Campaign callers: More than just a voice.
By TRAVIS DILL
DCN Correspondent
Sue Swedensen focuses on her computer screen as she dials registered voters urging them to vote on Nov. 4 in the DFL headquarters (photo Travis Dill).
Swendsen, 65, returned to her childhood community of International Falls 12 years ago. She and her husband also have a home in Duluth, which allows her to help out with Democratic campaigns. While she volunteered in the 2000, 2004 and 2006 campaigns, Swendsen said she has stepped up her commitment to this campaign.
"I believe in change," Swendsen said.
Swendsen is prepared to celebrate victory with hotel reservations in Washington D.C. in anticipation of Obama's acceptance speech. "I am ready to see Obama put his hand on that Bible when he is sworn in," she said.
Duluth East sophomore David Essling also attempts to spur registered voters into action at the DFL headquarters (photo Travis Dill).
"Some people are grumpy, but most are responsive," Essling said about the registered voters he called on Election Day.
Essling has been an intern for Al Franken since July and hopes to become an intern for a democratic gubernatorial candidate in 2010. Meeting national figures like Hillary Clinton, Al Franken and Jim Oberstar drew Essling into volunteer work for the campaign.
Tyler Verry, Co-chair of UMD's College Republicans, sat overlooking his list of Republicans to call on election day at the GOP headquarters (photo Travis Dill).
The sophomore electrical and computer engineering student has been working with the Republican party since his junior year of high school.
"Our approach [for calling voters] is a little different," Verry said. He and his volunteers called through the voter registration in the last few months to ask where they stood on some issues, but they only called Republicans on election day to remind them to vote.