50 State Strategy

Herding Donkeys: A Review

Cliff Schecter | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: 50 State Strategy, Herding Donkeys, Howard Dean, Ari Berman, Democratic Party, Rahm Emanuel, President Obama, Books News

Everyone who is upset with the current state of the Democratic Party simply must read Ari Berman's book on how Democrats came to rebuild The Party of Jefferson and obtain electoral dominance in 2006 and 2008.

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Friday Talking Points [60] -- Democratic Assertiveness Training

Chris Weigant | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Michael Jackson, Congress, Scalping, Burris, Inaugural Tickets, Cia, Feinstein, Leon Panetta, Chicago, Blaggy, Get Out the Vote, Dianne Feinstein, Obama, 50 State Strategy, Democratic, Larry Flynt, Difi, Democratic Principles, Blago, Dean, Blagojevich, Mandate for Change, Bobby Rush, Howard Dean, Emanuel, Talking Points, Inauguration, Midotw, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Obstructionism, Pay to Play, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Inaugural Ticket, Reid, Race Card, Senate Seat, Inaugural, Internet Fundraising, Panetta, Grassroots, Scalpers, Democrat, Roland Burris, Obstructionist Republicans, 52 Race Card Pickup, Democratic National Committee, Bipartisan, Moonwalk, Richardson, Democrats, 2008 Election, Ticket, Bill Richardson, Barack Obama, Mandate, Racial Politics, 2006 Election, Mddotw, Chris Weigant, Rahm Emanuel, Obstructionist, Harry Reid, Dnc, Senate, Obama Senate Seat, Flynt, Politics News

What a week! With Congress back in session, with the excitement of newly-elected members being sworn in (or barred at the door, as the case may be), ...

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My 2008 "McLaughlin Awards" [Part 2]

Chris Weigant | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Stuart Bowden, Ted Stevens, Jesse Jackson Jr, Ron Paul, Guantanamo, Al Franken, Best Government Dollar Spent, 50 State Strategy, Mccain, Primary Schedule, Awards, China, Worst Political Theater, Drill Baby Drill, Sarah Palin, Most Overreported Story, Andrew Cuomo, First Cat, Howard Dean, Socks the Cat, 2008, Bailout, Sofa, Condoleezza Rice, Katie Couric, Worst Political Scandal, John Edwards, Status of Forces, Sorry to See You Go, Health Care, Aids, Global Warming, Gravel, Election 2008 Coverage, Alaska, Bobby Jindal, Thomas Tamm, Reconstruction, Joe the Plumber, Tony Snow, Bernanke, Democrat, Letterman, Socks Clinton, Most Underrated, Democrats, Barack Obama, Best Idea, Predictions, George Carlin, 15 Minutes of Fame, Honorable Mention, Michigan, Hybrid, Wiretapping, Fred Thompson, Hillary Clinton, Executive Experience, Maliki, Caribou Barbie, Best Spin, Stuart Bowen, Destined for Political Oblivion, Kucinich, Jesse Helms, Private Jet, Beijing, Truth Commission, Going Green, Iraq, Most Overrated, Isaac Hayes, Spitzer, Caroline Kennedy, Bush, Wright, Blagojevich, Paulson, Bo Diddley, Mclaughlin, Unemployment, Inauguration, Destined for Political Stardom, Biggest Government Waste, Snl, Florida, Socks, Primary, Africa, Whistleblower, Best Political Theater, Most Underreported Story, Boldest Political Tactic, Castro, David Plouffe, Jeremiah Wright, Olympics, Harvey Korman, Beau Biden, Bernie Mac, Free Speech Zone, Wall Street, Chris Weigant, Oil, Most Honest Person, Socialism, Michael Crichton, Arthur C. Clarke, Saturday Night Live, Tina Fey, Worst Idea, David Letterman, Tamm, Wurzelbacher, Politics News

Love her or hate her, you have to admit that John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin for the Republican ticket this year was without any doubt the boldest political tactic of the year.

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The Times' Adam Nagourney Sows Seeds of Conflict Inside Democratic Ranks Where None Exist

Joseph A. Palermo | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Obama Victory, Obama Cabinet, White House, Election 2008 Coverage, Sarah Palin, Adam Nagourney, New York Times, Howard Dean, 50 State Strategy, Democrats, Democratic Party, Republican Party, Media News

It's interesting that at a time when the Republican Party is facing its most bitter internal battles, Nagourney chooses to ignore that story and jumps head first into "analyzing" non-existent antagonisms among Democrats.

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Dean Prepares To Step Down As DNC Chair

HuffingtonPost.com | Sam Stein | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Democratic National Committee, Dean Dnc Chair, Howard Dean, Rahm Emanuel, Dean Emanuel, 50-State-Strategy, Howard Dean DNC, What's Next for Howard Dean, Howard Dean to Step Down, DNC Chair, Dean Stepping Down, Howard Dean Stepping Down, New Dnc Chair, Howard Dean Steps Down as Dnc Chairman, Howard Dean Thank You, Howard Dean Steps Down, Howard Dean Stepping Down From Dnc, Politics News

After four years at the helm of the Democratic National Committee, Howard Dean is preparing to relinquish his chairmanship. Dean, who has been servi...

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Retired Social Worker Connects for Barack on the Phone

Andrew Sprung | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Mountainside New Jersey, Get Out the Vote, 50 State Strategy, Obama Volunteers, Gene Mccarthy, Barack Obama, Barack Obama Volunteer, Social Worker, Campaign 2008, Hometown Heroes, New Jersey Obama, Michelle Obama, New Jersey Campaign for Change, Gotv, Election 2008, New Jersey, Obama Volunteers Stories, Home News

In July 2008, Roz Blau, was looking for the next major connection in her life. Recently retired after a 27-year career as a social worker, she had mov...

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McCain's Wayward Home State: Spate of New Polls Say Arizona's a Toss Up

Dawn Teo | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: McCain Arizona, John McCain Arizona, Obama Arizona, Arizona, Barack Obama Arizona, Arizona Results, John McCain, Dr. Bruce Merrill Cronkite, Fifty State Strategy, Mccai Goldwater, Rep. Shadegg, Arizona Swing State, Blue Arizona, Shadegg Advertisement, Shadegg Credit Card, Governor Napolitano Obama, Shadegg Arizona, 50 State Strategy, Obama Groud Game Arizona, Zimmerman Poll, John Shadegg, Obama West, Governor Napolitano, Obama Swing States, Cronkite Poll Obama, Mccain Shadegg, Home News

PHOENIX -- Although John McCain was ahead in his home state by 14 points at the end of September, a spate of new polls reveals a substantial shift, pu...

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Happy Birthday James Carville. Now Retire.

Pete Cenedella | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Howard Dean, Democratic Leadership Council, James Carville, 50-State Strategy, Mary Matalin, Dlc, Barack Obama, Ponzi Scheme, Politics News

This is a birthday card to James Carville, on a day when polls show most Americans rejecting the negative campaigns and the spin-mongering that he has...

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Orange County's Steve Young on Obama's "50 State Strategy"

Cristina Chang | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Congress, California, Steve Young, John Campbell, Presidential Race, 50 State Strategy, Delegate, Barack Obama, Election, Home News

Can the "50 state strategy" help the down-ticket candidates? I sat down with a proud liberal trying to unseat a conservative incumbent in California.

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Exclusive Interview: An M.I.T. And A Yale Professors' Cure For The Electoral College

Chris Weigant | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Winner Take All, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Elector, Electoral Vote, Statistics, Mit, Chance, Proportional, Arnold Barnett, Democrat, Mathematics, Battleground State, Election, Barack Obama, Interview, Yale, Elections, Politics, Political Theory, 50-State Strategy, Weighted Vote System, National Popular Vote, Chance Magazine, Vote, American Statistical Association, Political Science, Electoral College, Constitutional Amendment, Edward Kaplan, Popular Vote, Wvs, Politics News

I had the chance recently to interview two professors in the field of statistics (from Yale University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology),...

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The New South and Obama: An Interview with Josh Segall, Alabama Democratic Candidate for Congress

Nathaniel Bach | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Mike Rogers, Joshua Segall, Independent Voters, Alabama, Howard Dean, Alabama 3rd District, Red to Blue, Don Cazayoux, Offthebus, Politics, Josh Segall, 50-State Strategy, Emerging Race, Dccc, Cafta, Alabama House Races, New South, Breaking Politics News, Travis Childers, Obama Effect, Al-03, Obama South, Obama Coattails, Barack Obama, Senator Obama, Obama Fifty State Strategy, Home News

Obama's fifty-state strategy is not about his winning these states in this election. It's about "trickle up" politics and grassroots efforts on a national scale, all of which will help sow the seeds of future Democratic majorities.

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Obama: Operation Blue Mountains

Daniel Nichanian | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Fifty State Strategy, Battleground States, Senator McCain, Mccain, Fifty State Obama, Montana Obama, 50 State Strategy, Obama, Senator Obama, Red States Obama, Western States Obama, North Dakota Obama, John McCain, Western Startegy Obama, Home News

The ground continues to shift to Obama in deep red territory. Montana, Nebraska and the Dakotas battleground states? Believe it. Obama is on air and on the ground, and for now he is running unopposed.

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Dems' Southern Campaign: Howard Dean Goes To Dixie

AP | NEDRA PICKLER | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Dnc, Howard Dean, Democrats Red States, Barack Obama Red States, 50 State Strategy, Red to Blue Campaign, Democrats South, Campaigning Democrats South, Dccc Red to Blue, Voter Turnout, Voter Registration, Democratic Voter Registriation, Democratic Voter Turnout, Politics News

WASHINGTON — Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean is embarking on a voter registration bus tour he hopes will help push Dixie to t...

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Republicans No Longer Have Lock On Idaho

WS | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Democrats 2008 Election, Walt Minnick, Idaho 2008 Election, Idaho First District, Bill Sali, 50 State Strategy, Democrats Idaho, Idaho House Races, 2008 Red States, Red to Blue, 2008 Election, Politics News

Bill Sali is defying the political odds by making Idaho's first-district congressional race competitive. That isn't good for Mr. Sali: He is the incum...

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Take A Look: Democratic and Republican Party Headquarters Nationwide (SLIDESHOW)

Amanda Michel | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Slideshow, Obama Literature, Washington Democratic Party, Ohio GOP, Photos Democratic Party, Democratic Party General Election, Obama Materials, Democratic Party Election 2008, Arizona Democratic Party, California Democratic Party, Democratic HQ, Photos Obama Supporters, 50 State Strategy, Democratic Party, Colorado Democratic Party, Democratic Offices, Photos GOP, New York GOP, GOP Offices, Election 2008, Party Offices, Florida Democrats, GOP HQ, Seattle Democratic Party, Home News

Starting last week OffTheBus's Special Ops members set out on their first assignment assignment to check out what was going on at local and state party headquarters across the country. In this slide show you'll see what a handful of what our team of citizen-reporters found (and didn't find) when they hit the ground.

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The Story of the Race So Far -- the Surprising Weakness of John McCain

Simon Rosenberg | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: John McCain, Electoral College, Polling, 2008, Barack Obama, Obama Lead, 50 State Strategy, Obama McCain Matchup, Election Polls, Politics News

McCain is a weak and bumbling candidate, ill-suited for a presidential race, and is still struggling to bring his party together. His polling numbers have slipped from the low 40s to 38, 36 -- and now 33.

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Life Is A Picnic For Democrats In Alaska

Amanda Coyne | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Alaska Democratic Party, Alaska Senate Race, Ted Stevens, Diane Benson, Mark Begich, Ethan Berkowitz, Alaska Politics, Don Young, Alaska Corruption, Republicans Alaska, Fifty State Strategy, Obama Anwr, Alaska Obama, Obama West, Republicans West, 50 State Strategy, Home News

When the FBI arrived in 2006 brandishing warrants, the official Democratic Party line was: "It's a sad day for Alaska." But many of us could barely contain our glee. We'd been screaming about corruption forever.

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Obama Should Go North To Alaska

Chris Weigant | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Corruption, Ted Stevens, Ethan Berkowitz, Bribery, 50 State Strategy, Don Young, Campaign, FBI Raid, Republican, Bribe, Mark Begich, 2008, Ethics, 2008 Campaign, Graft, John McCain, Alaska, House, Democrat, 2008 Elections, 08, Bridge to Nowhere, 2008 Election, Democrats, Scandal, Barack Obama, Election, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, Earmarks, 2008 Presidential Race, Senate, Earmark, Anchorage, Politics News

Alaska is going to be very close this year. This stems from Republican office-holders apparently trying to take the "first in political corruption" award away from Louisiana.

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Dems Not Backing Obama? Rahm Will Deal With It

HuffingtonPost.com | Nico Pitney | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Rahm Obama, Democrats 2008, Dean Emanuel, Barack Obama, Rahm Emanuel, Obama Senate, Dan Boren, Howard Dean, 50 State Strategy, Politics News

As the man who guided (and pressured and arm-twisted) Democrats to historic congressional gains in 2006, what is Rep. Rahm Emanuel doing now about par...

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