Drove to Hendersonville, and met with Tony and Justin.  Had a good talk about working up a party organization county by county.  Hendersonville is a very bustling place, and was getting ready for a night of Halloweenerie.

Headed out to Morganton, in Burke County.  Halloween Central!  Met with long-time friends Richard and Jan, who had also managed to scare up a reporter from the Morgan News Herald.  (Reporter had graduated from Dartmouth, so we talked about that for a minute…).  Had fun talking to the reporter, and a photographer followed us around as I talked to voters (because I had to!) and little kids (because I love to…).  Several times people said, “Hey, I voted for you!”  Several others were interested in learning more.  A great stop, and the little kids are so cute in their Halloween costumes.

Then, headed out to Lenoir, where we met with candidate TJ Rohr, his family, and supporter Jeff and his family at Piccolo’s Restaurant.   Very fine deep dish pizza, and good company.  A fine day.

Finally, to the Day’s Inn.  The clerk lady was very excited to meet a Gov candidate, and demanded an immediate stump speech.  I was tempted to say, “We stand for more regulation of hotels!”, but instead tried to give her a decent performance.

She promised a 6:30 wake-up call, which did NOT happen.  On which, more, anon.

I wish we could have had more people to come by and visit with you at dinner last night. My family (die hard Democrats) really enjoyed the evening and wished now that they would have listened a little more closely to what I have been saying the past year or two. I thank you for your time, it’s not often that a simple country boy gets to sit down and share a meal with a possible governor of his state in as relaxed an atmosphere as we had. Best of luck, Jeff Austin