My OperaPrimary Election Day, 6:00am
Tuesday, September 14, 2010 3:40:42 PM
As usual, the editor is out front of Precinct 18 first thing on election day, getting ready to work for his favorite candidate, in this case Fenty. Only the polls open at 7:00am and it's 6:00am and the sun has not yet appeared. Several runners, but not much else. The editor is here early because signs need to be put up. If a campaign puts them up the night before, they might disappear before sunrise.
No one from main campaign HQ yet. (Note to self after all these years: All campaigns, even the best, run late.) However, a white van, with 3 older types in it and California license plates and Gray stickers on it has just pulled up to the curb. They make some movements to get in the back to get signs out and put them up. Then the driver gets on the phone for a few minutes. They all get back in, the van makes a quick U turn crossing the two yellow lines in the middle of Ninth, and heads north. Flashing 3D lights appear, as if out of nowhere. The van pulls over just north of Rhode Island Avenue. Given the length of time the squad care is stationary lighting up the morning, the editor presumes a ticket.
Soon, the Fenty precinct caption Alex Padro pulls up, with signs and other standard election day campaign paraphenalia shows up. The signs go up and Gray misses out on all the good spots. Coffee and doughnuts come at 8:00. The editor would have done things in reverse order, but that's why he's not a precinct captain.
The crowd seems light compared to most past Mayoral primaries, but certainly not bad. People going in seem very certain of whom they will to vote for. Usually people you know stop and chat a bit about down-ticket races, but there is little of that this time. In other words, people have paid very close attention to all of the positions.
A note on the signs: Usually a good campaign crew will clean up all signs at the end of the day. If you see an errant sign after the election, just trash it. Who knows, you might enjoy doing so.
No one from main campaign HQ yet. (Note to self after all these years: All campaigns, even the best, run late.) However, a white van, with 3 older types in it and California license plates and Gray stickers on it has just pulled up to the curb. They make some movements to get in the back to get signs out and put them up. Then the driver gets on the phone for a few minutes. They all get back in, the van makes a quick U turn crossing the two yellow lines in the middle of Ninth, and heads north. Flashing 3D lights appear, as if out of nowhere. The van pulls over just north of Rhode Island Avenue. Given the length of time the squad care is stationary lighting up the morning, the editor presumes a ticket.
Soon, the Fenty precinct caption Alex Padro pulls up, with signs and other standard election day campaign paraphenalia shows up. The signs go up and Gray misses out on all the good spots. Coffee and doughnuts come at 8:00. The editor would have done things in reverse order, but that's why he's not a precinct captain.
The crowd seems light compared to most past Mayoral primaries, but certainly not bad. People going in seem very certain of whom they will to vote for. Usually people you know stop and chat a bit about down-ticket races, but there is little of that this time. In other words, people have paid very close attention to all of the positions.
A note on the signs: Usually a good campaign crew will clean up all signs at the end of the day. If you see an errant sign after the election, just trash it. Who knows, you might enjoy doing so.
