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.
(Another great report on the success and energy of the Clinton rally in Dallas for the Democratic ticket. The wave is building. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
So, I saw John Cornyn on Channel 4 (or maybe it was 11) here in Dallas/Fort Worth a few minutes ago ~ and he was making some kind of snide remark about President Clinton being in town and how that's not such a good thing since so many people don't hold such a favorable view of the former president.
Of course, Cornyn didn't look terribly enthusiastic when he said it. Maybe it's because he was forced to be in Dallas today. Those darn Democrats.
Breathing all that Dallas Democratic Party air must have been very challenging for Senator Cornyn. He looked terribly pale to me in the clip I saw.
Or maybe I'm just not used to seeing him in living color.
No matter. President Bill Clinton was here and he was so fired up! And Senator Rick Noriega was here and he was magnificent and incredibly fired up! And based on polling from October 1st, the gap has closed to 7 percentage points between Noriega and Cornyn. Wow! That's two weeks ago.
The Dallas News reports that President Clinton had high praise for Rick Noriega tonight:
In a rally that included most every major Democrat in North Texas, Bill Clinton on Tuesday urged voters to elect Rick Noriega to the Senate to help Barack Obama push a change agenda.
"Nobody is smart enough to do this alone," Mr. Clinton said of electing a Democratic president. "The supporting cast matters."
Hillary Clinton had some things to say, too:
Mr. Clinton said that his wife, who recently stumped for Mr. Noriega in South Texas, was miffed that the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee was not active in the Lone Star Senate tilt.
President Clinton offered even more praise for Rick Noriega:
Mr. Clinton said Mr. Noriega would help Mr. Obama and Democrats restore jobs, achieve energy independence for the country and reform the nation's health care system.
And the quote that will surely put some color back in John Cornyn's worldview:
"Don't believe the polls," said Dallas County Party Chairwoman Darlene Ewing. "He's within striking distance of Cornyn. He can win this." [emphasis added.]
(The Dallas Mayoral runoff is only days away. We hope that you'll support Democrat Ed Oakley. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Well, I've been wondering when the religious right assault would kick in. And it finally did today. The Dallas mayoral run-off between Ed Oakley and Tom Leppert is next Saturday, June 16. Early voting started June 4th.
Over the past week, and in Leppert's television ads, his campaign has been complaining about the Oakley campaign's "negative" ads, the recent endorsement of Oakley by the Dallas County Democrats (making the race appear to be overly-partisan according to some) and the stories about Oakley's sexual orientation seem to be getting a fair share of the attention in the press. Here and here. And now this. The robocalls. If you're not sure what that is, this overview from Alternet should help.
But back to the Dallas Robocalls...*Update*~ Audio here.
On behalf of Karl-Thomas, Matt, Phillip and the rest of the crew here at Burnt Orange Report, we take great joy in joining the more than 25 blogs of the Texas Progressive Alliance in announcing our Texan of the Year for 2006. Below is the press release that went out on the subject moments ago.
The Texas Progressive Alliance has named Carolyn Boyle and Texas Parent PAC its "Texan of the Year" for 2006.
The Alliance announced Boyle's selection on Wednesday following several days of discussion and voting among writers, editors and owners of some of the state's most prominent and often read progressive political blogs.
Boyle and Texas Parent PAC were among more than 40 individuals and organizations initially nominated for the honor by the bloggers. The race for Texan of the Year was very close due to the many influential organizations and candidates that played a role in Texas politics during 2005.
Other finalists who were neck-and-neck with Boyle and the Parent PAC included the Dallas County Democratic Party (for their transformation of the political landscape in Dallas County) and State Rep.-elect Juan Garcia (D-Corpus Christi), for the high quality campaign he waged leading to his defeat of Rep. Gene Seaman (R-Corpus Christi) in a tough district.
