JOTR pollster: 4 of 5 for Obama
10/24/08
[donation]
By Joel Thurtell
I checked in with my chief pollster yesterday (Thursay, October 24, 2008) and she told me the results of her latest survey of likely voters in this year’s presidential race.
Actually, the exchange went like this:
As I sat down in her barber’s chair, Dolly Marzka, owner of Ye Olde Barber Shoppe in Plymouth, Michigan, said, “What do you think of the election?”
And I said, “That’s my question for you, Dolly. You’ve got your finger on the pulse.”
It’s true. Even though her business nearly flat-lined right after the stock market crashed a couple weeks ago, Dolly — best barber I’ve ever had — draws clients from all over southeastern Michigan. Her sample is mostly guys — discerning, smart guys who know what I know about Dolly.
Best barber they’ve ever had.
So before I had a chance to obey her command to “scooch up, sit up straight!” I learned that four out of five of Dolly’s customers are voting for Barack Obama.
“Even longtime Republicans are for Obama,” Dolly said.
Dolly was very impressed with Colin Powell’s speech last week endorsing Obama.
She was not impressed by Sarah Palin’s $150,000 wardrobe.
“She’s an insult to women!” Dolly said.
For those who don’t know Dolly, this is a tough woman who’s making it with hard work. Dolly knows what Barack Obama means by “spreading the wealth.” The federal government spread some of its wealth in the 1970s through a government program created by the Comprehensive Employment Education Act. Dolly was a single mom with three young kids living on welfare when CETA paid for her to go to barber school. That training turned her into a business woman — but one who hasn’t forgotten where she came from. Or that government gave her the skills to be independent.
And for those who don’t know Plymouth, this place is not exactly a Democratic bastion. The place is so Republican that their historical society pretends it’s not true that a governor once lived and campaigned here. For a number of years, the late John Swainson lived less than a block from my house (I didn’t live here then) and was elected governor in 1960.
Yet even in Plymouth and Plymouth Township, you see Obama/Biden signs on front yards.
Last weekend, I was amazed to go back to my home town, Lowell, about 15 miles east of Grand Rapids and a traditional GOP, Jerry FOrd-loving stronghold. When I was growing up in Lowell in the 1950s and 1960s, the place was so strongly Republican that only two people — an ex-convict and the town doctor — admitted to being Democrats.
Today, you can drive down Washington Street towards my parents’ house and see three yards — THREE YARDS!! — sprouting Obama signs.
There’s a lot of talk about closet racists saying they’ll vote for Obama but privately planning to go for McCain in the voting booth.
Maybe.
But there aren’t enough of those slimeballs to make a difference.
The message Dolly is hearing is not coming from closet racists. It’s coming from people who are fed up with Republicans. ANY REpublicans. Eight years of lies and corruption from the Bush administration are enough. They wouldn’t be telling her that if they didn’t truly mean it.
I saw a big yellow envelope lying on Dolly’s counter beside the combs and electric razors. Like me, she’s ready to get that ballot in early. Get it counted before the rush.
Except from what I hear, voting early has turned into a crush.
We want the bastards out now!
Drop me a line at joelthurtell(at)gmail.com
at joelthurtell(at)gmail.com
