As an Obama supporter dismayed at how the last week has shaken out, I've watched with concern as the campaign struggles to regain its footing after HRC's March 4th three state* victories. Then this evening, it occurred to me that we're about to get the biggest superdelegate endorsement of the race so far. No, not Al Gore, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Jimmy Carter, Howard Dean, or Nancy Pelosi. The biggest superdelegate endorsement of this cycle will be none other than our good friend, U.S. Representative in waiting.....Bill Foster.
Now, to appease the wrath of the woofing gods, I will say that Bill Foster's election to Denny Hastert's vacant House seat is by no means a foregone conclusion (GOTV, dammit!!!). But when SUSA, the polling outfit with by far the best record of accuracy this cycle, has our physicist friend ahead by 7 points, we have reason to be confident. (Still, GOTV people!!!)
Now, on to the hypothetical.
WHY BILL FOSTER CHANGES THE GAME
1.) Broad mandate for change, anyone?
Of course, it's great for the Obama campaign to pick up an extra superdelegate since it appears they will ultimately decide this race. However, it's not the mere fact of his endorsement that is so very important. It's the circumstances under which he is capable of giving it. With Bill Foster's election in the House seat of the former Republican SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE (!), Obama shows that he can build and is committed to a majority that can actually accomplish the reforms to health care, trade, ethics, and foreign policy that every Democrat up and down the ticket will be campaigning on this fall.
2.) 50 State Strategy means Leave No District Behind!
Obama can demonstrate, with the election of Bill Foster, that the energy and enthusiasm he has inspired will turn red seats like Hastert's blue all across this nation.
3.) The exact OPPOSITE of 1994
After Obama rolls out Bill Foster and the explicit argument that he will grow the party and build a mandate for Democratic ideals, the contrast with the Clinton record becomes stark. While Obama's grassroots energy takes Hastert's seat from the Republicans, it was the Clintons' whose failure to invest in our party gave us 12 years of Republican rule. In this community, it is taken as a given (as well it should be), that if party leaders don't focus on building our party, then you can make as many speeches about speeches and speeches about solutions that you want, but none of your solutions will ever actually happen.
So, fellow Obama supporters, take heart, work hard,
GOTV!, and when Congressman Bill Foster is sworn into office, we'll see which candidate will be better for our majorities in Congress, and our Democratic agenda.