Every two weeks or so I get back on my
WINNING LOCAL RACES MATTER RANT it's just that I think it's the most important strategy to rebuilding the Democratic Party. I
LOVE Bill Clinton, since I personally met him in NH in 1991. He was supposedly FINISHED as a candidate and he won me over.
But I have to criticize him for not doing enough to get Democrats elected DOWNSTREAM. The party withered in many regions under his watch, and weather we like it or not the 1994 massacre happened under his watch.
Now not to get on the Hillary bashing bandwagon (there isn't room left and I don't really care) but she has $20 Million in the bank (she has raised $40 Mill. Total, she has spent the rest on her network), but wouldn't that money be better spent in 2006 helping getting Democrats elected in States her husband won, Nevada, Maine, ect. ( I could see her donating in TN hurting our candidate there). I KNOW WHY she is hoarding her money, but it's part of the problem with the party heads. So here is my question to you my KOS family, which Democratic leaders do you feel do the most to build the parties Grass roots?
Who ever wins the Democratic primary shouldn't have a problem fundraising (John Kerry who was liked not loved by the base set a Democratic record). But Hillary is thinking only of the head job in 2008. Just as a matter of strategy I would think having more Democrats elected, especially ones who would
owe you would be a bigger advantage. She doesn't have a serious candidate in NY for the Senate.
Remember the Presidential Candidate isn't just nominated to be Commander in Chief , Chief Executive, and Head of State, but also Leader of the Democratic Party . So which Democrat candidate/leaders do you feel has done the most to help get OTHER Democrats elected?
This goes along with the 50 States strategy. I have written allot of Diaries on why winning local races matter. I have been screaming for years at BIG Democratic donors to PLEASE start giving big donations to State level PAC, 527's, and Think Tanks. This is how Democrats won the Colorado Senate and State House. Two rich Donors got the 4 wings of the Democratic party to work together, along with seed money they provided an VOILA. This had to have had an effect in helping getting Ken Salazar elected to the Colorado US Senate.
This is also another reason why JOE LIBERMAN MUST GO! He has been a fundraising mammoth for years, has allot of cross party appeal, but with 3 perennially vulnerable Republicans House members in his state he has NEVER gone to the mat to help knock them off!(one of Shays them has endorsed him!) Can you imagine a GOP Senator being that nice. Connecticut is a blue state for Pete's sake!
I vote for winning MORE local races as part of the 50 State strategy. IT is much cheaper to win State Senate races, and State House races, I have allot of diaries on why spending on regaining local state houses makes more sense on a dollar for dollar basis. A State Senate Seat and a State House Seat Campaign in most states can be run on the order of several $100,000 verses the several $1,000,000 to win a Federal election. Let me explain why winning the State level races are so big especially with 2010 coming up. REDISTRICTING, with Gerrymandering can give party extra seats. Remember what happened in Texas, Delay is accused of illegally raising $125,000 and using that money to knock off 5 Democrats (a sixth one changed Parties).
I am only asking about the Presumed Democratic Candidates right now, but I would like to start an open thread about candidates in your area. I mean with the Huge next eggs some Democratic leaders have, why don't we have a better candidate in BLUE Maine, and why isn't Jack Carter in Nevada getting better funding?
PLEASE EVEN IF YOU DON'T RECOMMEND THIS DIARY, START TALKING ABOUT THIS WE NEED MORE DEMOCRATS WITH COATTAILS LEADING OUR PARTY!