in Indiana - a dem pres. candidate with a local organization?

[salin]

unheard of. We get skipped by the national organizations - but heck we haven't given our electoral votes to a dem since Lyndon Johnson. I understand it.

In 1988 I did some work for Dukakis - but it was in the general election and through the local party.

But here we are - way early in the primary season - and in good ole college town Indiana... there is a local organization for Dean!

They are present with Dean info at the local farmers' market, they are about to have their second fundraiser (that I know of).

I am impressed. Even when I lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan - again a college town - but then in a state that did have implications on the presidential primaries in 1992, I wasn't aware of specific candidates having very active groups - working so far out before the primary.

As I have said publically, on principal I choose not to choose a candidate this early, as I believe in the importance of the primaries and the benefits politically for any eventual winner of a big field that forces coverage of many, many issues. FOrces the media to cover some events non-bush - and cover some criticism of bush (which since 911 they seem rather wont to do - unless the story is so HUGE it is completely unavoidable).

That said, I am so impressed by the organization of Dean's campaign. Impressed that it is not taking forgranted the traditional red states, or the ones that do not have early, early primaries.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. That is impressive

I am neither for nor against Dean but as far as campaigns go and connecting with voters go, the guy came out of nowhere, has caused a stir, has decent organization, and has made better use of the internet than any Dem as far as I can see.

One can only imagine how he would shape his campaign from here. I do like his debate style and for the most part appreciate his positions.

He had several meet up groups organized out here months ago.

[DrGonzoLives]

2. Terre Haute as well

I would venture to bet that NONE of the presidential candidates have heard of us...at least you guys in Bloomington can point to the Hoosiers and say Bobby Knight.

[salin]

3. any Steve Martin fan in the late 70s (or early 80s) heard of Terre Haute

remember his claim that Terre Haute was the most boring place in the country? He was invited for a tour... which included (with a strong dose of humor) a tour of the local maneur factory... So maybe some of the candidates were early Steve Martin fans? ;-)

[Orangepeel]

4. That's why Dean can win against bush.

He DIDN'T set up an organization in Indiana. The campaign set up (and took advantage of) the infrastructure to allow an organization to grow spontaneously.

That's happening all across the country. In my county, we already have almost as many people signed up through meetup as we had working for the party in the 2002 election. What's more, the overlap is only about 10%. It is ordinary people, volunteering their time, energy and money to set up a real, national grassroots organization.

I'm a Dean supporter, mostly because I like his record and his rhetoric, but also because I have been seriously impressed with the innovative way the campaign has been run. Even Dean detractors ought to give them credit. Their willingness to give "power to the people" and the maturity of the Internet have come together to create what is truly a revolutionary campaign.

[salin]

5. In my memory

I have not witnessed such wide spread, effective (and fast) grassroots activism for a candidate - especially not this far out in advance of an primary. That isn't to say that things weren't hopping for Bobby (I was skinning my knees pre-training wheels so have no memory), or for McGovern (but didn't his power get increased after the Nixon CREEP folks started messing around with various primary figures to try to tip the nomination to McGovern?) I can only speak of the Mondale election through now.

I am growing more and more impressed for the very reasons you state.

Again - all dem pres candidates ignore heavy red (top of the ticket) states like Indiana - it is often a matter of needing to target resources. BUT when you are mobilizing the ground troops and bringing new troops in - the money issues/resource issues begin to change - at least at this stage of the game.

[jiacinto]

6. Well

Hopefully the Dean (if he gets the nomination) and the Bayh campaigns can work together to bring the Dem candidates for governor and other offices across the finish line. Maybe if you all worked together you might make it harder for Bush to win IN even though he is 90% likely to win the state.

[salin]

7. The point is - I have never seen organizing at this level - even from Bayh

They had their own table up at the Farmer's Market - near but not a part of the Democratic Party table (and there was no GOP table, btw). They are already having fundraisers (the second one, it appears). I do not know if it sprung out of the Dean Meetup group or if it is seperate. It does appear to be seperate from the party (I have been involved in the party off and on (off due to when I have lived out of state) for more than 15 years - and these don't appear to be regulars).

Bayh isn't running this term, so I can't see his people getting involved with this group. At least outside of Indy and perhaps their head quarters (which I believe are up in the north western part of the state) they are really inactive. Don't ever hear hide nor hair.

More likely that in this part of the state that Baron Hill might become active - but he has sort of been pissing off local dems (from various sectors left to center) with a number of recent votes (supporting Bush).

Sadly, overall the party is pretty listless. While we have a Mayor's race and a big city council race - the party office isn't even marked. We were to deliver something there - were asking how to find it - asked about a sign... they said they didn't have one... money you know... someone overhearing the conversation suggested that she had extra materials and could make them a sign... it hadn't occured to anyone to ask. Carlos, I can't explain it. I am in a fairly liberal town. One considered to be a democratic strong hold. And the party is very apathetic at this point in time. A long time former chair of the party last fall reflected on the same thing - and that was during the lead up to a congressional election.

That, in part, is why the whole Dean thing is pretty interesting.

If anything, and if they get and remain active, it is more likely that this group could breathe life into the overall party organization rather than the other way around of the organization coordinating with and working together to become more efficient.

[jiacinto]

8. Bayh is up in 2004

Ok.

[salin]

9. our big battle will be against mitch daniels for governor

bush comes back soon for the second time in two months to fundraise for Mitch. Presidents and Pres candidates RARELY come to Indiana.

Not clear who will get the democratic nod. Neither candidate Joe Andrew (former state dem chair), nor state senator Vi Simpson have state wide name recognition. Our budget is a mess and the current governor is perceived to be a real do nothing governor (and he is a dem). Right now it does NOT look good.

[jiacinto]

10. Well

Hasn't IN had a Democratic Governor since 1988? While the other states surrounding it--OH, IL, MI--were all Republicans, wasn't IN the lone Democratic statehouse in the Midwest? Anyway what do you think can be done? Which of the two is more likely to have a competetive chance at winning?

[salin]

12. first a pesonal comment from me to you

always enjoy it when two people temporarily switch roles. Aren't I usually the one reminding you that Indiana is not quite as typically "red" as it seems when just looking at presidential elections? It made me smile to see your post - a rather encouraging reminder.

To the point - I really am not sure. Without question I would say Vi, if Daniels had not entered the race. The Indy business community was slowly coming around her (not Mr. Andrews) - rather than any of the republicans. She is seen as a tough, no nonsense, progressive but moderate on fiscal issues legislator with some budget experiences (very important to the Big Money guys). With their backing - she would have been the choice. But without their backing and money - I am not so sure. Not sure how a female candidate will do with the swing voters - if it isn't backed with a whole lot of positive media coverage (what the business backing here buys). Also don't think she has much name recognition out of her district or beyond the capitol. Finally while her home base is a small town called Ellettesville, she also represents Bloomington, which is often a liability when it is focused on. (While we are not nearly as liberal as the GOP would portend - around the state we are sometimes refered to as the Peoples' Republic of Bloomington. Having lived in more liberal areas, including the Bay Area, I find this laughable. But the perception is there - and if a campaign got ugly I am sure it would be used.)

But to my understanding - Andrews doesn't have much name recognition either. I don't think that he was seriously on the business powers that be radar as a serious contender. But now that they are out of the power brokering on the dem side (since they are sidling over to Mitch Daniels) - the state wide party position that Andrews held, and his connections to Bayh might help him win the nomination. I have not yet, however, seen any indication that this would bleed over as an asset to the general election.

I am pretty pessimistic in the short run.

However - keep your eye on the current Mayor of Indianapolis, Bart Peterson. He is really an up and comer. Centrist in some ways - but more progressive than, say, Bayh. This is surprising because while Urban Mayors tend to be more progressive than those in outlying areas - and certainly the center city congressional seat fits that mode - the Mayorship has been in republican hands for as long as I can remember - at least going back to the early seventies when Richard Lugar was Mayor. Mayor Peterson, even in the middle of financial crises - is seen as a strong and effective Mayor from both dems and repubs in Indy - and since the Indy business community is a major factor in statewide elections (especially gubenatorial) - Peterson gets and extra boost. These folks live in his city and are very familiar with him.

Personally I am much more impressed with Peterson than I have ever been with Bayh. A great deal of intelligence, understanding of policy, along with his pragmatism (centrism) and he even has a bit more of a dose of social conscience (and thus touch of liberalism) in him than does Bayh.

But that little side note does nothing for us in the upcoming elections.

[Eloriel]

11. Yes, it's being done outside the Democratic Party

and spontaneously at the grassroots via the MeetUp groups. And I'm THRILLED that Indiana has got an active group, or groups. That's wonderful.

I too am thoroughly impressed by the Dean campaign. Trippi said in one of the articles about him and/or Dean a few weeks ago that he had to learn to let the groups self-organize. Of course, before that he had to learn that MeetUps for Dean was a unique and useful tool that they could take advantage of -- it wasn't something the campaign started, it was something they noticed happening and took advantage of. IMO, this shows the genius of Trippi -- the ability and foresight to seize and capitalize on opportunities when they present themselves, and the willingness to let go of centralized "top down" control in favor of grassroots organizing.

MeetUps for Dean just surpassed 61,000 today.

Edited to add: it started with a little over 400 in January, and has grown that much.

Salin -- can I post your post to the Official Blog? (Or would you like to?)

Eloriel