All about the Election

So I have no idea what’s going to happen in the Second District tomorrow.  Just finished up some phone banking for Clif a couple of hours ago.  He has a dedicated cadre of volunteers who have been on the phones for weeks, and they are definitely upbeat as a result of their calls.  On the other hand, Estelle has run a very spirited campaign with considerable enthusiasm behind her campaign.  It’s all about turnout now.

Whatever happens, I’m proud to have known Clif, and he has approached both campaigns with integrity.  He has anticipated the possibility of losing, and told his supporters:  ”There are worse things than losing.  And I haven’t done any of those things.”

But he has every reason to be hopeful.  He is naturally doing very well in Fortuna, and on Sunday at the Summer Arts and Music Festival I saw a surprising number of people with Clif’s buttons.

But Estelle isn’t taking anything for granted.  She was campaigning heavily at SAMF, and was clearly enjoying herself – even stopping to greet well-known Clif supporters.

Meanwhile, KMUD will be airing coverage of election results from 8:00 on, with regular KMUD commentators pairing up for an hour each.  Ed and I will be on from 8:00 to 9:00.

Clif will be celebrating his victory at Hot Brew in Fortuna beginning at 7:30 – 904 South Fortuna Blvd.  More information.

Estelle begins celebrating her victory at 3:00 at her Garberville office (next to Madrone Realty), and then the party moves to her Fortuna office (12th and Main) at 6:00.

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Mark Lovelace will be celebrating at Jumbalaya (915 H Street) from 8:00 to 11:00. Trifecta will be playing.  Kym posted more info.

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I can’t find the victory party locations for any of the other local candidates. If you have information, please forward it to me.

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The photo above obviously comes from Wisconsin, where a recall election is underway. The polls seem to support the Governor, but the opposition is convinced that traditional models of voter likelihood won’t apply here particularly because they have an incredible ground game underway. Still, something like 35 percent of union members were polled in support of Walker. Reagan may be gone, but his Democrats endure.

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The photo to the right is me the Solomon campaign HQ. They’ve done some excellent phone banking themselves, and hope to reclaim some of the enthusiasm which might have been compromised by recent road bumps. But when you have campaigns with lots of volunteers willing to suffer the wrath of voters, or potential voters, weary of campaign calls, you always have strong possibilities, and the morale was upbeat. Shane and Taunya have run an excellent local campaign on Norman’s behalf.  Taunya took the photo while I was making calls.

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This could be the last time I’m online until late tomorrow night.  I’ve got a mediation which could take all day, and then I’ll be heading out into campaign world and my laptop is down.

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Lastly, I guess I should pay more attention to the campaign in my own district.  It was quiet for so many months, but it’s going out with a bang.

Looking forward to Wednesday.

Addendum:  Hank’s predictions.

This morning I went to vote and had intended to take a picture along the way.  A few days ago there was a lawn with about three or four Bohn signs and three or four DeModena signs.  I wanted to post the photo and entitled it “marital bliss.”  But this morning I drove by and the signs were gone, replaced by a “for sale” sign.  Seriously.  Looking closely at the house, it’s not occupied.

Some hopeful news out of Wisconsin - “crazy” high turnouts, which usually benefit progressive campaigns.  From the Kos post:

Madison City Clerk tells me turnout is on pace to hit 119% in Madison, adding “That would be unprecedented.”

This is actually a mathematical possibility due to same-day registration.  But lest I sound too sanguine:

… a reminder that GOP turnout is also through the roof.  

Second addendum: Andy gets dissed by Kos – no mention.

CA-02 (D): The new 2nd is the successor district to the current Marin County-based 6th, at 71 percent Obama one of the bluest mostly white, mostly suburban districts anywhere in the country. Long-time Rep. Lynn Woolsey is retiring, opening up the chance to get some new progressive blood in the House. Democratic Assemblyman Jared Huffman has been viewed as the de facto frontrunner here, and the main question has been which Democrat emerges from the top-two primary to face Huffman in November. Activist Norman Solomon seems the likeliest to survive, at least based on his own internal polling; that would set up a bit of a netroots-versus-establishment battle, although this may be more a matter of temperament than actual ideology. Other Democrats in the race are EMILY’s List-backed businesswoman Stacey Lawson (who was in second in the only other poll we’ve seen, a Huffman internal), Marin Co. Supervisor Susan Adams and Petaluma City Councilor Tiffany Renee. One other possibility, given how fractured the Democratic field is, is that Republican Dan Roberts could grab the second spot, though he’d be doomed in November. (David Jarman)