Guess who suffers when the Pres candidates collect so much money?

[MaineDem]

The state Democratic parties.

The donors are giving to the big name top ticket people, not to the state parties. While this is fine for the first four caucus/primary states - IA, NV, NH, and SC - it puts all the other states at a disadvantage. It's hard to ask these same donors (in many cases) to give to the state parties.

[jobycom]

1. True.Red states really get hurt, too.

The common attitude now is that red and blue states will stay that way, so the majority of attention is paid to the swing states. That's a workable national strategy, but it kills local party activity, and in the long run it keeps the party from making gains in red states. I'm in Texas, and so many donors here have written off any chance of winning that they give their money to national candidates or to the national party. So the state party has less money to spread around the candidates, so they focus on a few races they think they can win. They beg the national party for money, but the nationals would rather give the money to a state where they feel they can do some good. That's not Texas.

So Texas, which 30 years ago was solidly Democrat (though not liberal), is now solidly Republican, and gets too little money to launch an effective multi-election Reconquista at a state and local level. The Republicans spent a lot of time and money winning this state, but we aren't able to do the same to claim it back. So it will stay Republican.

Money isn't the only reason, of course. But it hurts.

[Parisle]

2. Brilliant,..... and well said

--- The individual and respective states are where this battle is ultimately going to be won,... All real Constitutional power resides in the states,... and for my money, there ought to be some sort of linkage between state legislatures and their national representatives and senators.

[MaineDem]

3. The 50-state strategy still helps, of course

But that doesn't pay the bills or keep the lights on in the party offices. I think the parties are going to feel the effects of this and it worries me.

[blm]

4. Excellent point. Maybe you should add a PS to your post to please donate

to the DNC and the local party. Remind them that every 20 bucks can count locally.