Majority Maker

[question everything]

The Wall Street Journal

Chuck Schumer
Majority Maker
By KIMBERLEY A. STRASSEL
November 11, 2006; Page A6


(snip)

A party that has for years been captive to its more liberal wing, this time went out recruiting moderate candidates who better appealed to red state voters. They steered away from big, ideologically divisive issues such as taxes, Social Security or health care -- anything that would allow Republicans to tar them as big-spending liberals. Most ran on small, economically populist messages about balanced budgets, high tuition costs or the minimum wage. They didn't look like the Scary Party that takes its orders from liberal bloggers, and it appears to have made some headway with voters.

More interesting on the lesson front, Mr. Schumer says he's convinced that, now his party is back in control -- "and having the majority is difficult" -- it can't afford to simply be seen as obstructing President Bush. That would be a dramatic change from the past six years, and in particular from the last round of Democratic leadership, when Tom Daschle turned the Senate into a legislative graveyard. "There are going to be issues where we want to work together, and issues when we think is wrong and we shouldn't just roll over. It's a combination," he says, lounging on a couch in his homey office in the Senate Hart building. "But I will tell you this: If we are seen as just blocking the president, it will not serve us well in 2008."

(snip)

So how did they win? "The No. 1 reason was people wanted a change, and President Bush did not want to even suggest change. The second is that we recruited really good candidates who fit their states . . . And the third thing was that we were able to raise enough money that we could play offense and defense." Mr. Schumer admits that part of their win was a large dollop of planning, and a sprinkling of good luck. In 2004, Democrats lost five red states after their incumbents retired, creating open seats that were easy Republican pickings. This time, he and Minority Leader Harry Reid went to all their red-state incumbents and convinced them to stay. As for the luck, many of the White House's favored challengers in these states didn't run or emerge victorious in primaries. As a result, states that should have been difficult for Democrats, weren't: "By the end of the election, you didn't even hear about the Nebraska race, the North Dakota race, or the Florida race, because that worked."

As for competitive races, Mr. Schumer returns to recruitment and what he claims is a new belief among Democrats in creating a bigger tent. "The classic example is Pennsylvania. I thought Santorum was the most vulnerable of all the incumbent Republicans because he was out of touch with Pennsylvania. And I called Governor Rendell and I said, 'Who is the best candidate?' . . . And he said, 'Only one person can beat but (a) he doesn't want to run and (b) you wouldn't want him to run if he did.' Well, I said, 'If he's the only one who can beat him, why wouldn't I want him to run?' And he said, 'Because he's pro-life.'" Mr. Schumer pauses here, to make sure the next part is clear. "I said, 'Governor, the days are over when a Democrat has to check 28 boxes before they get our support.' So we actively recruited him, and once he entered the race, he was never behind." The New Yorker, here, looks pleased as punch.

(snip)


URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB116320603978220468.html

[Demeter]

1. I Wouldn't Take Any Praise for Bob Casey Yet

Wait until his mettle is tested before you take any bows, Chuck.


What is it with these DLC people? Hungry for approval?

[question everything]

2. When I asked about Casey, and about Ford on DU

the reply was that, basically, we get the warm bodies to take over the Senate to that we would chair the committees.

I am glad that I do not vote in Pennsylvania. I really don't know whether I would have voted for Casey.