Local GOP and Democrats working to turn out the vote

With less than a week before the election, Monterey County Democrats and Republicans are kicking it into high gear, amping up their canvassing efforts.

“We have a lot of people in the headquarters who are volunteering,” said Paul Bruno, Monterey County Republican Party Spokesperson.

“We are going to go after every vote of course,” said Vizn Koller, Chair of the Democratic Party of Monterey. “We think it’s very important those last four days in terms of turning out the vote.”

So here’s what the ground game looks like at the Democratic Party of Monterey County: knocking on more than 20,000 doors and calling into swing states to get Clinton into the oval office.

“The swing states are the ones that are going to decide this election, as they have in every presidential election for decades,” said Koller.

The Monterey County Republican Party is also canvassing thru neighborhoods, focusing on phone banking, mailing out literature and trying to grab some attention on social media.

“There’s a lot of complicated measures on the ballot and I think a lot of people are looking for guidance,” said Bruno. “So I hope we’re providing the guidance.”

With so much at stake, volunteers are not necessarily trying to capture undecided voters, but those who lack that essential ingredient, enthusiasm.

“So now that people are realizing that the race is tighter than it was before, that enthusiasm is going to get them to the polls,” said Bruno.

Both parties said they’ve been able to use Clinton and Trump’s shortcomings to their advantage.

“If you watch the general network you’ll see that they’re talking about Hillary scandals,” said Bruno. “Those scandals are turning off Democrats and getting some Republicans to the poll.”

“We have a lot of Republicans who’ve become Democrats in the last few months who just cannot believe that the Republican Party would nominate somebody like Donald Trump,” said Koller.

Mudslinging aside, both headquarters said their biggest challenges with getting through to voters are all those state propositions and local measures crowding the ballot. Plus, it’s harder to connect with voters these days.

“It’s getting a little harder to reach voters,” said Koller. “People have cell phones they don’t have landlines anymore.”

Democrats and Republicans said they expect their headquarters to be very busy this weekend with volunteers and voters coming through.

ORIGINAL STORY: With just a few days before the November general election, Monterey County Democrats and Republicans are ramping up their canvassing efforts.

Volunteers from both party headquarters are knocking on doors and working the phone banks.

As KION’s Maya Holmes learned today, it’s not just about promoting candidates and causes. It’s about motivating voters to actually go out and cast ballots.

Watch the story tonight at 5 and 6 on KION 5/46.