Clark supporters invade OH-02 today

What you may already know is that Gen. Wes Clark (D-AR) has endorsed and Paul Hackett for Congress in what seems to be shaping up into a very tight race in a special election being held this Tuesday, August 2nd for OH-02's open seat.

What you may not know is below the flip --

Clark supporters from all across the country are getting on planes and piling into cars to get to Ohio for the final five days of the election.

It may sound crazy to some of you but the simple fact is when our guy runs into a burning building we run in right after him, no questions asked.

If the polls really are as tight as they say then this is an election that field can win but he's got to have the boots on the ground.

If you're a Clark supporter in a neighboring state then you need to drop what you're doing and get to OH-02 because your General did.  If he can, you can.

Call the Hackett for Congress Campaign HQ at :

[phone]

I myself am driving up from New Orleans, LA and know of Clark people boarding planes in Seattle and Texas today.

If you live in OH, KY, IN or PA and you are a Clark Democrat you simply have no excuse -- stop blogging, get driving, and start knocking.

We can steal a seat with an upset driven by the passion and energy of inspired Democrats.

"Get Moving"

•  hey new orleans

  how about that WSMB 1350?

  by MFL on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:10:50 PM PDT

•  Word

  I might avoid the word "invade" - sounds a little too orange-hattish. We don't want to look like outsiders.

  by DavidNYC on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:11:28 PM PDT

  •  My thoughts exactly....

    I hope we have learned from Iowa.  These volunteers should be used for behind the scenes work only and let the Ohioans do the "door to door" work.

    Invade is a really poor choice of words and I hope it is not reflected in attitude.

    by landrew on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:13:57 PM PDT

    •  What Do You Think About "Bury"?

      What do you think about the RNC buying ads to "bury" Paul Hackett?

      General Clark probably knows a lot about which troops to use in combat and which to use in a supporting role.

      by eafredel on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:21:55 PM PDT

      •  "Reinforce" ...

        If there is a need to use a military term, then can write and speak about how "General Clark's supporters are moving to reinforce Major Hackett and OH-2 Democrats in campaigning against= Schmidt's Chickenhawks."

        by besieged by bush on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:54:09 PM PDT

      •  I am just referring...

        to the direct results of the Dean campaign.  It is a fact that a large number of well intentioned volunteers "invaded" Iowa before the 2004 caucus.

        It turns out that this influx of "outsiders" backfired to some extent, it was too chaotic and overwhelmed the locals.  Meanwhile, Kerry had local people on the ground, organizing, going door to door.  And we know the result.

        Even Dean learned from this, hence his new efforts to build local "on the ground" state organizations.

        I am not bashing Clark or his people.  But we have to learn from experience.  The goal here is to win this election.

        by landrew on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 01:03:39 PM PDT

  •  Let Them Use the Language They Like

    The Republicans should not be the only ones 'allowed' to love the military metaphor.

    LL

    by LeftyLimblog on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:14:14 PM PDT

    •  Interlopers

      Nothing to do with military metaphors. Just has to do with appearing like interlopers. Though it is impossible to prove, a lot of people believe that the Dean corps of orange hatted volunteers in Iowa, most of whom were from out of state, were not well-received by local folks.

      True or not, isn't it better to play it safe and not risk irritating the local residents?

      by DavidNYC on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:40:36 PM PDT

      •  Many of the people going, including the OP

        are from red states.

        I don't think they'll be viewed in the Republican district in which they're "invading" as "interlopers."

        You might (joke! joke!), but folks with big-ole Southern accents won't be. :o)

        However, I do agree with the post that if there are enough Ohioans about, they should do the door-to-door and let the other folks work behind the scenes.

        by Lara on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 01:03:10 PM PDT

        •  New Yawk

          Hehheh - no, I'd definitely stick out like a sore thumbs. (Though I do NOT have a New Yawk accent!)

          by DavidNYC on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 01:05:40 PM PDT

          •  Heh!

            My b/f is from Bawsten (otherwise known as Boston) and we live in Knoxville, TN. HE sticks out like a sore thumb. LOL!

            by Lara on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 01:09:04 PM PDT

            •  LOL

              Thats funny since you said "sticks out like a sore thumb". In my comment below I was going to say that New Yorkers stick out like sore thumbs but I thought he might think that was an insult.

              by Liberalpalooza on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 01:11:18 PM PDT

          •  Really?

            Are you sure you don't have an accent? 'Cause I've met people from up north who swear they don't but they do. :D

            Of course, I don't have an accent at all. LOL

            by Liberalpalooza on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 01:09:40 PM PDT

            •  Idear

              Yeah, pretty sure, actually. Throughout my life, I've had at least a dozen people who weren't from New York (including some from the "accentless" Midwest) say to me, "Wow, you don't have an accent!"

              Trust me, you put me in a room with Howard "Idear" Dean, and you'll be able to tell the difference. :)

              by DavidNYC on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 01:12:06 PM PDT

            •  I Moved from Michigan

              And lived in Cincinnati for 10 years. Even after being there for so long, lots of people would say, you're not from around here are you? They claimed I had a Michigan accent. I didn't know we had accents in Michigan!

              by Dave B on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 01:47:02 PM PDT

      •  your premise is flawed...

        ....if people think you care enough it may win them over.

        People who rush to that decision based on you going there either have their mind made up, or do not vote already or simply will not go.

        The Dean backburn was because he was so aggressive buying ads...

        there is a thing called overexposure in media...

        Don't believe it?

        ...then you have not looked at the Craford, Texas vacation logs.

        Dean overdid his Iowa effort and it scared people off, combined with massiove dirty tricks at the caucus level by Kerry goons.

        Overexposure is a media point, ground contact is the opposite. One reinforces assumptions, the other motivates.

        by Mr Murder on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 01:09:57 PM PDT

    •  it's not that

      it's that people don't like to see swarms of "outsiders" coming into their communities and "interfering" with their elections.

      A lot of it has to do with whether the outsider "fits" into the community.  So people need to use their discretion. Hopefully, the Hackett campaign is taking this into account as well.

      by MattBellamy on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:41:17 PM PDT

  •  That was my first thought exactly

    when I read the subject line.

    by TampaProgressive on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 02:06:02 PM PDT

•  By the way

  I was part of the Krewe for Dean that went to Iowa from New Orleans and for nothing else, what you learn from canvassing and phone banking is huge.  It's the best learning experience yet.

  by MFL on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:12:23 PM PDT

•  Ummm...isn't this bad news?

  I thought we all agreed NOT to fly in people from other states--it only riles up the natives.

  by RequestedUsername on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:17:10 PM PDT

  •  Are you Serious?

    So long as they leave the orange hats at home...

    by Dave B on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:29:08 PM PDT

  •  Not really

    What Hackett needs right now is ground troops, Clarkies are hardened Veterans who learned how to campaign out of state in the cold of the New Hampshire primaries, I have every faith in them to be a big help to Hackett.

    I'm sure they'll coodinate with local campaign workers. I've been watching their activities and the seem pretty well coodinated with the Hackett people, so wait and see.

    by Donkey Rising on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:33:24 PM PDT

  •  I think volunteers

    to canvass are fine. Writing letters to residents is not. I dont think anyone wants a letter from someone in another state telling them who to support in their district.

    by jj32 on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 01:38:06 PM PDT

•  Will the General Be There?

  by Yosef 52 on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:17:23 PM PDT

•  Clark endorsed Hackett?

  What a relief. Because I heard he was leaning toward Schmidt.

  by peacemonger on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:25:28 PM PDT

  •  You need to get over it

    And accept the fact that Clark is really a Democrat. You're insulting all the activists who got involved in Democratic Politics because of his leadership.

    by Dave B on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:30:28 PM PDT

    •  is joke.

      i kid. smiley face on the way to save the day!

      :-)

      by peacemonger on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:32:16 PM PDT

      •  A stupid fucking one at that

        And not funny.

        Mitch Gore

        Wanna win in '08...?

        Put your money where your mouth is.

        by Lestatdelc on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:34:10 PM PDT

        •  I was using irony (apparently ineffectively)

          to try to point out the fact that obviously Clark should support Hackett, because they're both democrats, both veterans, etc. It was touted at the top of the diary as though it were news.

          My point is that Clark endorsing Schmidt would be news. I'm sure that everyone positioning themselves for national Democratic office is rooting for Hackett.

          by peacemonger on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:37:15 PM PDT

        •  Wiseass.org?

          That's a new one for me.

          by Dave B on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:37:40 PM PDT

        •  Reading

          My reading of the joke was actually that there was no way in hell that Clark, a good Democrat, would ever NOT endorse Hackett - ie, the joke was a fake "phew! close call!". That was my reaction when I first saw that Clark endorsed him - I was like, "That's all well and good, and I like Wes Clark, but c'mon, dude, I expected nothing less."

          by DavidNYC on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:43:00 PM PDT

          •  Meant

            Ah, and that is indeed what the poster meant, according to his/her comment.

            by DavidNYC on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:44:01 PM PDT

        •  Yes, let's all lighten up a little bit

          Even I (very literal) got the joke. Not a great one, but a joke nonetheless.

          by TampaProgressive on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 02:10:12 PM PDT

      •  Sorry

        Sarcasm is hard to detect over the internet. Hopefully by now we can all accept that Clark is not a wolf in sheeps clothing, or a stalking horse for the Clintons. :-)

        by Dave B on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:36:30 PM PDT

        •  I forgot the sarcasm tag.

          won't happen again.

          by peacemonger on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:37:48 PM PDT

      •  LOL

        I for one thought it was funny - just some witty reparté: the irony of sweating out an endorsement from another democrat. :-)

        by MFL on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 03:06:03 PM PDT

•  Swing State

  has the news that the DCCC has made a six figure TV ad and print media buy.  They waited for the RNCC to make their move so as not to up their ante.  Brigham's report on the ground sounds really exciting.  People from all over have come and are working like a well oiled machine with their new found friends.

  by ljm on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:25:32 PM PDT

  •  Good

    This is actually a good strategy. A lot of Democrats were getting their panties in a twist yesterday wondering where the DCCC was and when they were going to undo their cranial-rectal insertion.

    by Dave B on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:40:46 PM PDT

•  Can I get a lift?

  I'm in Hattiesburg, MS, and can't get up there myself.  With a ride, I could.  I'll kick in for gas.

  by mkrell on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 12:46:31 PM PDT

  •  I hope someone driving up hears you!

    If not mistaken, Alex blogged this diary from Cinncinati...

    I hope you get there too.
    Good luck!

    by Sybil Liberty on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 02:10:01 PM PDT

•  Wish I could be there!

  But, the constraints of single motherhood prevent me from attending.

  I, however, am some sort of master at sending karma (ask my b/f who went from settling for no bonus this month to moving up into the top tier and selling Idontknowhowmany policies after I sent him some karma).

  Therefore, the karma wish is upon you!

  And, I admit, I have a smallish crush on Hackett after seeing him on Hardball last night - he's intelligent, quick on his feet and handsome, like our general - and would like nothing better than to help him win!

  Way to go, Clarkies!

  by Lara on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 01:07:51 PM PDT

•  Great to hear such terrific grassroots support!

  Clark supporters are amazing to travel from far and wide to assist Hackett.  That's the spirit that will beat the Bushbots.

  by Alexandra on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 04:44:36 PM PDT

•  Every little bit helps

  I have asked my daughter to BEG her friends in Cincinnatti to vote for Hacket.  Lets hope that all of your efforts and those of Clark and other Democrats makes a difference.

  by haypops on Fri Jul 29, 2005 at 06:33:41 PM PDT