Bucks County Election Calendar

Let me begin with the phases of my experience in the Obama campaign.

But before I do, it's important to know a little bit about Bucks County. Shaped a bit like the state of Vermont, but tilted at an angle (see the compass on the map), Bucks County ranges from the suburban lower end to the wealthier central towns to the rural upper reaches. Lower Bucks is decidedly Democratic, and Upper Bucks is (or was) decidedly Republican and Independent. Central Bucks sits right in the middle, and none of the regions seems to enjoy spending time in the others. I began my experience in Central Bucks and then was restationed down in Lower Bucks.

Phase One - New Hope, Solebury, Buckingham, Plumstead...: From June 15th until July 26th, I was an Obama Organizing Fellow in Central Bucks County. I shared a handful of towns with another organizer, and our goals were to register voters and build a thriving community of volunteers. The ten or so of us for the whole county were based out of a volunteer's porch and basement until we opened an office in Doylestown, PA. More on that later. Near the end of my time as an organizing fellow (which is really a fancy name for "full time volunteer"), I was invited to return as a paid Field Organizer.

Phase two - Transition: When the fellowship ended, I took a few days off to perform with Red Rooster in New York and at the Newport Folk Festival. The staff position began on August 1st, but I was not assigned turf until mid-August. During the interim, I worked out of the office in a number of different supportive capacities.

Phase three - Bristol: I was ultimately assigned to be the Field Organizer for Bristol Borough and Township, the Democratic heart of Lower Bucks County. From mid-August through November 4th, I was responsible for continuing to register voters, expanding the volunteer base, persuading undecideds, building a volunteer leadership team, and when the time came, turning out the vote.

The differences between the phases and the differences between the regions will be the subject of future posts. Until then, it's time to get some regular sleep...!