Obama worker sees lots of friendly faces

Jesse Moore is subsisting on a diet of Cheese Nips, baby carrots and vanilla wafers, but you'd never know it.

The 25-year-old Barack Obama campaign volunteer was all youthful energy and enthusiasm on Friday afternoon, despite the diet and getting only a few hours of sleep the night before -- indeed, each night since he flew into town just over a week ago.

"I really love what we're doing here," Moore said as he climbed into his rented PT Cruiser parked in front of Obama's North Las Vegas campaign headquarters. "I'm really excited about Barack. It feels like we are a part of something, of history."

The Seattle native took time off from his job, talking to low-income high school students about their college options, to work 17-hour days until next weekend's caucus in an effort to score a few extra votes for Obama.

Moore is among Obama supporters who have come to Nevada in recent days from all over the country to work for the Illinois senator's presidential campaign.

A campaign organizer wouldn't give numbers, but said "more volunteers than I ever expected, more than I ever dreamed of," had arrived in Southern Nevada to join the effort.

Moore was well-armed for a campaign canvassing battle: He had a trunkful of Obama lawn signs, a stack of campaign literature and the requisite clipboard.

Moore's other weapons included impeccable manners, a wide-open grin and big blue eyes, a combination that could charm the spots off a dog.

"I do get a lot of older women who invite me in for dinner," he admitted. "I've never taken anybody up on it."

Moore's efforts in this North Las Vegas precinct focused on registered Democrats, independents, and Republicans who've shown interest in Obama.

His first contact on Friday, in a subdivision near Cheyenne Avenue and Decatur Boulevard, was with Robert Deas, a 50-year-old truck driver who was in his garage working on a plumbing problem.

Moore turned on the charm.

"You're looking smart," he told Deas, complimenting his youthful appearance. "In my family, 50-year-olds aren't smooth like that."

Turned out Moore was preaching to the choir on this one, though: Deas was already an Obama supporter who planned to attend Saturday's caucus.

"I've been impressed with him ever since he spoke at the 2004 Democratic National Convention," Deas said. "We need change. No country in the world respects us. I'm sick of it."

Moore got Deas to sign a card pledging to vote for Obama, and talked to him about possibly volunteering for the campaign.

"The biggest part of grass-roots field organization is empowering voters to be part of it," Moore said later.

In between houses, Moore explained why he's so passionate in his support for Obama.

"I agree with him on most policies, but it's more than that," Moore said.

"He has a way of speaking to a wide base of people and I respect that. He knows how to work collaboratively, to focus on common ground. The world is too complicated and dangerous right now to be focused on partisan bickering."

As Moore continued knocking on doors, most people either weren't home or weren't answering.

All of those who did answer their doors on Friday turned out to already be Obama supporters with plans to participate in the caucus. Everybody was friendly and knew where they were supposed to go on Saturday; it was Cheyenne High School for this particular precinct.

"I love this neighborhood," Moore said.

One resident, Gloria McCoy, was "almost 100 percent sure" she'd vote for Obama.

"What's he going to do about this war?" McCoy asked Moore. "Too many people have died over there for nothing."

"He plans to get out of it," Moore answered.

At the end of the conversation, McCoy said, "OK, say I'm 100 percent sure."

She then tentatively agreed to make calls on behalf of Obama's campaign next week.

It really isn't always this easy, Moore said.

"Some people are very private. This whole thing is new to them. They'll say, 'Sure, I've heard about the "carcus" or the "croakus."' It's just not part of the vocabulary."

But you wouldn't know it from Friday's outing. One man opened the door, smiled and said, "11 a.m., Cheyenne High School."

He even agreed to let Moore place an Obama sign on his landscaped lawn.

And on his last stop of the afternoon, Moore did in fact get invited inside by an older woman.

Emma Wright, who would not give her age, told him she would be attending Obama's appearance at Del Sol High School later in the day.

Once inside, Wright showed Moore the copy of Obama's book, "The Audacity of Hope," she had on her coffee table.

"I like what he stands for," she said. "I like the way he doesn't talk about himself. He includes people."

She asked Moore if he could arrange a ride for her to get to the caucus on Saturday. He almost succeeded in talking her into volunteering for the campaign.

"I want to see you before next week," Moore told her. "I'll be calling you personally. I want you talking to people."

While the day was a breeze for Moore, he said most people he approaches, even those who don't support Obama, are friendly.

"People are generally good," he says. "People are generally nice."

Contact reporter Lynnette Curtis at lcurtis @reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0285.