The mood yesterday was reminiscent of the days before the 2006 election. The expectations were high that Tom Neuville's seat was a long-shot for the DFL to steal in a special election. The stakes? Just the ability of republicans to uphold the veto of our governor. The result? We got creamed!
By outward appearances it was as quiet as the night before Christmas. No great sign war waged by the left. The media had carefully set the story up as to appear to be a sure thing for Ray Cox to hold the seat for the GOP. There was no great call to action by GOP leaders to flood SD25 with foot-soldiers. We slept comfortably in the confidence that victory was ours.
But the DFL has revealed a private side that is strategically superior to the GOP campaign mechanism. We should pay attention. Especially those of us that think being philosophically "superior" to our socialistic opponents is somehow going to carry the day in fall 2008. We can be as right as right can be on the philosophical arguments but as Wheelock Whitney said in his complaint about Pat Robertson's takeover of the party in the late '80s "Victory goes to those who show up".
Local politics is finite math. The DFL found victory in coy manipulation of same-day registration and what is reported as a higher than expected student turnout in Northfield proper. There was no credible rallying alarm for the conservative base to respond to. That was largely because many in the conservative base felt somewhat excluded by the process whereby Neuville anointed Cox without the benefit of a grassroots vetting of the GOP endorsement.
Al Franken and Tim Walz showed up to help execute the quiet revolution in SD25. And their efforts paid off.
Is this a harbinger of a further shrinkage in the ranks of GOP legislators in 11 short months? The Vegas line would certainly favor the dems at this juncture. Pay close attention to the explanations and excuses offered by our ranks as we react in shock to the black and white results.
"We" were out-smarted, out-flanked and out-worked. For the record, I did nothing to help in SD25. How about you?
Friday, January 4, 2008
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2 comments:
Drew,
I often disagree with you, but this post is honest analysis, with an honest admission.
Brodkorb's attack on you is completely unwarranted.
Drew,
I live in the District, am a Conservative, Vote Republican and I can tell you that you are right smack on.
Ray Cox is a good man but he is as much of a Conservative as I am a Democrat.
The process stunk, the endorsement was held even before filing of candidates closed, and the party is blaming the conservatives for not getting out and voting.
The voter turnout was absent a cause, the party had to have an inkling that they were going to push hard to get students to vote and took them straight to the polls. It was in blogs for a couple of weeks.
This should a lesson learned and a huge wake up call that party before principle does not apply. Our current Republican Party has abandoned the Conservative base - our Governor included and the Party balks and points fingers when the people stay home.
I voted and my wife voted because we rode to the polls together but as soon as I walked in and saw the number on the ballot reader I knew Ray was in trouble.
Some of my friends and family were called up to 7-8 times to vote for Dahl or the Independent candidate with maybe a single call for Ray. Yeah the party spent millions on flyers but in todays age that is not enough. Ray could not distinguish himself from Dahle only a party label separating them - that is what is disappointing.
I know for a fact that not one of my neighbors, friends or other family in the district voted. They asked me who I was voting for and the conversation ended there.
I am a true Reagan Conservative and the Party has done this race, this state, this nation a disservice by putting forward mediocre candidates that are no different than voting for the candidate with the other party label.
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