After California debacle, Democrats must contest every state...

[kentuck]

even Texas. We cannot give up any states as automatic. Because California is now in play and is no longer a given for the Democrats. We must pick up those electoral votes elsewhere. Florida, Texas, or a few other states in the South would be my first choice. After all, it is easier for Dems to win in the South than in the West, is my opinion.

[AP]

1. Now Dems have to raise a TON of money, and can't run a candidate who

doesnt' have national appeal.

[Padraig18]

2. Some of us already have

IL reversed the national trend and handed the Repukes their heads last November, and have NO intention of letting it slip away.

[Cha]

5. And Michigan, Arizona, Kansas, Wyoming, Oklahoma, &

New Mexico! :toast:

[rwork]

3. And the message does'nt seem important.

It is the loud sound bite, candidate onstage, smiling wildly, the applause signs up and being told when to cheer at the top of their lungs and plenty of cameras.

[Capn Sunshine]

4. And THIS was the point of the exercise

recognizing the fund raising shortfalls of the Dem party, this strategy puts EVERY state in play, wasting vital resources.

To quote Janeane Garafolo
"If Bush is doing such a good job why do they need 500 million dollars for his re-election?"

Now we see why.

[kentuck]

7. But Gray Davis was very good at fund raising....

perhaps that was his strongest asset...?

[RoonShark]

6. Californians Take Risks

Californians take risks; it's part of the Gold Rush heritage. Given a choice between continuing along the same dead-end path that Davis was taking, or striking out in a totally new direction, Californians chose the riskier path.

The choice isn't as irrational as it seems. Putting the state in play politically means that Bush will have an incentive to get California back on its feet soon. The state doesn't have that much to lose by taking on an unknown instead of the aptly named Gray Davis.

Schwartzeneggar is under pressure to deliver. He can't cut taxes and maintain the same level of government services. And he can't keep people working while jobs are going overseas. I don't see what Arnie's going to do about jobs and taxes. California is in the same boat as Syracuse, New York. When the Carrier plant closes, there's nothing they can do about it.

[KoKo]

8. I think we will get North Carolina. I do. Theres alot of anger towards

Bush because of the textile job losses, and the whole economy in general. There is even an active anti-Iraq invasion Movement in our Major Cities, plus the military is starting to wake up in those traditional military strongholds here where there are bases.

We have 15 Electoral Votes in NC. And, Utah is trying to take away one of our Senators who is a Democrat. We gained a Senator with the last Census because of our population increase.

[Cha]

9. Hi KoKo! You mean you gained a Congressperson?

And why would Utah be able to "take away one of your Senators who is a Dem"?