DNC Memo: This Is The 50-State Strategy Realized

Fresh off an expansion in congressional majorities and the reclamation of the White House, the Democratic National Committee is sending around a memo that ties the success to Chairman Howard Dean's 50-state-strategy.

Noting that much of Obama's campaign principles expanded on the strategy Dean began implementing three years earlier, the memo pinpoints some of the highlights for the Party: having nearly 200 paid staffers across every state, organizing nearly 900 "pushback and bracketing events," hosting workshops across the country to train staff, and so on.

Two things in particular stand out as having truly tangible impact on Obama's victory:

Dean and the party made a strategic decision to push West, adding an early primary contest in Nevada and hosting the convention in Denver. Those two states - in addition to New Mexico - ended up flipping Obama's way. In addition, the DNC put in place a "neighbor-to-neighbor program" that gave grassroots organizers access to more voter information than they previously had. The results were a snowball effect of sorts: activists could talk to more people, gain more information, and report it back to their databases. The Obama camp took this philosophy and expanded on it, using person-to-person contact as a chief persuasion tool to recruit new voters.

The relative success of the DNC has persuaded some of Dean's early critics to re-examine their assessment, although Dean himself pleaded for eight years before grading the results of his 50-state-strategy. One of those critics - it should be noted - is Obama's new chief of staff, Rep. Rahm Emanuel who argued in 2006 that Democrats would be best suited to take their resources and devote them to winnable races rather than traditionally Republican strongholds.

Here is the Executive Summary of the DNC memorandum:

To: Interested Parties
From: DNC Communications
Date: 11/5/08
RE: A 50 State Strategy: Rebuild, Show Up, and Ask for People's Votes.

When Governor Dean became Chairman in February 2005, our Party had come through a dismal election cycle. We had just lost a national election to an incumbent president whose approval rating hovered at or below 50 percent. Republicans had gained 3 seats in the House and 4 in the Senate, leading to speculation about the possibility of a "permanent Republican majority."

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Governor Dean's first step was to assess our Party's strengths and weaknesses and put in place a strategy to address those issues. Dean developed a business plan to rebuild the Democratic Party, modernize our operations and expand the electoral map. The emphasis was on lessons learned and best practices, and it included the following key components:

· Rebuild the Infrastructure of the Party - After assessing the needs on the ground, we hired full-time permanent staff in all 50 states, trained staff and activists, introduced new measures of accountability, and developed a unified technology platform. Over the past four years we've held 140 trainings for candidates, campaign staff, organizers, Party leaders and activists in all 50 states.

· Upgrade and Improve the Party's Technology/Modernize the Way We Do Grassroots Organizing - Over the past four years the DNC has made significant investments in technology, creating a truly national voter file, improved micro-targeting models and developed 21st century campaign tools that merged traditional organizing with new technology.

· Diversify the Donor Base - Shifting the emphasis of Party fundraising to include both small donors and large donors, the DNC brought in more than 1.1 million new donors and raised more than $330 million from '05 - '08. The average contribution over the last three years was $63.88.

· Amplify Democratic Message and Improved Outreach - Created a national communications infrastructure to amplify the Democratic message and reach out to groups we haven't always talked to and expand the map to regions where Democrats have not traditionally been competitive - including the South and the West.

· Professionalize Voter Protection Efforts - Created a year-round national, state and local effort to ensure that every eligible voter has the opportunity to vote.

When Obama Became the Nominee:

As a result of those efforts, when Barack Obama became our Party's nominee, we had unprecedented resources in place, including:

· Trained, Professional Staff on the Ground in All 50 States
· A State of the Art Voter File and Micro-targeting Tools
· The Neighbor-to-Neighbor Organizing Tool
· Initial Polling on McCain
· A political roadmap for 24 states

Comments

[boing007]

Bravo to Howard Dean. Mille fois. Million fois. Sixty plus million times.

[arethusa]

Nicely put.

[foxbat]

Seeing the results the way that we have now seen them, no one can make a cogent argument against Obama's abilities. You might argue that he doesn't have experience, but think about what he's accomplished with that "lack" of experience. He took on and defeated the Clinton campaign. Despite defeating Clinton, he was able to unite Democrats like they have never been united before. He inspired those who were disenchanted with the election process to give it another try. He took on and beat McCain and the RNC, but more importantly Rove and his disciples scoring a near mandate. He had the right temperament for dealing with the financial crisis and a personal crisis and now we are seeing that he was able to implement Dean's 50-state strategy to near perfection.

We've got a long hard trek ahead of us in the country to dig out of where we are now, but it should be very clear that Obama is more than capable to tackle these items and I, for one, feel very assured that his hand will be at the helm in these stormy seas.

[Buddhabman]

Chairman Dean, A heartfelt thanks. "Yeeehaaa" - The Scream that saved the party. :-)

[LiberalDemIda]

You are the Doctor America needed, Governor Dean. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. I knew Obama would be a different Democrat when he went to you rather than to the Clinton Washington advisers.

He saw in you what we all have seen in you in 2004 and your 50-State Strategy, though ridiculed by the know-it-alls that poked fun at you and dismissed you, they now have YOU to thank for the success we've made in capturing 9 formerly red states to win 364 electoral votes.

No one should forget it.

[V4Vigilance]

Without Howard Dean showing the incredible potential of on-line organizing (MeetUp) and fund raising in 2004, his selection as DNC Chair, and his 50 State Strategy NONE of this would have been possible. Dean built the foundation and the Obama Campaign finished the house.

I don't blame the DNC at all for claiming the credit they deserve. Not after witnessing yesterday's nauseating Rahm Emanuel Love Fest here on HuffPo capped off by the laughably outrageous headline "Rahm Emanuel: How He Won The '06 Elections".

[bob8788]

Dr Dean new what he was talking about, he just needed some one with the talent to carry it thru, and that is Barack Obama , we have really smart men leading the country now, I feel good

http://www.barackobamacans.blogspot.com/

[eXcommunicate]

Let's DOUBLE DOWN on Dean's strategy for 2010 and 2012!!! SUPER MAJORITY BABY!

[PacificOcean]

what's going to happen to Dean now? there'll be a new chairman.

[lizr]

let's hope not!

[Ohsnap]

Don't worry Howard, you are not losing your job anytime soon. And because Obama won, no one will care if you go fishing for some recognition. Mostly because you were behind Obama from day one and wouldn't buckle to the Clintons.

[Ohsnap]

Because of the blood, sweat, and tears from the older men before him, Obama won the Presidency.

He is proof that Civil Rights Legislation can break barriers. Howard Dean started the idea of internet fundraising and the 50 state strategy. He was mocked by many, but because he stuck to his guns and helped choose Obama over Hillary--Obama is now President.

They will now be forever remembered of helping Obama, our first biracial candidate, to be elected. This is what you call reeping what you have sowed.

[BearsLeft]

I'm still proud to be a Deaniac!

[condieshoes]

Dean was dogged in getting the party back to grassroots. The elite DLC were howling that he was "destroying" the party.

Now, the party will continue to be responsive to people instead of a leadership committee that is out of touch and will continue growing as a party of the people.

Thank you Dr. Dean!

[sociocanuck]

Dean would have made a fine presidential nominee, if not president (elect). The success of his strategy is proof of his intelligence and foresight.

[SuzyQ08]

Ahh, yes, this is what happens when you have forward-thinking, intelligent and analytical people at the helm of a party. And quite frankly, this is what happens when people use their brains, and don't follow outdated ideology. You see amazing results. Congrats to Howard Dean and the DNC for an extrordinary strategy.

What a relief to have Barack Obama as our new President! :)

[ChefDC]

Who's laughing at orginizers now Mr Giuliani?