Im an experienced traveler, writing often for magazines about sometimes far-flung destinations.
So why was this entirely domestic trip making me uneasy?
I was en route to spend my day as a first-time political canvasser.
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Did I bully you into joining me?
Polly, sitting across the aisle, gently inquired.
No, I assured her, she had not.
The truth is, Im pig-headed and thus resistant to bullying.
But Im also not inclined to proselytize.
That was before election officials in various statesbegan receivingdeath threats.
I dont want this country to elect a president who is fundamentally against elections and the rule of law.
I was aiming for a relatively conservative look.
What did they think my costume was?
Her long, dark hair was gathered in a loose bun; her filigreed, vaguely Indian earrings dangled.
What could go wrong?
I found my friends bus, took a seat and we were off.
Rob was a cheerful scientist in his late thirties, married to an academic and with two young children.
She gave us some pointers for talking to voters.
She told us that in 2020 Biden had won certain districts in Pennsylvania by razor-thin margins.
We werent expected to change the minds of registered Republicans that day.
Convincing even a single voter to go to the poll and cast their ballot for Harris/Waltz could be key.
I had 38 addresses.
There were No Solicitations signs at a couple of houses.
Canvassing promised to be a long day in a suburb whose new trees didnt offer much shade.
Still, I had some memorable encounters.
I told him that I was sorry for that.
He smiled and accepted my campaign literature eagerly.
But God doesnt belong to any one political party, she insisted.
Reader, I wish Id done a better job of convincing him.
A stable democracy, I said, was the best guarantee of a countrys economic health.
Her enthusiasm was infectious, and I found myself promising her that our victory would be sweet.
But theres another week, and still more work to do to fulfill my promise to my new friend.
