It's
nerve-wracking in the Boiler Room, and No on 8 volunteers
are wondering: Could Obama's win be Prop
8's loss? "He's got a little too
much good news a little too early," mutters one guy.
"There's voter suppression; we don't
know why," says Trina Olson. Around her,
strategies fly. "Text message everybody!
"It's not over on Prop 8!"
No on 8
volunteers fear that with the election all but won for
Barack Obama, California Democrats who would have
otherwise waited in line after polls closed might be
inclined to call it a night -- bad news for Prop. 8.
Volunteers from
around the state are reporting that voter turnout has
tapered off in predominantly gay areas including San
Francisco's Castro and Los Angeles' West Hollywood and
Silverlake.
Zone captains in
cars are driving around polling places on various turfs,
looking for denser crowds where No on 8 volunteers could
move and thus have more impact. Door-knocking is also
underway.
" South
Pas', Echo Park": Driving directions are
barked over phone lines.
"I
don't know where you're at, Thomas,"
says somebody. "Regina's pulling them
out in Studio City and Hollywood," says somebody
else.
"Don't mistake this for spontaneous
panic," statewide field director Sarah E. Reece
says. "We're just activating plans B, C, D,
and E. We've been well aware that an early
Obama victory might be called and we happen to be on
the West Coast. Now we've got 70 minutes to execute
our strategy really well." (Anne Stockwell,
The Advocate)