Some of the hierarchy of the Florida Democratic Party and some in our Democratic congressional delegation have clearly hooked their wagon to Hillary Clinton's rapidly falling star.
My hope is that the party will acknowledge Obama's inevitability and start preparing for how to run with an Obama presidential candidacy here in Florida.
Big Caveat: If McCain picks Florida Gov. Crist as a running mate it's probably hopeless. Time to roll up in a fetal position and whimper.
Personally, I don't think that's gonna happen, so, what's the plan?
More below.
Cross Posted From FlaPolitics.com
First, it's important to realize that we need to begin reframing Obama in order to appeal to his weakest constituency--older voters. I don't know this for a fact but I would guess that Florida has the highest percentage of Democrats over 65 of any state.
This is not an impossible task. The key is to understand Obama as the Liberal Reagan. This construction was first put forth by Andrew Sullivan in his Daily Dish Blog and then later as an op-ed in the London Times.
(As an aside, Sullivan has shown himself this political cycle to be the most cogent creator of positive Obama memes and narratives. His classic Why Obama Matters from The Atlantic is the most fascinating piece of political analysis I've ever read.)
Obama has many of the same qualities as Reagan, such as a "calm and reasoned demeanor" and a "crisp style." But the main thing to remember is that Reagan made people feel good. That's what the "Morning in America" slogan was all about. Obama has this same capacity, and the smart Democrats in Florida will start discussing him in these terms.
This approach buffers the message of "Change" that can make older voters apprehensive. Just as they cling to the Clinton name as a reminder of better times, posing Obama as the Liberal Reagan will allow them to see him as less of a threat. He's just a "Newer Morning in America".
The second issue is at the other end of the age spectrum, the youth vote. Obama has delivered on his promise to increase turnout in this vital demographic of the future. But, since he didn't campaign here for the primary the infrastructure to support this effort going forward to November was not sufficiently realized.
Certainly, we will see Obama operatives begin this work after the nomination is concluded. But, smart Democrats in Florida will begin now. The FDP needs to ratchet up its outreach to all the college campuses to insure that registration efforts are well manned and effective. It needs to provide resources to Young Democrats organizations to get the word out and start connecting up a powerful collection of cohorts.
The third thing is not so much for the Party as a whole, which obviously can't take sides until the nomination is over, but for individual Democratic operatives and office holders. Operatives who want jobs come the fall need to be contacting the Obama campaign now about signing on with them. Really smart ones will be taking two weeks off to go work in Texas or Ohio.
And Democratic office holders need to learn from Charlie Crist, timing is everything when it comes to endorsements. And the time for endorsing Obama is now. Waiting until after March 4 is too late.
I understand that more conservative politicians and those who have already publicly endorsed Clinton may have to wait until they switch. And Congressman Ron Klein has said that he's not interested in alienating any of his potential voters.
But, if you're young and ambitious, now's the opportunity to show your stuff and take a calculated gamble. (I'm thinking Rep. Kendrick Meek here, even though he's presently endorsing Clinton. I mean, what's he got to lose?)
I noticed that State Sen. Dave Aronberg signed on in January, but then I already knew he was an astute rising star.
Winning Florida for the electoral college vote come November is not going to be easy. But, if the state Democratic Party is to make the kind of gains it wants in order to position itself for the future, it needs to start thinking about how to run with Obama at the top of the ticket.
BTW, of our our (non-voting) superdelegates, the following have pledged to Obama:
Rep. Robert Wexler
DNC Allan Katz
DNC Joyce Cusack
Rep. Kathy Castor (Be Proud, Tampa Bay Obamans!)
The following have pledged to Clinton:
Sen. Bill Nelson
Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz
Rep. Alcee Hastings
Rep. Corrine Brown
Rep. Kendrick Meek
DNC Raul Martinez
DNC Chuck Mohlke