OHIO DEPLOYMENT OCTOBER 8 - 10, 2010 REPORT

OH-IO! Blog on the Buckeye State- YRNF Deployment- Cleveland, Ohio 10/9-10/10

By: Lisa Stickan, YRNF Chairman and Cleveland Native

Follow me on Twitter: @ChairmanLisa

Being on the ground in Ohio during an election year is always exciting. Especially with this election, Ohio can swing back to being a “red” state! With competitive elections for Governor, U.S. Senate, Congress, and local races at stake- Ohio is a political bellwether for the nation.

Given the excitement in the Buckeye state, it was only natural that we kick-off the Young Republican National Federation “Operation: Regain the Majority” Deployment plan with a weekend in the Cleveland area. I really enjoyed having Young Republicans from the DCYRs and VA in my home county- Cuyahoga. The YRs were in Ohio October 9-11^th to knock doors for the Ohio GOP team. The YRs rocked Cleveland with over 10,000 voter contacts!

In hosting this Ohio weekend and in planning our other campaign weekends, the YRNF received generous support and sponsorships to make these deployments realities. Seeing senior party leaders rally around the YRs really motivated our volunteers to give their all for a GOP landslide this November.

The bus from DC rolled in around 4AM on Saturday October 9^th. The travel weary volunteers, were able to crash briefly before meeting at our first victory center at 10AM that morning. But despite the lack of sleep, the group was excited to hit the ground running when they reached the Brecksville, Ohio victory center. Our Victory Captain, Tanya Renicker, patiently doled out the walk books and the YRs hit the streets of southern suburban Cleveland. After a long day walking in the uncharacteristically warm  Cleveland weather, the volunteers rocked the phones- smiling and dialing voters from 7PM-almost 9PM that night. The group was able to take in the local scene at a nearby watering hole that featured one of Cleveland’s best 70s cover bands!

On Sunday, October 10^th the group was invited to a local GOP pancake breakfast that embodied true “grassroots” Ohio politics! Everyone enjoyed meeting members of the Ohio GOP statewide ticket as well as the local house and county candidates. After the pancakes- the group then joined in a campaign tailgate at Cleveland Browns’ stadium downtown before the game. U.S. Senate Candidate Rob Portman was down before the game sharing his plans for “Jobs for Ohio” with the crowd! The YRs enjoyed being able to hear from Rob Portman and meet with him before campaigning.

Once the game started, the YRs piled back onto the bus and headed straight for the Fairview Victory Center. The Captain at this center is our own YRNF Parliamentarian Dan Tierney. Dan was well prepared for the volunteers- and had walk books ready as the volunteers rolled into the center. Soon the Westside of the County was flush with YRs knocking doors for the GOP! This is an important part of Cuyahoga to GOTV- we need to make sure the republican registered voters come out to vote on election day! After knocking, our volunteers called until 9PM.

The total numbers of voter contacts was absolutely mind-blowing:

* We knocked over 4445 doors in Western and Southern Cuyahoga county.

* We made over 5071 calls for the Ohio GOP Team.

* And we distributed 1125 pieces of literature and flyers on doors (Portman and Kasich campaigns).

All together, the YRNF Deployment Effort yielded over 10641 voter contacts!

The victory centers we worked out of were the number ones in the State on those days. And our work ensured Cuyahoga County was number one in voter contacts that weekend.

Candidates assisted included: John Kasich (Governor), Rob Portman (Senate), Tom Ganley (Congress), Peter Corrigan (Congress), Mike Dovilla (State Rep), Nan Baker (State Rep), Matt Dolan (Cuyahoga County Executive) and the County GOP slate cards.

The weekend was a great success, and I want to extend “thanks” to the DCYRs and the DCYR Campaign Chair- Brittny McKinney. It was great to excited the volunteers here in Ohio with this infusion of new blood. With the YRs efforts on the ground- we can ensure a “Red November”.