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U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood did the same thing in 2018 and 2020, in a mostly rural, mostly conservative, mostly white Illinois Congressional district. A young, black nurse who had worked in the Obama administration, she went door to door in this excessively gerrymandered district. She won the hearts of many voters who had never seen a politician come to their door to ask what they cared about. She is an inspiration to our local Indivisible groups, whose members are mostly older adults. We worked hard for her in both campaigns. We hope to help get her re-elected again this year.

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Please provide support for the National Popular Vote Compact. This initiative is a critical way to elect our President by the National vote. We need several more states to ratify this Compact so it will be in effect for the 2024 Presidential election.

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i wish the DNC would take this to heart. This is the way we should campaign everywhere. What they are doing now is just "the other guy is bad send money." No talk of values and goals. We need to develope a crusade for the common good. Address the climate crisis that is very important for and to the younger generations.

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One of the many things I liked about reading this was the reminder* that rural paradigms typically involve patience and low investment-- which apparently just seem stupid in suburb-space and techbro land. And which are so vitally needed for most of the vast problems that face us.

So Chloe and Canyon aren't just personally refreshing for their values, dedication, and quality. I am refreshed by remembering where the long-run values we so desperately need continue to be endemic.

* I am from (a university town in) a very rural area, southern Illinois, and there is dirt in all my psychic and moral crevices. Granted, where it hasn't been tended it's hard-to-work clay with insufficient organic matter, but tending the soil is what time is for, and organic-amended clay is staggeringly productive.

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Bravo! These young people get it. And, thank you for posting the pick-me-up! Isolation from COVID has wrought ill will and distrust. And, having these human connections makes the difference. Every Midwest state needs such young people.

I made calls organizing veterans for Biden into rural areas where I used to live or from where my people haled. It’s fun, rewarding and even in the crazy times, that contact mattered. Just think if that contact had come from a young person, IN PERSON.

There’s a lot of detail in between, yet this strategic effort looms large for 2022 and 2024. As one person, I have ordered the book and will pass on the HOPE! Thank you for posting, Robert.

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Chloe and Canyon are my two newly found heroes! By listening to the people, understanding their practical concerns, and making the connection with their own heart-felt convictions they restore the nobility of politics. They are the face of America that as non-native citizen I am longing to meet.

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I live in a rural area where Dems are outnumbered 2-1. Gonna need a copy of Chloe and Canyon's book as soon as it's available. We have an excellent candidate to replace our seditionist US rep and he has that same positive/listening attitude plus a life of public service.

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Such an inspiring story. The young people of our nation, cities, and towns will be the ones who do the most for our communities. They can knock on doors and have kitchen table conversations. I wish I could do more in that regard. I have other plans. Thanks for sharing.

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Wasn't this the same attitude, knocking on doors, that Bernie Sanders took in his first run (he won) for office as mayor of Burlington, VT, because the Dems were in cahoots with the Reps?

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“Things move at the speed of relationship in rural America.” And thanks for this hope full story, Robert. While not ignoring what we don’t want, focusing on what we do want is more energizing and activating.

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It takes a lot of courage, especially today to do the kind of out reach described. Very impressive!

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robert, again, I still do not see dems going to the rural people or talking to the rural people. the orange man went to them with lies that he cared, but he still won their vote because he at least talked directly to them. when will dems start to do this even a little ??? it is not that hard to figure out how to strengthen the dem party...... can you at least tell the dems pols that you know ????? 'the only way Democrats can retain and enlarge their political power is by winning over more of rural America. Maxmin and Woodward are charting the way.'

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It is a proven statement that the Republican Party can be replaced, by just being honest, and reaching to those in need. Forget fearmongering and spend time on positive love , will expose the Republican Party in its pathetic hate attitude

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Thanks, RR. I need more stories like this interspersed with the doom & gloom.

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A truly inspirational and instructive piece. Thanks for this, Professor! Now we need to get their book out nationwide to prospective candidates and also establishment Democrats, the ones would could really learn from it.

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Very nice message. As someone who has worked with rural Mainers, both on their farms or helping them to relocate in jobs, I am sympathetic to the people who respond positively to those who listen to their issues. My own progressive politics never came into my discussions with people who were struggling to save their dairy farms amid the injustices of the USDA regulations and problems; and people who were at the mercy of big business consolidating and taking away their jobs. We need to get away from political divisiveness and meet people on their own terms.

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