Something that really interests me about the dynamics of this election is the way Obama's strategy has allowed someone as far down the food chain as I am to feel like I know what's going on when all the pundits don't seem to get it.  For example, many people have talked about Obama's "ground game," but no one seems to realize what that means.  I consider myself a good example of its power.  First of all, my involvement in electoral politics has been really minimal throughout my voting life, but I am signed on in a big way for this one.  I have been canvassing each weekend (until a recent vacation), and attending every local democratic function that comes my way (a first).

 But here's the thing: we are just getting started!  First we had the campaign interns, who began with enthusiasm but not much expertise.  Then just recently the paid staff arrived, and each week there was another call from another staffer (one wonders if they talk to each other).  My inbox now has at least 4 messages a day from some Obama campaigner.  But here's the most important point, we (and the rest of the universe) are just getting back from vacation!  Canvassing was largely an exercise in ringing doorbells of people who were not home this summer.  I myself was away for a 3 week vacation.  The convention is really the beginning.  I will soon call all these paid staffers back and find out what the real marching orders are.  I will soon begin to go door-to-door every weekend to start the real push. 
If what's going on in my town (and NH is an important state) is anything like what's going on elsewhere, the ground game is just getting to takeoff.  We know we don't have much time, but once the convention is over (and hopefully Hillary supporters feel a little more comfortable) we will really get moving.  If you think I'd prefer to spend my weekends ringing doorbells, you can guess again, but I'm out there - rain or shine (and hopefully not snow).  I find that my fellow volunteers are equally dedicated.  We'll see what it feels like now that we have paid staff working alongside us.  All the political pundits in the world don't seem to understand the power of this small army of individuals who may feel, as I do, that we are -for the first time - as important as anyone else in this campaign.  Whether it's true or not, something about the Obama campaign rhetoric seems to be operational  at the ground level.