Alan Grayson: Easy to explain why I lost ("If Democrats don't vote, then Democrats can't win")

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Thursday, Nov 4, 2010 16:25 ET
War Room
Alan Grayson: Easy to explain why I lost
By Emma Mustich

Alan Grayson blames both his defeat and the massive losses that his party suffered nationally on a de-energized Democratic base, the Florida Democrat told Salon this afternoon.

"In my case, it's simply a matter of the Democrats not voting," Grayson, who was defeated by Republican Dan Webster in Florida's 8th District, said. "We don't have the final numbers from Election Day yet, but in the early voting, when you compare the vote this time to the vote in 2008, the Republicans dropped about 20%, and the Democratic vote dropped 60%."

"That wasn't just true in my district; it was true all around Florida, and as far as I can tell all around the country, with the possible exception of the West Coast and New England," he continued. "If Democrats don't vote, then Democrats can't win."

"The enthusiasm gap," Grayson concluded, "became a vote gap."

http://www.salon.com/news/alan_grayson/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2010/11/04/alan_grayson_post_election

[Selatius]

1. Pissing off your base is a good way of making them stay home.

You ignore them at your peril.

[Chulanowa]

6. At who's peril?

Somehow I don't think any of the outsed Democrats are going to be as hurt by a Republican congress, as the progressives who wanted them out are going to be.

Good job guys. Another circular firing squad thoughtfully concluded.

[sufrommich]

8. I don't think you can accuse Grayson of that. nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. only half the registered voters turned out in my town.

'course, most of them ARE Republicans, but still....

[hlthe2b]

3. Voter turnout was up in several states, including CO (fortunately)

Turnout was up signicantly in Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Minnesota, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia, Gans said. Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Wyoming showed some of the bigger drops in voting percentages.
http://www.wcyb.com/2010-midterm-elections/25616971/detail.html

[B Calm]

4. Grayson is from a retirement area. Social Security hasn't seen a raise in 2 yrs.

These people are blaming democrats for not getting a cost of living raise.

[digitaln3rd]

5. I dunno...

I think running stupid attack/smear ads turned off voters too...

But I guess it *is* easier to just blame other people.

[unblock]

7. that just begs the question.

that's not an easy answer, that's a facile answer.