GOTV Scorecard

Posted at 3:58 PM on November 4, 2006 by Bob Collins (12 Comments)

I don't know how I'm supposed to get the house cleaned when the phone rings every few minutes with get out the vote (GOTV) calls. Oh, wait, actually I do. I just don't answer them. But I listen to the messages later and keep track of who is doing what.

So far today I've had three calls. Two came from the Republicans and 1 from the DFL.

Since everyone is reading their messages, I don't know whether these were recorded or there was actually a live person at the other end.

The first call came from Minnesota Victory 06 -- the Republicans. Someone named Ann told me to go vote and told me who to vote for, listingthe entire slate by name down to my legislator in District 56B. Impressive, but frustrating since Qwest doesn't allow you delete a message until it's finished playing.

Sen. Brian LeClair -- or someone working for him -- was next; telling me to vote for -- get this -- Sen. Brian LeClair.

Where were the Democrats, I wondered.

At 2:56 p.m., I found out. Someone saying they were from the Minn. DFL told me to vote for Amy Klobuchar and Mike Hatch and "the rest of the DFL team." Suddenly, all I could hear in my head was the early Gilligan's Island theme song, that ended with "and the rest." They only had, what, 7 characters on the show....5 were named and then two got lumped in with "and the rest...here on Gilligan's Isle."

I think that lasted for two seasons before the Professor and MaryAnn finally got mentioned.

Two years from now, maybe there'll be some comfort for "the rest of the DFL team," which in my case includes Marsha Swails in 56B (for some reason, the DFL doesn't think this is a winnable race forher; I think it'll be close) and Kathie Salzmann the Senate race as well as Mark Richie, Rebecca Otto, and Lori Swanson.

Hey, just because the DFL GOTV effort can't be bothered with the names, doesn't mean I can't.

If only I could make those names rhyme, I could turn it into a song.

Comments (12)

I quote from "Here On Gilligan's Isle."

"When the Wellingtons were approached about singing the theme song to 'Gilligan's Island,' they thought it would be fun, and they shared enthusiasm about getting further television exposure, but it wasn't something they thought would last. Unfortunately, for the second season of 'Gilligan's Island,' the Wellingtons were replaced by another clean-sounding vocal group, the Eligibles, who sounded a lot like them. The new group rerecorded the theme song to eliminate "and the rest" and inserted an important addition to the lyrics: "the Professor" and "Mary Ann.""

Thus concludes my serious commentary for the day.

Posted by Jeff | November 4, 2006 5:13 PM

"Impressive, but frustrating since Qwest doesn't allow you delete a message until it's finished playing."

Try hitting the number 3 (it might take a couple times). That should fast forward through the message, and you can the delete the message. It works for me for messages from mothers-in-law, so it should work for politicians as well.

Posted by Craig | November 4, 2006 6:04 PM

I'm a DFL GOTV caller and I mention the whole state-wide ticket. I've been calling into areas where the state Representative and Senator are a foregone conclusion, so I don't mention them. I think the DFL should be pushing all its candidates, not just those at the top.

Posted by Judith Scoville | November 4, 2006 7:46 PM

Got a (recorded) call from R. T. Rybak listing all the reasons why Hatch is right for the city of Minneapolis. I expect to hear from Clinton yet before all this is over.

Posted by John Beamish | November 4, 2006 8:31 PM

It's Mark Ritchie for MN SoS: http://www.markritchie06.net/

Posted by EB | November 4, 2006 9:25 PM

Wow, tough room. You wish you could delete a message from the Republican that lists all the candidates, then mock the DFL caller for trying to keep the message short.

Everyone's a critic.

Posted by blueJ | November 5, 2006 11:05 AM

I want to delete the stuff because I already know who the candidates are and I want to get to the next message.

Take Halloween. I didn't need to wait until the last trick or treater had left a house before I concluded that the house is giving out candy,you know?

Once I know they're saying the candidates' names, I don't need to hear anymore. I was interested in the fact they're doing it, becuase it indicates the level of support for the BOTTOM of the ticket (where I tend to focus a vote) and not just the TOP (where I often pass).

That is significant to me. It doesn't have to be for you. But the most immediate impact of Tuesday's election will be felt in the Legislature and other bottom-of-ticket races long before the it's felt in Washington.

By way of update, my wife tells me that the night before , the DFL -- or a surrogate thereof -- called and did list the names.

I'm trying to go back over the caller ID numbers to figure out who's calling from out of state and who's in-state.

Tough house? Oh yeah. You have no idea what I require of a candidate and their party before I bother to give someone a vote.

Posted by Bob Collins | November 5, 2006 11:17 AM

Bob,
Since you didn't enable comments on your housekeeping post, I'll stick it over here:

Just be glad you aren't Eric Black!

Posted by charlieq | November 5, 2006 12:36 PM

We're apparently the one house in the state that neither party has on their radar. To my knowledge, we've not had one single call from either party encouraging us to vote. Frankly, I'm a bit surprised. Is it the Do Not Call list? Is it because our cell phones are often the numbers we have related to credit cards & other bills? I wish I knew the answer, because I'm thinking people would pay me to let them in on the secret.

Posted by bsimon | November 5, 2006 7:26 PM

The state do not call list does not apply to political organizations or non-profits.

Posted by Bob Collins | November 5, 2006 7:41 PM

I was called by the DFL last night, and they mentioned 4 candidates. Mike Hatch, Amy Klobuchar, and my state officals, Terry Bonoff and Sandy Hewitt. So it must just depend on where you are.

Posted by Jimmy Z | November 6, 2006 8:45 AM

I think the Bonoff race is important for the DFL as it's an existing DFL seat in a traditionally Republican distrrict.

OTOH, the DFL doesn't think Swails can win.

Klinzing may win that race, but anecdotal observation suggests it may be a close race.

I don't think the DFL leadership has a clue about 56B. We'll see on Wednesday, I guess, who's right. If Klinzing wins and the race is within 5-percent, not targeting the seat will have been a major miscalculation on their part, especially if they don't take control of the House.

But they may well be smarter than me. Most people are.

Posted by Bob Collins | November 6, 2006 8:56 AM

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