Precinct Politics

Those who are political science or government majors in college, and are of legal voting age, should actively volunteer for a politician of their choice and receive academic credit for their efforts.

Returned to Texas last week for the first time since moving to California last year, to campaign for Obama.  Did it all: called strangers, knocked on their doors, talked to those who didn't slam their doors in my face about the strange "Texas Two Step" process to determine delegate representation, attended a meeting with Michelle Obama, held rally signs by the highway outside a polling station, and observed my first caucus.

While I was of course disappointed with the actual primary results at the state level, the caucus results - which are still being counted - seem to indicate that Obama might actually end up with more delegates from Texas than Clinton.

(At least in the precint that I actively worked, there were 52 delegates at stake to the county convention, and they went 30 for Obama, 22 for Clinton.)

More important than the actual results, however, was the experience.  To be this passionately involved in a process that so many Americans either take for granted or approach with such cynicsm was, simply, awesome.  You can read all of the newspapers, listen to the Sunday morning television analysts, and opine by the water cooler ... there is nothing quite like engaging with actual voters, who cut across every imaginable socioeconomic, ethnic, and religious line, to make one appreciate just how powerful the democratic voting process can be.  Which is why I now seriously believe that college students who are majoring in government or political science should receive academic credit for actively volunteering with a campaign ... my four days in Texas taught me far more about American politics than any other experience I can think of.

Technorati Tags: primary election, politics, campaign volunteering

Comments

[Chris Yeh]

I have never seen a political campaign where so many of my friends took off time from work to fly to another state and volunteer.

If Hillary Clinton somehow manages to rob Barack Obama of the nomination, the Democratic party will be committing generational suicide.

[deb]

While you know I am a huge Ron Paul girl---I was so excited w/ the Obama support that I saw in my little conservative Williamson County. Actually, police were called to my community center to help control the crowd of Dems that had shown up for the delegate process. Since I was chasing a toddler up and down the hallway I was able to over hear the conversations and they were leaning to Obama. I am a Republican delegate but we shall see---I will drop out if force to vote for McCain. I can't think of a more dishonest person to put in office.....maybe Hilary? (ha!)

While Obama is the exact opposite of me politically---he is ironically who I want to win of the main stream candidates. What I found really strange was that locally Obama was all I heard about and then about a week before voting--Hilary supporters were appearing out of the woodwork. Anyway, time will tell in Texas, local news reported so many crazy stories of voter fraud (on the Clinton) side that I think this will drag on.

Can I just say "lets go back to popular vote"--Hamilton was wrong :)

[Arethadv]

omg.. good work, brother