Whatever happens today in the Ohio 2nd....

[bluestateguy]

I don't know who will win today in that race, but I do know that it is a heavily Republican district, one that Democrats never bothered to contest, even when they controlled Congress.

Think about what Paul Hackett was able to do here. The RCCC was forced to come to the aid of their candidate, who should have been headed to a slam dunk victory. He raised impressive sums of money and attracted mostly favorable national news attention. He exposed the current state of weakness, corruption and exhaustion in the Ohio Republican Party.

Even if Hackett loses today (and I'm not saying that he will), he has shown Democrats how to win by fighting the Republicans in their sandbox. Make them earn every victory. No Republican should have a safe, uncontested seat. Force these Republicans to make their case to the voters every 2 years. Campaigns are about resource allocation. Imagine if the Democratic nominee in 2008 can do that: force the Republican nominee to fight, scratch, kick and bite to win North Carolina, Tennessee and Arizona, etc. Even if the Republican does win those states, by forcing the nominee to fight for those states you force him to spend money, buy ads and do campaign visits that would otherwise be allocated to states like Iowa, New Mexico and Florida, where Democrats have far better chances of victory.

Win or lose, that should be the lesson of today's election in the Ohio 2nd.

[wakeme2008]

1. You are so right,,,

fight them for every seat... and do not give an inch.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

2. and go after so-calledmoderate GOPmembers in the NE,too

they took down anyone with a "d" beside their name in the south.we need to do the same to their guys in our half of the country.

besides, where have chafee, snowe, and co. been on rove? screw'em, i say. they want to play red state-blue state? bring it on

[OneTwentyoNine]

3. Wonder if any exit polling is going on??

Like to see if someone flips numbers like they did with Kerry.

[LSparkle]

4. And this candidate is going right into *'s face, too

So if he pulls this out, it will be a MAJOR victory for our side. This is no garden-variety DLC guy -- this is a REAL Democrat. If he can win, the Democratic Party is going to have to rethink its approach in other races BIG TIME.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. Exactly, bluestateguy

How is a district ever going to be flipped if the residents hear ONLY the Republican line, even during elections?

Even if the candidate is a sacrificial lamb, he or she may plant ideas in people's heads that lead to their voting Dem later on, either for that office or for president or governor.

[winga222]

6. Precisely

I've lived in Cincinnati almost my entire life. There are some really good, smart people here who are never contacted by the national party except during a presidential race. Even then, our charge is not to win the region but rather narrow the gap with the Republicans, so that northern Ohio can carry us into the Blue category. Sure, this makes sense but it's hardly inspiring. This campaign has been a revelation for local dems - some feeling that we have a chance to win. What a concept.