Kathi Kinnear Hill

And towards the end of that campaign in 2012, I got a phone call and I was asked to be a canvas captain. which is basically just taking a leadership role and doing the same duties that I'd already been doing. But they asked me to do this in rural Iowa. So being that committed person that I am, I said yes.

And I'm dropped off, me, a middle-aged African-American woman, and another campaign worker, a little bit older African-American woman in rural farmland, Iowa. So we walked into this little teeny campaign office, and we got our little clipboards and our pens and all of our papers and put our little buttons on and our little Obama hat, and we're going to go register people to vote.

And I'm dropped off, me, a middle-aged African-American woman, and another campaign worker, a little bit older African-American woman in rural farmland, Iowa. So we walked into this little teeny campaign office, and we got our little clipboards and our pens and all of our papers and put our little buttons on and our little Obama hat, and we're going to go register people to vote.

And I'm dropped off, me, a middle-aged African-American woman, and another campaign worker, a little bit older African-American woman in rural farmland, Iowa. So we walked into this little teeny campaign office, and we got our little clipboards and our pens and all of our papers and put our little buttons on and our little Obama hat, and we're going to go register people to vote.

So we did, and we walked out of that door. And Rita, my partner in campaigning, is one of the strongest and most amazing women I've ever met, a retired school teacher. So I looked up to her and I looked over at her and I said, yeah, we don't, do we, are we going to, we're going to do this, right? And she said, I am fired up and ready to go. Aren't you? I'm fired up and ready to go. Let's go.

So we did, and we walked out of that door. And Rita, my partner in campaigning, is one of the strongest and most amazing women I've ever met, a retired school teacher. So I looked up to her and I looked over at her and I said, yeah, we don't, do we, are we going to, we're going to do this, right? And she said, I am fired up and ready to go. Aren't you? I'm fired up and ready to go. Let's go.

So we did, and we walked out of that door. And Rita, my partner in campaigning, is one of the strongest and most amazing women I've ever met, a retired school teacher. So I looked up to her and I looked over at her and I said, yeah, we don't, do we, are we going to, we're going to do this, right? And she said, I am fired up and ready to go. Aren't you? I'm fired up and ready to go. Let's go.

And I said, well then, yeah, I'm fired up and ready to go too. So we walk, we're walking down Farm Road and our first stop was a trailer park. And as we were approaching the gate to open it, we looked up And there was a man, a big old man with a big old rifle.

And I said, well then, yeah, I'm fired up and ready to go too. So we walk, we're walking down Farm Road and our first stop was a trailer park. And as we were approaching the gate to open it, we looked up And there was a man, a big old man with a big old rifle.

And I said, well then, yeah, I'm fired up and ready to go too. So we walk, we're walking down Farm Road and our first stop was a trailer park. And as we were approaching the gate to open it, we looked up And there was a man, a big old man with a big old rifle.

And before we could open that gate, he looked at us and he said, I didn't vote for your nigger last time, and I ain't voting for your nigger this time. Now you girls better turn around and get. And we did. And again, I looked at Rita and said, we don't have to do this. And she said, oh, I'm more fired up and ready to go. Let's go.

And before we could open that gate, he looked at us and he said, I didn't vote for your nigger last time, and I ain't voting for your nigger this time. Now you girls better turn around and get. And we did. And again, I looked at Rita and said, we don't have to do this. And she said, oh, I'm more fired up and ready to go. Let's go.

And before we could open that gate, he looked at us and he said, I didn't vote for your nigger last time, and I ain't voting for your nigger this time. Now you girls better turn around and get. And we did. And again, I looked at Rita and said, we don't have to do this. And she said, oh, I'm more fired up and ready to go. Let's go.

So we did and we knocked on doors and we knocked on doors and we rang doorbells. Nobody on that day was ever that horrible to us. We had people, of course, you know, closing the door in our faces, just saying, no, thank you. And then, of course, you've got the ones that you knock on their door and you can see the curtain open and then close. And we're like, yeah, we know you're there.

So we did and we knocked on doors and we knocked on doors and we rang doorbells. Nobody on that day was ever that horrible to us. We had people, of course, you know, closing the door in our faces, just saying, no, thank you. And then, of course, you've got the ones that you knock on their door and you can see the curtain open and then close. And we're like, yeah, we know you're there.

So we did and we knocked on doors and we knocked on doors and we rang doorbells. Nobody on that day was ever that horrible to us. We had people, of course, you know, closing the door in our faces, just saying, no, thank you. And then, of course, you've got the ones that you knock on their door and you can see the curtain open and then close. And we're like, yeah, we know you're there.

But we didn't stop us. We kept walking, and we kept having conversations. And then we get to a farm, and we're walking down this long gravel driveway. And approaching us is the farmer who owns that land. And he looks at us, and he says, no, I see what you're selling, and I'm not buying. And I remembered our president asking us to have conversations. And I said, could we just have a minute?

But we didn't stop us. We kept walking, and we kept having conversations. And then we get to a farm, and we're walking down this long gravel driveway. And approaching us is the farmer who owns that land. And he looks at us, and he says, no, I see what you're selling, and I'm not buying. And I remembered our president asking us to have conversations. And I said, could we just have a minute?

But we didn't stop us. We kept walking, and we kept having conversations. And then we get to a farm, and we're walking down this long gravel driveway. And approaching us is the farmer who owns that land. And he looks at us, and he says, no, I see what you're selling, and I'm not buying. And I remembered our president asking us to have conversations. And I said, could we just have a minute?

And before he could answer, his wife opened the front door. And she said, ladies, if you're going to be at my house, you better come in here. Supper's on the table. And we were scared and hungry. But I'm thinking, in the back of my mind, I'm thinking, but do I really want, it was a get out moment. Do I really want to go into this home, farmhouse, in the middle of nowhere?