"Bill Clinton's A Convert To Dean's 50-State Project"

[Rose Siding]

Covered at the end of the report:

And Dean has one supremely important new ally who, when he goes public, will almost certainly help with donors. In late February, Dean traveled to Harlem and sat down with former President Bill Clinton, often said to be privately disparaging of Dean.

But as Dean walked Clinton through his 50-state capacity-building project, Clinton became a convert. He vowed to help Dean win the attention of donors.

Hotline frequently puts a RW slant on things, but this entry begins with one of the most concise and favorable presentations of Dean's strategy that I've seen, even detailing the various roles played by all the "D" acronyms-

Will Howard Dean's Democratic National Committee be ready for the November elections? Party leaders and congressional campaign strategists are nervously pressuring Dean to stop spending money to staff organizers in states and instead commit to transfer the bulk of the DNC's kitty to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

At a tense meeting in February, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid urged Dean to give to the Senate committee the same amount as the Republican National Committee was expected to transfer to the GOP's Senate committee. Reid argued that the DSCC's historically rare fundraising advantage could be wiped out with a single check from RNC chairman Ken Mehlman. If Republicans shuffled their cash, Reid said, the outcome of several critical Senate races might be jeopardized.

According to three sources familiar with the meeting, Dean said no. Of course, he said, the DNC will spend millions on the midterms. His argument was this: While the DSCC and DCCC's role is rightfully incumbent protection, Dean, on the other hand, was elected chair to tend to overall health of the party. And that includes his responsibility to hundreds of non-federal candidates as well. His investment in state parties, Dean promised Reid and House Min. Leader Nancy Pelosi, would pay off and the benefits would accrue to Democrats at all levels.

[SaveElmer]

1. I think Reid and Pelosi are doing a very good job...but

I have to agree with Dean on this one...his strategy will not only help the party in this election, but will insure its long term success!!!

The DSCC and DCCC seem to be doing fine on their own as well...they have recruited a good crop of candidates this time around!

[Rose Siding]

2. Likewise- I don't even fault them for attempting to gain funds

to support their objectives. I'm glad Dean was well grounded enough in his strategy to have refused.

[Olney Blue]

4. It would be nice if there was enough money to do BOTH.

[Teresa4ChrisCarney]

13. Your wish is my command

www.carneyforcongress.com

Money you donate now will spare some for other candidates elsewhere. }(

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. You cannot win elections...

In the manner we have used in the past. You have to have strong, engaged and active(even aggressive...) organizations across the whole party foodchain. Dean is correct in what he is doing, because it will build a committed and activist base to the party.

The Washington claque is more worried about tending to their personal power and influence and whether the DNC is cutting their financial groove.

From personal experience: Rahm Emanuel will likely(if the poll numbers are anything near accurate) come out of these mid-terms smelling like a rose. That said, he largely sucks, as the model he is using at the DCCC is directly antithetical to the 50-State Strategy. Just the old party hack elitism. You hear about the handful of candidates that the DCCC are supporting. You don't hear about all the candidates that they have abandoned. For all the wrong reasons, I might add. Cegalis was just the tip of the iceberg.

I can also say that there is something very stinky going on regarding women running in congressional races. Given an unproven man and a proven woman, they will go to the man, although Cegalis does not apply in this.

And don't get me started about EMILY'S list. It's a sad joke.

[Jane Austin]

6. Tell us about Emily's List, please.

I thought it was a worthy group.

[mopinko]

12. emily in illinois

from what i have seen here- emily's list has forgotten the e. they hang out until they can see who is going to win, then jump on the bandwagon, and grab the credit. they say back, and left cegelis hanging, because they knew a challenge would materialize eventually. after duckworth was crammed into the race, they followed along and endorsed her. even though cegelis is pro-choice without equivocation, and tammy excepts conditions like parental approval.
they are supposed to be leaders. they are lackeys.

[OzarkDem]

18. They're also not pro-active

The do little if anything to encourage more women to run for higher office. Its turned into another good ole girls club.

[OzarkDem]

19. I'm truly shocked

that our Dem leaders have to be convinced of Dean's strategy. I really thought they were smarter than that.

:shrug:

[Capn Sunshine]

20. If they were , Dean would be president today

:nuke:

[davidwparker]

47. sing it.

[Kurovski]

61. Amen.

[ClintonTyree]

57. It's "business as usual" vs. "we need to take new tack"......

and reflecting upon our Party's success in the past few election cycles, I think "we need to take a new tack". Here's to Howard Dean for sticking to his guns :toast: Reid and the rest are going to have to learn to do things differently. Our old strategy (if indeed there was one) wasn't working. Onward and upward, Democrats! :woohoo:

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

16. EL is no longer about early money...

To worthy female candidates. It is about annointing the already annointed and rubberstamping the decisions of others.

I know of good women who have not been able to get the early money that would have gotten them over the humps that exist for even credible campaigns.

EL is just another hidebound Beltway organization, more interested in keeping the power and position they already have and jumping on bandwagons then they are about the goals stated in their name.

They are a joke. I have no regard or respect for them, and I have come by that viewpoint through bitter experence, on the ground.

[Jane Austin]

28. Thanks for your answer.

What a waste of a good idea.

[FogerRox]

59. Tandalayo_Scheisskopf, might you be refering to Anne Wolfe?

in NJs 5th CD?

[FogerRox]

31. Emilies list failed to support Congressional candidate

Anne Wolfe in NJ 5th CD, in 2004. The only woman running for the House in NJ, Wolfe was hand picked by Howard Dean, a member of Deams dozen. Emilies list was nowhere to be seen.

[OzarkDem]

17. Agree with all your points

DCCC and DSCC have done a terrible job supporting women candidates. The party has seen a steady erosion from its biggest base - women voters - over the last 12 yrs.

EMILY's List and DNC Women's Leadership Forum are nothing more than a fundraising and volunteer apparatus, sort of like the old fashioned women's auxiliary. The GOP has done a much better job of recruiting and helping women win than Dems.

Dems need to get serious about reaching out to their base - women voters.

[TankLV]

43. I think the key words it that Reid & Pelosi chief concern is to PROTECT

INCUMBANTS - I.E. - THEMSELVES!

That is NOT necessarily a good idea - ESPECIALLY with the likes of Zellout and Holy Joe.

I can think of a whole lot of other type of persons I would want representing me as my dem senator or congressperson, and Reid is NOT at the top of my wishlist.

Everybody always says that the PRIMARIES are the way to fight it out - but the way the SCC and CCC is set up - it is ANTITHICAL to this very principal - it DISCOURAGES new blood, even when that new blood is just what we desperatly need.

Which proves what hypocrits they all are - it's just about PROTECTING THEIR OWN HIDES not what is good for the country or the direction WE would like to see things going!

I am hardly surprised by this.

[Olney Blue]

3. Whatever it takes....

failure is not an option.

[The Magistrate]

7. Gov. Dean's Strategy Is The Correct One, Ma'am

The enemy must be engaged on all fronts, and allowed to take nowhere for granted.

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[iconoclastNYC]

8. Dean is right on.

The old strategy of focusing all the resources woeing 3% of swing voters in 18 states was a joke.

[n2doc]

9. Why throw all our resources at protecting incumbents?

From the Centure hearings and the (lack of) support it has gotten from most Senate Dems, I'd say it is long past time that we tried supporting a new generation. Especially if there are already funding sources to support incumbents. Greedy Pri**s...

[oneold1-4u]

33. Those incumbents-

Who have kept their houses clean and not given support to this regime, or just laid back on every appointment and legislation, should be able to raise a lot on their own merit for themselves!
I wouldn't give to anyone who continues to support the "good old boys"!
The largest untapped resource of this nation is the female population! They have always been the workers, at home and on the job.
They, today, carry weapons and go to the front, and even die from wounds that only a few years ago was not their realm.
This nation, so late with recognition of the leadership of women, will soon find itself needing the strength of women voters and won't get it. They will say "to hell" with the destruction created by men and just forget to vote at all!

[madfloridian]

10. Couple of comments on why this is good.

From the DailyKos diary, I found this comment by BriVT:

"It's obvious that this is a big key for the whole effort. The fact that Dean has done so well fundraising with so little support from the tradition big money base of the party has been the under-remarked part of this whole story. Howard Dean has worked to revitalize the party's efforts at building up the small-donor base that is the lifeblood of a consistent effort. Those small-donors do more than just send a check, they are often the combination donor/activist that the party desperate needs, and has lacked over the last election cycles."

She is right. In several ways now the party is seeing that small donor activists are vital. But another thing this event does is that it reinforces my view of Howard Dean's inability to pander very well even when he needs to do so...this quote from the Hotline article:

"Both Dean's admirers and his critics blame the money gap on the priorities of major donors, who are race-and-cycle centric. And Dean, in the words of one of his friends, "never sucks up to donors" and is "clinical" when he discusses politics with them."

He is incapable of "sucking up" to donors, and his "clinical" pragmatic outlook is not likely ever to change. I believe 4 major big money fundraisers resigned from the DNC since Dean took over. They saw that he was not going to give the full power back to them, that it was not business as usual anymore.

[Cha]

44. Music to my ears and warmth

to the cockles of my heart!

That was so Cool of Dean to travel to Harlem to convert Bill!

[Zimmy44]

11. Yes!

I agree so wholeheartedly with the idea of supporting non-federal candidates! It motivates people, and that can only run over to the federal campaigns. Besides, where do federal candidates typically come from? I'm guessing most have held some state-level office, at least. Why not grow a big crop, so to speak, and then let the best ones move up to fed level?

[melissinha]

26. That's exactly right

A lot of Congress(wo)men and Senators come from State office... I think that its a three-fer, it helps support Federal Candidates, state candidates and local candidates that all build the image of the Party.... We also need Democrats in the state that can safeguard the Districts for Congress(wo)men (remember how securing local Texas elections cost us redistricting?) Not to mention, it keeps the wingnuts from gringing bogus anti-citzen laws from gaining national attention..

Besides what they had been doing is NOT WORKING.

I say, Dean has the spirit of the Party and the best interests of all Americans, I suppor thim whole-heartedly.

[madfloridian]

14. A surprise in the January fundraising for DNC, DSCC, and DCCC.

I imagine these figures surprised some people, yet I have not seen much about them.

Just look at all the sections. The same thing happened in the month of February. The DNC outraised the other two without benefit of the traditional big donors, and with fundraisers quitting. The biggest difference is that the DNC invested it in the state parties instead of banking it.

Name
Jan. 2006
Through Jan. 2006
Total Spent
Cash Jan. 31
Debts

DNC
$5,089,357
$61,141,823
$60,288,061
$6,905,167
$0

DCCC
$2,530,397
$45,464,672
$31,424,736
$15,699,473
$1,233,333

DSCC
$2,101,518
$45,713,896
$20,617,891
$25,452,511
$0

http://emerald-scales.livejournal.com/316846.html

[IA_Seth]

15. I was never a Dean supporter in '04...

But I like him more and more as DNC Chair. I think this is the right idea, and I hope he sticks to his guns (like that will be a problem for Dean!).

[madfloridian]

21. The sad part is that Clinton's blessing should not have been necessary.

It is nice to have it, since he controls the big money in the party, but it should not have been necessary.

Howard Dean has had a goal to bring about his own type of campaign finance reform. He has been trying it as the Democracy Bond program.

He had a dream that one million people would give 20 a month for a total of 20 million operating funds per month. So though he outraised the DSCC and DCCC in January and February this year (that may be why they took a 2nd look).....he doesn't have his million bond owners.

That is because progressives are still waiting for the appropriate herder of cats.

[AtomicKitten]

40. More than a herder of cats, progressives needs to define their movement.

DU has been a real learning experience for my research. What I have come to realize is there are progressives like you, madfloridian, who are statisticians that use data to form your opinion, putting forward reasoned and reasonable arguments. And then there are parrots that echo opinions, offering up false data (i.e., claiming HRC voted for the bankruptcy bill when she didn't vote at all; etc.). Also is the ever-vacillating scorched earth opinions of the players by some; Dean is a villain one day, a savior the next.

Perhaps you can understand the skepticism regarding taking the progressive movement seriously.

I view Dean and Clinton as credible, dynamic, charismatic, savvy players in the game of politics, their roles and relationships fluid.

For the long-term and particularly for the common good, it would be strategically brilliant if the us versus them meme within the party dissipated and the lines blurred.

[madfloridian]

41. There is a group of progressives who want 3rd party.

That is the bottom line. They do not want the DNC to succeed, because then there would be no need for a 3rd party right now. They knew Dean considered going 3rd party in 03, but he found it would not be viable.

So they endorsed him for chairman because they figured he could be counted on to consider only their views. He can't do that, and would not anyway.

I vacillate between moderate and more liberal, but moderate is again winning out. The reason is the ones who are never satisfied with any compromise.

I am not happy with many of our Democrats, but I am practical enough to know that change will take time.

We should not have had to wait for the leaders in the party to be on board with the strategy of including all the states. They should have done it years ago.

Your post was sensible and fair. I would be more liberal and more progressive if not for the ones who are stepping on every success the Democrats have. And they have their reasons.

[Rainscents]

22. I wonder Hilliary will abandon DLC and come over to DNC now.

This is great news! DNC need all the help they can get! :woohoo:

[Capn Sunshine]

23. Hill will follow the money

I have faith in her

[madfloridian]

25. You are right. If we did our job completely, we would not....

have needed "blessing". Hillary will follow the money. We could have been the money, but we were too picky about our cat herder. He was not perfect in every way.

[Uncle Joe]

24. A sports analogy,

when building an NFL team, there are two basic approaches.

1.Buy high priced free agents, some of whom may be past their prime, for a short term fix (Reid's approach).

2. Build through the draft, a more grassroots approach at the local level for the long term, (Dean's approach).

[KoKo]

27. Thanks for the post on this. What a nice write up. I hope Clinton is

truly converted. He's been very weird lately.

[PVK]

29. Dean and Clinton share something: rational thought and charisma.

I am quite sure he won Big Dawg over, just as he does everyone who actually listens to him.

[Rose Siding]

30. There's an update-

...as Dean walked Clinton through the project and showed Clinton evidence that the party had found new pockets of Dems in states like MS and SC, Clinton became an instant convert.

He vowed to help Dean win the attention of donors. Clinton will do his first fundraiser for the DNC in April.

Clinton's support comes at precisely the right time for Dean. Party leaders and Cong. campaign strategists are nervously pressuring Dean to stop spending money to staff organizers in states and instead commit to transfer the bulk of the DNC's kitty to the DSCC and the DCCC.

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/03/update_the_dem.html

and-

DNC Raises $17M
We hear..

The Democratic National Committee will announce it's raised more than $17 million this quarter, capping off three $5M+ months.

And they have a bit more than $9.2M on hand.

The party should significantly enhance its coffers in mid-April when ex-Pres. Clinton holds a fundraiser for the party (his first) on April 10 in New York City.

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/03/dnc_raises_17m_1.html

[FogerRox]

32. Dr Dean brings Bill into the Dem party, LOL

We will make a liberal of him yet.

[madfloridian]

35. DNC outraised DSCC and DCCC in Jan. and Feb. Got their attention.

Just look at all the sections. The same thing happened in the month of February. The DNC outraised the other two without benefit of the traditional big donors, and with fundraisers quitting. The biggest difference is that the DNC invested it in the state parties instead of banking it.

Name
Jan. 2006
Through Jan. 2006
Total Spent
Cash Jan. 31
Debts

DNC
$5,089,357
$61,141,823
$60,288,061
$6,905,167
$0

DCCC
$2,530,397
$45,464,672
$31,424,736
$15,699,473
$1,233,333

DSCC
$2,101,518
$45,713,896
$20,617,891
$25,452,511
$0

http://emerald-scales.livejournal.com/316846.html

[DinahMoeHum]

34. Thank you, Big Dog !! Kick! Kick!

I've said this on many a thread for months: Dean's job is to build and shore up the Democratic Party, and his 50-State Strategy means building up EACH and EVERY STATE so that Dems can compete on EACH and EVERY LEVEL, from school board to village clerk to town council to county executive to state assembly/senator to governor to US Representative/Senator, etc.

It's really the only way we will take our country back.

:kick::kick::kick:

[rg302200]

36. It doesn't take a genius

to figure out that Dean's strategy will work. By spreading the wealth around he is building the Democratic party from the local level up through the federal level. That is exactly the same thing Newt and the Repukes did in the early nineties. By supporting candidates at the local level the Democratic party will have a more viable pool of candidates on down the road for state and federal offices.

Second, by spending money everywhere Dean is forcing the RNC to match him move for move, thus keeping the RNC from focusing all their money on a few key races! Now they will be forced to spend money in area's they never thought about defending before.

[Cha]

46. Excellent POints!

Thank you!

[pinto]

37. Thanks for the post Rose. I think this is good news across

the whole spectrum...and I think highlighting the *mutual* benefits of DNC, DSCC and DCCC roles, while recognizing their differences is a good example of heads up leadership. Short term interests - the 2006 elections - and longer term interests - the 2008 elections and beyond aren't at odds - they build on each other. There's differences in strategy (duh) and debate about finances (duh), but together their exists the very real possibility of re-establishing the Democratic majority...

[Michigander4Dean]

38. "His investment... Dean promised... would pay off" - already has been

Look at what happened last year.

[depakid]

39. "Hundreds of non-federal candidates as well. "

EXACTLY the people that the DINO's hurt all across the country when they legitimize Republican policies.

[jean]

42. He's tending to the overall health of the party - like the doctor he is!

Building the strength of non-fed candidates is like making the physical body strong throughout. Not just having the face look nice (fed candidates).

We're witnessing the body of the Democratic Party being renewed and fortified, with a wise attending physician directing the action.

[McCamy Taylor]

45. Grassroots are how the Christian Coalition rose to power.

Dean is smart.

[DallasNE]

48. Howard Dean Is The New Blood

The Democratic Party needs. In 2004, if you were simply listening to his words, you knew that he had a future in the Democratic Party if given the chance.

That vision catapulted him to front runner status in the lead up to the Iowa caucuses. The fact that the messenger didn't live up to the message seems to be the only thing people want to focus on.

But Bill Clinton the political animal can sense the moment and he senses one here. Thank you Howard Dean and thank you Bill Clinton for having an open mind then changing it when the 50-State strategy was spelled out in detail.

[Trevelyan]

49. Good for Dean, Pelosi and Reid need to step down, they are not leaders.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/3/30/34714/7535

==The DCCC works to defeat a Democrat
That's right, on Tuesday, March 21, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the DCCC, won their first election--against another Democrat.

Washington knows best
They brought in the big guns. Hillary Clinton hosted a big-ticket fundraiser in New York. John Kerry sent out emails to raise more money. Barack Obama taped TV spots. By the end of the campaign, the Tammy Duckworth for Congress campaign had sent eleven different pieces of direct mail to voters in the 6th District in Illinois, covered the airwaves with commercials, and had spent close to $1,000,000...

Looks like the second progressive candidate to fail the Dem party 'sniff test'.

The Party is a lost cause If they take your guy down, I would suggest he run as an Independent aka Jeffords and Sanders. The Dems need to be punished. Until we can do that, they don't give a damn about us - the people. For 5 freakin years, the Dems have been afraid to have an opinion on anything. Now when illegals are about to blow the Pugs in half, here comes Teddy and the Dems supporting Bush's corporate welfare stance on the false pretence of supporting "civil rights". So instead of holding corporations accountable for all of their illegal hires, they are going to support amnesty. But Feingold says, hold Bush accountable - and they all run to the basement. Think about it. The Dems are corporate owned just like the Pugs. If they take your guy down, he should run as an Independent. I think Cegelis should, too.

From Farenheiht 911 on Moores site

"Only four of the 535 members of Congress have children in the military; only one, Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., has a child who fought in Iraq"

"why haven't your girls enlisted?"

Because they want to be stateside when the midnight visitors kick down your door, place hoods over your and your family's heads, and drag your asses to a kbr/ hallibutton camp in the middle of Montana.

That's why.

[msgadget]

58. Y'know, they're remaking the face of the party without our permission

We don't get to vote on the type of candidate we want representing us and it's just as bad as vote fraud, imo. I'd rather put my heart and soul into electing a democratic candidate I believe in than just flipping the lever for the one on the ticket. Sirota says there's no crying in politics, that all is fair but this is the sort of thing I expect from the opposition party, ESPECIALLY at a time when the party is so weak. I guess they think this is to insure no candidate is too roughed up in the primaries to beat a repuke but, gee, doesn't that sort of contribute to the image of the omnipotent foe?

And, that line about Kennedy - good one!

[DFW]

50. Just FYI

I brought this thread to the attention of someone in the DNC
I know who is very close to Dean (he was appreciative!). It will
not go unnoticed. Keep the cards and letters coming! Intelligent,
thought-out opinions DO count.

[annabanana]

51. a letter from a Dean staffer about "the discussion" within

the party.. This response to the "empty envelope" campaign is interesting and helps to highlight how the DNC works.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_steve_bh_060331_shoot_out_at_the_las.htm

"In terms of the DCCC & DSCC, I’m easily as outraged as you. I’m president of Sonoma County Democracy for America, and I know DFA people in Illinois who were working their butts off on the Christine Cegelis campaign. I’m outraged that when there is an excellent candidate like Christine Cegelis on the ground that the DCCC steps in against the interests of the local party activists. We see the same thing in California’s 11th CD with Jerry McNerney who is being challenged by DCCC-backed Steve Filson. Both Cegelis and McNearny were among a few “Dean Dozen” candidates in 2004 by DFA when Howard Dean still headed the organization."

Much more at link - a must read...

[PassingFair]

52. I don't send empty envelopes...

I stuff them with little notes, to the DSCC, the DCCC,
the DLC and ANY DLC MEMBER CANDIDATE. My money goes
to progressive candidates, and progressive causes.

Only.

So does my volunteer work.

I work full time and have 2 kids.

I will vote for DLC candidates, but my
time, money, heart and soul are reserved
for the people who are willing to die on
the job for us. Those who are NOT AFRAID
TO LOSE.

Thank you, Dr. Dean, for being such a
CLEAR example of where to draw the line.

You have made my way clearer and forced
me to educate myself.

[robcon]

53. It's hard to believe Bill bought into Howard's strategy.

It's a total losing strategy... wastes resources, money and people, and risks morale in a losing effort in truly red states.

To borrow a strategy from marketing: have a modest national strategy, and spend the real money where it will do the most good - in the tossup/close states.

[Larkspur]

54. Yeah that strategy has worked so well in keeping Dems in the minority

why would any Dem want to be in the majority?

[sandnsea]

55. That's dead wrong

And a terrible marketing strategy if you're building a national market. A national marketing strategy knows its product, knows the key features. It then targets the benefits of those features regionally. Where benefits and features cross all ages and cultures, you've got a brand. Howard's strategy will be slow, we're just beginning to target our benefits to regions we've ignored. But when we get the feedback going and make necessary adjustments, we'll take off like wildfire because we're right.

[FogerRox]

60. sure

[NastyRiffraff]

56. Dean has said in the past...

that Democrats CANNOT win by focussing on 18 states. There are 50 states in the U.S. and we need to be strong on the ground in EVERY ONE of them.

Is it any wonder we continue losing the South? Yes, there was a reason for that (an ugly one) back in Lyndon Johnson's day. But since then, the party has simply CONCEDED the South (and the so-called Heartland). We cannot do that. We can't depend solely on N.Y, CA, MA, etc. Most states today are "purple" with large cities going Dem, rural going Rep. With the influx of tech companies in the South, that should by all rights told true in Southern states....FL is a good example. So is....::cough:: Texas.

CHEERS for Dr. Dean for standing on principle. And good on ya, Bill for actually LISTENING.