Three most important things now: GOTV and GOTV and GOTV
I realized this about two weeks back while in a heated online conversation with another progressive. "It's ME! I'm the freaking problem!"
A good 90% of those who have already decided to vote in the upcoming mid-terms have already decided who they're going to vote for. Changes in strategy, especially those suggested on blogs aren't going to make a lot of difference. It's not about winning the argument now. Even the people who might or might not vote... most of them have a pretty darned good idea who they would vote for... if they bother to vote.
So our most fruitful endeavor at this point is to convince folks leaning toward voting for Democrats this time round that it is very important they get out there and vote.
So I'm working for my Wyoming Democrat,
Gary Trauner. Yeah, I'm still on DKos most evenings denouncing wingnuttery and showing my indignation regarding Chris Wallace, etc etc etc. But every day, I do something for Trauner.
A lot of the task in Wyoming is simple name recognition, so I go door to door. A LOT of people here recognise Republican incumbent Barbara Cubin's name. A LOT of people are dissatisfied with her in one way or another. VERY FEW know they have an alternative. So in going door to door in this VERY REPUBLICAN area, I mention Gary Trauner's name first, last and often. I don't allow for debate. I'm not doing door-to-door debating. If someone tries to tell me how they would never vote for a Democrat, I simply say that Gary is pro-gun (important here), THE ONLY fiscally responsible candidate for the US House in Wyoming (also important here) and I move on -- whether they want me to move on or not.
About every third house I go to (wherein someone answers the door), I hit pay dirt! That is, I find a person of voting age that is interested, takes Gary's pamphlet, and listens to me saying Gary Trauner's name over and over. My commuinity voted 68% for Bush in '04! THIS IS AMAZING! When I hit pay dirt, I ask them if they're registered to vote. Even if they say yes, I give them the registration information sheet. Then I simply say that Gary Trauner would appreciate their vote at their polling place -- which I know by heart on November 7th and then I smile (I have a pretty good smile) and ask them if they would like a reminder call on November 6th, and I move on. I've been to about 200 houses and I have 23 phone numbers... people who want me to call and remind them!
What will I accomplish? My goal? 100 votes for Gary Trauner that he wouldn't have gotten were it not for me. ME! Might I get more? Sure! But those 100 ARE FREAKING MINE, BABY! That doesn't include the folks who already knew of Gary and were already planning to vote for him. Those folks get a bumper sticker and a button.
But the others? 100 ARE MINE!
ME!
I DID THAT!