Why Minnesota Did Better and Why National Democrats Lost

[geardaddy]

If you look at Yougov survey of state rankings, then you will see that Minnesota is ranked 18th in scoring on progressive issues. Minnesota was behind Wisconsin and Michigan. Yet Minnesota is doing better in elections. Why? While even Minnesota can improve what we do, I do think that we have significant differences from national trends in campaigning.

Proud to be a Democrat, Proud of Democratic Leadership and Proud of Democratic Policies

When Democrats are proud to be Democrats and proud of Democratic policies, then we win. Minnesota did lose significant house seats in rural house districts where there is less spoken in that strong kind of pride. Minnesota was especially strong on comparing itself favorably to Wisconsin, where Minnesota's choice of Democratic policy and leadership has really helped the Minnesota economy. Duh, Obama is one of our greatest speakers. How did we ever get talked into not using him? On every poll, Democratic policies score higher, why wouldn't one run on winning numbers?

People Power vs Money Power

Doorknocking is the key to success. Whenever possible the Minnesota Democrats hit every door in highly-Democratic, high-turnover districts. Minnesota held key seats in areas where that strategy was used. In rural areas, getting to every door is not easily done, so this strategy cannot be used there. The money power is getting scary high with state races now going to a million dollars with outsider money. Yet 20 dedicated people doorknocking every weekend can hold against the money. We say thank you to our dedicated people often, they are the heroes of our party.

Physical Ballots that are Machine Counted

All of our ballots are physical ballots that are then counted by machine. Later there are random count checks to ensure that counts are correct. For any challenge, we have the original ballots to go back and count. Our results come in quickly, yet we do not have power outage problems. We can have many people voting at one time, so our lines are shorter. The nation could learn from this experience.

The rest at link: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/11/06/1342568/-Why-Minnesota-Did-Better-and-Why-National-Democrats-Lost?

[hifiguy]

1. It's a bunch of things

Retail politics has always been a big deal in Minnesota. I door-knocked for Jimmy Carter in 1976 in my first presidential election. No election year goes by when I don't get a door-knock from someone working for the party.

Minnesotans VOTE. We always are at or near the top in participation.

There is a tradition here, weakening, but there are many who are still inspired by everyone from Hubert Humphrey, Fritz Mondale, Wendell Anderson, Rudy Perpich, and Paul Wellstone. Al Franken has done as much as anyone to carry forward that mantle.

Now if something could be done about the winters. I am getting too old for this crap.

[geardaddy]

3. Our voter turnout dropped to 50%

this election. Seems we have some work to do to get it back up to the standards we Minnesotans expect.

And I agree about the winters. The older I get, the less I like the cold.

[Art_from_Ark]

17. At the same time, a lot of wealthy Minnesota retirees,

who are almost always conservative, are moving to warmer states like Arkansas. And yes, they vote.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Always has been

boots on the ground. The only time is when we sideswiped by Dean Barkley in Mn 6. Fortunately,that group lost their major party status Tuesday. Way to go Minnesotans,you finally figured out how much of a fraud Dean Barkley and Jesse Ventura was and are. Hey,they got the money,baby.

[geardaddy]

4. Ugh.

That whole IP thing was extremely annoying. I'm glad that has pretty much passed.

[Odin2005]

10. Good riddance to the IP rat-fuckers.

Bunch of libertarian chuckle-nuts who siphoned off the sane vote from the DFL.

And now Ventura has gone full Conspiracy Nut.

[geardaddy]

13. Exactement!

Can't stand 'em

[Recursion]

16. MN currently has the reddest district that we hold

Colin Peterson in the 7th (R+6). This is the kind of district we need to start winning again.

[AZ Progressive]

5. Minnesota is part of a liberal area shared by 4 states

2012 election map:



And in 2000:



Even in 1980:



Eastern Minnesota tends to be reliably Democratic and since at least 2000, southeastern Minnesota is part of an area shared by western Wisconsin, eastern Iowa, and NW Illinois that votes Democratic.

[geardaddy]

7. And yet, Walker won WI

and Quinn was ousted from IL, and Iowegian Joni Ernst got in.

[hifiguy]

8. Interesting maps.

Areas where there are high concentrations of people vote for Democrats. Empty real estate votes Repig. Hmm.

[Art_from_Ark]

18. Eastern Arkansas, along the Mississippi River, is a vast expanse of rice, soybean and cotton fields

And yet it has become, with Pulaski County (Little Rock/North Little Rock), the dwindling Democratic core of a once-solidly Democratic state.

[Odin2005]

11. Wow, you can really see the divde between the Red River Valley and the rest of North Dakota.

It's really an extension of Minnesota.

[freshwest]

6. Plus a million. Dissing Obama doesn't work, not getting to know people year round doesn't, either.

Thanks for posting this piece. And bookmarked for future reference.

[Odin2005]

9. I love my state.

[jwirr]

12. No one mentioned our strong Union ties. That is one reason we are a boots on the ground state.

[geardaddy]

14. Good observation!

The volunteerism is strong in the DFL.

[RobertEarl]

15. I envy your vote counting audits

The random vote recounts keep the computer programming honest.

In NC, the last audit I was aware of they found a 4% miscount between paper and machine. Know what the election officials said? Oh well.