Cal Cunningham Campaign Kick-off Event in Davidson County, NC

The smell of piping hot, Lexington-style barbecue permeated the air as excited supporters of Cal Cunningham, candidate for U.S. Senate, filed contentedly into a banquet hall at Richard Childress Racing in Welcome, NC last night for a hometown campaign kick-off event. Having been to numerous campaign events as a field organizer for various state and national campaigns, I had a very good idea of what to expect at this event but as the evening wore on I found myself getting to know a candidate that really takes the future lives of North Carolinians seriously.

A few days ago, I was selected to be an intern with the Cunningham campaign. Since then, I’ve been making phone calls and assisting staff with various projects. I find the office to be a welcoming haven of youth, and a place where enthusiasm and heart can be felt as soon as one climbs the stairs into the space. Being an intern requires your presence at campaign events, so last night my staunch Republican mother and I headed to the campaign kick-off barbeque. Wanting to be purposeful, I proclaimed that I would help in any capacity needed. My words were taken literally, as I found myself on the serving line in front of a large vat of potato salad.

Serving potato salad might not register too high on anyone’s radar of “most wanted jobs” but I found myself having quite a good time in my role. I got to see nearly every attendee of the event and was able to reconnect with old friends from the Davidson County Democratic Party. The barbeque slaw server next to me, a man with the ironic last name “Burr”, was quite a talker, so I learned a little about each person that came down the line. After what seemed like hours of stress to my right hand and my feet (I made a poor choice in footwear), everyone was served and the interns and volunteers could take a break and enjoy the rest of the evening.

Cal Cunningham was introduced, and he spoke from a detached microphone in the midst of the audience. As soon as he started to speak, I found myself captivated and I forgot about my aching feet. I could tell that this was no ordinary political stump speech, but rather a conversation with each event attendee. It felt very genuine. Cunningham talked about his experience as a state senator in North Carolina and how he worked across party lines to accomplish real goals for the state’s residents then and how he would continue to do so once a U.S. senator. He spoke about being a paratrooper and how they were taught to fight from all sides, just as is necessary in politics.

I’ve read Cunningham’s ideas and plans on his website (http://www.calfornc.com), extensively but those are really just pleasant looking words on a screen. Politicians have to be able to connect with their constituents, they have to be able to take those written ideas and present them to the public in an honest and heart-felt manner. People tend to vote with their hearts as much as they do their brains. While Cunningham was speaking, I listened intently to him talk about his plans for North Carolina jobs and education, as well as his support for numerous clean energy initiatives such as curbing fossil fuel emissions. I felt that Cunningham was genuine and that he’s a candidate you can truly believe in to actually do what he promises to do. He was quite inspiring, even to my mother. After the event, she was willing to help me clean up tables. I’m convinced she’ll give her vote to Cal Cunningham if he indeed appears on the November ballot.