I attended today's "Explode the Vote" voter registration event in north Minneapolis, co-sponsored by the Obama and Ellison campaigns. We had a good turnout of doorknockers.

Things that really struck me - Keith told us that we are working for the common good. We are all neighbors.

The Ellison campaign slogan is: "Everyone counts. Everyone matters." *

That is what this 2008 election is about - everyone matters, everyone counts. Period.

I kept track of all the houses that were empty, boarded-up, or for sale. It was heartbreaking. These were neighbors we were counting on to support Democrats in November. They are gone. We have to find other voters to replace them. My doorknocking partner told me of some of her neighbors being deported.

Our work is cut out for us.

* Or it may be, "Everybody counts. Everybody matters."