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Edited on Wed Dec-10-03 12:57 AM by mdguss
I'd just like to say this has been a good year for Democrats. Our base has been energized by some presidential candidates. People are motivated not only to vote, but to do the gritty work of a campaign. We've disagreed, but we have 9 good choices in the primary.
Democrats have had a pretty good year at the polls:
Kathleen Blanco was elected Governor of Louisana.
Dan Onorato defeated the incumbent and was elected County Executive of Allegheny County (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
John Street was re-elected Mayor of Philadelphia.
A Democrat won the county executive race in a northern Virginia suburb; while his fellow Democrats gained seats in the Virginia House for the first time in 30 years.
And, tongiht, Gavin Newsom was elected Mayor of San Francisco.
Democrats did well at the state legislative level as well--making in roads in conservative southern states. And, compared to the 2000 totals, we did better in two deep south Governor's races than we should have.
The lesson: with good candidates, we can win. In some ways McCain/Fiengold is good for the party (even though it reduces the amount we can raise). It forces us to do things on the cheap: knock on doors instead of buy tv ads. Make phone calls, and campaign at community centers.
We can win. We've won this year. Each of the candidates I've mentioned have fought off serious challenges from Republicans (or in Newsom's case Greens).
We've had a good year. Hopefully, we can keep the success up in 2004.
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