If He builds it, They will come.
June 4, 2008 by Jet
Who’s your Party now, baby?
The Democratic Party maintained its huge edge in party identification during the month of May. Barack Obama’s Party now has the largest partisan advantage over the Republicans since Rasmussen Reports began tracking this data on a monthly basis nearly six years ago
During the month of April, 41.7% of Americans considered themselves to be Democrats. Just 31.6% said they were Republicans and 26.6% were not affiliated with either major party. This is the third straight month Obama’s team has enjoyed a double-digit edge. - Rasmussen
This is a GOTV director’s wet dream. Turn these voters out and work those 26% with dedication, and this gig is bagged.
May was also the fourth straight month that the number of Democrats topped 41%. Prior to February of this year, neither party had ever reached the 39% level of support. - Rasmussen
Howard Dean deserves a lot of credit for this. The 50-State strategy was timely and brilliant. Remember the crap the Washington power wheels gave him for it? Dean’s vision revolutionized the Democrats. His candidacy was a wakeup call to the machine. He turned his campaign staff into the Democracy for America group, which is effectively training on the ground party activists in nearly every state (48 so far). As DNC Chair he’s made Dems competitive in more states in less time than anyone believed possible. You can lay 2006 and 2008 squarely at the feet of Howard Dean. I bet, every time Dean see a picture of “the scream”, he just laughs his ass off.
The Obama team took Dean’s blueprint and put together a winning campaign strategy. Money, volunteers, voters, net buzz - all of this built seamlessly on the 50-State premise. This truly is a turning point in Party history. What rocks hard is that it is a turn from machine to people power. Dean gave us back a process that gets Alabama Democrats off their asses and back in the game, teaches them how to build up their precincts and GOTV, and put every state back into play, forcing the GOP to diversify their money and effort against a wider pool.
It also takes the wind out of the swift boat sail, at least on the net level. Because more Dems in more places are plugging in and getting involved, the frothing meme of the day struggles to get a foothold. Wingers keep throwing everything they have at Obama, and it just isn’t sticking. Obama fights back, for one thing, but the real difference is the organization and creativity of the left net. Independent scrappiness is carrying the day. Wingers like to coalesce around a single message and pound it. Folks on the left see that message and write a thousand different viewpoints on why that message is BS. A fired up Dem in Alabama’s interpretation and a Dem in Maryland’s view may be radically different in the specifics, but they both call the bull loud and clear. That’s not only cool, it’s healthy.
Democracy thrives with involvement. So do Democrats.
Hat Tip to Horses Ass
Crossposted at Bring it On!
I’m glad when Howard Dean gets the credit he so richly deserves. And we’ll reap the benefits in the general election. Your post=positive and uplifting.
Gee Carols last blog post..Will the leaders in Congress stand up, please.
howard dean’s a hero and i heart him for standing up to the snobs of the DNC.
hell, my own reddest of red states used to be a bastion of socialism. people in red states aren’t hopeless, they’re just not hearing a message that will counteract the propaganda machine of the right wing.
hoping for a real change. wouldn’t it be something if people really started to care about politics?
bigassbelles last blog post..manufacturing a food crisis
Dean taking the helm of the DNC at the time he did was nothing short of revolutionary. The entrenched, tunnel visioned and obstinate players at the top were killing the party. We’d needed a doc, stat. Thank God we got one.
‘I bet, every time Dean see a picture of “the scream”, he just laughs his ass off.’
I know I do, lol!
Heh. The wingers heaved that into the mainstream and thought they killed him politically. Ah, sweet irony.
Of course it always helps when your predecessor was, and is, a total jackass. I’m my wife’s third husband, so I speak from experience.
You could be right but speaking for myself Bush who I credited years ago for re entrenching me inextricably back into the Democratic party along with the perverted Repugs had a lot to do with it and post run Obama has done his share too!
Jims last blog post..Obama wins Clinton won’t concede unless given VP, with McCain same lies different disguise!
Robb..your not being a dick are you m’dear?
I am sure you realize by now Robb that all the writers on this site are left of center..unlike you who is somewhere in the middle I think…am I correct sweetie?
Personally Jim, I think the shift to Dems is probably due to independents sliding left and Reps sliding to independent that outright Rep to Dem. The are some, but I think assuming that Reps are just chucking their idealogical differences and hopping into the big tent is unlikely.
Jets last blog post..Gay Marriage: 63% Say It’s A Private Choice; CA Court Rejects Stay
Dusty,
I like lefties. We’re in agreement 50% of the time. If Howard Dean has done a good job, who am I to poo-poo the one bright spot for the otherwise f-ed-up DNC’s year of the super delegate. I’d hate to see what a bad job at the helm would have looked like.
Those little political surveys they used to have on the
Bakersfield Californian, before I got booted, indicated I was left of center, which surprised me. I never liked being considered in the middle, though, but wifey said I had to give up labeling myself as an anarchist. I don’t mind being called liberal or conservative on a subject, but I get all bent-out-of-shape when I get called Republican or Democrat - never!
Right on Jet,
Wifey and I voted yesterday. She was kind of embarassed to be handed her Republican ballot and I mentioned to the registrar she’s been threatening to quit them for quite a while. The registrar said she had the paperwork if wifey wanted to act on the impulse. Wifey filled it out last night. Another conservative flea flees the elephant!
Wow…congrats Robb…she left them in the dust?
I got the ball and chain to vote Dem in the general election in 06. But he refuses to change parties…he is btw…pro-Obama..which amazes me to no end..He has been on the Obama bandwagon since he heard Obama speak early last year. I, on the other hand am not on the O-bandwagon yet…go figure.
I figured you as centrist Robb..I was jerking your chain by asking if you were being a dick
Dustys last blog post..Clinton will suspend her campaign friday, endorse Obama