the door-to-door work that first helped Peña, then a dark horse state House candidate, win the 1978 election before going on to become Denver’s mayor. He still periodically canvasses on behalf of fellow Democrats, including Ken Salazar’s Senate bid in 2006. In late September, Peña went canvassing in his old legislative district, followed by a crew from National Public Radio.
Q: How did that go with NPR?
A: Well, they captured the good, the bad and the ugly. I remember telling the NPR people, “Listen, today there’s a Broncos game. I’ve never gone door to door during a Broncos game, but I’m breaking my rule because this election is important.”
Q: And?
A: The very first door I knocked on, a gentleman came to the door, and he was very abrupt. It was the first quarter of the game. He wanted to know what we were doing. He uttered an obscenity and shut the door in my face.
Hear the broadcast: /templates/story/story .php?storyId=95003297
Q: How do you deal with someone like that?
A: You say, “Thank you very much, and have a great day,” and you go on to the next house.
Q: What do you remember most from your years of canvassing?
A: First, there is no substitute for going door to door, particularly in neighborhoods that are a little distressed. You get to see how people live. In some cases, you marvel at the survival skills they have, living in a very tough environment and yet managing to get by, day to day. Seeing people’s homes and talking to them is very eye-opening, whether you’re a candidate or not. It truly opens your heart to the challenges faced by people one might otherwise not come across.
Q: For example?
A: I recall going into an elderly woman’s home one day. The house was freezing cold because her heater wasn’t on. She had a sheet of plastic in her kitchen, the oven door open, and she was heating her kitchen with the oven. That’s where she slept. That’s where she basically lived. She had to cut back on the heating bill, so rather than heat the whole house, that’s how she survived the winter months.
Q: What impact does canvassing actually have in terms of votes?
A: A huge impact. There is nothing better than going door to door and talking to people, one on one. It’s superior to mail, TV or radio advertising. When I first ran for the legislature, people were absolutely delighted to see me go door to door. My opponent was well-known, but I had more personal contact, telling people who I was, and I think it had an impact. I won those elections. I attribute that to my door-to-door work.
