The journey is almost over.  In a few days, we’ll know how this all turns out.  So what’s on my mind?

I’ve got a ton of juicy blog material piled up high, for one thing.  There’s been all sorts of nonsense that in another time, I’d have blogged instantly.  But being a candidate is different.  You can’t just go smacking people around whenever you want, largely because it consumes way too much energy and time.  But I still have the material for another day if I want to!

Another nugget – this summer has been so damn hot, and it’s been hotter because I’ve spent it all outside.  Today’s autumn chill was weird – I don’t really know how to walk without sweat dripping onto my clipboard.  I’ve lost some weight, because in addition to sweating through my clothes, all day, every day, I’ve been neglecting my diet.  I need to eat better, soon.

I quit smoking in early April, and picked it back up about 3 weeks ago.  It sucks.  I really don’t know how Barack pulled it off in 2008.  And now that he’s president?  I mean, wow.  I’m gonna give it another try after this primary, probably on the first trip out of town for work.

The redemption thing?  Well, I’m feeling pretty good right now.  Win or lose, this journey has put my past most definitely in the past at least for me, finally.  That needed to happen.  I’m starting to feel like my old self again – the guy who used to sit across from presidents, prime ministers, ambassadors and other assorted extremely powerful people, and function at optimum skill.  I’m not on a hair trigger anymore.  I’m comfortable in my own skin again, so much so that I don’t really care if I win or lose.

But….the old me liked to win.  A lot.  And hated to lose.  More.  And the old me is back.  We’ve run the kind of campaign I’d want to run for any client, and a campaign that any candidate at any level would pay a lot of money for.  Did it on a shoestring with tin cans and wires.

And I learned that my journey can result in a lot of help to a lot of people.  People forget that when you run for office, a lot of folks are counting on you.  The old me made a point of never letting anyone down, ever.  That applies to this election.  Winning isn’t really an option.  It’s the outcome that will most help the people of my district, and that’s not a boast.  If you saw this district like I’ve seen it this summer, you’d agree.

So it’s off to election day.  I’ve never experienced election night as a candidate.  If you want to see what it’s like, at 38:47 in this video is the 2002 general election night with Tim Ryan.  Even if you’re crushing your opponent, it’s gut wrenching.  I’m already starting to feel a little tight in the stomach.  That look in Tim’s eye at 40:45 – I’m beginning to know how you feel, Tim.

Thanks for coming along on this journey with me.  Now, time for the decision.

I haven’t blogged about the endless personal attacks that my opponents’ supporters have been launching, anonymously, at the grassroots, largely because it’s silly.  I mean, really.  Do people think my supporters don’t know about my background?  Do they really think voters are that stupid?  Do they really think that leaving my own criminal record in MY mailbox because their sophisticated targeting has revealed that MY sign is in MY OWN front yard – do they think that is going to have any impact whatsoever?

Well, voters aren’t that stupid.  That’s lesson number one.  Lesson Number Two is that my opponents’ supporters waste a whole lot of time targeting me and my supporters rather than getting their own.  Yay for me.

Lesson Number Three is that these anonymous losers are getting pretty desperate.  Apparently, someone planted one of the signs they stole from my supporters’ yards on I-90 right at the spot of a memorial to the young woman whose dead body lied there after it was mistaken for a deer by the police.  First of all, that’s pretty sick.  Second, you morons really think this is gonna fool anyone?  And this morning, just now, someone left a pink plastic bag filled with Dale Smith and James Levin literature on the doorknob of my apartment entrance.

Um….what?  Is this some strange code?  Am I supposed to now fear the epic deluge of my opponents’ literature at my door?  Does this alchemy of opponents’ literature mingling together in a pink plastic bag somehow conjure a magic spell that leads to my defeat?

FAIL.

It’s becoming pretty clear that I’m ahead in this race, and the predictable attacks from anonymous sources, ALWAYS anonymous, have become so bizarre and desperate it is now just entertainment.  It ain’t working, folks.  And we’ll know who wins soon enough.

In the meantime, next time ya’ll visit my house, knock on the door, I’ll make you coffee!  At least you’ll get something out of the effort!