Certainly the presidential election has taken fascinating turns – but that’s just one race on a huge slate you’ll face when your ballot arrives in the mail, or when you go vote in person on November 4th. We got quite the reminder of that while covering Wednsday night’s meeting of West Seattle’s biggest political group, the 34th District Democrats – they got endorsement pitches from supporters of initiatives that may not even be on your radar screen yet. They also heard local organizers’ presidential get-out-the-vote strategies too. Two and a half hours of what the 34th DDs call “all the democracy you can handle” — here are the highlights:

First, the presidential campaign. If you’re following its twists and turns, you know there’s a national perception of Republican momentum at the moment, with about seven weeks to go.

And nobody was denying that Wednesday night at the meeting inside The Hall at Fauntleroy. The Obama campaign’s district captain David Ginsberg said, “This campaign has become a lot closer in recent weeks, I’m sure everyone in this room is aware of that. It’s the belief of the campaign in Washington that if Obama doesn’t win by eight points or so, (Governor) Gregoire will not carry the state either. That would be a double whammy I don’t think any of us can stand.”

He offered some stark numbers: 16-point lead for Obama in WA in July, 7 percent in mid-August, 4 percent as of this week, “within the margin of error.” For Democrats, Ginsberg said solemnly, “This is a battle for the soul of America” (a phrase reinforced by a PowerPoint presentation he projected onto the wall).

He ran down a three-phase process — registering voters by the October 4th deadline (here’s where to register, no matter what your party or affiliation), signing up Neighborhood Leaders, identifying “likely Democratic voters” after the deadline.

Ginsberg’s presentation also discussed a special effort in what he called the district’s most populous precinct, High Point/Sylvan Ridge — “More than 2000 residents with about 450 registered voters … overwhelmingly Democratic” — they’re even using a volunteer who speaks Somali. Ginsberg and another local organizer, Kimber McCreery, urged would-be volunteers to contact them; the info is on the 34th DDs’ website. They’re also handing out “West Seattle Supports Obama” yard signs.

McCreery — who also at the meeting shared her story of attending the Democratic National Convention last month in Denver, saying Obama’s speech was an experience second only to “the day they handed me my daughter” — also noted that national Democratic Party chair Howard Dean is coming to the area on Saturday to rally volunteers (11 am Saturday, Renton Carpenters’ Hall).

34th DDs chair Ivan Weiss said, “The task ahead at this point in the campaign is to truly put our boots to the ground in this district. The Republicans are energized by their ticket, that was the purpose of the vice presidential selection of Sarah Palin, to energize the base … I know from my discussion with right-wing Republicans, and yes, I do talk with them, they are energized, they think they have a chance to carry this state for McCain, which of course they don’t but they think they do … Every one of us in this room needs to give their best effort to disabuse them of that notion, not just for McCain but for (governor candidate Dino) Rossi, (attorney general Rob) McKenna, (lands commissioner Doug) Sutherland …”

And the state-office campaigns are asking for help here too: McKenna’s Democratic challenger, Pierce County executive John Ladenburg, has a West Seattle fundraiser tomorrow; a Gregoire organizer mentioned having 15,000 yard signs to hand out statewide and pleaded with anyone “on a busy arterial” to take one home and put it up – she too was one of many who asked for volunteer help, “just an hour a week” to help phone “undecided” voters and “ask them to support the governor.”

Initiatives on the November ballot came up too; the group endorsed Initiative 1029 after hearing from one of its supporters, Jeff Parsons, who explained that it would provide tougher prerequisites for people who provide home care, which the official pro-1029 site suggests is barely regulated in this state.

City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the council’s Parks (and Seattle Center) Committee, pitched for support of the city parks levy that’s on the fall ballot, a six-year, $145 million proposal that he described as a “wonderful package.” Rasmussen said the “average” homeowner would pay $25 less in property taxes each year than under the current Pro Parks Levy whose expiration this year triggered the drive to create the new proposal. “Parks are one of the most affordable forms of recreation we have,” he noted. (The 34th DDs are contributing $500 to the parks-levy campaign.)

Also discussed and decided at this week’s meeting, a plan to use about $13,000 in 34th District Democrats’ money to send a “sample ballot” to registered voters — “almost 29,000 mailboxes” — throughout the 34th District (which includes Vashon and parts of the White Center/Burien area, as well as West Seattle). State Sen. Joe McDermott advocated the plan, saying, “Let’s use the resources we have … to elect Democrats now.” Arriving at the final decision required an impassioned discussion; some worried that between the sample ballot, an advertising plan (disclosure of future sponsorship: this reportedly will involve WSB as well as four weekly newspapers in the area), contributions to candidates, the group might not be “planning for a rainy day,” but then came a voice from elsewhere in the room: “IT’S RAINY NOW.”

To those who asked why a sample ballot should be sent when volunteers are planning to go door-to-door as well, member Cherisse Luxa said, “It’s known you have to touch voters six times to get their attention.”

Once that was settled, it was back to candidates and issues. Many already had been discussed, and contributions approved, at previous meetings, so these were more like loose ends; Democratic Secretary of State candidate Jason Osgood, who’s challenging Republican incumbent Sam Reed, is getting $1,000; the “death with dignity” initiative, I-1000, is getting $500, after one of its supporters begged for help, saying the anti-1000 campaign is pouring millions into Washington from out of state.

Judicial endorsements were considered too. The full list of 34th DDs’ endorsements is now on the group’s website; you can find it here.

One non-election issue they tabled: A member spoke passionately against the proposal to sell advertising wraps on some Metro buses. Concerns included visual pollution and trouble reading numbers of oncoming buses. “This is a serious thing and shouldn’t be dismissed so flippantly,” the wrap opponent insisted.

County Councilmember Dow Constantine, who chairs the council’s Transportation Committee, jumped up to take the opposing view. He says issues have been addressed, including concerns that windows will be fully covered – they won’t – the current proposal is for “partial” wrapping, he said, adding “With my amendment, it would be limited to 25 buses in our fleet of more than a thousand. That would raise 600 thousand dollars. We’re getting killed by diesel prices, we’re getting killed by the downturn in the sales tax, we’re going to have to scrape together every last penny we can just to keep the CURRENT level of bus service on the road.”

The 34th District Democrats meet one more time before the November election, on October 8th. The 34th District Republicans’ meeting places/times aren’t on their website, but you can see the site here. You can see all the issues and races you’ll be deciding in November – or sooner, if you vote by mail – by going here.