7-1-16
The biggest complaints I hear from Democrats in regards to McGovern’s two-state Texas-OK Strategy is, “But he’s not coming to (insert home state here), like he usually would. How can I like a strategy that leaves us out?”
We understand being left out. Texas Democrats have been an extinct creature since LBJ. I mean, they’ve existed, but who would’ve known? Why continue down the same downtrodden path of Iowa, then New Hampshire, then all the rest. Especially when we see McGovern trailing or staying even in such Democratic strongholds of Pennsylvania and Michigan.
Obama’s landmark election of 2008 was great in that the electoral playing field was expanded to levels not seen since LBJ. Obama campaigned in North Carolina and won. Campaigned in Virginia and won. Strong African American communities along with college and hi-tech areas in Virginia and North Carolina helped propel Obama to victory. Indiana fell into his column because his message resonated.
McGovern’s outlook for 2016 are far bleaker then Obama’s eight years ago. A successful GOP president has put Pennsylvania and Michigan, let alone Ohio and Florida out of reach. But McGovern has an idea, a new campaigning idea. Rely on the coasts, and campaign at home. Bank on military men, liberal cowboys, and Aggie and Sooner fans to come out in full force and propel him to victory in his home state of Texas, and his elected/adopted home state of Oklahoma. Areas Democrats have abandoned nationally for years. 45 electoral votes that Obama wouldn’t have dreamed of getting, and 45 votes to easily offset the 49 lost by Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Virginia. And if McGovern’s message begins to resonate, and one of those toss-ups fall into our column, or even a wild card state combo of Kansas (down 45-35) and/or Montana (down 42-35), McGovern wins easily. Then the entire electoral map is flipped upside down.
Any thoughts on how to lessen the pain for the Floridians and Ohioans abandoned this 2016 election cycle?