The New Southern Strategy (Thank you North Carolina!)

[Dob Bole]

For those of you who do not know yet, North Carolina has passed a proportional representation system that will divide its 15 electoral votes according to who wins in each district. Jimmy Carter was the last Democratic candidate to do better in the South than the rest of the country, and since then Republicans have carried North Carolina every time. The new system was passed along party lines by a Democratic legislature and will be signed into law by a Democratic governor. (See here:)

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/story/139582.html

This is the ticket for Democrats to finally have due representation in Southern states. Typically, Democratic presidential candidates get well over 40 percent of the vote in these states, but that is lost in the winner-take-all system.

Now, where else can we mine for electoral votes in Dixie? Glad you asked...

Alabama (9 electoral votes)

Alabama Democrats have a large majority in the state legislature. The state does have a Republican governor...but check this out: the legislature can override the governor's veto with a simple majority vote. Democrats can get their slice of the pie here...

Arkansas (6 electoral votes)

Democrats last won this state in 1996. It has a Democratic legislature and governor.

Louisiana (9 electoral votes)

This might be Louisiana's last chance to grab electoral votes. It currently has a Democratic legislature and governor, but the prospects of the 2007 gubernatorial elections favor Republicans. Blanco needs to act fast...


North Carolina (15 electoral votes)

Already on the way. Just needs the governor's Hancock.


Tennessee (11 electoral votes)

Prospects depend on the legislation making it through the closely divided (tied?) state Senate. Tennessee has a Democratic governor, Phil Breseden, and controls the state house.


West Virginia (5 electoral votes)

A Democratic states, but has voted Republican in Presidential elections since 1996.


So, activists! Get to contacting people in these states!

[AndyTiedye]

1. This Could Really Help Us

:kick:

[1932]

4. It'll hurt us if Edwards is the nominee and wins the state. Which is probably why they passed this.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

2. * won 44% of the vote in California

We need to reform the EC but it needs to be done nationally. Now that NC has done it expect Republicans to try the same in big blue states. :scared:

[AndyTiedye]

5. We DON'T Want to Do it in California, Obviously!

[draft_mario_cuomo]

8. We don't, they do. If it works we are in trouble. This is a bad precedent imo nt

[Dob Bole]

11. How would it work, with Democratic control in California? nt

[draft_mario_cuomo]

12. We won't always control California

Look at New York, which would be a better example. Until recently it had a Republican governor and a Republican state senate (the senate is still Republican but the gov. is now a Democrat).

[Dob Bole]

14. Maybe, but with Proportional representation, the winner of the popular vote wins

New York still didn't have the triple threat needed to enact the law. It makes more sense to do this in the South, because we have a history of a one-party system. Democrats can do this to show that they've broken with their past...and it will help them in the long run.

One problem that the South has is a lot of really crappy Democratic strategists, though. Where do I apply?

[1932]

3. So, if Edwards wins the state, we won't get all 15 votes. Did Republicans rush this through in

anticipation of Edwards getting the nomination?

[AndyTiedye]

6. Could Be, But Edwards Isn't Very Likely to be the Nominee Anyway

The Slime Machine ran him off the road over a haircut. It doesn't take much.

[1932]

7. I think this law was passed because Republicans think it's likely.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

9. That is why he is catching Obama in the national polls and leading in IA while Clobama decline there

:)

[Dob Bole]

10. Republicans opposed it...

Edwards wouldn't be likely to win the popular vote in North Carolina even if he were the nominee. Maybe Virginia, maybe Florida, but not NC.

[patricia92243]

13. I would love my vote to count in NC. It irks me to death that it doesn't now. n/t