I was the chief organizer in Rochester for Obama for the general election, and it truly pains me to read your review.

I don’t believe in making excuses for shortcomings, but bear in mind you came an hour after we had just organized the visit of President Clinton. His trip left me short on key volunteers, and I was trying my best, yet apparently not enough, to cope.

You mention “over caffeinated” staffers, but I was the only staffer there. Everyone else you saw working was part of the volunteer leadership I had assembled. On each of the five days leading up to the fourth we had 200 volunteers come in and out of the staging location. I would also like to add that I don’t drink coffee and I drink decaffeinated soda.

It is due to the seer number of people, that we were forced to reprint canvass packs only after two walks. We did however strike the names of those who had been spoken to before you went out.

I believe your criticism is just, perhaps even valid. But please if you want to criticize someone, dont make it the Strafford Dems, or any of those selfless over caffeinated volunteers who were helping me guide the ship; blame me.

I am sorry your experience was less than encouraging. I apologize that no one greeted you at the door, second that you believed us disorganized, and third distracted.

I cannot emphasize enough the value of each door you hit. Individually our efforts can sometimes seem futile, but you need to realize that there were 200 others out knocking on doors with you that day, and you all made a difference. One that overwhelmed those many McCain yard signs you saw.

In 2004, Rochester went to John Kerry by 14 votes. In 2008, Rochester went to Barack Obama by 1464 votes.

Thanks so much for making the trip. I wish I had done more to make it a more pleasant one. Feel free to contact me.

There’s already a few dozen huge organizations that have supported (college anti-war coalitions, unions, churches) and it’d be really cool if we could get some of Obama’s supporters out, since what we’ll be protesting for will be pressure on him to withdraw from Iraq.

It should be really good–and really big. We’re already looking to close Park St. in Hartford down, we’ve gotten a bunch of donations from people in that neighborhood, a list of important speakers lined up… the planning committee alone is over 30 people.

I thought you might be interested in coming out. Let me know?

-Marissa Blaszko

Brilliant.