Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons, a CBS News contributor
In 2007 and early 2008, pundits and prognosticators following the national polls confidently predicted that Hillary Clinton would be the Democratic nominee for president. They were wrong for much the same reason that the talk of a Republican takeover of the U.S. House of Representatives is overstated today: the national electorate doesn't vote in state-by-state elections. The facts on the ground mean the fat lady she can wait a bit longer to sing, this election is not over yet.
Looking at the national polls, the situation is dire for the Democrats. In the latest Politico/George Washington University Battleground Poll, Republicans have a 6 percent advantage over Democrats (48%-42%) in the generic ballot and 64 percent of voters feel the nation is on the wrong track. If congressional elections were a national referendum where typical midterm voters were the only ones to show up Democrats would surely lose.
Facing this national environment, Democrats have been focused for the last few months on doing what the Obama campaign did - changing the math on the ground in key states. While getting African Americans and young voters out to the polls in key races is important, the party is also focused on irregular Democratic who show up in presidential years but not as often in midterms.
More:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20020833-503544.htmlNot only does the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee report ground operations in over 65 congressional districts but Organizing for America, the successor organization to the Obama campaign has gotten fully integrated into state parties all over the country. They have been knocking on doors, calling voters and sending them mail to remind them to show up for the Democrats in this election.
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