Got a USPS flyer in the mail today: If you plan to vote by mail, plan ahead. The flip side gives concrete steps to take to ensure your ballot is counted. Trump is going to wear out DeJoy when he sees this.

Alright, it's official that I have to move over to the other calling app starting now. I went to make calls today and the code I was using for the old app was no longer valid. They want everyone to make the transition.

This was a bit of a slow week with Labor Day Monday and all. Here are my stats for the week:

147 minutes spent calling
139 total calls
16 long convos -- 9 NPAs voting D, 4 NPAs voting R, 3 undecided

Stats since starting:

473 minutes spent calling
324 calls
48 long convos -- 17 NPAs voting D, 16 NPAs voting R, 6 undecided

Phone banking is a volunteer activity.

Attaboy Mike!

Bloomberg plans to spend at least $100 million in Florida to support Biden

https://us.cnn.com/2020/09/13/politi...ump/index.html

Lig:

I read a similar article over on the Politico web site. The way this really helps the Biden campaign is that it allows them to shift approximately $100 million (that they would have had to spend in Florida) to other close "toss up" states. It will allow increased spending in red states like Texas that might not be as "red" as the GOP thinks ... (Winning either Florida or Texas would likely be a knockout blow to the Trump campaign. Both are "must win" states for Trump.)

Mr. Bloomberg is not making this generous donation out of the goodness of his heart. An implicit (or explicit) deal has likely been reached between Bloomberg and Joe Biden. The deal is that if Elizabeth Warren's "wealth tax" passes the House and Senate and reaches his desk, it will be met with an immediate Presidential veto. (Looked at in this context, a cynic [like me] would surmise that Mr. Bloomberg's $100 million donation is an insurance policy against passage of the wealth tax.)

If such a deal had not been cemented, it's very unlikely Mr. Bloomberg's generous donation would be forthcoming. Billionaires don't give $100 million to any politician without a quid pro quo in return.

I could see the Biden campaign using some of this cash on other states, but I think the Lion's share will stay in Florida.

If a wealth tax bill passed the House and Senate and Biden vetoed it, the Dems would be finished as a party.

T-50 days until Nov. 3rd.

I had another medical appointment today, so didn't start calling until 19:00 and called for 30 minutes. I'm having to use the auto-dialer app now and it isn't that bad really. Things were slow though as it would take around 90 seconds for another call to come on the line.

I see the name, age, and sex, but not the party affiliation. I couldn't tell who we were calling today and I don't know what counties I was calling into. Also, the 83/M below said he was an R and his wife a D.

I spoke to 7 people and 6 were voting D and 1 voting R (the other person had no time to talk). Again, I don't know if I was calling registered Ds or not. That said, I don't think I was because I called a 25/M and the mom picked up and said he wasn't home. She said he was an Independent but that they both were voting D.

The other Ds were 61/M, 83/M (and his wife... they were actually in Pennsylvania but returning to Florida next month), 61/F, and 32/F. The R was a 74/M.

‘This is f---ing crazy’: Florida Latinos swamped by wild conspiracy theories

A flood of disinformation and deceptive claims is damaging Joe Biden in the nation’s biggest swing state.

Obama gave Hezbollah the green light to enter Latin America? Damn, he was worse than I thought.

I just realized I forgot to include the article's link. Sorry for that... here it is:

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/0...rmation-413923

I think the biggest takeaway here is that apparently old people still pick up calls from unknown numbers.

On a rotary phone they are all unknown numbers, and it won't stop ringing unless you pick it up.

When we got trained on the new dialing app, they said they prefer this new app because most of the calls are going to cell phones.

Relatedly, I've read where some Millenials don't even talk on phones... text/apps only.

I had another frustrating phone banking experience on the dialer app yesterday. I'm pretty much done with calling out on that app.

I reached out to my community organizer and asked her to put me in touch with the people who run the '800' number here in Florida which people call for voter assistance in the state. I want to be trained to take calls on this Florida Dems hotline.

In the meantime, I'll continue to post articles and analysis on the race for Florida's 29 electoral votes.

There is no realistic path to victory for Trump without him winning Florida.

indeed

If I was going to push for something politically it would be for privacy laws to prevent people from phone banking

I'd be all for it (as long as you could guarantee I'd never receive another robocall in my life)!

The Governor Who Holds Trump’s Fate in His Hands

Ron DeSantis rode a Trump tweet to victory in Florida. Can he keep the pandemic at bay long enough to return the favor?

https://www.politico.com/news/magazi...a-trump-410244

Pundits are saying Amy Coney Barrett has the inside track to be nominated to fill RBG's seat; however, I think Barbara Lagoa is the obvious pick. Winning the election is top of mind for Trump and this pick will be made in that mindset.

Lig:

I think you're right. Florida has more Electoral College votes than Indiana. Florida is a "must win" state for Trump. If Trump believes nominating Judge Lagoa to the Supreme Court will get him just one more Latino vote in Florida, she'll get the nod. You can bet on it.

Democrats’ Jacksonville push complicates Trump’s path in Florida

https://www.politico.com/states/flor...lorida-1317455

Good to hear!!

That's an asutute observation. I think it's a coin flip. I was leaning towards ACB but you may be right as Fla really is a critical state for both candidates.

In 2016, James Carville knew the election was over for Clinton before anyone else because of Florida. He made this observation very early in the evening. He asutely understood that the panhandle went heavily for Trump, Clinton was going to lose a lot of rust belt states. Retirees from those states settled heavily there. The retirees mirror relatives back home. I would assume the same pattern will hold. If it doesn't, Trump is in trouble. If it does, I think he wins re-election.

As an aside, I think Biden is in big trouble in Michigan. Horrible ground game. Zero field offices. Zero enthusiasm. Visited the state but did not visit any black communities.

Repect for taking an active role.

Wildspoke - are you on the ground in Michigan? This is alarming news as talk of Michigan on solid footing for Biden has been the media narrative for weeks.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/0...r-doors-419585

Maybe Biden's presence isn't noticeable but I hope he's still making every effort possible and doesn't make the same mistakes as HC. Harris is slated to visit Flint and Detroit.

Liga, what's your impressions about early voting?
Has anyone told you they already mailed in their ballot?

And you are a superstar!