When Howard Dean became DNC chair in 2005, he put in place "The 50 state strategy". This meant that Democrats would compete everywhere. This strategy played huge dividends for Democrats in 2006 and 2008. However, when Barack Obama was elected he replaced Dean with party hack Tim Kaine, who pretty much ripped down the 50-state strategy and reversed all of the gains that Dean had made.
For instance, in 2007, Democrats competed in districts all over Virginia in that year's legislative elections. This year, Democrats dont even have candidates to face Republicans in what are Democratic leaning districts. This has been the case everywhere, from the Virginia to Suburban Philadelphia to Upstate New York.
Democrats had Republicans on the run with the 50-state strategy, but then ripped it all down under Obama and predictably, the Republicans are now the ones that are contesting Democrats everywhere.
I wish Obama and Kaine had realized the importance of party building and contesting Republicans everywhere. If they did, maybe Democrats would still control the House and most state legislatures and wouldnt be nearly shut out in the crucial redistricting process.
Ripping down the 50-state strategy has brought the Democratic party to its knees.