Just over a week ago I finally submitted my thesis and found myself with plenty of free time while I wait to defend my thesis and look for postdoc positions. What else is a good Kossack to do with free time in October, but head out and find a campaign to get involved with, so last a week ago last Sunday I headed out with Philly for Change to canvass for Brenden Doyle and Patrick Murphy up in Northeast Philadelphia. After a good afternoon of canvassing, I mentioned to the field worker that I was free for October, and he told me that he was going to try to get me to join the team.
So, I made up a political resume with all of the things I normally leave off of my CV, and decided to head back up on Wednesday after recovering from my Yom Kippur fast; had a pretty good time volunteering, making calls, and putting together lawn signs. Enough fun that I cleared out my calendar and came back up on Sunday and today after helping register voters on Saturday.  Of course it didn’t hurt that the folks working up in Pat’s office were pretty cool to hang out with and one of them offered me rides between Philadelphia and Levittown.

When I talk about the cool folks I mean the volunteers as well as the staff, including Patrick’s mother who tells great stories about all the time she is spending out there canvassing for her son, and his dad who is very friendly and has already learned my name.

So, yesterday when I was making calls about the rally Clinton is holding in Bristol to support Patrick, I talked to the campaign manger and he said that there was a pretty good chance that I would be able to come on board full time. I got to sit in on the staff meeting. I’m pretty sure I am not supposed to say to much, but I think that things are looking pretty good and we are ready to make this the race that gives the Democrats a majority this November.

Today has been crazy with responding to the swiftboating of Pat Murphy making more phone calls for Clinton and another fundraiser, but I got a call from the campaign as well, from the bullpen asking me to come in and have a chat with our new GOTV coordinator. It seems that I am the first of many who will be hired to work for the next month getting the vote out in PA-08, and win the congress back for the Democrats.

I am really looking forward to making a difference out here, and the Murphy campaign deserves our mojo for being willing to take one of those crazy netroots people. All of us have time or money on our hands so give which ever one you have. Campaigns always need more money and there is always work for volunteers to do, and who knows we just might get more netroots folks working for campaigns.

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