felt I couldn’t decline, but after 10 minutes or so had ticked by and she had related just about her entire life story, I informed her of an important appointment that I had to keep. Before leaving, I offered to arrange a ride to the polls. “Oh, I can’t do that,” she said. “But, didn’t you say you were supporting Senator Kerry?” I replied. “Oh yes, I am. But I can’t vote because I’m not registered.”
Connie Douglas, NAHB Executive Office
Democracy in action … As a chief election judge in Prince George County, MD, it was refreshing to see how many people were excited about this election. Our first voters showed up at 5:45 a.m. with chairs in hand and patiently waited until our doors opened promptly at 7 o’clock. It was amazing to see so many elderly and disabled citizens who came to vote assisted by their children or other caregivers. They were undeterred by the long lines and waits of up to three hours. I spent 17 hours overseeing the entire voting process at my assigned precinct in what turned out to be a rewarding opportunity to see first-hand our democracy in action. This is an experience I would recommend for everyone at least once in their lifetime.
Jessica Boyce, NAHB Legislative and Political Relations
Sylvia Richardson, NAHB Executive Officers Council
Hail to the … cheese heads? … In Dodge County, WI to help President Bush, on Sunday, Oct. 31, we attended a campaign rally on behalf of Republican candidates that coincided with the Green Bay Packers game. All campaign activities were suspended during the game, except at halftime when the local candidates spoke. After the game, all the volunteers went out and knocked on doors or made phone calls to get out the vote.
As luck would have it, the Packers were playing the Washington Redskins. As tradition has it, if the Redskins win at home the Sunday before a presidential election, the incumbent wins the election. If the visiting team wins, the election goes to the challenger. This put us in a quandary. We are die-hard Redskins fans and cheered for the home team. This led to a backlash among the Packers faithful, who wondered why some city slickers from Washington were in their neck of the woods watching a football game. After much discussion, those who were offended understood our elation whenever the Redskins made a good play. In fact, they sympathetically added, “Traditions were made to be broken. Just look at the Boston Red Sox.” As it turned out, the Packers fans were correct. The Redskins lost the game, but Bush won the election.
Tammy Eddy, NAHB Legislative and Political Relations
A happy anniversary with no hazard pay … I worked on President Bush’s and Rep. Frank Wolf’s (R-VA) campaigns during the four days leading up to the election. While I was enthusiastically holding up a campaign sign in McLean, VA, someone in a passing car apparently decided to express their opposing view by lobbing a potentially dangerous bottle in my direction. Fortunately, they missed. I celebrated my seventh wedding anniversary on election eve sharing a submarine sandwich with my husband in a room full of Wolf/Bush campaign supporters.
David Crump, NAHB Legal Affairs
Socialists for Kerry? … Working the polls for Senator Kerry in Front Royal, VA, I was approached by an elderly voter who looked me up and down, and then remarked with a snarl, "I didn't know that we had any crooked socialists in Front Royal." I smiled broadly and replied, "Neither did I."
[ Go to Top ]