The Race at Case: Vice Presidential Debate Watch

On Tuesday, we head downtown to Case Western University for “The Race at Case:” a full day of action before the vice presidential debate that comes off as more of a carnival than a political presence. A large grassy field is covered in booths of campus groups and fraternities and sororities, a big tent with all-you-can-eat food, venders of all political sorts, kids everywhere donning their flare and carrying big signs for one candidate or another, and a big stage where Hardball is being taped. We go to the Uptown Grill to table and set up for the Codepink event there, but as time goes on, we realize that we really don’t want to watch the debate with the NARAL crew, who aren’t the most friendly or welcoming. So when it is time to greet the motorcade, the Codepink crew assembled—Sam, Ariel, Ann, Julie, Matt, Lezlie and Linda (who have driven up from Columbus), among others—journey over to the meeting spot and we join the large group of Kerry supporters. We are carrying an absolutely massive pink banner which reads: “Cheney and Halliburton are in bed together, and we’re getting screwed.”

We march and chant together. I pass out the songsheet that I made and everyone sings my version of “I will survive” and the other Codepink cheers that we have written. The camaraderie is really high. Edwards’ motorcade decides to take another route, however, so we miss him. We rush back and go to the big outdoor gathering put on by the Democratic Party to watch the debate. We wait in line for a long time and I think that Ariel will turn into a popsicle if we have to wait any longer than we do. Finally we are inside and right up front to see the debate on a huge screen. What stands out most in my mind, looking back in retrospective as I write about this, is how friendly and relaxed Edwards was, and how tense the issue of gay marriage was, particularly when Cheney came out and basically stated that he was “following the president’s policy” regarding the issue. After the debate is over, we waited outside in the cold for a very long time for Edwards to come out and speak to us. And finally, when we—Ann, Julie, Ariel, and I—are all perched atop the bleachers overlooking the crowd, Edwards comes out with his wife and little kids and they wave and smile and address the crowd with words of hope, igniting another fire on their long campaign trail.

We all depart and disperse for home. Sam and I stay up decompressing and talking and I can not emphasize enough how proud I am to be able to know Sam in that moment (if not all moments in general). Looking back on how far we have come and all that we have accomplished on our trip to Ohio. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to work with her.