Democrats and the South, Part Two

[rockymountaindem]

Thank you all for your passionate response to my first thread on this issue. 100 posts... sweet...

I believe we have decided that we need to win some southern states and that winning some states (Louisiana, Arkansas, Florida) is possible.

My new question is, how do we appeal to southern voters? Is it by nominating a southern candidate, by spending lots of money in the south, trying to change the south's views of our party overall, or a mix of the above?

And one remark about the Senate races. A lot of people are acting like these five races in the south are the only ones this year. There will actually be more than 30. So, although we may lose the majority of these five races may be won by the Repubs. there is a chance we may win seats in other states, including my home of Colorado. So everybody please stop acting like these five races in the south are the only ones.


Finally, please avoid stereotyping, using words like "redneck" and making references to banjos.

[Disandra]

1. As I stated in the last thread...

The DLC and DNC need to actually start campaigning down here, and need to stop thinking of us a "inbreds" or any other stereotype.

Not once, in the last election, did the Dems even bother campaigning anywhere near Atlanta. Despite the fact that Atlanta has the most voter turnout in GA, a Dem for a mayor, majority Dems on the city council, etc. etc. Many of my friends had the attitude of "Well f- you, I'm voting Green." Others are hard-core Dems and went ahead and voted for them. Swing-voters (which, by the way, most in GA are) tend to vote to people who pay attention to them and their concerns.

My 2 cents (for what it is worth).

[mlawson]

2. How to appeal??? Just watch Edwards,the next few weeks.

He knows. :-)

How NOT to appeal?? (And I am not referring to anyone in particular here) Condescending or patronizing attitudes towards us, or the use of stereotypes would make any candidate DOA. We are just as diverse a group nowadays as any other.

[leyton]

3. And using terms like "Texas Diplomacy."

In place of a real critique of Bush's foreign policy.