The battle over independent voters looks to be a hard fought one this November:
Democrats Target Independents in Colorado and Virginia
The New York Times
Kate Phillips
February 21, 2010 @ 10:18 AMhttp://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/democrats-target-independents-in-colorado-and-virginia/?pagemode=print
Democrats are ramping up their efforts to woo those fickle independent voters, beginning by deploying volunteers from the considerable Obama campaign army now known as Organizing for America.
After collecting pledges for millions of volunteer hours, O.F.A., under the auspices of the Democratic National Committee, is starting its “You Fight, We’ll Fight” effort by asking people to help in two regions to aid vulnerable lawmakers — in Colorado, for Senator Michael Bennet, the Democrat appointed last year — and in Virginia’s 5th congressional district, for Representative Tom Perriello, the freshman Democrat.
Both are facing tough challenges in the midterm elections, with an anti-incumbent mood suggesting sizable gains for Republicans and with public support for an overhaul of health care dropping in public opinion polls, given the uneasiness and upset over the economy. Mr. Bennet faces a primary battle from within his own party, confronting a popular opponent, Andrew Romanoff, the former state House speaker, when Democrats caucus there on March 16. And Colorado has become one of the most-watched swing states in the West. Just last week, President Obama traveled to Denver to stump for Mr. Bennet at a rally and a private fund-raiser.
Mr. Perriello’s district remains conservative and has experienced significant unemployment, factors that a large field of Republican candidates have used to target him.
In an e-mail message sent last night to those volunteers, David Plouffe, the former campaign manager for the Obama campaign and guru to grassroots Democrats, wrote: “Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado and Congressman Tom Perriello of Virginia are two new members of Congress who have stood up for health reform and suffered vicious, deceptive attacks from the opposition. Now they’re both facing tough re-election fights, and they need our support.”
Mr. Plouffe’s e-mail includes links for volunteers to follow to sign up, using the organizing tools familiar to those worked door-to-door for the Obama campaign in the 2008 cycle. They’ll be given lists of independent voters to telephone or contact.
This latest effort mainly targets independent voters, whose influence has been heavily felt in recent elections involving the Republican wins in Massachusetts for Senator Scott Brown and in the New Jersey and Virginia governors’ races. In the wake of those losses for Democrats, Mr. Plouffe was enlisted by President Obama to take on a new oversight role for House, Senate and governors’ races.
Both parties have been eying independents as they shift into high gear for the midterms. With this move, O.F.A. is also signaling how it intends to harness the millions of volunteers who fanned out across the country to elect President Obama and other Democrats.
this article should be re-published in every blog & newspaper in the Commonwealth.
They are coming for us. We better be ready.
just where do these millions of volunteers think they will stay in the 5th? are they coming door-to-door? I don’t know about the more cosmopolitan areas of the 5th, but if Obama’s volunteers (& I will leave it to you to imagine what they will be like) come knocking at my door or other doors in Lunenburg county, they will be met with stern requests to leave the premises.
And what will they be like Kelley? Black? UnAmerican? Teh Gay? Please explain
Thanks for illustrating once again that the Democratic party is the party of racism.
chris: obama signed up many volunteers from the entitlement crowd because he got lists from social services departments. he got their phone #s, too, & reminded them to vote. he registered to vote many criminals in Virginia–Gov. Kaine restored voting rights to many felons. Obama volunteers went to the regional jails getting new voters & volunteers among those held for minor crimes.
chris, where were you last fall? didn’t you read about this in the local newspapers? it happened in Mecklenburg & in Prince Edward–both in the 5th district.
and Chris, what will these OFA Bambi volunteers be like? damned stupid. because they think cap ‘n trade WON’T destroy this economy. because they think Bailout after bailout after bailout is good for our bottom line.
“Remember Appomattox” – Mass meetings are coming soon!!!
If you do not know how your chair voted then ask – if they don’t tell you assume they voted for a primary.
Then vote the RINOs out.