I Don’t Hate America!

What Bluestem Prairie first reported this weekend became official this morning: state Rep. Randy Demmer from Hayfield will once again seek the GOP nomination to take on Congressman Tim Walz.

For those of of you with short memories, he already tried this once and failed to secure the endorsement against (surpressing laughter) Brian (so hard not to laugh…) Davis (HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!).

While we here at IDHA had a ton of fun with Davis that campaign, we did have some fun at the expense of Demmer as well.

Come on! Who doesn’t love Press Your Luck?!  Ah, the good ole days.

So, anyway, Demmer is giving it another shot, this time vying for the GOP nomination with Allen Quist.  While Demmer wasn’t sure if he would abide by the party endorsement, we can only hope that he and Quist will wage a bruising primary with each candidate trying to call for more expanded waterboarding than the other and calling for elimination of more government programs than the other, eventually resulting in one candidate proposing that we close all the federal highways and travel on horseback. Because that would be really following the constitution, right?

Well, we wish Rep. Demmer the best of luck.  Because after all, in this economy it’s tough to retire $135,150 in outstanding campaign debt from 2008 with a single happy hour, bean feed, hog roast, picnic in the park, weenie roast, chili cook-off, fish fry, mini-golf outing, spaghetti dinner, boat cruise, pancake breakfast or pizza party.

Yes, that figure is for real: $135,150; how’s that for deficit spending? Let’s hope Randy is able to use each of these venues to not only retire his debt, but wage a competitive endorsement campaign as well.

The folk from Minnesota Democrats Exposed posted a press release from former three-term MN state representative from the 80’s, Allen Quist, announcing his candidacy to challenge Tim Walz in the 1st district.  This 65-year old who should be retiring is now an ambitious McCain clone with views that actually hurt our senior’s healthcare (as a nurse, I’ll never understand that conservative viewpoint).  What is most interesting is Allen Quist’s lack of mentioning GOP efforts to support him, the Mayo Clinic (given the issue of healthcare and of course, the failure of Brian Davis to win in 2008), but instead mentions the Tea Party!  This is awesome (or blatantly stupid on his part) considering recent posts on Bluestem and here on IDHA about the tea baggers ridiculous anti-immigrant views.  Seriously, just watch the video from the two posted links above to see how proud they are of being “European Americans.”  Hell, if I was there they’d be hating me simply because I am of mixed blood of two of our enemies from WWII, Germany and Japan.  I’m guessing their ancestors at least have one of those two in them as well, yet they are clearly much better… sure.  I’m hoping for them to announce their public support for Allen Quist very soon, especially after Quist mentions them in his press release:

 “Southern Minnesota voters have been holding Tea Party rallies and contacting Congressman Walz’s office asking him not to support these wasteful government spending bills that force more government control of our lives,” said Quist.

DJ recently discussed Allen Quist’s horrible political ads when him and I were just youngin’s, but DJ’s incredible memory is relived through this post.  He also mentions Quist’s tendency to be a “super-mega-ultra right winger.”  If Brian Davis got a little over 30% of the vote in 2008, I’m guessing someone even more right-winged would likely get less of a turnout.  Again, let’s hope for a public endorsement from the Tea Party.

Here’s MDE’s posting of Allen Quist’s press release announcing his candidacy (credit must go where credit is due):

(St. Peter, MN) – Former State Representative Allen Quist has announced that he will run against U.S. Representative Tim Walz for the First District Congressional Seat.  Quist served three terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1982 to 1988, runs a family farm of 1200 acres with his son Andrew in rural St. Peter, and recently retired as a teacher at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato

Quist, a Republican, said his message will be simple and straightforward:  ”If people like what Congress is doing, they should vote for the incumbent,” Quist said.  ”But if they believe, as I do, that Congress is headed in the wrong direction, then I will be the alternative.”

According to Quist there have been three unusually important bills under consideration during this session of Congress: the $787 billion Stimulus bill, Cap and Trade, and the Health Care bill.  ”Representative Walz has been on the wrong side of all three,” said Quist.

Quist emphasizes that government spending is totally out of control.  ”Just the Stimulus bill by itself added over $10,000 of new government debt for every family of four in our nation,” he explained.  Quist also said that present Congressional spending trends will almost double our national debt-from 40% of GDP today to 87% of D+GDP by 2020.  Quist says this means, “continued high unemployment and burdening the next generation with a level of debt that will substantially reduce their quality of life.”

“The Cap and Trade bill will add $6,800 per year of higher energy costs for every family of four and the Health Care bill, which is supposed to reduce medical costs, will actually increase total costs by over $100 billion each year,” said Quist.

Quist added that the Health Care bill contains a huge hidden tax on the middle class and will substatnitally reduce the access senior citizens have to needed health care.  ”In terms of costs,” Quist said, “big business is the big winner and the middle class is the big loser.  American citizens of the middle class will be forced to pay the bills.”

“Southern Minnesota voters have been holding Tea Party rallies and contacting Congressman Walz’s office asking him not to support these wasteful government spending bills that force more government control of our lives,” said Quist.  ”Congressman Walz continually shows by his votes that he is out of step with the voters of the First District.

Not a real bad press release, despite the ugly spelling error of “substantially” (spell check anyone on a major release?) to try and emphasize his agenda.  In other news, I just finished my Master’s degree so I should have more time to post!  Woohoo!

[Update 11/19/09, 8:00 P.M.]

In a press release sent out by the Tim Walz camp, they responded to Allen Quist’s announcement of his candidacy by mentioning the Tea Party connection as well.  Check out this excerpt:

Today, the right-wing tea party Republicans announced their plans to run long-time politician and former State Representative Allen Quist from St. Peter. 

I really hope the tea baggers and Quist work closely together in this race as a simple google search (”tea party rally”) of the group portrays their not so patriotic movement.  A substantial amount of the news and blog links focus on the groups attacks on protesters at Tea Party rallies across the country while they appear impervious to expressing racism.

Here are some excerpts from the Christian Science Monitor about Tea Party violence around the country.  Visit the aforementioned link for the entire article.

“At one anti-Obama protest in Arizona this summer, a protester carried a rifle slung over his shoulder. “[Tea-partiers] bringing weapons does suggest a stronger degree of alienation and threat,” he says.

Conservatives place the blame at Mr. Obama’s feet, saying his liberal leadership has made “union thugs” comfortable enough to confront conservatives in the streets.”

“The first spark of violence connected to the Tea Party movement came in St. Louis Aug. 6 when a Tea Party protester named Ken Gladney was injured after a confrontation with Service Employees International Union protesters.”

“A second scuffle also broke out last Saturday when Tea Party protesters in Phoenix attempted to evict a group of neo-Nazis trying to join their protest.”

Since these guys continue to be buzzworthy, IDHA will continue exposing connections between this radical conservative group and their support of candidates seeking positions in a government representing the great freedoms in our country.  More to come later!

Hi everyone.  Remember me?  Well, if you don’t, it’s okay.  I logged into this site for the first time in a about a year-and-a-half a few days ago.  Tonight, I saw something on Facebook which told me “Gosh darnit’ DJ, you should resume blogging.” Especially in an age of “new media” and “Web 2.0″ I had to mention it here.

Inserted below is that image:

Yes, Facebook, via automated suggestion, thinks I should add the man who brought me arguably more fun and enjoyment than any other subject during my time blogging here at IDHA! as a friend.

If you need a refresher, Dr. Brian Davis was the Republican nominee for Congress from Minnesota’s First District in 2008.  He went on a remarkable roller coaster of a race from political neophyte/Olmsted County GOP officer to credible candidate against a supposed vulnerable incumbent to competitive candidate for the GOP endorsement to GOP endorsed candidate to GOP front runner in a heated primary to fledgling nominee following said primary to struggling for dollars and hope to, finally, what I considered him as all along since my first introduction to the man: sacrificial lamb.

After all was said and done, Dr. Davis lost by nearly 30 points to the very capable Congressman Tim Walz.  Throughout the campaign, while recognizing why the CD1 GOP needed to nominate him, I still regarded Dr. Davis as someone who would lose with the incumbent getting 60% of the vote.  I regarded him as a sacrificial lamb running too ineffective of a campaign to beat a very effective federal legislator.

By individuals involved in important campaigns, activists in CD1, and informed, interested observers, I was told I was crazy.  I was told that as a freshman, Rep. Walz had no ability to win by such a large margin.  The district, I was told, was much too conservative.

“Nonsense,” I continued to say.  In response, I would point to very ominous underwhelming performances/mistakes throughout calendar year 2007 Jason B. and I documented on this very blog.  Here are some examples:

http://idonthateamerica.com/2007/08/16/dr-brian-davis-candidate-against-walz-is-questioned/

http://idonthateamerica.com/2007/10/30/do-southern-minnesota-republicans-support-brian-davis/

http://idonthateamerica.com/2007/11/03/brian-davis-goes-trick-or-treating/

http://idonthateamerica.com/2007/11/05/of-tricks-and-treats-but-mostly-tricks-brian-davis-for-congress-math-struggles-for-the-doc/

http://idonthateamerica.com/2007/11/07/breaking-news-davis-shows-chuckle-impressive-chuckle-fourth-quarter-in-state-fundraising/

http://idonthateamerica.com/2007/11/08/brian-davis-negative-toward-gop-opponents-already/

http://idonthateamerica.com/2007/11/14/dfl-senate-debate-observations-dj-meets-davis/

http://idonthateamerica.com/2008/01/11/team-3-d-debate-in-rochester-day-demmer-davis-try-to-pull-away-from-pack/

In fact, while trying not to sound too arrogant, Jason and I absolutely destroyed Dr. Davis in this series of political wrestling matches.

Okay, too arrogant?  Sorry, there’s no way to sugarcoat it.  When he engaged us in battle, we destroyed him.

The end of the election would see Walz winning handily on election night with 62.5 percent to Davis’s 32.9 percent, while taking every single county.

The purpose of this post is to say this:

Dr. Davis, if you are in ear shot of this message, I kindly give you the encouragement to run a second time for Congress.  In a midterm cycle with only the constitutional officers as statewide candidates on the ballot, your effort would provide a much needed occasional laugh in the realm of electoral politics.  Please, I beg you: run again.  Also, if you feel the need to engage lefty bloggers for Round 2, Uncle DJ will be right here waiting.

As far a taking up Facebook on the friend suggestion? Ah, shucks, I already hit the X button.  Oh well, there is one politician whos friendship I have requested that has continued to ignore me:

The three remaining Republican candidates wishing to vie for the seat in Congress currently held by freshman DFL Rep. Tim Walz debated for the first time last night in Rochester.

First time? I guess if we’re playing under the “if no one was allowed to see it, it didn’t happen” rules, maybe

The Post Bulletin has coverage of the debate featuring Mayo physician Brian Davis, state Sen. Dick Day and state Rep. Randy Demmer, who collectively form “Team-3D.”

All three were fighting for the anti-immigration vote:

Day said a framework could be put in place that would alert potential employers to the immigration status of job-seekers.

“If we don’t protect our borders, we don’t have a country,” Day said.

State Rep. Randy Demmer of Hayfield and Mayo Clinic physician Brian Davis also said they’re strong believers in adopting a get-tough stance against illegal immigration.

Wow, great original insight, Dick.

The candidates also agreed on the importance of fostering greater energy independence by increasing the domestic oil supply, including drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; and in making sure that DFL Rep. Tim Walz of Mankato is not re-elected to a second term in November.

I thought the cookie-cutter talking point on domestic oil was about “individual liberty and choices,” not energy independence. Oh, you mean this isn’t the Jason Lewis show? Sorry, my bad.

The candidates also seemed to touch on issues such as education, national security and health care.

The PB article did not mention if Iraq or transportation issues were discussed, though apparently Day’s greatest qualification is his old age and newest conquest is apparently earmarks.

“I’m too old to be influenced by power or prestige,” he said.

Day, an 18-year state senator, also said fiscal discipline would be a top priority and that he would shun earmarks.

“I’m a guy that says, ‘no earmarks. We should cut out the earmarks,’” he said.

I wish we could get real and stop with this demagoguery about earmarks. Good luck getting funding for a project, say, I don’t know, Highway 14, to go through the United States Congress in a stand alone bill. People complain about how nothing gets done in Washington as it is; can you imagine how bad it would be if every single line item to be appropriated had to have its own bill? Ollie has her views here.

Will we see Day on a mission to stop omnibus bills in the state legislature, too? Somehow I doubt it.

Tomorrow, Brian Davis will appear on NARN’s “the FINAL word” at 3:00 p.m. on 1280 AM. Glad to see Davis has caught on that it’s easier to reach his prospective voters on a conservative station as opposed to say, this lefty-blog.

If you’re in the First District, or even three miles away from the interchange of Cliff Road and 35E, and thus out of the 5,000 watt station’s reach, they offer convenient web streaming. How sweet of them!

I’d like to take this time to extend a warm greeting to new visitors from MNPublius (which has noted our “respect” for Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer), Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer’s own campaign (which noted that “the bloggers are talking” about the campaign in an email) and the Rochester Post-Bulletin’s new blog “Political Party,” which looked at how Dr. Brian Davis deals with bloggers such as us.

So, welcome.  Stick around.  Have a good time.

This past Saturday, Dr. Brian Davis (GOP candidate for Congress in the First) and I met each another for the first time.

Was Davis polite and cordial?

Arrogant and standoffish?

Diplomatic but firm?

Or was he none of the above and just went ahead with his plan to destroy me by unleashing his onslaught of evil, non-Mayo approved radiology, err, radiation oncology upon my being?

Stick around to the end of the post to find out!

That same day I made the four-mile trek to Prior Lake High School, my alma mater, in my hometown of Savage to check out the festivities of the DFL State Central Committee meeting and the debate between DFL US Senate candidates hoping to take on Norm Coleman next November.

The high school, open two years following the graduation of Jason and I (I had be nostaligic and check the athletic showcases; Jason looks so manly in his football uniform!), had yet to receive a visit from me. It is quite the impressive facility with just a few hundred people present, but I’m sure with overcrowded hallways and classrooms during a school day it is less so.

As I got there well before the debate I was able to secure a front-row seat nearby the TV cameras, Mike McIntee from the Uptake and a nice fellow who introduced himself as JP, a Republican tracker.

For a play-by-play rundown of the debate, check out my liveblog post.
Two hours certainly flies by when you have four candidates answering questions, and both factors also limit the amount of questions that can be asked. The debate was good in that it offered candidates a chance to give their views on a items which have yet to receive such focus such as NASA funding and the creation of a Department of Peace. Missed were lengthy discussions on climate change (so we don’t have to hear Al Franken recite Al Gore again) and transportation (bridge collapse, etc.).

Here are my impressions of how each candidate performed and basically my thoughts of each candidate so far:

Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer: Passionate, thoughtful, and articulate. In my opinion he won the debate. Some friends of mine might be surprised I would think of a guy as far left as him perhaps the best candidate (considering I’m quite moderate), but I think he is a very qualified candidate for this position. So what if eliminating 70 percent of carbon emissions in the next ten years is close to impossible? So what if going to single-payer health care immediately is probably a proposition only from fantasy? So what if shutting down all military bases in Iraq soon probably isn’t attainable? The vision to at least try and get to those goals is what we need right now in this time of mediocrity (at best!) with Coleman.

Jim Cohen: He is a smart guy who has experience in several key areas but unfortunately doesn’t come across with any sort of “it” factor, especially when compared to the other three. Answering after Nelson-Pallmeyer may have hurt him during this debate in the following regard, but he comes across as regurgitating the same progressive viewpoints already delivered in a more passionate and thorough manner by Nelson-Pallmeyer. He spoke of needing new solutions for higher education, but had no solutions immediately available. He would be a fine candidate for the state legislature or even Congress, but just isn’t the guy right now to take on Coleman.

Al Franken: Uh oh, I better put on the protective armor before MDE pulls quotes from me. Just kidding, of course. Franken is someone who bugs me in the sense that he comes across as someone who always needs to be the “rockstar,” which is understandable considering his celebrity past but isn’t what all people want in a US Senator. Other things that bugged me about Franken during the debate: putting his hands on other candidates (just made him look controlling), tossing it to Ciresi a couple of times when it was his turn to answer (as if he was the moderator), all of the “I know so-and-so in a certain situation and I’m going to use two-and-a-half minutes telling that story and 30 seconds giving my position” stories, and his use of so many jokes. I know he’s a comedian and the use of jokes gets people to laugh and like him, but does nothing to prove to me personally that he is a the best candidate for this job. One joke that did work was was the Richard Pearle reference to point out why a cabinet level department of peace wouldn’t work, but continuing to make fun of things like George W. Bush’s public speaking ability doesn’t help him. Any College Democrat can do that; we need something more out of a US Senate candidate.

Mike Ciresi: Along with Franken, Ciresi appears quite moderate compared to Cohen and JNP and some people see these moderate stances as trying to win over Republicans; I’m not sure this is true for Ciresi. On health care, for example, Franken answered the question “What would you do to get to universal health care” by giving excuses why single-payer wouldn’t work. While not advocating for single-payer, Ciresi actually answered how universal would be paid for. I find it appealing that Ciresi, while having a tremendous resume as a trial lawyer, doesn’t feel the need to tell specific stories about his experience very often. After all, its a debate! Answer the questions and give us your positions.

Links to YouTube’s of the debate are here.

Now back to what I started the post with: Yes, as I was wrapping up shop and shutting down my computer, I was greeted by candidate for Congress in the First District, Dr. Brian Davis.

Yes, a debate in the Second district. With DFLers. Going for Senate, not the House.

Regardless of how ruthless we have been to him, he came across as a nice guy, even telling me that if it was indeed all of my own work, I did a good job with the Randy Demmer per-diem stuff.

Who else would have done the post if not me? That I don’t know. Davis gave me his business card and told me to contact him if we wanted to grant him an interview, which we may down the road.

As opposed to my four mile trek, Davis had an 81 mile trip one-way from Rochester to Savage. He must be very, very interested in the positions of the candidates for Senate from the DFL to make that trek with $3.00/gallon fuel, or maybe he was just making a pit stop before going to an old buddies house in some city like Shakopee for darts, pizza and beer?

Who knows. As long as he doesn’t tell me how to blog, I won’t tell him what to do with his Saturdays!

Below is a screen shot from Brian Davis’s official campaign website which illustrates a quote prominently placed on the front page:

“Instead of re-electing professional politicians, we need to return to a system of electing citizen legislators…”

I can interpret this to be nothing but a subtle dig at his three opponents for the Republican nomination to take on Rep. Tim Walz in Minnesota’s First Congressional District.

The three all are currently in elected office while Davis never has. Dick Day of Owatonna has served in the State Senate since 1991, Randy Demmer of Hayfield has served in the House of Representatives since 2003 and Mark Meyer of Lake Crystal serves as chair of the Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial board of education.

Walz, elected in 2006, had no prior elected experience. If Walz, who unseated six-term member Gil Gutknecht, is indeed the target of this quote it is borderline dishonesty on the part of Davis.

I must wonder: why would Davis take up prominent real estate on his home page going negative toward his Republican opponents as opposed to using that space for something which would highlight his ultimate goal: defeating Tim Walz?

As we have previously pointed out, Davis has struggled to collect campaign contributions within the First District. Will delegates to the GOP First District convention appreciate Davis’s negativity?

Dr. Brian Davis, Republican candidate for Congress in Minnesota’s First District, asserted that his third-quarter individual contributions under $200 help show the “whole story” of his supposed rock-solid support from within the district (this was in response to our report that just 15 of Davis’s 80 third-quarter individual donors were from Minnesota). We went on to blow his “whole story” claim out of the water by showing that a mere 5.7 percent of his total contributions were under $200. Thats barely a chapter or passage of the story let alone the whole book.

Now Davis is claiming another “victory” in his little battle to unseat Tim Walz (right here in the comments at IDHA! mind you!).

Hi DJ,

Twenty-nine percent of the contributions have come from Minnesota as of the conclusion of business yesterday (50 of 175 contributions). Twenty-six percent of the total originates from our State.

Wow. Get the man a cocktail!

29 percent!

Geez. He really showed me!
I wonder: if he gets 29 percent of the vote at the First District GOP convention for the endorsement, will he will brag about that, too?

All snarkiness aside, this figure is worthless for two simple reasons:

1. As I foreshadowed by with my sarcasm above, can anyone give me a situation in which 29 percent of contributions coming from inside a candidate’s home state could be impressive? Let alone impressive enough to brag about on a blog published by someone on that candidate’s opposing side of the political aisle?
2. Maybe the figure could be relevant but only after all of the fourth quarter reports are actually filed (mid-January)! Brian Davis has 29 percent of his contributions coming from within Minnesota. So f’ing what?! If he is going to use that figure as a benchmark to judge success, how can that be done without comparing it to those of his opponents?

Davis went on in the same comment to invite me to join the campaign as a volunteer.

Well, Dr. Davis, thanks, but no thanks. At the risk of sounding arrogant as you, I must say: continuing to dominate this game of intellectual ping-pong is much too fun quit playing in the middle of the game.

It seems that Brian Davis, candidate for Congress in Minnesota’s First District, has shown his hand when it comes to campaign strategy early on.

Apparently absent from that strategy is tact. Check out Jason’s earlier post highlighting Davis’s decision to campaign while trick-or-treating with his kids last week on Halloween.

Showing your family on a piece of literature or on a campaign website? That can give voters an opportunity to see the personal, as opposed to the political, side of the candidate.

Campaigning for office while your kids trick-or-treat? While not scandalous or even unethical, it’s the opinion of this blogger that trick-or-treating on Halloween is a very sacred annual event in a child’s life; one which should provide memories for a family based on the costumes, candy and carving of pumpkins. What Davis did crosses a delicate line and violates that sacredness. Those memories should not have to take a backseat to politics.

By showcasing such activity on his blog, Davis obviously feels this is “creative campaigning.” I find it to be simply “tacky.”

In the same post, Davis takes issue with our previous assertion that due to lackluster fundraising within the district, he may not have the support of those necessary to gain the GOP nomination. He didn’t have any real in-depth rebuttal, but had three comments about what we said. In the third comment, Davis becomes the second GOP contender for the First District nomination to show struggles with mathematics, but let’s start from the beginning:

1) It’s good to have friends and colleagues who are willing to provide support.

Sure. Al Franken has given similar justification for his outsta…er…out-of-state fundraising, but Kevin Kline, Lucy Lawless or Paul Newman will not be able to cast a vote for Franken at the State DFL Convention. Likewise, Davis’s nationwide network of physician friends who gave money will not be able to cast a vote for him at the district GOP convention.

The difference comes here: Al Franken has demonstrated that he has already built a grassroots network of supporters here in Minnesota who are working the phones and will doorknock with him. Has Davis? I mean, other than his children, of course. (Only kidding!)

2) Having receipts greater than expenses is a good way to run a business or a campaign.

Being stuck with campaign debt, which is a possibility for Randy “the Whammy” Demmer, would suck, so Davis is correct here. Of course, his personal contribution went a long way towards that accomplishment for the campaign.

Well, over one-third of the way toward that end anyway. Davis’s campaign kitty had $74,104.85 in it at the end of October; Davis donated $26,193.25.

3) The FEC reports don’t tell the whole story, particularly as it concerns donations at $200 and below.

I’m quite curious: what part of the story do they not tell, Dr. Davis? Of $55,035 of individual contributions in the third quarter, just $3,132 of that was from contributions less than $200, which aren’t listed on the FEC report. Even if all of that came from within the First District, at just 5.7 percent of individual contributions that’s hardly anything to brag about, or even “add to the story.” Compared to the percentages of his “Team 3-D” comrades, it’s even less impressive (Day had 20 percent and Demmer had 31.8 percent).

The percentage of the incumbent, Tim Walz, was 28.1.

Randy Demmer, who has proven he can’t count, isn’t a doctor, so I suppose I can see him having some issues with mathematics. For someone with a Ph.D., however, Brian Davis should be able to not only count, but do a better job of interpreting equations and figures.

*Knock knock*

    “Why hello there!”

“Hi, I’m Brian Davis, running for the House of Representatives in District 1″

    ”Do you want a Snicker’s?  Maybe some Caprisun?”

“No, I mean I’m running a campaign and am trying to get the word out”

   “You look so cute in that costume.  Are you a Republican?”

———–

Actually, according to his blog, the letter he gave looked more like this:

“October 31, 2007

Dear Rochester Neighbor:

Happy Halloween! The reason that I’m writing to you is to introduce you to my campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in our District, the 1st District of Minnesota and to seek your support…..”

I just had to make a joke out of this.  I will admit that I was campaigning for Tim Walz last year during Halloween.  This was when I worked with the AFL-CIO: Working America organization.  It felt very uncomfortable to knock on a family’s door, being greeted with smiles, and tell them I was out door-knocking for union-endorsed candidates.  Of course, I did not have any kids with me as Brian Davis did.  I could see him getting a warmer welcome when with the kids, but really, the last thing a family wants to see is someone out campaigning.

 I stopped after only a few houses when the sun went down.  It’s an interesting tactic though… most people are home and expecting knocks on the door.  What better way to ensure getting the word out on a day people will answer, and not just ignore you.

 Hat tip to Brian for mentioning us on his blog within his Halloween post.