Just after his group had finished slogging across the Key Bridge on a rainy afternoon this past Sunday, Georgetown College Democrats Vice President Fitz Lufkin (COL ’11) noticed several “Creigh Deeds for Governor” signs soaking in the wet grass beside several upright signs that read
“McDonnell `09.“ Hours later, College Democrats President Danny Gustafson (COL ‘11) had trouble even reaching voters located inside locked apartment complexes—the College Democrats were fighting an uphill battle.
Although polls anticipated Tuesday’s lopsided result, in which Republican candidate Bob McDonnell defeated Deeds by eighteen points for the Virginia governorship, the deficit didn’t stop the College Democrats from spending five hours campaigning door to door on Sunday afternoon, completing some final get-out-the-vote work in Arlington, VA.
“It doesn’t matter what percentage supports you in the polls, it matters who shows up on Election Day,” Gustafson said. “And this is about making sure that all our supporters show up.”
Their efforts on Sunday were the culmination of three months of voter outreach in Virginia, which included a trip to Norfolk, VA on October 24 and 25.
This past weekend, College Republicans also wrapped up a semester-long campaigning process that focused on the gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, where Republicans were hoping to staunch their electoral losses and gather momentum for midterm elections coming up next year.
On Saturday, College Republicans avoided the bad weather and did some last minute phone banking at McDonnell’s campaign headquarters in Arlington, VA. Rob Biemsderfer (COL ‘12), the membership director of the College Republicans, had been pounding the pavement in Arlington as early as the summer.
“Everyone really enjoys working with a campaign that really resonates with Virginia voters and is connecting with people in Virginia,” Biemersderfer said.
Although College Democrats couldn’t benefit from that same widespread support, it didn’t prevent the members, many of whom have prior campaigning experience, from making a last-ditch effort. A new addition to the College Democrats, Carlos DelaTorre (COL ’13), said that he’s been working on campaigns since 8th grade.
“I just want to put my blood, sweat and tears into Deeds,” DelaTorre said.
Despite the dissapointing outcome, College Democrats have high hopes for the rest of the year as the 2010 midterm elections approach.
“I’m very proud to have gone out and campaigned. [The election result] is not necessarily surprising but we’ll keep moving forward,” Gustafson said.
