Events Calendar
In This Section
Can DNA tests free ex-Akron captain?
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Green High senior goes extra mile for those who walk and jog the park trails
Community, school and military news roundup
Tragedy to hope: Family creates foundation for bereavement therapy
Visiting new Navy ship brings back memories for Doylestown man serves on USS New York in 1930s
Most Read Stories
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Can DNA tests free ex-Akron captain?
Browns' roster nearly devoid of consistent players
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
Review: You've never seen 'Sound of Music' like this
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
Browns vs. Lions live …
Akron Zips:
Akron trounces Howard to reach .500
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Robiskie, Harrison inactive
Kent State Sports:
Kent State blown out in second half, loses to Temple 47-13
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Four area football teams play tonight
All Da King's Men:
The Sunday Sanity Challenge
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (69) The Brookings Institute Study on "Bending the Curve" – Four General Strategies
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
A Random Rant on Testing
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
Early to provide 'American voice'
By Stephanie Warsmith
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008
Politics never interested Monica Early.
When she voted for president, the Cuyahoga Falls woman felt like she was flipping a coin.
But that changed for Early this year when she began looking into Sen. Barack Obama's background.
Early liked what she discovered and volunteered with his campaign. And now she's headed to the Democratic National Convention to share her story.
Early is one of 15 Obama supporters from across the country who will speak at the convention in Denver this week. She will give her three-minute talk Thursday.
''I am completely honored — blown away,'' said Early, 53, an insurance agent in North Canton. ''How did I get picked? I'm going to try to represent the area as best as I can.''
The campaign chose Early partly based on the peppy introduction she gave for Obama in February at a rally in downtown Akron.
Keary McCarthy, a spokesman for Obama's campaign, said Early and the other supporters will provide an ''American voice'' for the convention. He said each will explain how they got involved with the campaign, with many — like Early — entering the political fray for the first time.
Early became interested in Obama in January when she received a negative e-mail about him from a friend. She said the facts didn't sound right and she decided to do her own investigation.
''In this course of doing this, I found out I really liked this guy,'' she said. ''I just feel like he is really special.''
Early helped with Obama's primary campaign, allowing a campaign worker to stay with her, knocking on doors and making phone calls. She held two house parties and attended a training session Saturday in Columbus to become a neighborhood leader, helping organize other volunteers in the Falls.
She will leave for Denver on Wednesday and plans to stay over the weekend with her husband, Richard, a lifelong registered Republican who also has become an Obama fan.
Early is somewhat nervous about her remarks, which will be delivered to a crowd slightly larger than the one she addressed at the John S. Knight Center.
''This is the opportunity for me to make my case,'' she said. ''I'm hoping somebody can relate and will consider Obama . . . I think I will be OK. I will feed off the energy of the crowd.''
Although Early has her speech prepared, before delivering her remarks, she will have the chance to meet with a speech coach.
''I'm hoping to impart that we've been doing things the same old way for quite a while,'' she said. ''It doesn't seem to be working anymore. We need some new ideas.''
Early said she'll make a special plea for her fellow Ohioans.
''Hopefully, we won't repeat 2004 and send another Republican to the White House,'' she said. ''This state needs help and we haven't been getting it from the current administration.''
Early is using her moment in the spotlight to urge others to join Obama's campaign. She said local residents can stop by the campaign's Akron office at Merriman Road and West Market Street or call 330-252-5720.
''We're trying to get a job done here,'' she said. ''We need all the help we can get.''
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.
Politics never interested Monica Early.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
