| We MUST build a real state party and real county parties across the state. The Dallas County Democratic Party is the model to be followed for county parties, particularly the mega-walks we did by state house district. It has been proven by social scientists that face to face campaigning is the most effective method of soliciting votes--county parties must begin coordinated mega-walks of their base voters in EVERY election cycle. We also did a good job of phone-banking inaccessible voters (apartments and gated communities). This really helped in Irving, an apartment heavy city.
It is time for the state party to work in tandem with the various county parties to help restructure them in the model of the Dallas County Party. Granted, each county is different and all doubtless have at least some best practices to share with others. Campaigning in urban versus suburban versus exurban versus rural areas changes dramatically. Still we must begin transforming our moribund county parties into effective political engagement tools.
Our current state party has been trending towards effectiveness--the training sessions, investing in VAN, establishing a strong small donor base via the Majority Builders program. It is time the state party really took the next step forward. For example, the pilot program in targeting ballot by mail applications this cycle in a few key counties was a good start--it needs to go statewide in 2012. If the state party pays for production and mailing and county parties effectively follow up with recipients (a good use for volunteer phone-bankers) it could go a long way in ending GOP domination of mail in voting.
Also, the state party has got to find some way to team up with other groups to update voter registration among target Democratic groups. Mostly they are registered but often at the wrong address--we need to keep them updated. Some of this can be done through non-profits. Alliances in this regard should be pursued, in tandem with county parties if possible.
The state party also has an obligation to promote the down-ballot candidates. One would hope that some kind of television advertising promoting them could be developed (while respecting various campaign finance and ethics laws, etc.) and deployed at least on local cable stations across the state. Granted, this might have to be done as an independent expenditure campaign by some of the newer donors who emerged this cycle. One thins was unfortunately clear-when GOP statewides could use all of their money attacking "Obama-care" it kills Democratic campaigns up and down the ballot across the state. We need to force them to spend their own money to protect themselves.
And how to pay for all of this? Clearly the fifty state program must be started again to help pay for staff but one would hope it would also pay for such practical things as the state wide mail ballot program. Still, the Majority Builder program has grown. Perhaps we could challenge the local clubs, etc to compete to recruit more donors with a prize for their own local efforts in 2012-perhaps money for a paid canvass of a swing precinct or something of the sort. Also, many new big donors emerged this cycle-we need to harness that effort to keep the money flowing in the future.
But the one thing that needs to start all of this is another statewide tour of counties by the state party chairman. We had one in early 2007 to give voice to what we felt was necessary to move the party and state forward. We need another round of them, for however many months it takes to get them done properly. The party SDEC members and officers really need to listen to what folks have to say. I think it would be good to deploy a new part of the state party website to solicit folks' opinions about what needs to be done (submitted anonymously, of course). The responses should be taken by US mail, fax, and email as well for those who don't use the internet.
Let the conversation begin. |
