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Wed Dec 19, 2007 at 10:00 AM CST
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| The shot heard round the world was a phrase best associated with the start of the American Revolution by means of the Battle of Lexington and Concord during the 18th century. Last night represents the beginning of a political revolution and a united Tarrant County Democratic Party helped lift Dan Barrett to victory. This win should be seen by Democrats as the shot heard round the state and the beginning of our political revolution in Texas.
I returned from Dan's victory party rather late after a long day of phone banking and block walking. The energy we had last night could have lit neighborhoods across the Lone Star State. What this election confirms is what many of us who live in Tarrant County, and have been working towards rebuilding our Party here, have been saying for months now-there's something happening here. This campaign created a blueprint that can now be utilized in campaigns across the state: cede no precincts, field committed candidates where you can, hit Republicans dead in the jaw with a strong message of change, utilize your resources wisely, and build a unified base of support to execute the plan.
This campaign was clearly a referendum on Speaker Tom Craddick and his autocratic, heavy-handed, my way or the highway style of leadership. Consider this victory a shot across the bow of Craddick's sinking ship. It is clear that Texans, even those who tended to trend Republican in the past, are ready for the type of change Democrats can bring to offices across this state. |
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| What's more is the Republican Party in Tarrant County, and perhaps even across the state, is fractured. There was no call to arms for volunteers by Republicans in Tarrant County, no visible organization by the Mark Shelton campaign, and no clear attempt on the ground to mount a challenge to Barrett. Signage for Dan outnumbered Shelton in most areas of 97. Some outlying polling locations were empty of any visible Shelton presence yesterday. There seemed to be no GOTV literature of any kind out in the precincts encompassing district 97. Why, if Shelton raised so much money and had such a proven juggernaut could he not deliver? Republicans either conceded this election completely in the hopes of regaining it in 2008 when resources are less concentrated, no real support for Shelton amongst the Republican base, and/or a solid candidate in Dan Barrett with a solid message resonated with voters. I believe it was a combination of all those points.
With that said, Democrats in Tarrant County worked together to execute a flawless campaign and a referendum against Tom Craddick and his Republican lemmings. The momentum and energy we now have not just in this county, but for Democrats across this state, will translate to bigger victories in 2008.
Tarrant County Democrats delivered a victory when many thought we couldn't, but last night, we delivered the shot that has now been heard round the state. |
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