Every State. Every race. Right here.

This is number 26 in a planned series of 50 entries between now and November, looking at each of the 50 states in terms of every race on that state's ticket--Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senate, House, State legislatures--the whole sixpack! Special attention paid to identifying and promoting the most important contests per state.

Today, put on your cheesehead hat, open a can of Milwaukee’s Best and prepare to visit some very friendly territory for Democrats.  Wisconsin, THIS IS YOUR 50-State Diary!!!

From the Great State of OREGON (home of the Other Portland):

Is this Bill in Portland Maine that I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee...

But wait! NO! It’s not Bill in Portland! It’s Naismith's Very Special 50-State Diary, #25 in a series between now and the election, celebrating the halfway point and drawing attention to itself by looking at the GREAT STATE OF MAINE! State, Federal, Innies, Outies and the whole dang clambake!

Focus on Maine starts in There’s Moreville...[Swoosh!!] RIGHTNOW! [Gong!!]

Today, me and my sister in law went off to do make our contribution to social justice, and attempt to spread some fits and giggles while we were at it, at the local DPBC (Democratic Party of Barrayar County, that is) annual chili cookoff.  

It was sort of a contest among state legislature House districts in the area. But I wasn't exactly in it to win it. For one thing, a self-respecting Dendarii looks for fortune and glory by conquering the Universe, not by entering local chili cookoffs.  

This diary is just a fun bit about how we had fun at one of the most local of local activities. It ain't no Netroots Nation Convention, but it's what we did today.

Every State. Every race. Right here.

This is Number 24 in a planned series of 50 entries between now and November, looking at each of the 50 states in terms of every race on that state's ticket--Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senate, House, State legislatures—the whole baked potato bar! Special attention paid to identifying and promoting the most important contests per state.

Every state means looking at the red as well as the blue, and the small as well as the large.  We’ve already suffered through Utah and Wyoming; today, let’s complete the red rockies trifecta and look at Friggin’ IDAHO!

Every State. Every race. Right here.

This is number 23 in a planned series of 50 entries between now and November, looking at each of the 50 states in terms of every race on that state's ticket--Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senate, House, State legislatures--the whole ear of corn. Special attention paid to identifying and promoting the most important contests per state.

This time, we look at NEBRASKA!

Every State. Every race. Right here.

This is number 22 in a planned series of 50 entries between now and November, looking at each of the 50 states in terms of every race on that state's ticket--Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senate, House, State legislatures--the whole Colonel’s Big Bucket! Special attention paid to identifying and promoting the most important contests per state.

Today, put on your favorite bluegrass album, pull up a chair on the back porch, pour yourself a mint julep and prepare to discuss KENTUCKY!

Every State. Every race. Right here.

This is number 21 in a planned series of 50 entries between now and November, looking at each of the 50 states in terms of every race on that state's ticket--Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senate, House, State legislatures--the whole enchilada! Special attention paid to identifying and promoting the most important contests per state.

Today, we will explore a wonderful, wonderful state with perhaps the best election prospects of them all—NEW MEXICO!!  

Every State. Every race. Right here.

This is number 20 in a planned series of 50 entries between now and November, looking at each of the 50 states in terms of every race on that state's ticket--Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senate, House, State legislatures--the whole Independence Hall.  Special attention paid to identifying and promoting the most important contests per state.

This time, we look at PENNSYLVANIA.

Just stuff I've read lately, with quotes and commentary.  Likely to be reposted on Bookflurries, plf515's diary, and other bookish koszy korners like that.

Every State. Every race. Right here.

This is Number 19 in a planned series of 50 entries between now and November, looking at each of the 50 states in terms of every race on that state's ticket--Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senate, House, State legislatures—the whole Grand Teton range! Special attention paid to identifying and promoting the most important contests per state.

Every state means looking at the red as well as the blue, and the small as well as the large.  Dick "You know my name" Cheney’s home state of Wyoming has long been a nasty thorn in the side of the Democratic Party and the 50-state strategy.  Let’s see how we’re doing, and look for a few chinks in their armor.  The pundits say Wyoming will be irrevocably Republican forever.  The pundits are not always right.

Every State. Every race. Right here.

This is number 18 in a planned series of 50 entries between now and November, looking at each of the 50 states in terms of every race on that state's ticket--Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senate, House, State legislatures--the whole Brunswick Stew.  Special attention paid to identifying and promoting the most important contests per state.

Virginia is arguably the best Democratic success story in the South since the years started beginning with a 2.  We won two elections for Governor; elected Jim Webb to the US Senate (Virginia’s first Democratic Senator since Chuck Robb); and reclaimed the State Senate for Team Democrat in spite of a Republican gerrymander.  And let’s hear it for Old Dominion!!!

Every State. Every race. Right here.

This is number seventeen in a planned series of 50 entries between now and November, looking at each of the 50 states in terms of every race on that state's ticket--Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senate, House, State legislatures--the whole cornfield.  Special attention paid to identifying and promoting the most important contests per state.

Time for some heartland goodness! Today, we will explore the primary primary state (oh, all right, primary caucus state of Iowa!

Every State. Every race. Right here.

This is Number 16 in a planned series of 50 entries between now and November, looking at each of the 50 states in terms of every race on that state's ticket--Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senate, House, State legislatures--the Full Vermonty! Special attention paid to identifying and promoting the most important contests per state.

Since I did the huge, honking, very difficult state of California last time, I figure today I’ll take it a little easy.  The good people of VERMONT seem to have things very well in hand for the Democratic party.  Let’s join them below...

Every State. Every race. Right here.

This is number 15 in a planned series of 50 entries between now and November, looking at each of the 50 states in terms of every race on that state's ticket--Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senate, House, State legislatures--the whole list of Oscar nominees.  Special attention paid to identifying and promoting the most important contests per state.

California, Part Two (Southern Cal House Districts, and Redistricting plan) continues below the cut.

Every State. Every race. Right here.

This is number 15 in a planned series of 50 entries between now and November, looking at each of the 50 states in terms of every race on that state's ticket--Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senate, House, State legislatures--the whole list of Oscar nominees.  Special attention paid to identifying and promoting the most important contests per state.

One of my inspirations for this series was a series by ultrageek, who tried to do one on all 435 House districts in 2006, but got overtaken by election night before getting to the biggest states.  That taught me to get at least some of the big states out of the way early, before I either burn out or run out of time.

And so, the time has come to do the most populous state of them all—CALIFORNIA!

Here are a few thoughts about the tightrope between the 50-state "campaign everywhere" strategy, and the need to make sure we keep enough resources to compete in must-win states.  

We need to expand the map, but competing EFFECTIVELY in a "solid red" state like South Dakota would mean a LOT of time and money spent on 3 EVs that the odds are we wouldn't get anyhow. And that money might better be spent shoring up Ohio?  Does that mean we should give up on all the small red states?  Not necessarily...

Every State. Every race. Right here.

This is number fourteen in a planned series of 50 entries between now and November, looking at each of the 50 states in terms of every race on that state's ticket--Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senate, House, State legislatures--the whole ball of cotton.  Special attention paid to identifying and promoting the most important contests per state.

Today, we will explore the alphabetically gifted state of ALABAMA!

Crossposted to eenrblog, plf515's weekly book entry, my livejournal, and anywhere else it's welcome.

Just the books I read last month, with quotes and commentary.