It seems to me that "making the hard decisions" and essentially writing off some midterm races

[Atticus]

as "unwinnable" could become self-fulfilling prophesies.

I have no problem with putting limited contributions where one thinks they will be the most effective, but I wonder if publicly naming those we believe are unlikely winners is helpful.

[Tree-Hugger]

1. It's not helpful

There are a difference between being realistic and spreading doom and gloom. Doom and gloom seems more common and it's demoralizing. It hinders GOTV efforts.

[agingdem]

2. no one wrote off the midterms...

Last edited Thu Oct 6, 2022, 10:42 AM - Edit history (1)

and we are not privy to candidate internal polls...yesterday Politico's screaming headline ..Fetterman and Oz neck and neck blah blah blah... and minutes later Fetterman in the lead. from another news outlet..the same misleading crap about Warnock and Walker..and what was once considered conventional wisdom (CW) no longer applies..Trump, covid, Roe v Wade flipped our world...not a big fan of defeatism...

[brooklynite]

3. Do you mean naming them here?

If a campaign is going to sink or swim based on DU support, its probably already hopeless. This is not real-world politics.

If you want to campaign for the candidate of your choice, even a hopeless long shot, fine. When it comes to money however, there are candidates in competitive races that can use support, and candidates that either don't need more or won't be successful with more. That''s reality.

[kentuck]

4. There is no reason a national Party should not have a candidate in every district of the nation.

Howard Dean understood that.

We should never surrender in any state. Politics is unpredictable.

[dalton99a]

8. +1. Nobody is thinking about Democrats living in red areas anymore

They have been abandoned to the wolves

Self-identification as a Democrat is often an invitation to ostracism, intimidation, vandalism and even death threats

[BannonsLiver]

5. I wouldn't worry too much about the ego trip of any one poster.

And it is a massive, unhinged ego trip.

[Stuart G]

6. We have a total great supporter in the effort to NOT TO WRITE OFF SOME MIDTERMS ELECTIONS.

" JUST GET OUT AND VOTE".....HE also says, "Do you want me in the White House again?"

He is the liar in chief of all liars...you know who! I can't even write his name in this post.

[onenote]

7. Cognitive dissonance on DU

DUers correctly are concerned with gerrymandering because it makes certain districts non-competitive. Yet some DUers advocate pouring money into candidates in these gerrymandered -- and thus unwindable -- districts instead of directing money to winnable house and senate elections.

[Midnight Writer]

9. Political support has to be built, like a house. You need to build the foundation first.

Then you build up from there.

A race may be "unwinnable" this time, but if the Party starts with a base of enthusiastic people, that base needs to be supported by the Party so it can be built on for the future.

My area used to be solid Democratic, so much so that Democrats often ran unopposed. Now it is the Republican who runs unopposed, and Trump won over Biden here 75% to 25%. It didn't happen overnight. Republicans started pouring money and sending professional campaign advisers into the area, started with school boards, township supervisors, county and city board members, recruited "influencers" such as businessmen and church elders, clubs like the Rotary, the VFW, Eagles, Elks, American Legion, and built an impressive machine that now totally dominates.

[Johnny2X2X]

10. Play to win

Republicans are writing off a lot more races right now than Dems are.

For the first time I can remember though, the Dems are playing to win. Supporting unelectable GOP candidates in the primaries was criticized a lot of places, including here, but it's playing to win and here in my home state of Michigan it's virtually guaranteed our governor, SoS, and AG remain democrats, and it's virtually guaranteed my home Congressional district is flipping to a very progressive and wonderful democrat from a moderate Republican.

Republicans now have a very narrow path to control of the Senate, that's why they're all in on Walker. Dems have just as narrow of a path to keeping the House, they have adjusted accordingly.

And where once, Republicans had an expansive list of seats they thought they could pick up in the House, they've now narrowed their focus to trying to eke out a 4 or 5 seat majority.

[JustAnotherGen]

14. I don't think Walker can win

I think Georgians are going to split their votes - Kemp and Warnock.

I'm still fearful that PA is going to split their votes Shapiro and Oz - but I cross my fingers that Fetterman wins. Fetterman is not my 'type' of Politician - but I think he will do an excellent job for our neighbors in PA if elected.

[Kaleva]

11. It may be detrimental to this country to support unwinnable candidates instead of ones with a chanc

[WhiskeyGrinder]

12. By this time in October, it's clear which races are competitive and which aren't. A 50-state

strategy is a fine idea, but it should be nimble enough to reallocate as situations on the ground become apparent.

Some people donate to candidates who make them feel good, some people donate to candidates who will win, and those aren't always the same.

[JustAnotherGen]

13. It's not

I will never regret my donations to Booker (KY), Beasley, Demmings, Beto, Christ, or Barnes. Something has to stick.

[Demsrule86]

15. Demmings is ahead in the polls.

[JustAnotherGen]

16. I hope the polls are truthful

I don't have faith in the polls, and don't have any connects in Florida to gage if it is 'real' or not.

I do know my citizen since November 2021 husband gave her $250 last night after he watched her on MSNBC. She's 'relatable' to him. I love her in general - but for a newly minted voter - I found that very interesting.

He was in the Special Forces in Italy - and he leans towards really strong women for his donations - Hochul in NY, Demmings, Abrams, etc. etc.

And he loves VP Harris! I think he has a little crush on her!