Gwen Ifill covering Rev. Jesse Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign
Behind the televised events and 24/7 campaign coverage, there is a small army of phone callers and door knockers. Who are these people and what drives them to get involved? Photos by David Pecyger for NewsHour
On left (clockwise): Claudette Schaaf wears “I Like Obamacare” button outside the Obama campaign’s office in Arvada, Colorado, 18-year-old Dylan Monahan spends 72 hours a week on the phone and knocking on doors, and the “Colorado Forward” RV.
On right (clockwise): Retired elementary school principal Richard Vigil mans the phones for Mitt Romney, “No Mas Obama” spotted outside a rally, and a bumper sticker seen outside Romney headquarters in Lakewood, Colorado.
“We need to give everyone an opportunity at anything that’s possible in the United States,” North Carolina voter Chrishad Butler.
What’s the most important issue to you during this election?
LISTEN TO ME: LaSonya Byrd shares her thoughts on the election.
“A lot of people are concerned about their well being … and that’s the most important because a lot people have worked for their money and now they’re wondering if they’re going to be able to retire.”
— LaSonya Byrd // Baton Rouge, La.
With this week’s presidential election representing the end of the transition from a military to civilian government, many Egyptians will be watching not only the results but for a clean process as well.
Here, an Egyptian woman dips her finger in ink after voting in Cairo. Thirteen candidates are running in the first round of voting on Wednesday and Thursday.
“For the presidency, people are taking pride in the fact that they’re choosing a leader for the nation. And a lot of people have said that ‘this isn’t about me, this is about the entire country and how we’re perceived abroad,’” said Erin Cunningham of the GlobalPost.
(Photo by Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images)
Americans Elect, a well-financed group that aimed to help a viable third party candidate enter this November’s presidential race, has announced it is ending its web-based push to break America’s two-party system.
The organisation, which was founded with millions of dollars from its initial wealthy backers, had little trouble in organising a push to get on the ballot across America. It managed to secure ballot access in 29 states and was on track in all the rest. But it failed to attract a big-name candidate to join it or generate enough popular support from ordinary Americans to fulfil its own requirements to accept a candidate. [more]
Americans Elect couldn’t elect anyone, despite funding and a spot on the ballot in most states. So now they’re gone. A shame, but not one without lessons.
Seems like just yesterday they were in their early hustle, promising Americans more options:
“What’s important to realize is, this isn’t another political party. This isn’t a third party. This is a second nominating process. And the vision here is that, in November of 2012, when American voters go to the poll, there will be a third ticket that they have directly nominated themselves,” Elliot Ackerman, American’s Elect
President Obama, commenting on the display of the “HOPE” poster by Shepard Fairey, during Thursday night’s fundraising event in Los Angeles. The dinner, hosted by George Clooney and DreamWorks head Jeffrey Katzenberg, drew in $15 million at $40,000-per-plate.
