"I still want to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks,"
So said Howard Dean, a quote that may have cost him enough support to lose the nomination process.
And oh, was he beaten up over it.
Yet, what he was talking about was
"We can't beat George Bush unless we appeal to a broad cross-section of Democrats."
USAtoday 11/2/03
Alternet 11/7/03
Sound familiar? This is the genesis of what would become the 50 state strategy. The combination of such a strategy with an intelligent and charismatic candidate could set up a sea-change in American politics come November.
Obama's much more nuanced speech that interwove a personal narrative seems to me to echo Dean's words four and a half years ago.
Democrats are poised to make inroads into previous Republican territory in staggering numbers, the state of TX may be a viable pickup in Nov, Hastert's seat was won in a special election, there are now significantly more registered Democrats then Republicans. We see on DKos almost daily diaries talking about family members and friends and politicians who previously being hard core Republicans may well vote for our Candidate if Obama wins the nomination.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
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Now, we have some mending of fences to do, to be sure. This primary is not only about two strong candidates, but two beliefs of how a political races should be fought, just crossing the finish line vs. lawful inclusiveness. To win in Nov there will have to be some kind words said on both sides and acknowledging of the benefit of the competition. Think of it like this, just after OH/TX there was many calls for Clinton to drop out, but by staying in she forced the issue of Wright, which would have come up at some point.
The issue of Wight coming up now and Obama's response to it has created an opportunity to pull much of the venom from it at the same time finally putting to bed other concerns, "Muslim". If people like Huckabee have reacted so positively
to this I think it will further undermine McCain's attempts to secure some level of legitimate religious support, these are the people who essentially put Bush in the WH.
Mend fences, stay positive.
And if this works Dean will be an effing hero.