Where's the Dem Party When Texas Needs It?

by: Benny

Tue Jun 17, 2008 at 08:48 PM CDT

Here are the states the DSCC plans to target for the Senate races. OR, CO, NM, AK, MN, MS, KY, VA, NC, NH, ME.  Any Senate candidates outside of that list are not likely to be supported unless something extraordinary happens.

So much for the "50-State" strategy, but this ain't Dean's call.  It's Chuck Schumer's.  The DSCC is using a similar playbook to John Kerry's in 2004.  So, if we want to use the playbook, let take an example.

Minnesota's senate race. As much as I like Al Franken, he is 12pts behind Coleman.  Yes, there is a chance he might win, and he is in a swing state that voted for Kerry/Edwards (Edwards got one electoral vote in 2004) last time.  But the Republicans are having their convention there, and I don't think the governor is that disliked.   I think Franken is being helped because for so long, he was one of lone voices for progressives when he started Air America.

But what about Rick Noriega?

more after the jump

Rick has the backing of Russ Feingold, the DFA, and he's done OK on Act Blue.  So what's the story? Is Schumer getting even because of the split over Clinton and Obama in Texas?  I hope not.  Is it because it's Bush's declared home state.  That's part of it and I think many northerners are wary of Texans and their independent ways.  

But here's the other reason, and hardly anyone is talkin' about it, but I bet Molly Ivins would if she had a chance.

Momocrats reported that David Axelrod, Obama's senior strategist and surrogate came to Houston for a 3 day visit:

Houstonians were thrilled to see so many fellow Democrats in existence, the Obama campaign was thrilled to see so many wallets out, and David Axelrod was left in the uncomfortable position of having to tell these eager and excited supporters that voter registration assistance was about as much as Texas could expect from the Obama campaign.

Rick was not far behind the Houston votes on primary night in comparing him to his new opponent.

I hope I'm not preaching the choir here.  I want to see some activism, as one would see in the UU faith (or in California, take your pick--a little humor).  Rick Noriega has a fightin' chance to win the election in Texas.  

In order to get DSCC's attention, I think it is imperative that Texans write Schumer a following note:

1) Netroots Nation is in Austin this year, and the attendees are "fired up and ready to go" to work for progressives
2) Without the Netroots, none of the great slate of candidates could have raised as much money for their campaigns

Then, I suggest BOR beseech to do the following:

Get Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and David Axelrod to appear at Netroots Nation, to give speeches, a few photo ops with Texas and other progressive downticket candidates (such as Rick).  Obama's campaign should schedule one appearance with Rick, even if Obama isn't as viable as McCain in Texas.  Rick could benefit from Barack's coat-tails, especially in Houston.   But if Netroots Nation is all it can do, that would be the best way to those appearances in, and with a lot of press.

Be an activist...get Obama to NN, and let's help Rick go to the Senate.  It's in Obama's best interest to get more progressives, especially those with solid military experience, to help him push a more progressive agenda.