These articles are signs of what is happening as the DNC under the 50 State Strategy of Howard Dean starts helping them have a party presence in their states. It is just a beginning, but a necessary one.
First, from Nebraska.
Democrats rebuild on the prairieFREMONT, Neb. — It was standing room only the other night at the Blue Bottle Coffeehouse. The Dodge County Democrats were meeting for their convention — and there were about 60 of them, up from barely a dozen in 2004.
That was enough for outgoing chairman Jim Dake to declare the county's Democratic Party officially revitalized. "The proof is all around you," he said. "We've filled the room."
Early organizing, early advertising and a full slate of candidates for Congress are among the signs of hope for Democrats in this conservative farm state with a streak of prairie populism. Their real test will come on Election Day, though, and Republicans here say they shouldn't get their hopes too high.
Dean says Democrats have dug themselves "a deep hole" by focusing on one election at a time, usually in the "blue" states where Democrats are strong. "That's a cycle that has to be broken. We want a long-term business plan," he says.
I get a sense of enthusiasm and appreciation from that article, like the Democrats in Nebraska think there is hope for the future.
And now from Utah:
Democratic Party Puts Money in Utah, Other Red StatesSALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean has been catching grief from some in his party for dumping precious funds into Democratic campaigns in red states like Utah.
The critics fear that could mean too little money being available for the critical races that would the party its best chance at taking back one or both houses of Congress.
But Utah Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland says the criticism is wrong and the party's growth across the state shows Dean's "50-State Strategy" is paying off.
"I can't even put into words how much I think this vision is going to change politics," Holland said.
The article goes into how changing to the nation wide strategy costs money in different ways than before. There are some good quotes from the DNC representative.
Personal comment:
I hate to say it but that county in Nebraska had more at their meeting than we have at some of ours here. Our area is very Republican, and that Nebraska group sounds more enthusiastic than we do here sometimes. We are getting a lot of money here in the state this year, and a lot of big names. We had the enthusiasm for a while, but it's missing right now. We have the money to build big, I just hope other counties feel more enthusiasm.