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JaneQPublic

(7,113 posts)
Thu Apr 25, 2019, 10:39 AM Apr 2019

Former senators launching effort to help Dems win rural votes

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/440609-former-senators-launching-effort-to-help-dems-win-rural-votes

Former Sens. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) are launching an initiative to help the Democratic Party reverse its losses in rural America ahead of the 2020 election.

Heitkamp and Donnelly, who both lost their reelection bids in red states last year, will introduce One Country Thursday in an effort to win back voters who have reliably voted Republican for years.

“One Country will reopen the dialogue with rural America, reengaging rural voters with trust and respect. By taking these conversations and combining them with data, research, and polling, One Country will reverse the trends that are causing rural voters to reject Democratic leadership,” the group said in a statement.

“While political pundits and pollsters perceive rural America as firmly in Republican hands, One Country’s mission is to change that perception and show the path forward.”


MORE...
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/440609-former-senators-launching-effort-to-help-dems-win-rural-votes
29 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Former senators launching effort to help Dems win rural votes (Original Post) JaneQPublic Apr 2019 OP
Great ideas...... ProudMNDemocrat Apr 2019 #1
We only had rural America in that dreaded "Dixiecrat" era until Nixon stole them. CaptYossarian Apr 2019 #14
THANK YOU! awesomerwb1 Apr 2019 #2
K&R... spanone Apr 2019 #3
This shouldn't be that hard... Wounded Bear Apr 2019 #4
It's more than FOX. Sinclair is invading local news markets all throughout the country. CaptYossarian Apr 2019 #15
We may need to without their support, but I'm glad we have people trying. (nt) ehrnst Apr 2019 #17
we need a huge coalition of ex-senators and congresspeople to go on the beachbum bob Apr 2019 #5
I immediately think of Tom Harkin who did well with farmers in Iowa rurallib Apr 2019 #18
current state of GOP in Iowa is similar to Kansas now, so we can take advantage but beachbum bob Apr 2019 #21
This is great. Maybe add Nelson and McCaskill Funtatlaguy Apr 2019 #6
Now this is how UNITY works. sheshe2 Apr 2019 #7
To Succeed, One Country Will Need Solutions for the "Isms" that Lured these Voters to Republicans dlk Apr 2019 #8
+1 We may share economic interests, but are our moral values too divergent? lagomorph777 Apr 2019 #11
It's Not Enough - Therein Lies the Challenge dlk Apr 2019 #19
Good idea! mcar Apr 2019 #9
Good for them.. I'll be happy to support this effort! mountain grammy Apr 2019 #10
They can tell rural America that Trump is breaking up and breaking down their beloved USDA. ancianita Apr 2019 #12
They need to tell rural Americans that Trump's not done with them yet. Link from another thread: ancianita Apr 2019 #13
Resurrecting the "50-State Strategy" is a fantastic idea. K&R. bullwinkle428 Apr 2019 #16
should never have been abandoned in my opinion. a kennedy Apr 2019 #20
This is wonderful news!!! blue-wave Apr 2019 #22
Dean is heading up a voter data exchange operation JaneQPublic Apr 2019 #23
oh, man, now we are talkin. mopinko Apr 2019 #25
Lot of good ideas coming out of DNC these days. JaneQPublic Apr 2019 #27
So great to see this FakeNoose Apr 2019 #24
How will they be able to help? LiberalFighter Apr 2019 #26
The root is a need to change rural perception of government Amishman Apr 2019 #28
Very enlightening. JaneQPublic Apr 2019 #29

ProudMNDemocrat

(16,485 posts)
1. Great ideas......
Thu Apr 25, 2019, 10:41 AM
Apr 2019

Democrats need to bring back the rural communities that are part of the fabric of America. To hear them out, to listen to their frustrations of the current administration.

CaptYossarian

(6,448 posts)
14. We only had rural America in that dreaded "Dixiecrat" era until Nixon stole them.
Thu Apr 25, 2019, 12:04 PM
Apr 2019

Republicans used to support the republic, hence the name. Now they're Party First--over country--even resorting to treason.

The Greek word "demos" means "people", which is why our party's main objective is to help the sick, poor, elderly, women, and minorities--all the people Trump attacks.

When the GOP was formed, it was the more liberal party. It attracted Lincoln and white abolitionists. It's why Thomas Nast's symbol of the Democratic party was the jackass, a stupid mammal known for it's braying. Who does that sound like?


All the roles have been reversed, which is why we need a new animal symbol. Maybe a smart one like a dolphin?

Wounded Bear

(58,440 posts)
4. This shouldn't be that hard...
Thu Apr 25, 2019, 10:46 AM
Apr 2019

But we need to break down the Fox Wall around these voters. We won't break the oligarchs hold on the Senate without converting some of these people.

CaptYossarian

(6,448 posts)
15. It's more than FOX. Sinclair is invading local news markets all throughout the country.
Thu Apr 25, 2019, 12:09 PM
Apr 2019

From what I've read, they're more radical and sneak into small, mainstream stations.

 

beachbum bob

(10,437 posts)
5. we need a huge coalition of ex-senators and congresspeople to go on the
Thu Apr 25, 2019, 10:52 AM
Apr 2019

campaign trail in every state we have typically left GOP run free and wild in. GOP can not defend everywhere as 2018 proved/ Take the fight to their backyards in Tn, Kentucky, Texas, georgia, Al, Ms, Kansas, Missouri, etc

 

beachbum bob

(10,437 posts)
21. current state of GOP in Iowa is similar to Kansas now, so we can take advantage but
Thu Apr 25, 2019, 12:51 PM
Apr 2019

need Iowa democrats to step and be counted now

dlk

(11,438 posts)
8. To Succeed, One Country Will Need Solutions for the "Isms" that Lured these Voters to Republicans
Thu Apr 25, 2019, 11:14 AM
Apr 2019

I wish every success for One Country. To succeed, it will be important to remember their target voters consistently vote their values, even when it hurts them, economically, physically and socially. Republicans have successfully used racism and sexism to sucker these voters for many years. They have been willing to sell out their health care, their education, their financial security to vote for their values. To succeed in winning over these voters, One Country will need to find ways to incorporate a Democratic values message that meshes with their values that are patriarchal and tend toward authoritarianism Although no small challenge, it is possible.

lagomorph777

(30,613 posts)
11. +1 We may share economic interests, but are our moral values too divergent?
Thu Apr 25, 2019, 11:39 AM
Apr 2019

How does a party with a central message of justice, peace, and equality speak with voters driven by cruelty, hatred, and prejudice? Appealing to their economic self-interest doesn't seem to be enough to overcome their reptilian emotional wiring.

dlk

(11,438 posts)
19. It's Not Enough - Therein Lies the Challenge
Thu Apr 25, 2019, 12:27 PM
Apr 2019

Democrats must use a multi-faceted approach: registering voters, ramping up efforts to get out the vote, and reaching out to Trump voters. Unfortunately, there are those voters to whom being right is everything and always more important than their wealth, health and education. The reality is for some voters, they will cut off their nose to spite their face - every time. We can do our best to craft a Democratic message that might appeal to them. However, there’s no guarantee they will ever vote for a Democrat. I live in a very red state and sometimes I’m shocked at the very deep level of hatred toward democrats coming from seemingly decent people. The Republican propaganda has taken hold and continues to work. There is much work to do.

blue-wave

(4,317 posts)
22. This is wonderful news!!!
Thu Apr 25, 2019, 01:15 PM
Apr 2019

I read awhile back that Howard Dean was again involved in outreach for the DNC. Anyone know if he is driving this? It hints of his 50 state strategy.

JaneQPublic

(7,113 posts)
23. Dean is heading up a voter data exchange operation
Thu Apr 25, 2019, 01:23 PM
Apr 2019

I've heard Tom Perez say several times he embraces Dean's old 50-State Strategy. But here's what Dr. Dean is working on now for the DNC:

Howard Dean, the one-time presidential candidate, former Vermont governor and ex-DNC chairman, is set to head a new data exchange operation that Democrats hope puts them back on par with Republicans in the never-ending race to use voter data to drive Americans to the polls.

“This is game-changing for how we do business for years to come across the Democratic Party ecosystem,” Perez told The Associated Press.

Dean called it “a big breakthrough” that will match what Republicans have established. “I’d sort of given up that we could get it done,” Dean said.

The arrangement would allow the national party, state parties and independent political action groups on the left to share voter data in real time during campaigns. That means, for example, that a field worker for a congressional campaign in Iowa and another for an independent political action committee knocking on doors in Florida could update a master voter file essentially as they work. When a presidential campaign spends big money on consumer data to update voter profiles, the new information would go into the central file as well. And all participating organizations would have access to the latest information.

Parties, campaigns and PACs use that kind of voter data to decide which voters to call and who to visit in person or to determine which voters receive targeted digital ads on platforms such as Facebook and YouTube, among other things.

Currently, political action groups on the left must gather, update and use data independently from the party.


MORE...


https://www.apnews.com/9a47a0def9234e338bc72053e86f221f

mopinko

(69,808 posts)
25. oh, man, now we are talkin.
Thu Apr 25, 2019, 01:40 PM
Apr 2019

i saw so much stupid duplication of efforts and lack of coordination between campaigns large and small that managed to pull off a blue wave anyway. how much bigger the next one will be w tools like this?
i mean, shit, county board candidates could barely schedule door knocking w the congressional candidate, let alone lit swaps.

almost enough to make me send the dnc some money.

FakeNoose

(32,356 posts)
24. So great to see this
Thu Apr 25, 2019, 01:26 PM
Apr 2019

The liberal voices have been drowned out of the "red" states for way too long. Maybe those Midwestern states aren't so red after all.

We just have to stop believing the media when they tell us these states are "deep red" when it's more like 50/50 or 49/51. Democrats need to reach out and show those forgotten liberals they aren't alone.

LiberalFighter

(50,504 posts)
26. How will they be able to help?
Thu Apr 25, 2019, 01:59 PM
Apr 2019

I'm sorry, it just doesn't make sense.

They both lost. If I was going to pick who would be better at helping though, I would throw it at Heitkamp. But still!

Donnelly pissed off a lot of Democrats in Indiana when he came out with an ad criticizing Democrats. Thinking that he could still keep loyal Democrats while attacking them was a big mistake.

If Donnelly is part of the package he will do something stupid again.

On another note. I lived here in Indiana since Evan Bayh got elected Secretary of State. Evan is not the same high level Democrat as his daddy Birch Bayh. After several elections that he won and shortly after he decided not to run for re-election to the Senate I came to a realization. The only reason Evan won his elections was because of his daddy. Birch Bayh had strong name recognition along with a stellar reputation. His seasoned supporters knew of Birch and it was why they voted for Evan. But after 25 years in politics many of those supporters had died off. And the younger voters either didn't know Birch or they weren't going to accept Evan just because of his daddy.

Evan also doesn't have any personality. He also did not have the passion to serve. He is boring.

Amishman

(5,541 posts)
28. The root is a need to change rural perception of government
Thu Apr 25, 2019, 02:04 PM
Apr 2019

Rural voters have a perception of government as intrusive and useless.

Police are unappreciated, with response times up to.half an hour, they don't feel protected.

Environmental regulations and fuel taxes are seen as an imposition.

Very few public sector jobs exist, those that do are locally based/funded.

Mass transit doesn't exist.

The short of it is they see the government as primarily taking their money away and telling them what they can't do.

JaneQPublic

(7,113 posts)
29. Very enlightening.
Thu Apr 25, 2019, 02:24 PM
Apr 2019

Thanks, Amishman.

Perhaps Dems need to do a better job addressing rural issues, as well as highlighting the services already provided that rural folks may not know about or appreciate.

I may be a bit biased on that score, since my late father was federal civil servant who worked helping farmers and other rural landowners. He was an engineer with USDA's Soil Conservation Service (the hero agency at the end of Ken Burn's film "The Dust Bowl," now called the Natural Resources Conservation Service.)

He would survey croplands that were losing valuable topsoil to erosion and draw up plans to keep people's farms from washing downstream.

When he would pull down a road in a car with U.S. Government seals on the side, the farmers were glad to see him and get help from the "Feds."

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