Doug Jones's Victory Shows Why Democrats Must Compete Everywhere

[Willie Pep]

I thought this was a good article on Doug Jones's victory over Moore and the lessons that the Democratic Party should learn. Here is a good excerpt:

The inconvenient truth for Democrats is that they have no hope of exercising federal power without investing in longshot races in hostile territory. While Team Blue has won the popular vote in six of the last seven presidential elections, the emerging Democratic majority is increasingly concentrated in the urban centers of America’s most populous states. This demographic reality – combined with Republican gerrymandering – means that Democratic congressional candidates could win 7 percent more votes in next year’s midterm elections, and still fail to secure a majority of House seats. Just as critically, the concentration of Democratic support in cities —and on the coasts – means that the party will never enjoy full control of the federal government without winning Senate elections in heavily white, heavily rural states that can’t currently be trusted to prefer Democrats over sex criminals.

Full article: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/12/joness-victory-shows-why-democrats-must-compete-everywhere.html

This is why we need a 50-state strategy. We have to contest every race even if it is for seemingly minor local offices because that is how you build up a presence in a community and develop relationships with voters.

[ollie10]

1. Yes, we need a 50 State Strategy

Last night showed that....in the South....if you nominate a moderate liberal you can win. That is part of the strategy. Get the good candidates who can win in the states they run in. Energize the black vote in the South, that was a key to Jones' victory.

[Persondem]

2. Yes, this is exactly what Dems need to do. All politics is local. K & R nt

[Nitram]

3. Democrats don't have many targets like Moore to run against.

And even against a pedophile it was close.