in Tempe today.
I was volunteering (aka - working) at the rally, so I don't have any notes with good quotes, but I'm sure they'll be on the news tonight, on one of the campaigns' websites, or posted by one of our intrepid local bloggers (try Geo at Geo's Precinct 134 or Tim at The Word From Arizona's Fifth District later on tonight.)
A few quick impressions:
...Bill Clinton is still the best national asset the Democratic Party has in its campaign arsenal. His combination of pure intelligence and powerful oratory is the best in the party, possibly the country.
...If the current trends continue and Jim Pederson pulls off the upset of entrenched K Street darling/anti-Constitutionalist Jon Kyl, at least part of the credit has to go to his massive improvement as a public speaker.
...Harry Mitchell had the crowd behind him all the way (other than a few 80's retro neo-preppies there to support Hayworth, but more about them later). He received the 2nd loudest cheers behind President Clinton. (Actually, they were the 3rd loudest, behind someone who wasn't there - Governor Napolitano. The smartest thing JD Hayworth has done, win or lose this time around, is NOT go after the Governorship. She'd would have smoked his ass.)
...Israel Torres may not beat Jan Brewer this time (especially given that she's the one counting the votes), but he's a keeper. The sentiment of the crowd around me was that he was the 2nd best speaker today (behind the guy married to the junior Senator from New York. :) ) Most importantly, he was not scheduled to speak today, but when President Clinton was slightly delayed, he stepped in and kept the crowd energized.
Whether or not he wins on Tuesday, he'll be a factor in 2010.
...Somebody needs to tell Phil Gordon to know his audience. Part of his introduction of Terry Goddard included touting Terry's record against drug dealers.
Umm, Phil? It's a college campus. Next time, stick to Terry's efforts against identity theft, predatory lending, and domestic violence.
Trust me on this one, OK?
...And a note for the neo-preppie in the pink polo shirt with the upturned collar.
The 80's called. They want their...oh never mind. You know the line already. :)
Overall, it was a great day.
The Mitchell campaign signed up lots of volunteers for this weekend's big GOTV push.
The audience was revved up and enthusiastic.
The turnout was great, especially for an event pulled off on such short notice.
Finally, let me say this -
I'm utterly whipped tonight. I started around 11 this morning, spent a couple of hours leafletting on Mill and Ash, then helped with the set-up at the rally.
Oh, and I spent some time during the rally holding a Mitchell sign in front of the Hayworth sign.
[The best thing about that sign is that it kept folding like his candidacy. Not my line; it's from another Mitchell volunteer, Linda. It's a great line. :)) ]
Anyway, back to what I was saying. I'm beat, and I only did it one day for about 8 hours.
Lauren, Seth, Angie, the rest of the staffers, and the rest of the super-volunteers (God, are they going to be pissed that I didn't name them all, but it's getting late) have been doing this all day, every day, for MONTHS.
While the campaign is *about* electing Harry Mitchell, it's really *for* us. However this election turns out, they deserve our thanks and respect for what they have put into this campaign.
Good night!
On edit: The local MSM is starting to post their reports of the rally online.
EV Tribune's coverage here.
AZ Rep's here.
End edit.
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