….or at least it feels like it!
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| Bandit relaxing between stops! |
80 stops in 8 days!! This is absolutely crunch time and the Bouchards have all boarded buses (My mom with my brother and Secretary of State Land on one, and my dad, my pup Bandit, and I on the other!) to take Michigan by storm and get out the vote in this homestretch of the Primary Election. Day 1 started at 5:50 am in Jackson then over to G. Rap, K-Zoo, Battle Creek, Spring Arbor and everywhere in between. This is the part of campaigns I love. A chance to reach out and meet voters, talk issues and ask for their vote rather than ask for money. (Which the campaign would still very much appreciate, though!)
Day 1 went off without a hitch featuring meetings at Home Builder Associations across the state, multiple picnics, a Tea Party event, and stops at local restaurants to hear people’s thoughts and answer their pressing questions. It was nice to end at home after the long day only for it to start again bright and early this morning. When we arrived in Frasier this morning, little did I know the vigor that stop would instill. We met Nina Sylvester former owner of Quality Die Sets Inc., and learned her story of being an automotive supplying cornerstone to out of business because of backwards banking policy, an over regulating government and toxic taxes for small businesses. Her daughter brought tears to the group as she said how heartbreaking it was to watch her mom, “a role-model for strong work ethic,” go from having such a successful business and being awarded the Female Entrepreneur of the Year to losing almost all hope as she struggles to find a job during her ongoing fight with banks. The scariest thing was that in the group assembled at the now empty factory, there were many more stories just like hers!
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| In the former Quality Die Sets factory |
After leaving the factory, there was no feeling but that of determination to do something, anything to change the helplessness that I saw in people’s eyes. As my dad said, “I wish I could do something right now to help, but I just have to get there first.” The “getting there” is where I am putting my energy. The rest of the day was filled with stops in and around Lapeer County ranging from packed rooms of people who came out to meet my dad to spontaneous coffee house stops where many of the patrons excitingly said they had either sent in their absentee votes for my dad or were planning on voting for him! The rest of Day 2 is winding down as I type on our Bouchard/Land-bannered-bus and we drive home after two Tea Party stops in Brighton and Milford. The West Oakland Tea Party had almost 500 people attend! Bringing the day to a fabulous end, the group gave him a standing ovation as his speech came to a close. Hoping for more of that energy tomorrow!
I will leave you with this—the primary election normally turns out 25% of the electorate; of that probably half of the people will vote in the Republican primary. In a five way primary maybe 25% of that will choose our nominee. That means 25% of 13% can decide our next Governor. If you bring ten people to vote, and ask them to get ten people to do the same, I cannot stress how you can truly alter the outcome of this election. The primary is one week away. Lets get to work, get this done and help elect a Governor who is passionate about helping the people of the great state of Michigan.
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| At an editorial board in Kalamazoo which later endorsed him! |
