Every late help adventure begins the same way.
The election looms.
My anxiety starts to rise as does my need to do something other than scroll Twitter.
The itch begins.
I start to text and email people I know who may know people on the campaigns.
I ask them to connect me with someone on the campaign and vouch for me.
The election is close.
The process takes a while.
Sometimes it involves comical efforts on my part.
I call in favors from important people.
Eventually I get connected via email with someone on the campaign or at the state party.
They are polite but non-committal because they have no idea who I am or what I want.
Emails vanish into the void.
The election is near.
I end up politely but persistently following up as any good organizer does.
Eventually, I get on the phone with someone, a field staffer at some level.
Sometimes they’re someone senior. Sometimes they’re a volunteer designated to deal with late help. Sometimes they’re just whatever regional or organizer whose boss stuck them with calling me.
The dance begins.
Field is a young campaign operative’s game.
I am no longer young.
I haven’t worked with most of them before and they probably haven’t worked with someone I know.
So I immediately declare the first and ultimate field shibboleth, “I am happy to just knock doors.”
Because I truly am. The most fun GOTVs of my life have been when all I had to do was crush packets.
I ask what kind of help they need.
I offer a few suggestions. I can run a staging location. I can layer someone. I can open a new field office. I can be a regional.
I also note I will have my own housing and car.
And that I will probably bring friends along with me.
The election is nearer.
They call me back.
Ask me to go somewhere and do something.
I know that the something you start with is rarely the something you end with.
My wife begrudgingly agrees to let me return to my natural habitat, the field.
I call my friend(s) and tell them to saddle up and where we’re going. We’ll figure out the rest when we get there.
I start to recruit others.
The election is within reach.
I am late help.
I am on the ground.
I come prepared. Sharpies, a clipboard case, battery pack, if I drive my own car I even bring my own laser printer.
I am in a field office. I have never been to this field office. It is every field office I have ever been to.
I am home.
It is GOTV.
Let’s go win this thing.
I am heading out into the field this weekend. Ping me if you want to join.