We usually have some sort of summer BBQ event. Two years ago we had a BBQ event with State wide and local candidates in a nice venue that David was going to try to make it to. We were excited that we had about 45-50 people there. Last August we had about 30 people at our smaller, more sedate BBQ event.
Yesterday evening we had another BBQ. IT WAS OUR BIGGEST SUMMER EVENT EVER! It was even bigger than our Blue '22 Fall Event with STACEY ABRAMS and all of the State Wide Candidates right before the '22 Midterms. And that was huge event that we put a great deal of time, money, and effort into. Last night we had AT LEAST 120-130 people!! These were some people that we only see every now and again BUT there were also many people that we have never seen before! When I drove up to the park and saw the parking lot full I was sure that someone must have rented the second pavilion as well. I couldn't believe that sooooo many people were there just for our Paulding Dems event, but they were!!!
Tomorrow night, we're sending postcards to people who live in really rural Paulding County at our Pizza and Postcards event. These are Strong and Leaning Democrats that we probably won't have time to canvass (i.e. knock on their door) because they are so spread out. We'd drive to one house, knock on the door, get back in the car, drive a few miles, knock another door, get back in the car, rinse, repeat, again, and again. Instead of taking all of that time, we just send a postcard to let those really super rural Dems know that they're not the only Dems in Paulding County and that we're really counting on their vote and tell them how to get involved, or in the words of Michelle Obama to "DO SOMETHING". Pizza and Postcard events are our most popular events BUT we usually get maybe 10-12 people to show up in person and then maybe 15 who will come to pick up packages of postcards. Right now we have 60 (yes SIXTY) people signed up! Now that doesn't mean 60 people will come but, it does mean that people are energized and eager to get involved. Canvassing and phone banking start over Labor Day weekend!
People being energized, is not the same thing as people voting. People coming to a BBQ (especially a free one) is not the same thing as people voting. But there is something different going on. There is something different in the air. I think, like Governor Tim Walz said, there is JOY! There is HOPE! There is still so much work that has to be done! We have got to make sure that every single person who comes to a Pizza and Postcards event signs up for at least one or 2 other events like canvassing or phone banking. But, I am feeling really good about this.
I guess I should say this as well. I drive around several counties in rural Northwest Georgia for work. I've been doing that since 2000, so since the Tangerine Weirdo and Empty-G (I just LOVE that name for our Congresswoman lol) have been running for office, the signs people have put up for them have been EVERYWHERE. When I say EVERYWHERE, I truly mean EVERYWHERE...until this year. I can count the number of Tangerine Weirdo signs on 2 hands or at least 2 hands and 2 feet - UN-FUCKING-BELIEVEABLE! It used to be that many houses that DIDN'T have his signs! I truly do not think I've seen even ONE of her signs this year, whereas in years past they were everywhere and they were huge signs on top of that. Signs don't vote, but signs CAN give you an idea of where people's heads are...
We still have really hard work ahead of us, but something is different and I think it is a "good" different. We're not quitting down here, but boy are we thinking that maybe all of the work we've been putting in over all of these years (and I've only done this for 7 years, so I'm really a neophyte) might really, finally pay off this year with HARRIS/Walz in the White House and Shawn HARRIS in the Congressional HOUSE! And then maybe other Dems in the Gold Dome in Atlanta and in the Courthouse in Dallas, Ga as well!
