The "Run Everywhere" Caucus

Just a Saturday recap of the week that was. I think we need a cool nickname for the caucus, cooler than the "Run Everywhere" Caucus. I'd take a stab at one, but it's early ... REAL early. And I'm not about to take a 3:50am attempt at such a weighty matter. Anyways, the balance of "internet opinion:"

Moi v1.0:

For Democrats, the goal here is simple ... run someone and make sure they're out on the streets walking, talking, and dropping lit where nobody's home. An active campaign may well be a losing effort in a district that tends to go 75-25 Republican. But this is possibly the best shot to see the district go 30, 35, or maybe even 40% for a Democrat. If Joe Nixon's the nominee, we've got a real opening here to do some good for the party overall.

Kuff:

If we truly care about our own values, we'll strive to bring candidates who promote them to voters who share them, wherever those voters may be. If we do that, I'm willing to bet we'll find that the support we get, both in terms of votes and donations, is greater than we think. We Democrats in Texas have been complaining about the national party hitting us up for cash for it to spend on races and candidates everywhere else. We should be treating our allies in places like SD7 the same way that we want the DNC to treat us.

SaveTexasReps v1.0:

Even if the Democrats cannot win Lindsay?s seat this time, this is the perfect opportunity to build the growing base of support and chip away at the Republican stranglehold. Gains in SD 7 would translate to gains in statewide races. There?s a path to victory opening up in SD 7, but it requires a candidate serious enough to take up the challenge.

The first thing we have to do, though, is get in the race.

SaveTexasReps v2.0:

Running a full slate of serious candidates - even in losing districts - helps other Democratic candidates as well. The on-the-ground campaigning helps expand the Democratic database of supporters and volunteers. It helps get out the message of the Democratic Party - thus expanding the reach of statewide and national candidates. Furthermore, running serious candidates in longshot districts forces Republicans to campaign in their own districts, limiting embattled candidates access to ?safe? Republican war chests.

Moi v2.0:

It's time to go on offense. If we lose, let's make the other side earn the win instead of handing it to them on the January filing deadline. On the other hand, if we start winning, maybe the Do-Nothings will come around to our batty way of thinking. It's a chance I'm certainly willing to take.

Eye on Williamson County:

My thinking on this is absolutely, we must have a candidate in every race on the ballot. It's just a good policy. If we are going to be an opposition party, we must oppose the other party, especially when they have all the power. What if the shoe-in candidate turns out to be a bad candidate or has a skeleton in the closet that comes out before election day? Another thing I hear quite a bit from those coming in to help out in Williamson County is that the Libertarians always have a candidate in every race, why don't the Democrats?

BurntOrangeReport (Karl-T style):

If we are honestly worried about lost filing fees being the reason for defeat for other candidates, then we have some serious problems as a Party, because it shows a lack of vision beyond the parochial and a lack of foresight beyond the next election day. Letting grassroots candidates run in some of the more 'hopeless' districts is the cheapest way the Party can help build itself and push out it's message to people who otherwise will never hear or see from an actual Party operative in the next decade.

I think it's worth it. Let people run. Everywhere.

Etcetera, and So On:

We must field candidates for two reasons. The first is pretty simple: If the Dems don't have a candidate in the race, then it's impossible for a Dem candidate to win the race. Pretty easy concept to grasp, yes?

But we also must field candidates in every race because in most places, that's the only way to woo new people to the Democratic party, or old Dems back to the party. Other times, there are very, very few people paying attention - certainly, very few people who aren't otherwise already engaged in the political process would should up to listen to a Democratic speaker talk issues.

But just by the simple act of entering a race, a candidate serves as a salesperson for his or her party and its ideas. They are included in candidates' forums, they are asked questions by the media, they are invited to address the Rotary Club, they hold rallies and give speeches.

Fielding candidates in every race is a way for Democrats - even in those districts where victory is exceedingly unlikely - to make the argument for Democratic policies. It's advertising the party, it's proselytizing, it's recruiting, it's laying the groundwork.

So make the argument.

Charles Soechting, Chair Texas Democratic Party, Candidate for State Rep ('94):

Thank God Sam Houston and others did not have the "play it safe" attitude that is all too pervasive in today's politics. I encourage every Democrat to recruit candidates to run in every race. We are poised to take advantage of the dishonesty and corruption in the Bush White House, the Perry administration, the ineffective Dewhurst Senate and in the Craddick Cartel. Do any of you seriously believe that the scandals of the R's will go away in time. The R's are dishonest crooks and we should be poised to defeat them. We should be prepared with candidates and have faith if not dollars that the voters are capable of figuring out that the party in power has abused the power. There is strength in honesty. We should all stand tall as Democrats and not allow a few to tell us who should and should not run, who is and who is not the right candidate but rather we should gather together and support all of those who believe in the principles which make our Party what it is-----Honest, Responsible and capable of governing.

Matt Glazer v2.0 (possible candidate for Dist 122):

A handful of passionate Democrats have started searching for a progressively minded individual to protect the rights of Texans in district 122, San Antonio, and across Texas.

I believe that we can never be truly successful if we are required to pick the lesser of two evils. I am a man who believes that it is time Democrats and progressively minded groups and individuals banded together to win back key seats in the Texas legislature.

In response to this call for new leadership, I have asked different community leaders and organizations about the possibility of running for this position. Today I am officially announcing the formation of an exploratory committee to establish the necessary legal structure, secure key endorsements, build a diverse and extensive coalition, and most importantly, inquire about the viability of my candidacy.

The Jeffersonian:

I do agree with Kuff when he says this district sucks electorally from a Dem perspective. But that's no reason to not run someone in this district. Plus, as Matt has pointed out, since Corte hasn't had a Democratic challenger in over a decade, we really don't know what kind of traction a strong, aggressive candidate can make up on him (kinda like how Kay Bay hasn't seen a real opponent since 1994). Matt, you're gonna have to strike early and hard, and keep it up for an extended amount of time, but let's get it on.

Matt Glazer v1.0:

Frank Corte has basically run completely uncontested since 1992 when he first ran. In 2000 he ran a campaign against a Libertarian candidate, and in 2002 he ran against a Green and Libertarian candidate. That's it. Those are his opponents.

It amazes me that a man that has been on Texas Monthly's 10 worst legislators list twice has never had a serious challenge against him. Is it the location of his district? Is it to conservative? No, far from it. This is a district that goes almost as far north as Boerne and East as The Forum, but it is also an area that has twice elected Art Hall and Chip Haass. This is a part of San Antonio that has ranked the environment, education, and health care as their top three issues. District 122 also has a strong Democratic organizational structure in place from the amazing work that John and Zada Courage have done.

So who is going to step up and take on this bull?s eye? The ideal candidate is a woman with either teaching or health care experience. An intelligent woman who can make a case why Frank Corte no longer deserves to run unopposed and should not be on the Defense and State-Federal Relations Committee.

With all the campaigns beginning to flesh out, this is the district that most deserves another option-- a Democratic option.

And, of course, the predecessor works on the subject:
All Out War:

The central truth here is simple: campaigns revolve around candidates. Ideas, no doubt, drive campaigns (I say this as an idea person), but candidates are the messengers. One active shoestring candidate hustling up votes in the Galleria is worth more than the Sharpstown Mall satellite office I was fortunate enough to man. We need both approaches as a party, but for too long, we've been ignoring the biggest asset our party can put forth: a candidate.

All Out War, Redux:

The selling points for a full slate of candidates is precisely as Dean spells out - you carry the message of your party, win or lose. You show up at the Chamber of Commerce meetings, the Kiwanis meetings, the Optimist Club meetings. You hit every church with a Civics Sunday service possible. You make the case of your own candidacy as well as for the Democratic Party. That alone expands the reach of the Democratic Party to more places than we're presently hitting. And if the Democratic Party is afraid to be heard and seen in any possible location, it's time to close shop. We're the party that best reflects the diversity of opinion - so use it or lose it. In 2004, 40% of Harris County voters did not even have a State Rep nominee from our side to even consider.

Howard Dean, DNC Chairman:

Also, Democrats must contest races in all states, at all levels, in all years, not just presidential ones. "It is disrespectful not to come to Tennessee and Mississippi and Alabama as well as California and Michigan and Ohio . . . We need to come to Tennessee because what you could think of Democrats by watching [Republican] ads is all you're going to think of us unless we show up and make our case in person."

A young man stood up and asked what he could do to help the party, other than give money, which he didn't have. Dean bobbed on his feet, delighted with the question, because it allowed him to show off his best side -- the side that grew a presidential candidacy from a small Vermont operation with seven employees into a national campaign with 600,000 supporters.

"The number one thing you can do is run for office."

[Class giggles]

"I'm absolutely serious. I am not kidding."

The class grew quiet. Here was Dean as a Johnny Appleseed, sowing civics in the young. While Democrats have conceded parts of the country considered hostile, Republicans have left no office untested, he pointed out. The result is that Dems have no farm system, no ability to find young political talent in red states and groom it.

Run, he urged the students. Run for county road commissioner. Run for city council. "If you don't have people running for offices like county commissioner, who do you think is going to run for Congress a generation from now?

"You may not win the first time," he said, "or the second time or the third time . . . If you lose, so what? It's worth the investment if we can have somebody there who gives the message, who's articulate and thoughtful, and respectful of the voters, because they'll get a better impression of Democrats than they would otherwise if there was no opposition whatsoever. That's the great failure, one of the great failures, of the party. Because we were in power for so long, we didn't think we had to appeal to places like that. Well, we do. And we will."

UPDATE: Hope:

Even if there isn't much of a chance the D candidate will win, you've at least forced the Republicans to spend money defending their 'safe' seat. And you never know -- at some point, people may actually figure out how hard the Republicans are screwing them. They can't vote the bastards out if there's no one else to vote for.

OUT-OF-STATE UPDATE: Slight variation on a theme, but some further mulling on the matter reminded me of a Blueprint article penned by Columbus, Ohio Mayor Michael Coleman:

It is up to us to take our message door to door in rural Ohio. Every day, we must find new ways to communicate the values we hold dear to residents in every corner of the state. We must highlight the hard work we are doing and the faith that sustains us -- not only faith in our religious beliefs, but also faith in the people of Ohio.

Ohioans live in a time of great uncertainty and anxiety, with working families across the state feeling the pinch. Most of these voters are not Democrats or Republicans, but moderates. They often switch parties during closely contested elections. Ohio's working families know that there is no Republican or Democratic way to fill potholes, to open health clinics, to respond to 911 calls, or to make sure our kids grow up with the skills they need for the state's future economy. These issues go beyond politics. To solve them, we must offer a united, focused message that works in both red and blue counties.

As Democrats, especially as moderates, we need to do more than just debate action plans on an issue-by-issue basis. We must sweep away the distorted perceptions and liberal labels that Republicans constantly repeat about us. We must reassert our real-world relevance as leaders with records of effectively serving the interests of working families.

Only by reuniting the shared interests of families across urban, suburban, and rural lines can we effectively speak again as the party of working people and build the support for a new national majority.