Is Dean's "50 state" strategy starting to pay dividends...

[SaveElmer]

First is this on Kos about Ben Nelson...

They are good commercials - no doubt - emphasizing the multitude of ways Nelson's independence and experience have worked to this state's advantage. But, the fact that these ads state that they are "paid for by the Nebraska Democratic Party" is even more important than their actual content. Why? Because it's the first testament to the fact that the Nebraska Democratic Party even exists in any substantive way that many Nebraska voters have seen in a long, long time.

In what can only be seen as a show of confidence and strength on his part, Nelson's willingness to newly align himself with the Democratic label - even as he spurns it with many of his votes - is the clearest opportunity in years for Nebraska Dems to awaken from their partially self-imposed political exile.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/5/30/144034/608


Then the former Kansas State Republican chairman switches to the Democratic Party

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The former chairman of the Kansas Republican Party jumped ship in a big way Tuesday, switching his affiliation to Democrat amid speculation that he would become Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' running mate.

Johnson County Elections Commissioner Brian Newby confirmed that Mark Parkinson, the state GOP chairman from 1999 to 2003, came to the office and switched his party affiliation shortly before noon.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

To me these are excellent signs of progress...and rather than engage in handwringing ove rthe motivation, we ought to applaud these developments. It not only strengthens us, but is a public relations blow to the Republican Party. After years of people switching the other way, the pendulum seems to have swung our way now!

[AX10]

1. K&R

[LittleClarkie]

2. Huzzah!

Go Guv Go!

[saltpoint]

3. This is a pretty big story, seems like. Would that more Rethugs get

tangled up in blue.

For me, Dean's 50-state emphasis pays dividends psychologically right from the start. It begins at the level of inclusion for those brave blue voters in a vast sea of red Bush people.

Those folks do battle on a nasty front and they are doing noble work out there, often without recognition and it probably gets pretty lonesome and frustrating.

Dean's 50-state strategy acknowledges their contribution right from the beginning, and seeks to build on what they're doing. Everybody benefits from an emphasis like that. The party is given a chance to thrive over a long period. A successful, active, higher-profile Democratic Party in those remote places becomes an idea built into the expectations of people in those regions. We become a more present, less dismissable, and MUCH more viable choice.

I just can't argue with grassroots operations that insist on inclusion.

[SaveElmer]

4. Exactly right...

We have abandoned some of these states for so long repeating the right wing mantra has become second nature to many voters. Getting in there with our message will peel off voters, and will energize local Democrats.

[saltpoint]

6. SaveElmer, that's the kind of talk I like to hear. It energizes me

just to hear you and Dean put it up for consideration.

I've known a lot of those people who labor anonymously for Democratic candidates in overwhelmingly Republican districts, and they are the folks I want around me in a crisis. They're strictly top-drawer & we need them to do battle against the GOP this summer and fall, and definitely into 08 too.

[Pirate Smile]

5. I think Charlie Cook's analysis shows Dean's strategy may be paying off.

Even the mediocre Dem challengers may very well beat some of the Republican incumbents.

Fight'em everywhere!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

"And Republicans aren't being pulled down just in those few races where Democrats are fielding first-tier challengers. The pattern now extends to contests where the Democratic candidates are mediocre at best."

[SaveElmer]

7. I hadn't seen that...

That is interesting...and is another piece of evidence that this strategy may be what brings us back!

[Pirate Smile]

9. His analysis has a lot of info in it - none of it good for Republicans.

[PassingFair]

10. But, but, shouldn't we ...

keep our powder dry?

[BrklynLiberal]

8. Some day, Dean's underappreciated genius will be given the recognition

it deserves.

[FogerRox]

11. In NJ we did our 1st DNC Lit canvass on April 29th.

I met the boots on the ground in NJ that Howard Dean promised us. She started the first week of April.

I have seen the boots on the ground, here in NJ.

[FlashHarry]

12. Better DINO Ben Nelson than Pete Ricketts

That poseur son-of-a-billionaire has been all over the airwaves touting "Nebraska values" and pretending to care about farmers. He really scares me.

[Cha]

13. This is very exciting news!

Thank you, SaveElmer.

I'd like to hear from Parkinson why he decided to make the big gigantic switch?

"Republican House Speaker Doug Mays said he was disgusted by Parkinson's lack of loyalty to the party that made him chairman, but he isn't surprised by the rift."..

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

14. The attention span of a damned squirrel...

When the Republicans got their asses handed to them in 1964, conservatives put together a "long march" that didn't yield real dividends until 1980 (Reagan) and again in 1994 (Newt) and culminating in 2000 (Bush). That's thirty-six years of hard work, and I daresay that many of those who started off on that journey never lived to see Bush Jr. inaugerated.

Democrats have to stop with the are-we-there-yet-are-we-there-yet-are-we-there-yet and realize that we've got a long trip ahead of us. Making gains in 2006 (even if we would take back the House or the Senate) is only the start of the journey. If you're not in it for the long haul, prepare to be disappointed four years from now when resurgent Republicans undo everything we win this year.

[JNelson6563]

17. Thank you!!

So easy to see by purusing DU. Some talk of 06, lots of day-dream-y talk of 08. Ask "What are you doing this election season?" or start a post on growing local parties, watch it die a quick death.

You summed it up perfectly. Like a bunch of little kids: "are we there yet? are we there yet?" *sigh*

[suziedemocrat]

15. As a Hoosier this makes me sooo happy!!! Kerry barely even bothered here.

It was so amazing. No Kerry ads on TV. No wonder Bush takes the Red states by such a wide margin. You can't just write off state after state and still win.

I love Dean!!!!!

[oasis]

16. Dean / Dems did an excellent job in getting the facts out on Bush's Social

Security plan. Their efforts turned back the corporate tidal wave.

Dean has the network in place to get the job done for Democratic candidates.