It's 8:30 a.m. and Sestak phone bank volunteers are trickling in to campaign's headquarters in Media, an old car dealership on Baltimore Pike. They are greeted by Arlene Groch, a retired civil rights attorney from New Jersey and a veteran volunteer for Democratic politicians over the years.
"I picked this one (to work on) because I think it's the most important race in the area," she says.
She explains to a volunteer to encourage prospective voters to "make a plan" to vote. Alrene says statistics show that if voters have a plan (where and when to go to the polls) they are "twice as likely to vote."
The old showroom is festooned with Sestak signs and giant posters of Joe with President Clinton, on the stump and in uniform.
Arlene reminds a volunteer to say "Vote for Admiral Joe Sestak," stressing a point the campaign has been making for months. Joe Sestak served in the U.S. Navy for 31 years. Arlene has served Democratic politicians even longer. Her first campaign work was for George McGovern in 1968, "If that tells you anything," she says.
She's been been working for Joe for five weeks now.
"This is the best organized campaign I've ever worked for, with the most devoted volunteers and the hardest working staff. The volunteers and staff are clearly here, as I am, because they believe that Joe is someone who is truly devoted to good government, not his own ego."
Given that Sestak has been running slightly behind Pat Toomey, I asked her "how the vibe is?"
"Very positive," she replied, "because he's always run from behind and he's always won."
As for her own plans, she will head back to Atlantic County, N.J. right after the polls close.
"I'm going home to be with my husband... When you've been married 50 years, it's nice to watch the returns together."
No comments:
Post a Comment