It's a competition for engagement

[Soph0571]

Exactly this.

[Indygram]

1. This is part of why I support Beto, what he did in Texas turnout

There is no denying that he is the best candidate to do the same on a national level. He is the ONLY one campaigning on a hopeful, unifying message. THAT is the same kind of message that won for Obama.

[RestoreAmerica2020]

6. My father is in agreement.. he reminds me that Texas has 38 electoral votes.

[Indygram]

7. Your father is correct

Beto increased early voting YOUTH turnout by 500%. Texas saw what was essentially presidential election year turnout and youth turnout was up over 250% overall. He has a literal ARMY of volunteers in Texas who can be mobilized at the drop of a hat. So many of his supporters have NEVER volunteered or donated before and they are busting their asses for him.

Check out the videos on this page:

https://betoorourke.com/believe/

[treestar]

18. Would be more convincing

Had he won the election

[EveHammond13]

9. Beto has said it: Texas is not a red state, it is a non-voting state.

[EveHammond13]

10. GOP worked very hard to make it that way. That's our challenge - voter reg & GOTV

[DesertRat]

2. Yes! It's all about getting voters to the polls

Next year I will again register voters, write postcards, call and canvass for our nominee and down-ballot Democrats. I hope everyone will volunteer in some way to GOTV!

[patphil]

5. Absolutely!

[TreasonousBastard]

12. Why not this year? We've got some hot local elections around here we're working on.

[Duppers]

14. Yes! GOTV!!

I bugged everyone I met in '08 to vote for Obama. I'll do the same for our next candidate.

[Farmer-Rick]

3. Yes, yes, yes

Turn out is the key. RepubliCONS use every trick in the book to suppress voter turn out. There must be a reason for it.

I want everyone to vote.

[NoMoreRepugs]

4. Donate your money or your time.... there is no excuse.

[Duppers]

15. +100

[Fiendish Thingy]

8. Exactly why we need a nominee who will inspire turnout, especially young voters nt

[ancianita]

11. Thomas Friedman, Tim Wise and others are telling us HOW. The leadership has to take good advice.

[Indygram]

13. Listen to some of these voters about why they support Beto...he inspires/motivates to get involved

see more here: https://betoorourke.com/believe/

[Drunken Irishman]

16. I get it but the Democrats aren't going to reach anywhere near this type of turnout high...

I don't even know where these numbers come from but the benchmark election is 2008. Turnout was 58%. I say 2008 is the benchmark because that was likely the most favorable presidential election for Democrats since, probably, the Great Depression. Not only that but they had a transformative, charismatic man at the top of the ticket who was about to make history. No disrespect to any of the candidates in the race but they're not Barack Obama. Obama was almost a once in a generation candidate.

Even then, in 2012, turnout dipped below 55% - and he still won. In fact, there was a higher turnout in 2016 than 2012.

I don't doubt if turnout hit 60%, the Democrats would likely win. That ain't happening, though. The last time turnout was that high was 1968.

It's not just about turnout - it's about turning out the right supporters in the right areas of the country.

[Indygram]

17. Beto was able to almost double midterm turnout in Texas

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-beto-orourke-shifted-the-map-in-texas/

[Drunken Irishman]

20. Cool.

That has nothing to do with my point. Beto seems like a great guy but he's nowhere near the level of Obama in terms of overall engagement and charisma - and that doesn't even get into the history of Obama's first win. There's no Democrat right now who can replicate the '08 campaign, which was the highest turnout in a long, long time and even then, we still didn't crack 60% nationally.

It's not about overall turnout. Turnout was up in 2016 compared to 2012 and yet, the Democratic nominee did three-points worse than Obama did in 2012. It's about turnout in areas the Democrats have to win - specifically with minority communities in Pennsylvania and Michigan, as well as suburban communities in those two states, plus Wisconsin.

The good news is that Democrats won't take these three states for granted anymore. I think they kinda did in 2016 and it bit 'em in the butt.

[littlemissmartypants]

19. GOTV! nt