I now blogging from the Obama headquarters in Laconia, New Hampshire. It is one of at least 18 headquarters in New Hampshire, and I am here as one of 25 or so (and growing) volunteers getting ready for canvassing in the Laconia area.
As I was walking into the headquarters a few minutes, I overheard a conversation of someone who had arrived a few minutes before me. He gave his name, identified himself as one who had been working for the Clinton office down the street (the street also has an Edwards office, making it a sort of shopping mall for political activists), and said he had now switched to Obama. The Obama guy at the desk matter of factly took down his name, put it into the computer, and asked when he could work.
"I can be here at 2:30 today," he said. This offer was accepted gratefully and in a matter of fact tone.
I could not resist butting it. I introduced myself and asked this fortyish man why he had switched.
"It was Obama's speech after winning Iowa," he said. "It was great." He was convinced, he said that Obama could change the country because he would mobilize a lot of people and make real change. He had thought Clinton would be a better President originally because of her Washington connections, but when he saw all the people backing Obama, he had a different vision.
Obama was clearly mobilizing a lot of young people, and that excited him. Getting people involved, he said, had the potential to make sweeping change in Washington, and that excited him.
I told him that was the reason I was for Obama: I strongly agreed with him that Obama's approach was more likely to result in the change that voters wanted than Clinton's approach.
This is one anecdote, and by itself, it does not prove anything. The latest poll here had Clinton and Obama in a dead heat, up from the last poll by the same New Hampshire university and CNN for Obama and Edwards, down for Clinton.
I am now going out to canvass with two others. This is an exciting campaign for the future of our country, and I am glad to be a part of it.