Is it true that the Dems are abandoning the 50 state strategy and if so why?

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

I have read a few threads saying this.

Why would a party not continue a strategy that proved so successful and one that the Republicans talk openly about replicating?

[wyldwolf]

1. there is no indication of that

[Political Heretic]

23. There *IS* indication of that. Every major player in the formation of the stategy is out of a job.

Not just Dean.

They're all on the street.... why?

[MaineDem]

2. Yes but...

The State Partnership Program (50-state strategy) ended on November 30. The employees were let go from all the states.

There is currently discussions to reinstate the program in some form. It may not be the same format as before which bothers many of the state parties. They would prefer the same situation where they controlled who was hired and who was fired. It worked out well for the DNC and the states.

It may be a form of the Campaign for Change putting employees into the states. Time will tell.

[Fleshdancer]

3. Not at all

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/01/08/1737632.aspx

In naming Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine as the new chairman of the Democratic National Committee, President-elect Obama spoke of the need to build a movement for change that was rooted in pragmatism and that could last beyond a single election.

"That will require redoubling our efforts to reach out to Americans throughout our 50 states, North and South, East and West," he said. "It will require finding candidates for elective office whose policies and plans are rooted not in ideology but in what works and it will require shedding our ingrained habits of taking money from federal lobbyists and special interests and relying instead on small donations from ordinary Americans."

[BeyondGeography]

4. They gained in about 80% of the counties across the country in 2008

One pseudo-controversy involving Howard Dean and it all goes to shit, I guess. :eyes:

[DrDan]

5. so successful?

A 70+ year old candidate with a twit for a running mate gets 47% of the vote.

I think there was room for improvement.

[Zynx]

13. They got 45.62% of the vote. That's about what Dukakis got.

[Uncle Joe]

16. I believe, most of the time, absent a unifying force, turning political momentum

is more like turning a large ship, not a jet.

I also believe the momentum has been unmistakable and this will only increase should the dynamic of trying to represent the entire nation be maintained.

[Skink]

6. The seeds have been planted.

I expect Obama to do even better amung his constituents in 2012. After that demographic changes in the map make the 50 state strategy a neccesity and the democrats recognize that.
I think the repubs are going to redouble their efforts to slice up Californias electoral votes.

[Jennicut]

7. I think Howard Dean's idea has been co opted by all Dems

if they want to win again

[mmonk]

8. According to Democracy for America, it is not a priority

to the incoming chair.

[AtomicKitten]

9. It's not true; they just can't afford and there's no point in keeping it at the

level it is during election time. The backbone is in place and closer to election time the DNC will fire up the machine. It's a matter of practicality that should be apparent.

[MaineDem]

12. Actually, it had nothing to do with finances

It was only planned to go through the election of '08. Everyone assumed it would continue. It's up to the new DNC and the President to come up with a new plan.

[AtomicKitten]

17. It's impractical to keep it at the level it was during the election.

Why do people think Obama isn't cognizant of his own success in concert with Dean's 50-state strategy? That makes no sense. Obama has always been an advocate of Dean's 50-state strategy and competed in every state; that was the backbone of the victory.

[mmonk]

18. Nobody does. Its a strategy for elections.

[xxqqqzme]

20. Elections are every two years

It should be apparent to any political animal that a constant presence - skeleton crew, if you will - is needed and necessary if you want to win elections - fund raise, recruit candidates, community involvement.... With a two year cycle it becomes even more important as the Democratic Party should be preparing for the next one as soon as the current cycle ends on election day. Two years is not a large expanse of time if you want to win or continue in office.

[AtomicKitten]

22. I'm not convinced that's what is going on here ...

but I do agree Kaine/Obama would be dumbasses extraordinaire if they didn't understand that. Obama has never struck me as somebody that doesn't understand things like that.

[madfloridian]

10. The DNC is now part of the Obama campaign completely.

If the strategy is continued, it will be done as an extension of that and probably top down.

Dean wanted change from the bottom up, but this plan will be top down. It's one reason he's out.

[MaineDem]

14. "but this plan will be top down"

Not if the state parties have anything to say about it.

I'm afraid it will be an extension of the Campaign for Change and I'm not too happy with that.

[madfloridian]

15. Please note who was not invited to the press conference.

He was the advocate for the state parties, and he was not invited even when the event was held at the DNC.

I doubt the state parties will have much say or sway with the ones involved now. But they will vote as Obama wants, just as its always been done.

The more things tried to change, the more they remain the same. The one who despised the 50 state plan the most is the president's right hand man now.

[BeFree]

11. Why kill it?

For the sake of argument let us say the strategy is being shelved.

One reason for that is that the Obama people are going to remodel it and use the latest version to gain a stranglehold on internal party politics.

Or, the establishment democrats hate the uprising from the grassroots and fearing a takeover of the party by us little folk, are getting rid of the vehicle we made use of to get in the door of real power.

[RaleighNCDUer]

19. I suspect it is mostly just a matter of re-structuring the strategy.

After all, it's all fine and well to strengthen the state party organizations, but what if they then pull a Florida and repudiate the national organization? It's going to take some work to keep the strengthened state parties in line because they are brimming with little fish who want to keep the pond small so they can feel bigger. We don't want any more delegate fights like this time, which nearly cost us the election (of course, castrating the DLC would help in that regard, too).

[Orangepeel]

21. It doesn't seem like it from the email the party sent out

Yesterday, I had the honor of introducing Virginia Governor Tim Kaine as the next Chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

We're in a strong position to build the Democratic Party, renew our commitment to the principles we share, and continue the outstanding work of Chairman Howard Dean.

Among his many achievements, Governor Dean launched a strategy to reach out to Americans in all 50 states -- north, south, east and west. This 50-state strategy helped Democrats compete in states where we hadn't in years, including states like Virginia.

Governor Kaine has seen the power of the 50-state strategy firsthand, and under his leadership, Democrats will continue to organize and compete in every corner of our country. (emphasis added)

Share your question for incoming Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine -- he'll answer as many as possible in a video on Democrats.org.

Tim is the ideal leader to grow and strengthen this party -- not by appealing to our divisions, but by appealing to our common hopes; not by pursuing policies that advance a specific dogma, but by pursuing policies that work for ordinary people.

As Governor of Virginia, Tim was known for his intelligence, integrity, and strong economic leadership.

He has a record of putting public service above partisanship, and he knows that reaching across party lines is the way to achieve progress for all Americans.

Over the next few days, you'll have a unique opportunity to get to know Governor Kaine. You can submit a question online, and he'll answer as many as possible in a special video next week.

Learn more about the future of the Democratic Party by submitting your question to Governor Kaine:

http://www.democrats.org/welcomekaine

The success of our party in the years ahead depends on strong leadership, but it also depends on a committed membership determined to bring change.

Thank you for your hard work and please join me in welcoming Chairman Tim Kaine,

Barack