The following post comes from HRC Staff member Paul Smith. Paul is just one of 30 HRC staff that will be on the ground in 16 states by Election Day, working with HRC-endorsed candidates and engaging our membership about the upcoming elections:
I’ve been on the ground working for a few days now here in Minnesota, and I’m filled with excitement and enthusiasm about electing pro-equality candidates here in my home state. One of the great things about working at HRC is meeting our members and supporters. As my “day job” is in the finance department, my fellow accountants and I work behind the scenes and don’t get the chance to engage with our members frequently. During election years and pride season, when HRC asks us to step out of our normal roles and hit the road, we jump at the chance!
I’m working in St. Paul engaging HRC members and supporters about the upcoming races throughout the state for pro-equality candidates up and down the ticket. We’re gearing up for Saturday’s huge rally with President Obama and the University of Minnesota. If you haven’t attended a big political rally before, don’t pass this one up. How often do you get to see the President? I’m hoping for a sunny fall day and I know we’ll all be pumped up to Get Out the Vote in Minnesota!
Join President Barack Obama and Mark Dayton on October 23rd for the “Get-Out-the-Vote for a Better Minnesota Rally”
Saturday, October 23, Doors open at 12:30 p.m.
Northrop Mall, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus
Minneapolis, MN
Click here to sign up to attend the event.
I’ve been spending my evenings calling HRC members recruiting volunteers for Get Out the Vote events. I’ve been amazed how excited HRC folks are for candidates like Mark Dayton and I have had some great conversations with many of you. HRC is definitely making a difference here in Minnesota, with four HRC staffers and an army of volunteers on the ground.
Speaking of ground, we need folks to hit the streets to door knock and distribute campaign literature the weekend before and up until Election Day. Why is this work so important? I had the privilege of working on Senator Al Franken’s campaign in 2008. Maybe you remember how close that election was? That campaign proved to me the power that we as individuals have in electing our fair-minded candidates. I know that I convinced a few people that weren’t planning to vote that year to get to the polls. When the margins are slim, those few personal conversations matter. This truly is important work, and it is fun and rewarding. If an introverted accountant like me can do it, so can you! Please sign up for a shift at www.HRC.org/VolunteerMN
Paid for by the Human Rights Campaign Minnesota PAC and authorized by the Minnesota DFL and Mark Dayton for a Better Minnesota
