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Report from the Ned Lamont Road Trip

by: Rosi Efthim

Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 04:50:11 PM EDT

I'm in the Bridgeport, CT HQ of Lamont for Senate. It's a storefront print shop and we've been putting out canvass crews and phone banking for hours in a tight, wild space, dodging vast reams of paper, machinery with pointy things and styrofoam cups all over the floor. There are cookies and voter lists on every table surface. All the land lines are in use (it's really loud in here). And at least two dozen people are standing outside where the cell reception is better.

Ned Lamont just walked in the door, to thank everybody:

Rosi Efthim :: Report from the Ned Lamont Road Trip

Right now the eyes of the country are on little old Connecticut, as the voters here will show the rest of the country that we will stand up to the Bush administration and show them that we can focus our energies and our resources on health care on taking care of our cities and our people.

It's a pretty good message and considerably more on target than the way a lot of the reporters on the scene are sizing things up: Angry bloggers poised to push long-time Senator Nice-guy out of office.

SEIU is here in force, a rowdy sea of purple union tee shirts heading out the door for their 5th GOTV canvass of the day. DFA is here too. We took sides in this contest months ago. Big sign in the window:

Democracy for America for Lamont

Nearly the entire staff is here from Burlington, VT national HQ, including Chairman Jim Dean who's doing everything from working the phones, to doing Hardball (at 7pm) and radio interviews, to picking up voters in a van and driving them to the polls. Almost the entire NJ for Democracy (that's DFA) Executive Board is either here, just left or is on the way.

Lamont just said that DFA was early and vigorous in standing behind his campaign. Big Woo hoo! We like to say that, a lot.

"Cautiously optomistic"

That's the mood here, with yesterday's Quinnipiac poll showing the race tightening from a 13-point lead for Lamont to a 6-point lead. I actually think that's good news for us. You don't want your voters to think they don't have to get to the polls because your guy's going to win anyway. And the feedback on the phones even here in Bridgeport - that's Joe's turf - is really strong for Ned.

40 pizzas just arrived, and the sixth cooler of water bottles has now reached drinkable temp. The polls close in 3 hours and 18 minutes. Then we party. Nobody in this building is ever going to forget this.

Tags: Senate, CT, Joe Lieberman, Ned Lamont, DFA, NJ for Democracy, (All Tags)

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Report from the Ned Lamont Road Trip | 6 comments

We need to change the blog to Blue CT! (0.00 / 0)

Three CT posts in a row, and a not in the daily news roundup. Jeebus!

You get 'em, Rosi!

by: huntsu @ Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 20:56:09 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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Jealousy, thy name is Noweeman (0.00 / 0)

by: Jeff Gardner @ Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 21:00:33 PM UTC

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rosi..... (0.00 / 0)

....ask Jim Dean to do an op--eed for us!

and thanks for the update. i know that these types of experiences are what turns an activist into a seasoned activist. so good for everyone involved.

I hope DFA-NJ made some good connections up there and that down the road this movement will have germinated into something really powerful.

has there been any constructive engagement between the two campaign?

activist for hire.

by: Jay Lassiter @ Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 21:08:55 PM UTC

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Asking big stuff of Dean... (0.00 / 0)

Hey, Jay! So you want me to ask Jim Dean for a guest Op-Ed? Yeah, I could do that. I'm asking him for some pretty big stuff right now. So, maybe I'll add this to the list...

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.

by: Rosi Efthim @ Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 22:40:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Road Trip (0.00 / 0)

I just walked back into the HQ from doing a round of GOTV. People here know that this race is important to the whole country. You can feel the buzz. I'm sitting on the floor of the HQ using Rosi's lap top, and I just got the call to hit the streets again.

So long for now.

David Robinson
NJ for Democracy

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.

by: Rosi Efthim @ Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 21:22:13 PM UTC

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Keep it Up!! (0.00 / 0)

I'm sitting at home and imagining the chaos and fun at Lamont HQ right now. Congratulations to all the folks working hard for Ned Lamont!!!

And, of course, a BIG Woo-Hoo to Rosi and David!!!! New Jersey For Democracy is in the house!!

Call when you get home (remember, we need you in NJ, too!)

Linda

by: the pollster @ Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 23:11:08 PM UTC