'Stop being so doom and gloom': Democrats launch $15M effort to 'Blue Shift Florida'

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In what may prove to be Florida’s last stand as a battleground state, Democrats are launching a $15 million voter organizing effort ahead of this year’s elections.

Democratic candidates up and down the ballot — even those running in contested primaries — have agreed to pour in money that will be used to hire at least 200 organizers and open as many as 80 offices as part of a coordinated effort to pump up turnout across the state.

Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz contends “Blue Shift Florida” is the start of an ambitious, institutionalized year-round effort that he has been touting since he took the helm of the battered party soon after Democrats were routed across the state in the last election. The idea, he said, was to create an operation that will remain intact after the elections and will be in place for the next presidential election in 2024.

“We’ve been killed since 2000,” Diaz told POLITICO, citing the razor-tight presidential election were George W. Bush narrowly edged out former Vice President Al Gore. “It’s been a real mess. My mission — my push — from day one is that’s not going to happen again.”

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/11/democrats-florida-voting-elections-00031613

[Phoenix61]

1. Long overdue. nt

[nevergiveup]

2. People like Manny Diaz are heroes

If he and others like him succeed our democracy can be saved.

[SoCalDavidS]

3. I Strongly Disagree With This

I feel like the money could be better spent elsewhere.

How much $$$$$$$$ has the Party thrown down the toilet, attempting to win ANYTHING significant in states like FL or TX?

They're Not purple states, they're red states. I'd love to be proven wrong, but I see almost zero chance that DeSatan, Scott or Rubio will be defeated.

I'd rather put that money into states like GA, PA, or even AZ, where the races are winnable. These so-called "high stakes" battleground states are a money pit.

[hay rick]

7. We need long-term investment in Florida.

The FDP has gone broke and laid off most (2016-17) or all (2020) of it's professional staff in recent years. The organization needs continuity if it is ever going to be effective and that requires up front money. Stacy Abram's Georgia project took 10 years. Democrats can not be effective if they start off by conceding states like Florida.

[Autumn]

15. Florida will stay red. We don't have ten years to throw away. nt

[Autumn]

11. I agree.A total waste of time and money. In Texas we have Speaker Pelosi endorsing an

anti choice democrat. What good does a democrat like that do? Manch and Sienema are a prime example there. Let the red states have their republicans and we focus elsewhere on getting Dems that will actually vote with us.

[Rebl2]

16. Oh my

why is she doing that. What a waste of time and money.

[Autumn]

17. Especially at this time when we women are under attack by anti choice assholes.

[Budi]

4. Exactly. Thanks

This.
"We’ve been killed since 2000,” Diaz told POLITICO, citing the razor-tight presidential election were George W. Bush narrowly edged out former Vice President Al Gore. “It’s been a real mess. My mission — my push — from day one is that’s not going to happen again.”
--------

When the Party is up against Foreign iflunce buyers, National opposition of a decades long & well funded centralized organization, dating back to the 50's & 60's, hell bent on splitting our Party & driving media messaging, If you didn't see it coming, you have Zero rights to now lay the load of blame on the Dem Party.

We've fought their rise of power for decades, so you're either with us or you're with them.
There's no longer a middle space to stand on.

Applauding this big voter organizing effort.
👍

[speak easy]

5. 2000-4, 2016-20

Fuck Florida. Texas is a bigger prize.

[flamingdem]

6. Please appeal to the Spanish speakers

They hear GOP propaganda on the Spanish language stations. Many votes are there to gain!

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

18. +1

[multigraincracker]

8. Disney should kick in another $10 million.

In some legal fashion.

[SoCalDavidS]

9. Disney Supports repubs

I'm sure they're still going to give money to DeSatan for his campaign this year, and in 2024, when he runs for President.

DeSatan KNOWS this, otherwise he wouldn't be as bold towards them as he has been recently.

[multigraincracker]

10. This ain't Daddy Walts' Republican Party.

Bottom dollar still matters.

[IronLionZion]

12. Defeat Death Sentence

dude has killed more Floridians than his margin in the last election. And their demographics have been changing as people move in to the state and old people die. Non-Cuban immigrants and minorities are more Dem than the Cubans who get all the attention.

[taxi]

13. Are we just going to yell "GOTV" and hope for the best?

Yesterday that answer would have been yes, but this morning “Blue Shift Florida” changed that to a no. Any effort with long term objectives and potential to create followers and generate interest does not have to duplicate what GOTV does. It could give democrats the ability to deliver stronger and more meaningful messages to voters, all voters, and has the potential to be flexible enough to respond to issues. Democratic candidates can be portrayed as the fighters needed to save this democracy, fighters skilled enough to know that destroying our government is the same as destroying our country. Bringing to the people a project that can focus on generating an understanding of the fight doesn’t limit its goals to a single event and has staying power. GOTV can take it from there.

[New Haven]

14. ARSENIC?? NOOOOO... 2018-DeSAntis 49.6 -Gillum 48.2

for a .4 spread we drink arsenic? ---come on DU get back in the ring and fight

Candidate Party Votes Pct.
Ron DeSantis
Rep.
4,076,186 49.6%
Andrew Gillum
Dem.
4,043,723 49.2

CAN you say Obama ------Analysis. Obama won the state and its 29 electoral votes on Election Day by a margin of 0.88%, down from the 2.82% margin in 2008. Florida was the closest race ...