The Southern Strategy again, but with a tactical twang (New! Improved!)

[NV1962]

My approach here has nothing to do with engaging existing voter potential or perceived stereotypes or campaign budget management; thought I'd clear that up first.

The Southern States have become "home" territory for the GOP. So now they can strike out with needle and pin campaigns elsewhere, playing into the middleclass fears and insecurities, while keeping a "robust" and "trustworthy" appearance.

Clearly, this won't do.

So, why not take the battlefield for the Democratic primary (and beyond, the nomination!) to the South, so as to compel the conservos to respond with very aggressive and "necessarily" harsh ads - which can then be served as raw omelettes in their face up North, wedging their middle class support out as ut doesn't like it at all when they air their ugly and nasty stuff about gays and abortion and the rest of the usual topics?

Yes, I just watched NPR's interview with Ed Carter and dang, he has a point.

I think it'd be brilliant to sap the saps. Spend a little there among the Democratic candidates, hopefully with additional air power from MoveOn, and put up a clever decentralized but locally intense guerrilla fight, slow and pin 'em down there, and then nail 'em nationwide with repeated replays of their inevitable napalm tactics, as the "untrustworthy" and "ugly" ones: time for a Clean Break, vote the Democrat.

As far as I can tell, the alternate reaction (say, because GOP operatives read this) of responding in a cavalier manner will likely result in "simple" large gains by the Democrats - because it's still the economy stupid, and we can smash 'em on that issue, hands down.

Well?

I haven't been smoking, honest, but I'm going for a cigarette now.

[DrZhivago]

1. *'s immigration plan

is in place to get some hispanic votes in california and florida, the last bastion for democrats. Rove knows those two states are the most important in this election. Thats why the governator was put in place. This is where dems need sharpen up.

[NV1962]

2. Actually, that was more of a stopgap measure to stop the bleeding

9/11 and the national security hoopla has put the "compassionate reform" of immigration law on ice (well, that's the pretext used anyway) and with the elections approaching, the Latino / Hispanic community -- especially in the Southwest -- reminded him of his campaign promises in 2000 (remember his visits to his "good friend" Vicente Fox?) and yet he knew that he'd be creamed by his "own" rednecks if he'd give in, sooo...

Enter Bush's recent half-baked immigration proposals. The Latino / Hispanic community received it with lukewarm enthusiasm (much resentment) and the rednecks still scream bloody murder. Ta-da!

This is an issue that lends itself very nicely for that "tactical Southern Strategy:" high sensitivity, high awareness, clear existing alternatives from the Democratic camp... Requires not too much effort to bring it on the table, and bait the conservos into self-destruction.