Burnt Orange Report

24 Hours from Now

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

This time tomorrow night the special election in OH-2 should be over. But what happens between now and then will make all the difference for Paul Hackett (and if one more BOR reader donates $25 to put our Texas efforts over $2,200 and BOR's over $200 as a result, I'll be content and not mention it again).

But what has happened up to this point is short of amazing. Though we may not win (and though we may!) we have done more than fight the good fight. We have been inspired and are testing a concept that should be the standard for our Party in 2006. Call it a "50 State Strategy". Call it the "Run. Everywhere" Strategy. It's about us realizing that in a political world where the focus is on each individual election we lose sight of the bigger picture and that hurts the person who runs for office the next go round.

It's about Party Building. It's about Spreading the Message. And it's also about Hope.

We will never "Change the Equation" as Austin elections guru Glen Maxey would say if we keep fighting over a shrinking pool of voters in fewer and fewer districts per cycle. Is Glen leading the No Nonsense in November campaign just because he has November 8 in mind? Hardly.

It's about using the campaign to spread a message that gay people aren't straight people's worst enemy in this state. It's about changing minds and building support so that even if we lose, we shift 10% of people's minds about equal rights. We shift national polls by a few points permanently because Texas moved. We prepare ourselves for decades down the road when equal marriage rights become a reality. And we shift the end date of that realization sooner.

And it's more than that. It's about the Texas House in 2006. You think the results and data garnered off of NNiN won't be used to help unseat Todd Baxter, Martha Wong, and grab Keel's open seat? Just because every other office other than Governor seems to be generating little interest from Democrats in 2006 doesn't mean we shouldn't be running in them. The candidate in 2010 will be thankful for the groundwork laid now. And what the hell, in the worst case we might actually win a couple.

So here's the deal. If you are reading this and can physically make it to Ohio, go. If you can spare a brother a dime, do so. But above anything else, take this concept to heart as we prepare to Step Up and fight the good fight for our future, as a state and a Party.