8 DREAM TRIP Ex-News reporter joins Clinton camp
Shona jets off to work in presidential campaign
Former News reporter Shona Mitchell is about to embark on the trip of a lifetime to the US as she prepares to join the final two weeks of the presidential campaign.
The 29-year-old policy advisor is off to the battleground state of North Carolina on Saturday to help Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Shona, from Whitehills, is one of four Scots heading to the swing state to experience the historic election result.
She told the News: “I am so excited about helping to secure the first female president.
“I usually stay up to watch the election coverage on TV through the night, so being in the campaign office on the night is bound to be an unforgettable experience.”
Through a colleague, Shona heard a US campaign coordinator was short of volunteers in North Carolina and she jumped at the opportunity.
The former Ballerup High pupil added: “From what I understand there’s around 50 Brits heading to North Carolina and four or so are from Scotland.
“Barack Obama won it by just 0.32 per cent in 2008 which was the first time it went Democrat since Jimmy Carter in 1976.
“The Republican Mitt Romney won it back with a two per cent margin in 2012 so it’s an important one to secure victory for Hillary this time.”
While based in Charlotte, Shona’s responsibilities will include phone canvassing, knocking on doors, helping at rallies and controlling the campaign’s social media from the office.
“As it’s a swing state there are a lot of high profile guests”, said Shona.
“This Thursday (tomorrow) Hillary and Michelle Obama are both speaking in North Carolina and Hillary was in the Charlotte office on Sunday.
“I will be over for two weeks but a few days of that are after election day when I have trips planned to Washington DC and the North Carolina coast.
“Hillary’s campaign schedule is not complete for the time I am there so I am not sure if she will be in North Carolina while I am but I plan to travel to the nearest rally to see her in person.
“I’d also love to see Michelle Obama if the chance comes up.”
As for the result and Clinton’s controversial opponent Donald Trump, Shona said: “I’d love to say the result is certain to go the way I want, but I think there’s lessons to be learned from the EU Referendum when polls mostly stated a win for Remain and the results on the day were quite different.
“Politics is a fickle game and anything can happen in a couple of weeks.
“Let’s hope for the good of the planet Trump doesn’t win. He has behaved appallingly throughout the campaign and insulted just about everyone.
“If I was American he is the last person I would want representing me, whereas Hillary has worked for decades to make changes which affect the lives of everyday Americans.
“She has first-hand knowledge of life in the White House so could hit the ground running. I also think she has a great sense of humour.”
Shona quipped: “I think the only thing as scary as a Trump presidency will be my driving on the opposite side of the road in an automatic.”
The 58th quadrennial US presidential election takes place on Tuesday, November 8.