Precinct Organization

It's great that the Obama campaign managers built a political machine partially by poaching volunteers and officers of local Democratic party organizations. We had elected precinct chairs claim they didn't have time to do the few things we ask of them - namely organize an election day team for their precincts - because they had to make calls and knock on doors for the Obama campaign. Of course the weird thing is - the state party told us that was the county's responsibility even though they were making excuses for the Obama campaign poaching our volunteers.

It's a little more than a month until the Democratic National Convention and almost four months until the November election. It's time to put on the sunscreen, get some bottled water, put on some nice comfortable, cotton clothes, and get to work! Here's a few action items to get your thoughts going on a summer to-do list.

It's not tough to do it - if I can do it - anyone can!

Moore County in many ways exemplifies America. To the north is Robbins, a struggling ex-mill town, where both a Senator and an astronaut rose above their environs and into the public light. To the south is Pinehurst, "Golf Capital of the World". Here there are two Americas.

When it comes to politics though, both northern and southern Moore County votes predominately Republican. Years ago, the north leaned more democratic, but more along the lines of Dixiecratic, eventually morphing to Republican. Time and again, the poor farmer or out-of-work mill worker will continue to vote Republican because their father did. The Republican Party message of oppression and less government still speaks to them.

West End Precinct is in the middle, both geographically and politically and of the 1683 registered voters, 635 are registered Dems, 689 Reps and 359 Una. Our problem here and county wide is representation; Republicans hold almost all elected offices. Changing this is our mission.

Please follow below the fold...

This was my first precinct meeting, and as predicted, I was nominated and elected.

Before I go into that, let me start at the knock on the door where I was met by the current precinct chair, Mac Clark. We were at Watts Auman's house because that's where they always meet. Mac is a good man, but started our conversation with an admission that our precinct is not too active. He takes responsibility; he's poured all his spare time into the cub scouts. As he says, "Basically I'm chair because I didn't step back when everyone
else did."

Find out more below the fold...