Is this happening in other states besides Arizona?

[SargeUNN]

Sure, Goddard was doomed. But it wasn't Arizona Senate Bill 1070 that doomed him, or Governor Jan Brewer's signing of that vicious breathing-while-brown statute. No, Goddard, and his fellow Democrats, doomed themselves. They ceded the entire immigration debate — the only one that mattered, sadly — to the Republicans, without ever attempting to do otherwise.

In fact, Democratic candidates and their flacks were encouraged to avoid the dreaded term "SB 1070" altogether, as if it invoked the Devil himself.

They were advised by internal pollsters, focus group gurus, and party hacks to talk "tough" on the border or even, as in the case of quisling Dem Jon Hulburd, embrace it and ignore the stench of nativism sticking to them.


read more:
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2010-11-11/news/arizona-democrats-defeat-dissected-and-why-the-party-needs-to-bust-out-a-guillotine-or-two/

[Roma]

1. It was precisely 1070 that "doomed" them

I disagree whole heartedly with the premise of the article.

Democrats in this state were cowards not to strongly condemn the law. If "They were advised by internal pollsters, focus group gurus, and party hacks to talk "tough" on the border" they tacitly endorsed the provisions of 1070, and have nobody but themselves to blame.

[saracat]

2. Actually, they were doomed by HCR previously. That and a perceived sluggishness

SB1070 just added to the flames. Harry Mitchell lost mostly on HCR. His death knell was signed when he signed on to that. All the GOP rsn against Obama and Pelosi.There were even signs promoting them on a Pelosi/Obma ticket placed at the polling places.Terry didn't build up a head of steam till waaay towards the end of the campign. He kept way too low a profile and only NOW are the media exposing Brewer's corruption. She may well be impeached as her GOP predessors were, which is why Ken Bennett should NOT have been let in under the radar.

[blondeatlast]

3. Contributory, definitely. We Democrats missed a glaring opportunity

for GOTV efforts on this and let Hispanic/Latino voters be intimidated from going to the polls (remember Sherriff Joe's posses acting as poll watcher?).

Our state Democratic leadership is just this side of utterly worthless--or enablers. I'm still trying to figure out which.

[saracat]

5. There actually WAS a GOTV effort this time, not that it was effective.

But the fact was, and always has been, there was no "youth vote" or Latino vote that we counted on to "save" us/ In 2008, the "youth and Lation vote didn't bother to vote down ticket . In 2010, they didn't bother to vote.Period.Same old same old.And I agree about the Stae party but it is reflective of the national one.All politics is local and they don't give a damn about local politics.

[blondeatlast]

6. Well, I consider that a failure of the party (the downticket vote), but yeah,

the national party is just about worthless too. No Dean fan am I, but damn, he was a STELLAR chairman.

[slackmaster]

4. Are politicians taking cues from focus groups and polls, and coddling interest groups?

Fuck yeah.

[blondeatlast]

7. True, but understand that SB 1070 is (God help me) WILDLY popular here.

Campaign signs everywhere touted (even for races that were not legislative) support for SB 1070 and endorsed by Sherriff Joe Arpaio (he even endorsed two candidates for the same race pre-primary).

It didn't even take a poll to get that; it's palpable. This place has gotten almost too much for me--but I love the Sonoran with a passion. I may just have to bid it farewell anyway, and it's breaking my heart.