Delivery Van

More on the mushroom signs popping up everywhere. I saw my first Biden sign today on my way to work.

I've been feeling badly that I just can't take a lot of evenings off to volunteer in the Dover Edwards office, and have been trying to find ways I can be of help without leaving the kids behind. I found a way to alleviate my guilt yesterday, when a friend and colleague asked me for an Edwards lawn sign. Since I drive by the office 2x a day, I offered to pick it up after work & deliver it to his house.

So, after daycare pick up, the twins & I invaded Stafford County HQ in Dover. By now the kids know my pre-entry lecture: people are on the phone, quiet voices, etc. They go right to the back, to the Regional Field Coordinator's desk. They know where the stickers are and don them (upside in Annie's case). They also know where the toys and candy can be found. I mentioned that we were just grabbing a sign, and lo & behold, there's a list of Doverites waiting for signs. Maps, print-outs, signs are produced and me & my posse are off to play delivery van.

Each kid held a map though they have no idea how to read them. I navigated Dover's dark and wet roads. Now I understand the first responders' lament for visible numbers on houses!! We only delivered a handful of signs, but I insisted that I ring doorbells & hand the sign over after confirming that they did in fact request one.

In the minivan, Griffin insisted on holding his lawn signs up in his window, "so everyone knows to vote for John Edwards and no more guns (war)." I tried in vain to explain that there's more to his candidacy than ending the war, but he's sort of a one issue voter.

The very last delivery was the only one where the owners weren't home. Griffin climbed out of the van to ring the doorbell anyway. After we left the sign by the door, he buried his face in my coat. I thought he had hurt himself with the sign or tripped. No, he was crying quietly. He didn't want to part with the last sign. I had to promise more deliveries, and that he'd be able to hold on to one for keeps.

I wonder how, when he's older, he's going to remember this campaign...

Signs of Winter

It's SNOWING right now in Durham NH. It seems like enough to start accumulating, too. Hooray. It's weird, because the maple trees outside my office window still have yellow leaves on them. Anyhow, happy snow everyone!

I have been thinking a lot lately about lawn signs, especially why the Edwards camp went with navy blue backgrounds. Seems like a lot of candidates went with darker signs with white letters. Who researches this stuff? Do they drive around in the day and night, sunshine and rain, to measure which signs are more visible? Well, my new JRE sign will certainly stand out in the new fallen snow, for anyone who happens down my dead end street.

Lawn signs are popping up all over NH like mushrooms. I haven't done any official counting like Cosmo did last week, but I am using them to teach my kids how to read! My son actually can tell a John Edwards sign from the others, but I'm not sure he's reading. Anyway, I am starting to see trends.

There's a small home in Dover with a bunch of Ron Paul signs that, I swear, reproduce overnight. RP, interesting enough (to me anyway) has signs with both dark & light backgrounds. Hillary, of course, has a gazillion signs up too, and more giant sized ones than anyone. The funniest positioning is the huge Hillary sign at their Dover HQ, because across the street is a giant (white, square) Obama Hope sign at someone's home. So when those staffers & volunteers gaze out the window, that's what they see. Good thing for them the windows are small & high. And what are they doing gazing out windows anyway...back to work, people!

I spotted my first Gravel sign on my way to NHIOP Sunday. There's one intersection on Rt. 101 that's a Republican breeding ground. Easily two dozen signs, mixed candidates. I've seen a few Mitt signs, one or two Huckabees on the Seacoast. And, of course smattering of Edwards in and around Dover.

The make up of the signs is curious to me, too. Most are standard rectangles, landscape layout. Obama's are square, and seem to come with attachments (Hope & graphic O only, or add the Obama name to it). No verticles. My JRE sign, like most others, is thin plastic over a wire frame. Ron Paul's are corrugated plastic--much more durable. I don't think I've seen good old fashioned cardboard ones in a long time.

My friend Julie, who lives in Iowa (and IS caucusing for Edwards!!) said she's been spotting Iowans for Sensible Priorities lawn signs in her suburb of DesMoines. PrioritiesNH does car magnets and cool watches, but I have yet to see lawn signs. Friends of the Earth made up some specialized Edwards signs, but mostly I'm seeing straight up candidate signs only.

I'm heading up to the North Country for Thanksgiving, and can't wait to see what's up there for signage. I loved the North Country for Edwards signs we spotted in North Conway a few months back--nice touch with the moose! I expect to see some Richardson signs in Whitefield, but who else? And, who for the Republican side? I don't see them going for Giuliani or Romney. Hmm, I guess I'll just have to wait & see.

Anyway...Happy snowfall, and happy thanksgiving!

Bloggers Unite (updated!)

I was invited to a small group bloggers meeting with Elizabeth Edwards. I had been asked last week, and was even given the honorable assignment of doing the introduction! Knowing from attending so many events that everyone just wants to get to the featured guest, I wrote up a blurb that was probably less than a minute long. But, I never said a word. Elizabeth walked in, said hello, sat down & started talking. So much for my 15 mintues of fame (phew!). But, I did better than getting a Front Row Seat. I was more like a mute co-host on stage.

Let me back up...the venue was the Reading Room of NHIOP at Saint Anselm College at 9:30am on a Sunday. (I was once scolded by a priest of high ranking that it's a SAINT not a STREET, so please do not abbreviate!). Finally, I get to peek inside the legendary building. However, I was right on time so not much time to snoop.

The meeting was for bloggers, vloggers, social networkers, and other on-line activists(professional and amatuer), of which I am now an official member. Loads of people from Blue Hampshire, though I didn't realize it at the time. Read the offical post here: http://bluehampshire.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2414

Of course, my rundown of has to include the non-newsy stuff so you can get a real feeling for what it was like to be there. First thing: someone plopped a can of Diet Coke in front of Elizabeth just as we were getting underway, and it was 9:30am! Gotta love that, says the fellow addict!! Elizabeth wore a pink quilted jacket with brown slacks, and a pair of brown, comfy, stretchy shoes (I think she has the same shoes in black). Jewelry this time--just the wedding/engagement ensemble. She wore a yellow LifeStrong bracelet that she turned inside out & rightside in almost constantly. And she had a little poof to her hair that was new. She's still thoroughly approachable, engaging, easy to just chat with, and funny. It's easy to see her as the mom next door or colleague you love to run into outside of work.

She talked for a while then took questions, but not too many because she gave such long answers. The main topic of course was on-line communities and blogs, but a few people threw in policy questions as well. My favorite quote of the day was when she said, in reference to No Child Left Behind, "There is not a woman in the room who believes in One Size Fits All." One adorable elderly woman recited a poem she wrote on the spot, called Ode To Bloggers. It seemed like everyone there knew each other, so I just kept my mouth shut. After the event (and requisite pictures), a few of us stayed behind to share and strategize, sans EE.

The most interesting comment I heard was from Jon B. of Blue Hampshire, as he sped out the door, "You must be pdinardo. You look like you write." How am I supposed to take THAT??

Other place you can read about the real content of the meeting:

(thanks to all for cropping me out of your pictures!)

http://www.orient-lodge.com/node/2612

http://www.soapblox.net/belowboston/frontPage.do

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bryan-bissell/elizabeth-edwards-tries-t_b_73434.html

Photos can be seen on Flickr, and a video of the poetry reading is out there on YouTube at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5MnRBE47FE

Priorities

Remember my encounter with Kucinich last winter? He complimented my watch (a rather funky swatch that ticks too loudly), then told me I had "amazing healing energy" (it was just a fever)? Well, I'm sorry to disappoint Dennis again, but I just ordered a new watch.

I decided to get the swatch-esque one offered on the Priorities Campaign website. I was checking out their website trying to figure out if there's a connection between PrioritiesNH and Iowans For Sensible Priorities, who just endorsed John Edwards. And voila, they are in fact all connected, with the parent organization lead by Ben Cohen, of Ben & Jerry's fame. This explains why their cool vehicles all have Vermont plates, which is a running joke around here at events. So, a toast to JRE with your favorite B&J flavor (mint oreo for me).

Am I jumping the gun to expect PrioritiesNH to announce an endorsement soon? Whenever & wherever it is, I want a front row seat! And I'll wear my new watch. I don't have the it yet, but it's coming soon along with my car magnet. Let's see if any candidates comment on this new watch.

Where The Boys Are

You may recall a few posts back, I blogged about a conversation at a campaign with a Boston Globe reporter who was observing that all the students in attendance were female (diagram THAT sentence!). Some colleagues and I, along with a few UNH students, chewed on the subject for a while, and all came to the conclusion that this is not only the case at most UNH events, it's becoming the norm at most colleges & universities. But, the question was unanswered: "where are all the guys?"

I FOUND THEM! Friday afternoon, before a long weekend no less, they all seemed to be packed into the Strafford Room of the MUB, listening to Ron Paul. The room was filled to capacity with them. Not your typical clean cut Young Republican types. But averages joes, disheveled fraternity brothers, right along side Free Staters & rabid Ron Paul supporters.

Ron Paul arrived amazingly on time. Actually, as I exited my building at 2:15, I saw him at the base of the MUB driveway, walking up to greet students holding signs. He looked like your average faculty member to me, and I sensed that the students were trying to figure out if it really was him, just walking up the sidewalk with one or two others. He gave a 30 minute talk--not really gifted in rhetoric, but got plenty of supportive nods and occasional applause--then took questions. Not a single specific answer in his arsenal, but loads of one-liners about freedom, civil liberties, etc. One of the biggest applause lines (especially for the Lambda Chi brothers around me) was about making marajuana legal.

At one point, he talked about repealing the 16th Amendment, without saying what it was. Inspired by Kucinich during my visit to DC last month, I actually picked up a pocket copy of the US Constitution and stored it in my purse, so I looked it up (suppressing a giggle). It's about Congress levying income taxes, but I bet the frat brothers didn't know that.

So that's my analysis. He talked over a lot of scruffy nodding heads, spoke about a lot of general principles, and said a whole lot of nothing. I tried to grab a sticker or something for the collection after the event, but they were all out. Sorry, Joe & Marra!


PS: An hour after posting the above info, I left my office to head to my car in Lot B, cutting through the MUB as usual. Who should I run into than Dr. Ron Paul himself, and a very small crowd of supporters! They were standing outside the Strafford Room, and all I caught of the conversation was him saying "we never would have had WWII without WWI." I chuckled, took a picture, and went on my way.

Only in New Hampshire!

JRE at HoCo, UNH

I had a personally downer-0f-a-day on Tuesday 11/06/2007, so I decided to treat myself to a campaign event without kids, to lift my spirits and distract me. Good thing my guy was on my campus, in Holloway Commons (aka HoCo) to be exact.

Holloway Commons is the home of the newest & fanciest of the three dining halls on campus. Few students are aware, however, that underneath it, on the 2nd level, are a number of nice function rooms. The 2004 DNC Debate used the same room for press filing & spin (that was the time I was assigned to the Gephardt Rapid Response Team, and scored the now infamous Dean Deck playing cards). So, students in general didn't know exactly where to go. It wasn't a room they ever "happen upon," and therefore there wasn't a lot of buzz in the adjacent crowded MUB. So, student volunteers were dispersed to various high-traffic areas to lure spontaneous attendees, ie "visibility."

The Piscatacqua Room was set for 300 chairs, most of which were filled. It was a nice cross section of students and "grown-ups". I helped out a member of the Press from Voice For America who wanted to interview some students, but that's about all I was good for that day. Unbelievably, Edwards was running AHEAD of schedule. My pals on advance asked me for estimated travel time from Portsmouth to UNH--20 minutes but bridge traffic can make it 40 during the evening commute. They seemed pleased with themselves as they spread the word that he was on his way & on time!

Front Row Seat again, this time tagging along with the Co-Presidents of UNH For Edwards. I had signs for them, of my photoshopped UNH graphic. Edwards wasn't on fire, but he was focused and intense. And damn he looked good--calm, in shape, comfortable in his own skin. Those jeans are hot and I love how he wears the same comfy shoes every time. At one point he scratched his head, temporarily messing his hair. Two seconds later, on its own, it just fell right back into perfect place. So, I am a living witness to dispell the myth that he's not all hairsprayed and coiffed!!

The ceiling in this room is low & I found myself wondering if that has an impact on crowd or candidates. The crowd showed support but not enthusiasm. It was very thoughtful. Anyway, plenty of hand shaking & picture taking after the Q&A. Sarah, one co-pres, swooped in and with Isabel, the other on the opposite side, introduced the both of them, and Edwards' response was "Oh, cool!" and he immediately took hold of part of their sign and turned to me who was poised with cameras in hand. And that's how we got the picture.

Next time, it's with the Wildcat if I have any say.

Hillary, UnSweetened Venues, and the UNH Wildcat

I managed to bank my lunch hour and sneak over to the ugliest venue on the UNH campus to catch the bulk of Hillary's visit yesterday (11/01 around 3:30pm). She was running late so I had some time to chat with faculty, staff, & students in the crowd.

Interestingly, there was no seating except for the chosen ones behind the speaker's podium. I don't know how students got chosen for those seats, but the bulk of them looked like they just rolled out of bed or out of the gym. The student activists were outside doing visibility, then slowly joined the roped off section beside the stage where they got a lousy side view of their candidate.

I mostly chatted with three or four members of the UNH College Dems about who's coming to campus (not Obama any time soon, to their dismay), what venues are open (very few apparently), and what classes are they taking next spring (can they get Scala's class or not). The consensus was that Obama is being over-handled, and Richardson is loosing support. Everyone has a soft spot for Kucinich.

But back to Hillary. The venue was really unfortunate. And worse, it was not even close to being packed. I strolled right in and got pretty close, even though doors opened at 2:30pm. That's very unusual for her. Secret Service seemed low key and less visible, thankfully. Hillary's staff, as expected, was calm and professional: no frantic running around at the last minute acting self-congratulatory. They certainly are the best dressed staffers I've seen.

She had a prepared speech that was nicely peppered with references to campus teams and academic initiatives to flatter the locals. Of course she praised UNH then mentioned it is the most expensive public institution in the US! But I think she was a bit flat (as was her hair). She targetted Bush rather than her rivals. I didn't stay for Q&A, so I know my anaylsis isn't complete. I had to get back to the office.

I will mention the dare that I came up with & challenged the College Dem leaders to: get a candidate to take a picture with supporters, by our new UNH Wildcat Statue, which is outside the Whittemore Center Arena. I don't care who (well, I hope it's my guy but anyone would be fun!), I just threw down the gauntlet and will see if any one takes me up on it. Dare Ya!! I think it would be fun. I love the sculpture, and though students initially thought it was a waste of money (I believe it was privately funded), it's now very popular, judging from the photos I've seen on Facebook.

It's nice to finally have some buzz around here. Dodd today, Edwards & Ron Paul next week. Maybe I can snag a front row seat again, or at least a ride in the Topsy Turvy Bus. ;-)

More Action for Carsey Institute at UNH

This just in (to me anyway) from UNH Media Relations:

Senator Dodd to Talk Education at UNH Carsey Institute Co-sponsored Event
The Every Child Matters Education Fund and The Carsey Institute are holding a presidential forum with Sen. Chris Dodd, Friday, Nov. 2, from 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. in Huddleston Hall.
Every Child Matters NH is a collaboration among Every Child Matters Education Fund, Early Learning NH, and PlusTime NH. Together, they are letting presidential candidates know that Every Child Matters in New Hampshire. Hear what Senator Dodd would do for children and working families if elected the next President of the United States.
Space is limited and admission is by invitation only. RSVP: Katie Brissette, kbrissette@earlylearningnh.org or call (603) 226-7900.

Seems like the Carsey Institute is going high profile. Invitation only...interesting strategy. Hillary's event later today, however, will be a free-for-all. Should be fun!

Update: I just had the pleasure of chatting with the Students for Ron Paul tablers at the MUB. Their candidate is coming to UNH next week, most likely Friday 11/12 (Friday before a long weekend, hmmm). Maybe MUB theaters, stay tuned.