Notes from the Trail

Had a bunch of random thoughts and no place to put them.

We saw Brown sign holders this AM at Lowell’s Gallagher terminal, and the Mr. texted me saying Brown himself was there in the hallway that commuters use to get to the train. Having done that commute, I’d think that’d be a dumb place to meet voters…as everyone is just trying to get to their train on time, and the hallway itself doesn’t lend well to gatherings. I’d think the commute home would be a better time and place for such things, where at least people can choose whether or not to stop and chat.

I’m also wondering if this is the extent of his local GOTV effort…we’ve seen so little of Brown in public up here, and I have no idea if they have canvassers and phone bankers, but certainly it doesn’t appear like there’s a big GOTV operation around these parts. And if there was going to be one, Lowell seems to be the place to do it, since it is supposedly a battleground (which I am not sure I am buying).

Also, this is a poor substitute for, say, holding town hall meetings.

Wonder if they have a video camera going and will use some of the footage in commercials and then find out they accidentally showed a Warren supporter who is not happy about it.

Wondering also if Brown headed to the SAC club again after his event this morning. (The SAC Club is a private club in Lowell for them Good Ol’ Boys.)

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I just saw that new-ish “bipartisan” ad of Brown’s…the one that ends with the waitress saying “you deserve another cup.” Normally this wouldn’t set off any alarm bells…but…in light of phrases from Brown like, “I served in Afghanistan,” “kings and queens,” and the ad itself which highlights his “deciding vote on Wall St reform” – which reminds me of his arrogantly phrased touting in the last debate of being the deciding vote on the CFPB – “...it never would have passed if I was not the deciding vote on it” he said – eliciting boos from the audience…

Anyway, the “you deserve another cup” ending to that ad has a whole ‘nother meaning in that context, as a moment of self-aggrandizement. Imagine an ad from Warren like that – you can’t, because she would never cut such an ad. I mean, it makes sense that Brown should be touting his one or two accomplishments as an incumbent (took him long enough) though of course he won’t tell you that his “deciding vote” was used for watering down Wall St reform…but does he have to sound like such an arrogant jackass doing it? Apparently, he can’t help himself. There a difference between having confidence, and having an overdeveloped sense of self-importance.

I really wonder what losing will do to his ego. I kind of worry about him.

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Attended GOTV training last weekend in Lowell. It was a good turnout (had to squeeze people into the room at the regional office). They seem to have it well-organized and precisely planned out, with lots of shifts and plenty of things for people to do. I admit I signed up for more than I thought I would. They were pretty good at the whole impassioned pleas for taking November 6th off and getting your ass up at 5am, too…I might just do that. I hate getting up early but it’s kind of fun to act like a little lit-dropping elf and place those before-crack-of-dawn reminders for your supporters to get their butts to the polls before they are even drinking their first cuppa. Like being Santa Claus.

It’s definitely a much bigger campaign than our regional 2006 or even 2010 efforts for Patrick, and the use of smart phones and other technology does seem to be making things more efficient. I’ve twice canvassed using the smartphone app rather than paper.

Given my experiences canvassing undecideds so far and seeing how they’re “breaking,” I think I can safely predict Lowell will NOT go for Brown. I am hoping the margin for Warren here will be higher than it has been for Patrick, even. Certainly the work has been done. I guess pretty soon we’ll get to see the results.

If you haven’t showed to a GOTV training or signed up for the Thursday-through-Tuesday effort in your town, WTH are you waiting for? Get to work!