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It is very important to activate the base, but you run serious risk when you rely only on the "base." This has been a major Dem/Progressive problem. To win NATIONALLY (and in many smaller races) you need a foundation but also EXPANSION into swing voter territory. Yes, Obama in 08 had the base revved up especially after 8 long years of Bush. BUT, they WON because they won the Indy vote, and that is the plain truth. In many races, the SWING voters are just that: they swing the election. Srong NATIONAL parties are DOOMED if they are narrow ideologically and rely only on the "base." Independents are the plurality in the nation. You have to win them, and even cut into some of the opponents' territory.
2 Cases In Point From Maine: In '06 a VERY liberal Kucinich supporter, Jean Hay Bright, BARELY won her primary, and then spent her last Saturday before the election at a peace rally. I think she had that "base" pretty much locked up. I had personally urged her to develop a message that could appeal to independents. She replied to me personally by email saying she would never do that. She was crushed, even though she did win her hard core far left "base." In 08 Tom Allen ran for Senate, sewed up his "base" in the 1st Maine District, but his campaign in the more moderate/conservative 2nd district was horrid. This guy from the very liberal Portland area, a 10-year congressman, got only 41% of the general election vote in a state that voted for Obama by 58%. He should have been able to at least pull 47%. Tom's courted only the "base" liberals, and that is about all he got.
Some races do rely more heavily on the "base," (i.e. certain districts, special elections etc.) but to win, you often have to both govern and appeal beyond the "base." That is pure realiy.
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