Obama Should Spill a Little Red Ink to Turn a Few More Red States Blue

With eight days to go before Election Day, both sides are worried.

Republicans, while still holding out hope for a "McCain Miracle," are increasingly worried that McCain is losing in a way that, as David Frum put it, "threatens to take the entire Republican Party down with him." As a result, Frum and other Republicans are urging party officials to shift the emphasis off the presidential race and on to preserving as many Senate seats as possible.

Democrats, while being careful not to count their electoral chickens before they're hatched, are privately worried about winning without enough of a majority in the Senate to really change things.

The enduring theme of Obama's campaign has been fundamental change. But, with victory within sight, the question becomes: how much change can he deliver if Democrats don't reach a filibuster-proof 60 seats in the Senate?

If the recent past is prologue, the answer is: not nearly enough.

In the just-ended 110th Congress, obstructionist Senate Republicans, led by human roadblock Mitch McConnell, mounted a record 104 filibusters (and that was with Bush in the White House; imagine how much more intransigent they would be with Obama). To put that number in context, in the previous Congress, the 109th, in which Democrats were in the minority, there were just 54 filibusters.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has called the GOP tactic "obstruction on steroids." McConnell countered by deeming the filibuster flood an "ordinary procedure." And he makes it clear it's going to become even more "ordinary" if he's allowed to wield it in the 111th Congress: "I think the Senate works best when it makes things happen in the middle and that happens when you have 41 or more people who resist an idea to the point where you can compromise." In other words, to the point where you can derail, shut down, and gridlock real change.

The specter of Democrats controlling both the executive and the legislative branches of government has become a useful late-campaign boogeyman for Republicans. In John McCain's version, voters need to elect him president to balance out a Congress led by Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.

Senate Republicans, facing potential losses in New Hampshire, Oregon, Minnesota, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Kentucky and Georgia, are making the pitch as if an Obama White House is a foregone conclusion.

Elizabeth Dole, in a neck and neck fight with challenger Kay Hagan, has a new TV ad warning that if she loses, it will hand Democrats "a blank check."

Norm Coleman, currently running behind Al Franken in Minnesota, ominously told voters: "If I lose this seat and one party has control across the board, then you'll see changes."

Coleman's quote should go right into a Franken commercial, and commercials for every other Democratic Senate candidate. "Want real change? Put Democrats in control."

Republicans aren't the only ones warning about one party rule. On Sunday, the New York Times, falling into be-careful-what-you-wish-for mode, warned that gaining a 60 seat majority would put Democrats "at risk of overreaching."

For the sake of the country, that's a risk Obama and Senate Democrats need to take. As Rhode Island Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse puts it: "I think we are in enough trouble in enough areas, that I would rather own it and then have to perform than continue with this back and forth, back and forth with Republicans, particularly while they are engaged in this absolute determined policy of obstruct, obstruct, obstruct."

Obama, of course, needs to stay focused on winning the White House, taking nothing for granted. And he definitely should not repeat John Kerry's mistake in 2004, when he ended the race with over $14 million sitting in the bank.

The Obama campaign clearly recognizes that while 50 percent of likely voters prefer one party rule, among the independent swing voters they are so avidly courting, only 34 percent do. Which is why the campaign has been treading so carefully.

But here's what he can and should do. Today. He should immediately guarantee a loan to the DSCC that will allow Democratic Senate candidates to spend whatever amount is necessary to secure a 60-seat majority. With Obama's donor list, he'll be able to wipe out that loan with a single post-election email. Money should not be the reason Democrats don't put themselves in a position to defang the obstructionists.

Indeed, a significant chunk of that money should be directed to Kentucky where challenger Bruce Lunsford is running just a few points behind McConnell. Want real change in America? Imagine a Senate without McConnell in it.

This is one of the times when deficit financing is definitely in the public interest. The Obama campaign should spill a little red ink to turn a few more red states blue.

Update: Politico reports today that the Democratic National Committee is, indeed, uncapping the red ink well, "taking out a $10 million dollar line of credit to split equally between the House and Senate campaign committees." Memo to Howard Dean: Make the first check payable to the Defeat Mitch McConnell Fund. And get those Norm Coleman "you'll see changes" TV spots rolling.

Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff

Comments

[MikeWro]

I don't want the government to take money from other people who have earned it only to give away. To sit back with a hand out for money taken from others instead of getting up and working hard or studing or aspiring to be the boss is not the American way. If you decide that don't want to improve yourself then you shouldn't expect a hand out. The last thing I want to do is put the government in the hands of people like you. It is more important to you to be accepted by the elite then do what is right. You put acceptance before country and the middle class you claim to stand for. I don't need you to stand up for me. You are the most dangerous types of leaders there are, you claim to be standing up for the middle class the next minute after you swindle our vote, your Hugo Chavez style boot is on our throat . You accept fraud as long as your canidate benefits from it. You base your positions on a sound bites and a smile as opposed to what is right and just. Unfortunately if your canidate wins, you will instill policies that will weaken this country in ways you chose to ignore. It will be the real American, the hard working Joe who will pay the price in blood and sweat for your ideals run amok. God I'm hoping for a McCain miricle to save us all even you

[minniebee]

McCain/Palin and the RNC are using every little dirty trick in their political play book to win this election. They care not a whit for true democratic values or democracy. Case in point: Chandliss of GA urged his supporters to tell Democrats that Election Day was November 5th. This demonstrates the philosophy of the Republican Party that it's better to obstruct democracy to get votes than win fairly on the issues that affect our country.

[PipeDownNowSillyLiberal]

No silly, he was just reminding everyone how ignorant most of you are.

[blastit]

we need as many Dems in the senate as we can get to have real change , funny how the republicans wasn't crying about their control of the senate.. I want these crimnals out on their azzes we need real change that a Democratic senate and president can bring.

[PipeDownNowSillyLiberal]

Like your opinion, your grammar is horrendous…

[Grunty1]

I see no horrendous grammar except your own.
Thanks for asking.

[PT6]

Arizonans have to see the unprofessional behavior of McCain and his campaign as clearly as all Americans.

The retired people living in Arizona have seen about 50% of their retirement disappear with Bush/McCain Trickle Down Economics.

Greenspan confirmed that de-regulation including his own actions caused much of this to happen.

So rational people are going to vote for Obama!

[LisaJeanM]

As a moderate Democrat, I'm actually not very troubled by Dems not reaching the 60 seat majority. I would prefer it, but either way is going to be a good outcome as long as Barack Obama is elected president. I feel very confident Obama could work well with whatever Senate he gets if he is elected. He's given us every indication that he'll adjust to whatever the voters decide and his focus will be on bringing people together to do what's reasonable and best for the whole country. He has said this repeatedly since the start of his campaign.

What's important to me is not that we get a 60 Dem senate, but that Barack be elected as our next leader. We all have such an amazing opportunity here, to elect someone so exceptional to be our next president -- and to make history in the process. This is really exciting.

Please everyone, keep working till Nov. 4th!

[PipeDownNowSillyLiberal]

Keep working? Yeah right...
We must not be talking about democrats then.

[OkieIntellectual]

Yeah, the POTUS can't really do a whole lot if the Senate Repubs block everything he tries to do with filibusters, which you know they're going to do as a means to punish the Democratic party and the nation as a whole. That's what they do when they don't get their way.

[honestpolitician]

"In one week, you can put an end to the politics that would divide a nation just to win an election; that tries to pit region against region, city against town, Republican against Democrat; that asks us to fear at a time when we need hope. In one week, at this defining moment in history, you can give this country the change we need.....In one week, we can choose hope over fear, unity over division, the promise of change over the power of the status quo. In one week, we can come together as one nation, and one people, and once more choose our better history. That’s what’s at stake. That’s what we’re fighting for." Obama Closing argument Speech - Oct 28th 2008

http://politicaladattacks.blogspot.com/

[honestpolitician]

GO VOTE NOW! Make History! Obama is need of all the votes necessary to create a landslide. Let's make sure that our state turns blue! Bring your friends and family - make it a group thing! Wouldn't you want to say 1 year from now, 5 years from now, or even 20 years from now that you contributed to the most highlighted election in US history? Wouldn't you be proud to tell your kids/grandkids years from now that you voted for this election? It will be the most talked about election for centuries. Voting is a right and a privilege. Let's all make history together!

http://politicaladattacks.blogspot.com/

[ellezeebub]

Well, I hate to point out the obvious, but most red states already benefit from blue state largess. They just don't appreciate it.

[HoraceOvidson]

We know the fillibuster was used to stop civil rights legislation back in the day, and so it would to be a tool for delaying needed progress. Are there any examples where the use of the fillibuster stopped something that would have been bad? The fillibuster is not something written in the Constitution. What would it take for the Senate to chuck this practice? What about state legislatures? Any of these allowing fillibustering? I could go on and on and on and on raising questions, etc, and may be I will just add a few ideas, as I was saying, and furthermore . . .

[livingstonlake]

2 canadian comedians pranked Palin...she really thought she was speaking to Sarkozy. Embarrassing performance. Reveals her ignorance and unpreparedness for VP / 1 heartbeat away from presidency.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcEiR01QK7o

[LisaJeanM]

What was especially interesting was her reaction when she realized she'd been pranked. Instead of remaining casual and laughing it off -- which would have been the smart way to handle it -- she panicked and ran!

[Glenn1441]

Ms. Huffington: Today, the 1st of November, and considering the state of our collective nerves, it'd sure be good to hear from you daily until the 4th.

Pragmatic if not optimistic, your observations and way with words have gone a long way to keeping the readers and contributors of HuffPost on track,

Sure be great to hear from you before the 'Sunday Roundup' and beyond.

Best regards...

[abcjohnson]

I ABSOLUTELY concur. Arianna, you are truly a voice of reason and we NEED your input AT LEAST on a daily basis in these next few days. I couldn't have made it through many events easy without your analysis. So PLEASE, bring it on! ...I'll be checking back to see your posts later today!

[booboo111]

Ariana, defeating Chambliss in GA. is much more realistic than unseating McConnell. That's where much of the money should have been going.

[ronguerriero]

An endorsement from Cheney is like an endorsement from Enron's Ken Lay, most likely a member of Cheney's secret Energy Policy Committee - all proceedings still protected as "national security". If McCain is Cheneyesque, things in this country will get worse, not better. Cheney-McCain: not change.
RG

[NickConrad]

When the Democrats filibuster in the 109th Congress, they call the Dems out for "grandstanding" and threaten to change the rules so it can't happen anymore.

When the Republicans filibuster in the 110th Congress, nearly twice as much, they call the Dems out for "grandstanding" but can no longer threaten to change the rules.

Is the difference really just that they can no longer take their toys with them when they run home?

[tobimaro]

One problem that I see is with Joe Lieberman from Connecticut? I'm worried that, should the Democrats get 58, what's to stop him from caucusing with the Republicans (and his old friend John McCain)? I'd prefer to get to 61, just in case.

[diogeron]

This is a terrible idea. Obama needs to win and if it takes every penny he has raised (and that I have donated), I want him to spend it.

[LisaJeanM]

I totally agree. I donated my money to the Obama campaign for the Obama campaign, not for Al Franken or anyone else. I would not want any of my donation going to any other candidate's campaign.

However, I don't believe that's exactly what Arianna is proposing. She's proposing that the Obama campaign agree to sort of back a loan to be used to help the Dem Senators; help them to pay it off after the election by way of their doner list.

[SCG]

If he thinks he's unpopular in some quarters now, that move would cement the deal among many more.

[FiveVotersDotCom]

"still holding out hope for a 'McCain Miracle,' "

Translation:

still holding out hope that most ballots can be burned when no-one's looking.