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Be the shark
Donald Trump’s horror-film dreamworld was the centerpiece of a recent Las Vegas rally speech. In his dream, he spotted a ravenous shark as his electric boat was sinking. “Do I stay on top of the boat and get electrocuted, or do I jump over by the shark and not get electrocuted?”
This was a high anxiety dream, and Trump has plenty of reasons for high anxiety. The prospect of jail time in New York for one. But the nightmare was also provoked by news of a turn in the polls suggesting that Trump is “ahead.” The day of Trump’s speech, Simon Rosenberg reported that Biden had gained two to three points in quality national likely-voter polls and has a small lead now in battleground states. Even a Republican pollster found Biden picking up four points last week and taking a small lead nationally.
What’s more, the pattern of Democrats overperforming the polls continues. Last week, in an Ohio Congressional district that Trump won by 29 points in 2020, his endorsed candidate won by less than ten, a 20-point Democratic swing.
One of the reasons Democrats keep beating the polls, Rosenberg says, “is that there are hundreds of thousands of Democrats who have this far more intimate relationship with politics than they ever used to have…We’re building the biggest field operations we’ve ever had. And there are more volunteers to fit into those campaigns than we’ve ever had before…This counter-mobilization has created the strongest Democratic Party that any of us have ever seen.” He’s talking about groups like Indivisible. In other words, we are the shark. And Trump’s gonna need a bigger boat.
How to grow the shark
Since 2017 Indivisible Chicago has shown thousands of ordinary people how to resist Trump and Trumpism by getting politically active. And we have room for thousands more! Will you take five minutes and think of a half dozen friends (more or less) who have indicated that they understand the stakes of this election but may not have a history of volunteering? And then will you take another five to ask each to join our mailing list? It will connect them to all sorts of exciting adventures in the months ahead. Here’s the link. Let’s keep the shark growing!
Coming soon to a swing state near you
➔ Join us canvassing in Kenosha Saturday June 29.
➔ Phone bank to recruit poll observers for Wisconsin’s August primary, Monday evenings and Thursday afternoons. Or attend a half-hour Zoom info session on being a poll observer yourself (you don’t need to be a Wisconsin resident) Thursday June 20, Tuesday July 2, or Saturday July 13.
➔ Save these dates for our Wisconsin Wednesday phone banks: July 17, July 31. Details to come, watch this space and/or the Indivisible Chicago Action Calendar.
➔ Deep canvassing: Democrats in Jefferson County, midway between Milwaukee and Madison, are “deep canvassing” voters who have not voted regularly before–helping “unlikely voters” find “the emotional meaning of the election” through personal stories. Jefferson County Democrats are holding two deep canvassing Zoom training sessions on Thursday, June 20 (4:30 – 6 pm) and Saturday, June 22 (10 – 11:30 am). Indivisible Chicagoans are welcome to join, but under no obligation to deep canvass there. Send an email to jeffdemswi@gmail.com to register for a session.
Canvass training for introverts
Knocking doors comes naturally to some of us—but not all of us. So we’ve developed Yes You Canvass, a training course designed to get you over your inhibitions and onto the street as a confident, comfortable canvasser. Our next session is July 17 in Evanston. Learn more and sign up here, and watch this space for more sessions as they are added.
All these actions and more can be found in the Indivisible Chicago Action Calendar. Check it out!
Don’t forget to write—and send money!
We’re holding Postcard Parties most Tuesday evenings at Gideon Welles in Lincoln Square. Hang out with your fellow activists, have a bite and a beer if you like, and write postcards making our case to swing-state voters. Learn more and sign up here.
If you’re lucky enough to have some cash to invest in the future of the free world, this might be a good time to send some to Joe Biden’s campaign, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, or the Michigan Democratic Party. Or all of them.
Before you go . . .
You wouldn’t be getting this if you weren’t an Indivisible Chicago member in good standing. But are you getting ALL the info on our campaign activities? Are you receiving our Daily Actions? Do we know which states and activities you’re most interested in? Please check in here and update your preferences.
It doesn’t take much money to keep Indivisiblen Chicago going. But it does take a little. If you can help, throw a few bucks in the hat.
Indivisible Chicago
Chicago
Chicago, IL 60606
United States
Visit us at bluebeginning.org. Email us at bluebeginning2017@gmail.com. Check in with our Facebook group for news, events, and action opportunities posted by our members.
