What 's our strategy for electing Democrats to the General Assembly this year?
By: Dianne
Published On: 1/9/2007 10:28:15 AM
The 1st District ran a viable candidate for Representative last year and I wonder why he didn't receive more votes, receiving just 35% of the turnout. The candidate was articulate, engaging, energetic, and knowledgeable. The comments that I've found on RK are all positive about the candidate. I don't know why he lost but, for this discussion, let's not analyze the candidate but look at the "institution", however we might define it.
Since this will be a key year to gain control of the General Assembly, I think we ought to ask and answer some questions that might help us attain that coveted majority. So my questions are:
1. What do you think the state, district and counties could have done better to help this candidate win or at least make a more reasonable showing? (Your answers/discussion could be expanded to other candidate races as well, if you like. For example, why did Jeannette Rishell do so incredibly well in her race for Delegate for the 50th District, losing by just 6%? Whomever worked on her campaign, your comments would be welcomed.)
2. What's your understanding of what the state party, your District committee, your county or your city committee's plan is for supporting and electing your 2007 Democratic candidate(s)whomever they might be? Yes, plan. I think this would be a good starting point to discuss what we know, what we don't know, and how we can get to know.
The basics/techniques/tactics and how to's are well-established...they are documented, ad nauseum, in guides, textbooks, training guides. How are we going to utilize them in Virginia to elect a Democratic GA?
Comments
Lots of arrows in our quiver (Silver Fox - 1/9/2007 12:14:06 PM)
It has to be a many pronged strategy. In the districts where there are effective and active Democratic Committees they can spearhead the effort, drawing on and working with their local grassroots organizations which have specific issues their memebership works for to swell the ranks of willing volunteers. The blogs can help in outreach to help these groups connect. In the districts where the local Democratic Committees are obstructionist, ineffective or basically absent ( and I admit that internal reform and restructuring should be going on in those areas in a parallel effort), the grassroots network is going to be crucial. Individual candidates should make a direct appeal to active grassroots groups with various primary issue orientation such as environmental, renewable energy and other issues such as the Iraq war which tend to bring in committed and active volunteers. No one size or strategy is going to work in each district but through blogs such as RK we can encourage each other and pass along good ideas with electronic speed.