Dean, Clark and the South

[bluestateguy]

People here and apparently within the Democratic Party are divided as to whether or not the South should simply be ceded to Republicans. I am on the record here as being very opposed to such a scheme, as it would free up tens of millions of dollars and possible additional campaign visits by Bush to other battleground states (or even Democratic leaning states). It would depress turnout and doom Democratic prospects in the 5 open Senate seats in the South.

Still, any southern strategy would be different with Dean as the nominee verses Clark as the nominee. For the record I think Clark can compete in more of the South than Dean can, but for Dean to write off the South would be a grave error. Both possible nominees should vigorously contest Florida. If Dean is the nominee he should sit down with Joe Trippi, assess his prospects in the other 10 southern states, and pick one to play hard. Possible states would be Ark., Tenn. or Virginia. I would have him campaign in some of the other southern states, but taper off as we get closer to Labor Day if the numbers aren't moving. If Clark is the nominee I would pick 3 southern states in addition to Florida to contest vigorously and make a halfway effort in most of the rest of the South until Labor Day. If the numbers move in a positive direction then he should expand his southern strategy.