Chatterboxes for Choice

Travis, Affiliate and National Programs Department at NARAL Pro-Choice America

Q: What will you do to help elect pro-choice candidates in 2012?

This election cycle I will be celebrating my 10,000th pro-choice conversation. What does that mean? Over the course of my still brief career as a pro-choice advocate, I have participated in dozens of canvassing events for pro-choice candidates, made thousands of calls for those same candidates, and organized several events supporting our community.

Each of these opportunities has brought me face-to-face with voters who soon will decide what happens in 2012. These voters are people like Dahlia, whom I met going door-to-door in northern Virginia in October '08 for pro-choice candidate Barack Obama.

Dahlia was undecided about who she would be supporting for president that year. She's a moderate voter, busy as a single mom with two kids, and generally didn't see much difference in her choices for president. I walked her through both candidates' records on choice. In a year where she was split on who she would support, choice became the issue that pushed her to commit to voting for Obama before I left her doorstep.

Almost four years later, as I was watching the reality TV show "Who Wants to be America's Next Anti-Choice Presidential Candidate" (aka GOP primary debates), I wondered who from the pro-choice community would make it to Dahlia's door this year to engage her in this critical election.

These one-on-one conversations may not be the sexiest way to support pro-choice candidates who stand with us, but they are the tried and true way to win elections. There is no better strategy than a good message and a strong ground game. We have the facts and public opinion on our side. It is now a matter of how committed we are to strapping on our boots and engaging our neighbors, friends, and family to protect and elect pro-choice political allies.

Get involved today

Check if you have a NARAL affiliate in your state.

In D.C.? Join our D.C. Volunteer program: field@prochoiceamerica.org

From anywhere in the country, join our Choice Action Network!

Paid for by NARAL Pro-Choice America, www.ProChoiceAmerica.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.