First of all, I’m writing this from a lack of knowledge and am seeking answers from you informed and ultimately much smarter than me, people. What’s wrong with Arkansas? After the 2006 midterms we had the Governor, both Senators and three out of four (right?) Congress-members. Now it seems like a dead red desert. Why? And why isn’t there an effort to plant some blue seeds?
Nothing would make me happier than to find out that this diary completely misses it’s mark and that there is a lot going on out there. But it seems that the Clinton campaign is virtually non existent in Arkansas, and that there are not that many other democratic friendly groups or party organisations active there. Why is this?
I know Hillary isn’t going to win Arkansas, but she is going to win the election. And I’m not arguing for a big investment, but rather some seed investments to help build the party, push the state a little to the left and maybe win some seats in the state legislature. She was the first lady there for over 10 years! They must still have some “friends” in the electorate.
Early on in the general election she was touting a 50 state strategy. Is it really happening? I know the critics of such a strategy say that if a wave election comes, those extra victories happen on their own. I disagree with that. If the party had a 50 state strategy in 2006, Gary Trauner would have been elected to Congress from Wyoming. And he would have been reelected in 2008. Maybe he would have been there only for 2 or 4 years, but it would have been great for the Wyoming Democratic Party.
I hope we don’t miss out on a bunch of Gary Trauners in 2016. In the Senate we get to keep them for 6 years and if we are going to take the House we need every last one of every possible pipe dream of a victory.
If the GOP really collapses this election, and for the life of me I can’t understand how they can not, I think there are some races out there that has not been on anyone's radar that are suddenly surprisingly close. That could be Conner Eldridge in Arkansas, Jay Sidie in Kansas or Jim Gray in Kentucky.
I just wish that there were some small investments in registering, GOTV and state party building in every state. Even the reddest of red.
Or is this really happening without me knowing? Or would it be a complete waste of money? Please school me, so that I get smarter than I was before this diary.