Southern Highlights

Written by: DFA Staff on Oct 25, 2006 11:00 PM EDT

David Reiter is an organizer of Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM).

We have less than two weeks to go until 'judgment day.' Groups are scurrying to gather as many volunteers as possible to add toward the final GOTV push. Southern DFAers are staffing volunteer phone banks, knocking on neighbor's doors, and communicating the Progressive message to thousands of voters. As all of our hard work and perseverance comes to fruition, come November, the South will pick up half the seats necessary to take back the House...let's keep that momentum going strong!

Rally Time: Southern California DFA groups such as Democracy for Riverside, DFALA, DFA Santa Monica, and DFA Pasadena are rallying around their collectively supported candidates at various rallies this week. There is a GOTV rally at USC on Friday with key California candidates and special guest speaker, Barak Obama. There will be a similar event in Riverside on Sunday, and Howard Dean will be the special guest in Los Angeles on Thursday. At the events, candidates will round up volunteers for the final GOTV push into Election Day. Many DFAers are participating in the 'phone from home' programs offered by candidates such as DFA-List Secretary of State candidate, Debra Bowen and Gubernatorial candidate, Phil Angelides...group organizers urge everyone to pitch in to help California do better.

Questioning Authority: SWMO DFA thought they had a great idea when they joined organizers a the 'Rock the Vote: Save the Music' event to help register young voters. The event was a success in that many young, new voters were registered, but something else happened that is even more notable. There is a local initiative to outlaw people under 21 from entering establishments where 60% or more of the sales is alcohol. At the Rock the Vote event, organizers moved everyone to a local bar as a demonstration that those between 18-20 can be proven trustworthy in a drinking establishment where their favorite bands are playing. The move proved ingenious as the issue has now mobilized hundreds of young people to get active and fight the initiative that prevents them from partying in a safe environment. SWMO organizers received many articles in the press as well as radio interviews about the issue and event. Campaigning after the event, I guess, the Greene County Deputy Sheriff told a group of eighth graders that the SWMO DFA organizer 'was a very bad influence.' The event has brought major attention to the issue and more young people than ever will be getting to the polls in Springfield this year.

Groups continue to stand up for what they believe in, and support the candidates that will stand up for us in our government. With less than two weeks to go before the election, groups are getting creative in getting more people to snowball the movement forward. Keep up the great work, give until it hurts, good luck over the next two weeks, and let's all take back the House!

-David Reiter

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