Field Report: Huckabee in Columbia, SC

The day began at 8:00am as I awoke after a mere three hours of sleep. Morning trips to Columbia do not generally mix well with a third shift schedule, but with Governor Huckabee coming to town for the Clemson/Carolina game, I figured the campaign could use all the help it could get.

I arrived at Williams Brice Stadium around 10:00 (having passed several large 4x8 Huckabee signs and a number of smaller ones) and struggled to find parking somewhere close to the stadium without subjecting myself to the ridiculous charges of $20 or even $30. I eventually found a parking lot for a small manufacturing company still within visual distance of the stadium, and with no one collecting money, I felt decently safe parking there. Thinking I had just got there before the money handlers did, I decided to write a note to leave on my windshield asking that I be called before being towed. This, thankfully, is when Skip Hudson, unofficial head volunteer of the Columbia office and head of the Columbia Meetup group, called me to say that because the University wasn’t allowing any setup until after 2:00, we were just going to meet at the campaign headquarters about 5 miles away. Thankfully I had called him the night before for directions…otherwise we wouldn’t have had each others phone numbers and I would have been stuck wandering around a football stadium with a Huckabee for President sticker on.

*Lesson number one
When planning a grassroots function, always be sure to touch base with the person running the event the day before. Last minute changes can create large logistical problems so firmly ensuring information before taking action is just common sense. Furthermore, it ensures that you have the leader's contact information firmly implanted in your cell phone's memory and that, more importantly, they too now have yours.

I was given directions to HQ, and arrived within 10 minutes. Here I was able to meet Skip in person, as well as his wife, Ivelisse, and Allison V, a super cool Huckabee supporter. Together we constructed, complete with the obligatory forgetful screw-ups, a piece of PVC “artwork” that would ultimately be used to hang the Huckabee signs that would become the backdrop for the tailgate. We were able to accomplish this feat of engineering masterpiece whilst the actual campaign staff was on the road picking up the Governor’s ground transportation, another team of volunteers was putting up signs on routes leading to the stadium, and yet one more team was already on the stadium site handing out the invitations announcing that Mike Huckabee and Ric Flair would be hosting the tailgate at 5:00.

*Lesson number two
While assembling PVC pipe, there are a few simple rules to follow.
1: Do not use pipe sealant glue in the same quantities as you would use Elmer’s glue for a project involving construction paper and glitter. The stuff is strong and loves to squirt out of the tightly connected joints onto awaiting fingers and clothing.
2: Do not use pipe glue to cap the end of a post before said post has been successfully filled with the sand and rebar necessary for weight and strength.
3: Do not use pipe glue to cap the end of a post that is in fact in need of a splitter for the addition of legs running perpendicular to the post for stability.
4: Plan to assemble your structure close to a hardware store where additional PVC pipe, end caps, and pipe sealant can be purchased. Preferably take a car larger than a Honda Civic to purchase the 10 foot long PVC pipe…taking comfort that at a hardware store, there is a ready supply of saws with which to cut the pipe for loading.

We completed our structure and took a break for lunch. When we returned, it was time to load the vehicles and begin the trek to the stadium. It was on the approach to the stadium that I noticed an airplane overhead trailing a banner. To my giddy eyes, I read the banner: Huckabee for President http://www.hucksarmy.com. Rock! They had done it! Traffic was heavy and a number of bored individuals staring out of their car windows were able to take in this aeronautical experience.

*Lesson number three:
All things are possible. If you have an idea for the campaign…DO IT! Take initiative, get others to join you, and make a difference for the campaign!

Our parking spaces, the eventual home of the tailgate, was right in front of the stadium. Thankfully we got there much earlier than our space’s neighbors. Assembling our structure and the accompanying tables inside of our allotted space was a tight squeeze. We luckily had room to spread out and then assemble. During the assembly process I heard high praise from the campaign staff there with us about the flying banner. An impression was made for sure.

With the booth organized, teams took the invitations to begin handing out around the parking lots. We needed turnout to make this a success. I stayed behind to man the booth and talk to folks who came by about Mike.

*Lesson number four:
Do not place loose leave fliers and handouts on a table during a windy day without some sort of weight to put on top of them! Even a bottle of half empty pipe sealant can function in this regard.

Soon enough, people started walking by the booth yelling, “Whooo!”. Apparently the message was spreading. I was also pleasantly surprised to see a number of my friends from SC for Fair Taxation come by the table. We chatted for awhile and of course they were enthusiastic about coming back to see Huckabee.

It was around 4:00 as I was reaching for some tape under a table that I heard a voice ask me if Mike Campbell was around. I looked up to a gentleman I sort of recognized and I replied that no, has wasn’t, and to the best of my knowledge he was probably picking up the Governor and would be here around 5:00. This gentleman pointed beside him to a small group of folks and said that the Governor was already here. Sure enough, Mike Huckabee, Janet Huckabee, David Beasley, and a couple staff members were assembled. Mike came over to say “hi” and I was able to talk to him for just a couple minutes about the FairTax and the power of the grassroots movement. He had heard of Huck’s Army, and was very appreciative of all the hard work done by each and every person that contributes to making the site a success.

*Lesson number five:
While speaking with your candidate, it is helpful to actually pay attention and involve yourself in the conversation lest the majority of your memories of said conversation be “I can’t believe I’m talking to Mike, I can’t believe I’m talking to Mike”. In the end, it’s like trying to remember a dream. I've met a number of famous people. I've been lucky. For some reason I always get nervous when I do so. I can't explain it. I can speak in front of crowds of thousands with no problem. I can't speak one on one with someone I admire. Go figure.

I did get my picture with Mrs. Huckabee and later on with Governor Beasley...adding to my collection.

As they moved on to wander the parking lots and speak to groups of tailgaters in preparation for the press conference, I encountered my only negative comment of the day. It is funny enough to share. Two guys and a girl came up to the table and took out one of the brochures. One guy read verbatim in a questioning tone, “Does ‘Governor Huckabee believe that a marriage is between one man and one woman’”. I said, “Yes sir”. He looks at me and in the most effeminate voice says, “I’m a ma’am not a sir and you just lost three votes”. He turned melodramatically and walked away, thinking himself triumphant over some great conquest. I just laughed and thought to myself, “Can’t lose what you never had”!

*Lesson number six:
Can’t please everyone. Don’t bother trying and don’t get discouraged.

Eventually it was time for the “big event”. People were gathering and we took to getting folks signed up for the SC volunteer list. We had several completed pages by the time we were done. I met a number of great people who had come from all over, some specifically because they had heard about this event.

The Governor and Ric Flair spoke with the press (a lot of press at that) for a while and then over the next hour and a half proceeded to work the “room” and chat with all those in attendance, many very thankful and impressed by what they heard.

At the time of this writing, several good articles have circulated on the event including an AP story and one specifically for the State newspaper in Columbia. The goal of this event, even more so than meeting with tailgate attendees, was to create a media storm with local coverage in SC. By all accounts, that succeeded.

My thanks to each and every volunteer who made this event a success! :!: