LBJ was the last Democrat to win my home state. We represent only 5 electoral votes. If the polls hold the way things are going, Senator Obama will thump Senator McCain soundly. It takes a lot of imagination to play with the electoral map to create a scenario where we matter in the math. So, why should all of you around the country care?
Why did Gov. Palin show up on Sunday and why does Sen. Obama's campaign have a presence here at all?
As you know, we are not an all-or-nothing electoral state, our electoral votes go based on congressional districts. District 1 and 3 are almost certainly going to go red again, but NE-2 is being contested by both campaigns, as is evidenced by a winking, smirking visit by Palin yesterday. There are 5 reasons why we should all want to see a spot of blue on November 4th.
- Nothing would say "Mandate" like a conservative plains state giving electoral votes to Obama. With Iowa looking good for Obama, adding part of Nebraska will go a long way toward helping Obama move his agenda forward after the election.
- Losing part of a safe state would be a dagger in the side of the GOP. If Nebraska isn't safe for future Presidential campaigns, that changes the thinking in GOP warrooms.
- It gives hope to other red state dems. If we can push this district up this hill, then anything is possible. To everyone else tired of voting for the team that can't win your home state, I feel your pain. Know that we are in this together and we can win this fall!
- Downticket races matter. They matter a lot. In district 2 we have an entrenched, oil-company lackey being opposed by an exciting voice, Jim Esch. Senate candidate Scott Kleeb is running a great campaign against a Bush crony. I don't know about you, but I want to see more Democratic members of Congress to help with Obama's legislative and judicial agenda. Increased voter turnout does nothing but help these candidates. If these campaigns have enough money to play ball with the Republicans their GOTV efforts and Obama's GOTV efforts can make the difference.
http://www.scottkleeb.com/
http://www.jimesch.org/
- Democrats in Nebraska want to get excited. We have never been given a reason to be motivated for a national candidate before. In the primary we turned out in droves for campaign stops by Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and Chelsea Clinton. When the Obama campaign opened an office here, we packed the building and overflowed the parking lot without any big name surrogates there. On Wednesday, they open a second office in town and I would expect the same sort of excitement. Ask us for our help and we will run through fire for a candidate who inspires us. With an unexcited GOP base here, we can and will take this district.
In many ways the NE-2 district is a symbol. By itself, one electoral vote is meaningless one. Never forget, however, that symbols matter