Door to door to door to door...

I started some door knocking this weekend. I really didn't want to this early in the game but I found out an opponent is already out there so I don't have much choice. Any campaign strategist will tell you to always respond in kind. If he hits 10 doors I'm going to hit 100. Door to door is my advantage in this campaign. I can't match all the big money, so I'll go with my strength. Youth and enthusiasm! I've done plenty of door-knocking, but never as the candidate. I learned or re-learned some valuable lessons on Saturday. 1. Always wear black pants and white shirt. Sure you look like you just left your shift at the restaurant, but both colors are strategic in that they don't show wetness. After about 15 minutes I had completely sweat through both shirt and pants. I looked like I fell in someone's swimming pool. 2. Bring a spare shirt and tie. See number 1. You reach a point were you don't look like you've been working hard, you just look gross. 3. Always remember that people have better things to do with their Saturday afternoon than talk to you. Be respectful of their time. I worked for a candidate a couple of years ago who told me "anybody who says they like going door to door is a liar." I disagree! I absolutely love it. I love everything about it. Even the lukewarm responses from some people are good because they make you appreciate the enthusiastic responses that much more. I like hearing people's concerns. I like the strange details or "sharing too much" they are liable to do. I love to meet their dogs. Dogs seem to instinctively know I'm a dog lover and they want to come say hi. I started easy, staying in Brookside. I'd say about 80% of the people I talked to go to my church. It's almost impossible not to find a Visitation parishoner in my neighborhood. If it's not Viz, it's St. Peter's and I used to go there in the 90's. If they didn't already know me they knew the name or the face. Working my own neighborhood is kind of like pre-season for me. Sort of working up my chops for the regular season. I'm sure I'll have some good stories to tell over the coming days and weeks. Want me to come to your neighborhood? Leave me a comment and I'll head right over!