I must have lost at least ten pounds walking around the Burholme section of Northeast Philly. Erik, Alice, Tsvet, Ryan, Marielle (Ryan's special ladyfriend), and I began walking as the temperature struck 95 degrees.

Starting at Dunkin' Donuts on the corner of Oxford and Rhawn St., we each set off in different directions. Some preferred to work in pairs (e.g.- Ryan and Marielle, Alice and myself) and some, like Tsvet and Erik, chose to go solo.

Perspiring profusely after an hour, we were having little success on the preliminary streets. We surmised that most people were either at the shore or enjoying (as we wish we were) a neighbor's holiday bar-b-que. Needless to say, we were elated to receive a call from Joe that Raj would be joining us to meet the people himself.  Excitedly, we traipsed back to the lovely air-conditioned Dunkin Donuts to meet him.

Moments later, the candidate Bob, Joe, and Mike arrived sporting two-dozen bottles of cold water. After securing a bottle for the road, we vectored away from the intersection, and this time, we hit the neighborhood hard.

First, Raj teamed up with Alice and was greeted as a welcome sight at many of the homes. Mike and I veered off in the opposite direction and gathered signatures for our petition. We found out the hard way that Burholme Ave. is really an artery street with many smaller streets branching off of it.  Fortunately, there was a good amount of people at home.

Mike and I traveled so far from the others that even our cells phones didn't get reception. By the time we were done, everyone had already ventured home… with one more successful door-to-door day under their belts.

Prashant R.

Saturday, Prashant, Elizabeth, and myself hit the pavement.  Amidst the sweltering temperatures, we headed to an apartment complex. 

We thought that the apartment complex would offer the opportunity to meet more people in less time.  However, after knocking on two doors, Elizabeth and I realized that most of the residents were Russian. 

We quickly decided that the best use of our time would be to join Prashant in a nearby neighborhood instead of trying to overcome the language barrier.  We also knew that Tsvetana, who is fluent in Russian, would be able to campaign there much more effectively.

So, Prashant, Elizabeth, and I met up with Ryan and Tsvetana.  We then paired off on different streets surrounding a nearby High School.  Ryan and I received a lot of good responses from residents. 

At the end of the day, everyone was both scorched and exhausted.  However, we were pleased with the positive feedback.

Stef S.

A quick thank you to the volunteers who have been in the office for the last ten days.  Ayush, Akil, Kevin, and Rahul have been incredible.

These four students are spending their summer vacation contributing enormously to our progress.

Talk about work ethic!

Prashant R.

On the very day that hundreds of Pennsylvanians were overwhelmed with flooding and much of the area labeled a disaster area, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz responded to the natural disaster to her district by sending out an email alert.

Oh, the email had nothing to do with the flooding. It was a fundraising email sent from Schwartz’s Washington D.C. office dated Wednesday June 28th ironically titled “Help me fight for our rights!”

“This is evidence of a serious disconnect between residents of the district and their congresswoman,” said Raj Peter Bhakta, Congressional Candidate. “Allyson Schwartz sent a fundraising email to hundreds of suffering Pennsylvanians.”

Rail lines were flooded in Hatboro, forcing stoppage of SEPTA trains between Willow Grove and Warminster. The Fort Washington entrance to the turnpike was entirely flooded. Some Upper Moreland residents were evacuated early Wednesday. Many basements throughout the district were flooded and parking lots were filled with floodwater. Floodwaters hit many businesses.
 
Congressmen Mike Fitzpatrick and Jim Gerlach came back to their districts from Washington the day of the flooding. Raj toured much of the damaged area without fanfare and without seeking media exposure.

“Allyson Schwartz showed once again she doesn’t care about the residents of her district,” said Raj. “When the people of this district needed a leader Allyson Schwartz sent them a fundraising email. This is why we need a change in leadership.”

As Joe, Prashant, Stef and I pulled up to the 309 theater along PA Route 309, we notice a very busy highway with little or no space to sign wave.

Undeterred, Joe and I managed to situate ourselves on a grassy knoll with a giant banner.  While standing in a busy intersection may seem questionable, what Prashant was doing to get honks, waves and smiles was just plain crazy.

After inserting himself on an island in an entrance to a shopping center, Prashant began with what I would call the Admiral/Superhero stance.  He hooked one arm on his hip and held his sign high with the other… All this while trying to hop on one foot

Prashant then realized that maybe standing in the lane and running back to the island would grab some looks.

You haven’t read anything yet.

I look up the highway to discover that Prashant has crossed three lanes of traffic to position himself on the Jersey barrier. To our disbelief, he was straddling the concrete slab with a “Raj for Congress” sign on his head. If the people driving past that don’t consider voting for us, they must be blind (and in this case, they shouldn’t be driving a car).

Amidst all of Prashant’s antics, a lot of people were honking and waving. People were genuinely giving us the thumbs up. It shows that there is never a dull moment in this campaign.

Ryan D.

 While much of the region was under water on Wednesday, we found plenty of dry land in the Northeast. Unable to reach our office, we set up a "mobile command center" at our staff house.  We then struck out to begin knocking on doors.

Unfortunately, our idea was not unique.  We ran into Democratic and Republican committeemen and even Reynolds Baldwin, who is running for the State House.

Everyone was amiable.  We even got some laughs from the voters, who were surprised to get so many political visitors!

Joe M.

Momentum is the operative word.  This morning, Beltway Blogoll linked Raj’s interview.  We then discovered that our blog, in only its seventh day of operation, has surged to twenty-first in Google’s rankings (searching Raj Bhakta).

Interview requests are increasing.  Readership is increasing.  The number of blogs linking us is increasing.  The response of those viewing and those writing has exceeded even my expectations and I have been pushing internet strategy for two years.

I believe this is the difference between us and other campaigns.  Whereas they may want your vote or tell you what you want to hear, we are actually letting people into the campaign. I have no idea why campaigns have not embraced this medium.

Those reading us have our gratitude.

Raymond S.

As we stepped out into the neighborhood around Conwell Ave and Reilly Rd., Prashant (fellow staffer) and I noticed how beautiful the homes were. As we looked at our database lists, we noticed a large Indian community.  This played into Prashant’s wheelhouse, as he is half Indian.
 
After the flooding rains of the past week, the sunny Thursday was much appreciated.  Unfortunately, rain quickly set in.  Despite the thunderstorms, Prashant and I continued to hand out Raj information.
 
After about an hour and a half of door-to-door, we received 60 favorable responses.  As I have stated before, actually talking to people about him, is great for the campaign. It shows people are genuinely concerned about their Congressional representation.

Ryan D.

Amidst their Midterm Roundup, TPM Café links Raj’s Interview.  TPM is the fourth outlet to publicize the interview. 

The reaction to Raj’s ideals and passion has been phenomenal.  In every conversation I have had, people express a genuine interest in his candidacy.  Whereas traditional media and casual observers may not take Raj seriously, bloggers hear him and read him as a person who cares about issues and the people of this district.

This further illustrates the power of our new media.  We don’t have to wait around for the media to respond.  We don’t have to beg them for an interview.  This campaign and the blogs, can communicate directly with the people.  The grand byproduct being that bloggers do not present the public a portion of what we say, they present what we say.

Bloggers actually seek interviews.  They do not feel the need to puff their ego.  They want to hear the candidates.  They don’t want, as the traditional media often tries, to interpret the candidates.  It may be the largest difference between the two mediums.  The traditional media attempts to tell what the story is.  The blogsophere simply tells us the story.

This campaign will continue communicating.  For this campaign has demonstrated, what I have always personally felt, that the blogs are “the place where the future happens.”

Raymond S.

National Review Online excerpts Raj’s interview with the Real Ugly American.

Initially, I must thank the Real Ugly American founder Rick Calvert.  Both for his objective interview and his complimetnary followup phone call.  It was extremely heartening to hear that Rick was “impressed” with not only Raj’s passion, but also the candidate himself.

Rick’s phone call, during which he mentioned another possible connection, combined with the interview’s cross posting on Wiz Bang, made the day great before eleven a.m.

The blogosphere’s energy is amazing.  When we held our initial meeting and decided to pursue a comprehensive internet strategy, we knew that certain blogs would entertain a conversation with us.  We could have never imagined that these blogs, including those who have not endorsed us, would be so interested in working with our campaign.

Everyday, I trade e-mails and speak with these bloggers, everyday people, who have through their own initiative carved out niches and earned the respect of their colleagues, the media, and hardened political operatives such as myself.  I know there are those jaded, sad souls who still do not embrace this medium’s potential.

This is not that campaign.  We understand the bloggers.  We appreciate the bloggers.  We know that “making a difference’ is not a platitude to them.  It is what they awake seeking to accomplish.  Again, I continue to think of the same sentence spoken by former bosses and other political operatives… “what can this internet thing really get us?”

The answer is this day.  The blogosphere can hand us voters, media, money… everything the traditional, boring campaigns of the last two hundred years.  Yet, as this morning shows us, it can do so much more.  It can, on its best days, create a movement…

Raymond S.