You were one of the fortunate ones to be a few rows up, as it was I was just in front of her and my ears are still ringing....
Your idea of grass root campaign is a good idea, We need to know more about the person we are voting on~ I know that going door to door can be scary you never know what response you may get~ but at least you get to meet some of your neighbors, that live in other parts of the community, and in the process they are getting to know you as well.