Howard Dean was the best Democratic Party Chair ever. His big idea was that the Democratic Party needed to expand its reach. It should build the party in states like Alabama and Oklahoma. The strategy of appealing to a small group of “blue states” would be be a disaster in the long run. The Democrats would be preaching to a smaller and smaller base, leaving the Republicans an open field for congressional candidates and state legislators.
Now the Clinton campaign has decided to concentrate on African Americans, Latinos, women, and progressives in states like Oregon and Vermont. In other words, the “base.”
That means that Congress will remain in Republican hands. I know that with voter suppression and gerrymandering, it probably will remain Republican, but if the Democratic Party doesn’t build support in those states, it will remain Republican into the foreseeable future.
Here’s my strategy. Fight for every goddam precinct. Take the battle to places like Waco and Enid and Helena. In Carbon County don’t just depend on Summit Hill and Banks Township–look for votes in Towamensing and Weatherly. Democrats need to broaden their base, not shrink it.
Of all people, conservative commentator David Brooks agrees with me. Here’s the link to his column in today’s Times:
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