Part of the reason Rahm’s got the bad edge of the publicity in the fight with Dean over the 50 State Project versus winning now is simply because Rahm’s not as good with the public relations with the base.
Quite simply, the 50 state project is great in the long term, but despite claims to the contrary, it’s simply not going to produce this quickly. If we see big wins in unexpected places, it doesn’t mean we built up the infrastructure there, it means a wave hit and we rode it.
Now, building that infrastructure is a good thing for holding those seats and taking other seats in not so friendly years, but one doesn’t build infrastructure in 18 months and declare it to be working. It’s running people for school board, it’s running people for town council, and it’s simply having meetings.
However, Rahm and Schumer saw something else in the polling–a true wave election and want to throw everything at the candidates in the field because as of right now, DCCC and DSCC can’t even tell you what races it will be funding in a week because the playing field is expanding so fast.
You can’t ignore the long term, but you also can’t ignore an election like this being different than any other chance we’ll have for years.
While I think that Rahm is right to push Dean for more effort in targeted races (though not 100% for federal stuff as Rahm wants), I think there is some value add in starting the 50-state strategy now. Consider that some of the Dems who win this cycle are going to be in very unfriendly turf. Working on the 50-state strategy to build the party in Indiana and Wyoming and rural Pennsylvania will help a great deal in 2008 and 2010.
I absolutely agree. That’s why it isn’t an easy decision, though events will probably push everyone one way this year.
“You can’t ignore the long term, but you also can’t ignore an election like this being different than any other chance we’ll have for years.”
Wrong.
I believe that history has conclusively proved that I can ignore anything I want.
It’s absolutely important to run the 50-state strategy now. Not only does it keep some money out of the hands of the people who design those horrible Duckworth ads, but it builds some infrastructure now. While its a long-term project, and it will require building up dems on the most local of local issues, those campaign workers that Dean has trained in Idaho and Wyoming and Nebraska are certainly helping out Grant, Trauner, and Kleeb. They might not win anyway, or if there’s a true wave, they might have won anyway, but the fact is, they are certainly helping.
And, if there is a wave, it gives the 50-state strategy an immediate boost.