Street Team '08: CarissaJ
 
 
 
   
 
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This blogger is a member of Street Team '08, a hand-picked group of state-based citizen journalists who are contributing to MTV's Choose or Lose election coverage.
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  Most Recent Entries
11:00 - Update
Posted  on November 04, 2008 at 9:02 PM
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I'm still at the Obama party in St. Paul.  Just talked to a group of students from Carlton College in southern Minnesota.  They traveled up to the Twin Cities to attend both the Minnesota Republican and Minnesota Democrat results party.  They told me the Republicans' party was very different from the Democrats'.  "It was kind of sad, there were like only three hundred people there," one girl said, describing the Republican party.

Lots of cheering here as Obama is about to give his speech. 

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9:00 p.m. - Quick update
Posted  on November 04, 2008 at 7:36 PM
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I'm blogging from the Crowne Plaza hotel in St. Paul, where Democrats are holding what they hope will be a victory party.  Several of the hotel's conference rooms are packed with Obama supporters.  Spirits are high, and there has been lots of cheering throughout the evening as states are called for Obama.  Since Obama has won Minnesota, Democrats are now waiting to see how Al Franken does in his race against Sen. Norm Coleman for a seat in the U.S. Senate.

 

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Why are you voting?
Posted  on November 04, 2008 at 2:00 PM
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I talked with a University of Minnesota student and Obama volunteer who says she thinks Minnesota will stay blue.

 

 

 

Tags:  election   voting   Minnesota
 
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2:00 - U of MN Students Are Energized!
Posted  on November 04, 2008 at 1:01 PM
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It's an overcast day here in Minnesota, but for Obama supporters at the University of Minnesota campus, their outlook is sunny.  McCain students at the U of MN are few and far between.  Those that I have found are reluctant to talk to me.  Conversely, Obama supporters are more than eager to tell me.  They tell me that Minnesota is staying blue, and would demand a recount if McCain carried the state.

 

What I've found most interesting today is how students want to shed light on other races.  The presidential race is the big star of this election, but many students have told me that they hope young voters will remember to research the other candidates for other offices up for election.

 

Tags:  election   voting   Minnesota
 
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11:00 a.m Voting Update
Posted  on November 04, 2008 at 9:49 AM
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Considering Minnesota doesn’t have early voting, I am very impressed at how fast I was able to vote.  I was expecting long lines and lots of waiting.  Instead, I found my polling place had 30 voting booths and lots of knowledgeable volunteers who made the whole process very efficient.

 

 

 

 

 

Tags:  election   voting   polls
 
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9:00 a.m. I’m Off to the Polls!
Posted  on November 04, 2008 at 7:09 AM
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Minnesota is one of 14 states (plus D.C.) that require voters to have an excuse in order to be allowed to vote early.  This means that I have a lot on my plate today; I’m super pumped to cover the election, but it is very important to me that I vote!  So my plan is to go to the polls now, get in line, and hope that it moves quickly.

 

My experiences voting here in Minnesota have always been smooth.  Even when I wasn’t registered ahead of time (hey, it’s easy to forget when you’re in college with a lot on your mind!) I was still able to do same day regi...

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Students Saying No to War, Yes to Schools
Posted  on September 17, 2008 at 7:53 PM
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The final day of the Republican National Convention was an exciting day not only for John McCain and his party, but also for members of the group Youth Against War and Racism.

On the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol, just a few miles from the convention, Youth Against War and Racism held a mock trial. Using large puppets the group staged a theatrical arrest of ‘Dick Cheney’ and ‘Big Oil Bob,’ who the group considers to be war criminals since they see them as profiting from what they say is an unnecessary war at the expense of young people.

The group had been preparing for this day for months. In fact, I caught up with this group a few months ago, when they first began preparing for their mock trial.

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RNC Day 3
Posted  on September 03, 2008 at 10:28 PM
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Day three of the convention I spent out and about taking in the activities surrounding the convention. First, I went to Civic Fest at the Minneapolis Convention Center. I spoke with the CEO of the One Campaign. I honestly wasn't that familiar with the campaign, and now realize what a cool concept it is. It is a non partisan effort to bring an end to poverty around the world. I think one of the best things about the campaign is the power it gives voters. On the One Campaign's website, voters can compare candidates side by side to see where they stand on various issues cocerning world poverty. Check it out at one.org.

As I was leaving the convention I saw Ben Stein (from Ferris Beullers Day Off!) I wanted to grab him for an interview, but he's a fast walker!

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Tags:  Minnesota   Street Team '08   RNC
 
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RNC Day 2
Posted  on September 02, 2008 at 10:08 PM
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For the past few days, I've been in the midst of all the action.

Yesterday I followed the Anti-War protestors as they marched from the Minnesota State Capitol down the the Xcel Center and then back up to the Capitol. Today, I was lucky enough to be on the floor of the Republican National Convention. I love being a part of all of the political activity going on in my home state!

As awesome as it is to have the RNC here, it is also frustrating. Security is so tight, that it is hard to get anywhere without having to take a huge detour around the big gated perimeter they've set up encompassing the Xcel. I feel like I don't recognize my own city. Everywhere I look there are bomb squads, secret service, and military. It just feels weird.

Another thing that is weird is how people are treating me. As a journalist using new media (phone vlogging and twittering) people at the RNC either I'm fake or fascinating.

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It's Convention Time!
Posted  on September 01, 2008 at 1:26 AM
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Just got home from having dinner and attending a Rock the Vote party with my fellow Street Teamers. I'm so excited because for the next few days, Nadir, Erica, Anthony, Charlie and I will be covering the Republican National Convention here in my home state of Minnesota! Bush and Cheney were supposed to speak at the convention Monday night, but have decided not to because of Hurricane Gustav. I wonder how the hurricane will effect the rest of the convention. Well, tomorrow I am off to cover anti-war protestors who are planning on marching from the Minnesota State Capitol down to the Xcel Center (where the RNC is taking place).
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