For the first time ever, I've poured my heart and soul into a political campaign. It's an experience everybody should do, maybe only just once in their life.
It is a chance to stand up for beliefs. It's a chance to discuss views with others that believe very differently than you, and hopefully hold your tongue when nothing you say matters, or will change a vote.
As I look back over the last several months, I see lots my colleagues and I could have, would have, and should have done. It does no good to worry. You look forward, and plug away at doing your very best.
It's the waiting to see how effective your efforts have been that every candidate must experience. It's that period in limbo where you cram in that last "please vote" call, or wave at one more passing motorist, and wonder if it even matters. It's that period where you reflect with new friends you would not have met, except for this issue, or this candidate. You know, win or loose, your paths will cross again. It seems like such a small town sometimes.
I've grown to respect anybody that runs for office. It's hard work to be "on" every night at events that may or may not be friendly to your cause. Every misstep is analyzed by somebody, hopefully only your friends that give constructive help. But not always.
It's that waiting time when you think about one more ally you should have called to help, or that one last speech you could have given. It's easy to believe everything would go right if I just had one more week, one more month, one more dollar to spend. But you must go on.
The vote is expected to be close, though some say it's a landslide to win, or to loose. There is nothing I can do about it now.
I think about all of the arguments I could have made: the sharp come-backs to opposing views.
I wonder if the quotes in the paper are really what I said, though the sentiment is exactly right. I even wonder if that's really me on the TV, but it must be. How could I have stood up like that? What did it take to get me this involved? Why me?
I think of the opponents I've come to respect, even if they are "wrong." I cannot refute some of their arguments, just as they admit that some of mine are right. The voters will decide which of us has the more urgent case.
Experts predict a low turnout--less than 20% of registered voters will vote. I think about the PTA statistic that says 4 out of 5 parents don't vote. Parents are especially busy with kids, jobs, and life. I wonder how many will vote this time, since several candidates, and my issue, affect families directly.
It's the waiting that's hard. It's knowing I have done what I can for the cause, around family and life commitments.
It's an experience everybody should have, just once.