Guest Author - Tracey-Kay Caldwell

It is not too soon to get involved in getting Democrats elected in 2008. The Democratic Party is preparing their first canvassing event for the 2008 election. On April 28, 2007, Democrats will go door to door to talk to their neighbors about how a Democratic Congress has already made a difference, and how to get involved in electing a Democratic president in 2008. This is an opportunity to exchange information with your neighbors and provide a positive image of the Democratic Party.

Whether you commit to host a canvassing event or just attend one the Democratic Party will provide you with all the tolls you need for a successful event. When you are provided with a walking list from your state or local democratic party, it will tell you if the home you visiting has registered Democrats or Republicans or no registered voters at all. It will tell you if anyone in the home has voted in the last four elections. This will help you to establish a relationship, to let them know you are the person they can come to with questions about the candidates and the Democratic Party. You will be the person showing them the Democratic Party cares about their concerns and has solutions for them.

You can provide them with a Democratic Vision door hanger and explain the democratic vision. You can find out which of the following issues are most important to them. One, restoring open government and ending the culture of corruption; two, changing course in Iraq and providing for our troops on the battlefield and at home; three, increasing the minimum wage; four, affordable college education; five, making our communities safe including implementing the 9/11 commission’s recommendations; six, energy independence. You can let them know about Democratic activities they might want to volunteer for. You can explain to them about how to become a precinct committee person of block captain or a voter registration volunteer. You can tell them how they can work the polls or write letters to the editor. You can show them how they can be a part of electing candidates that share their values.

While they are at their home, you can gather information by being observant. Do they have toys in the yard, indicating they have young children? What bumper stickers are on their cars? What kind of cars do they drive? Are they displaying any organizational or patriotic symbols? All of these things can provide the party with clues as how to target that particular voter. You can play an important part in helping the Democratic Party establish a personal relationship with every voter. As Governor Howard Dean, Chair of the Democratic National Committee said, “Election by election, state by state, precinct by precinct, door by door, vote by vote…. we’re going to lift our Party up and take this country back for the people who built it.”