Door Hangin’ in Philadelphia

by David Safier

Another day at the storefront at Allegheny and Kennsington (Those are the cross streets, for anyone familiar with Philly). The place was packed in the morning, and when we returned at noon, we couldn’t get in the door, for all the SEIU Union folks who came in to pick up door hangers and walk the city.

Door hangin’ is more aerobic than knocking on doors. Power walk down the street, up the stairs, stick the hanger on the doorknob and resume power walking.

The neighborhood we walked in was just sad. Most of the brick buildings had barely serviceable doors, there were occasional gaps between them like missing teeth, and entire blocks were old, gray warehouses.

About thirty Democrats were listed at one address, which I assumed was an apartment building. Instead, it was the St. Francis Inn, a Catholic shelter that gives free meals. People who don’t have a permanent address listed the Inn, I guess. We gave a few of the door hangers to the man in charge and moved on.

The energy in the Obama camp is high, though no one is projecting victory, or projecting much of anything. But incredible numbers of people are working like mad these last few days. I’ve seen no Clinton literature in the neighborhoods we’ve visited. Either they don’t have the volunteers or, as word has it, her volunteers won’t venture into “that sort of neighborhood.” That may be Obama campaign spin, I don’t know.

Tomorrow it’s for all the marbles. I guess we go around and knock on doors reminding people to vote until they yell at us. Then we watch returns after 8pm, holding our collective breath.

By the way, did you know Philadelphia police use segways? It’s the oddest thing. If they were faced with an unruly crowd, I imagine they’d have no need for mace, tasers or tear gas. Just ride into the crowd on segways. Everyone would be so amused, how could they cause trouble?