If we have the right candidate, Louisiana can be a swing state

[mot78]

Hopefully it will be Clark. Louisiana is practically the only state bucking the "solid south" trend towards the Repugs. Depending on we nominate next year, I think Louisiana is playable. And why not? Clinton carried it in 1992 AND 1996. It's more moderate than the rest of the south. Hat's off to all the Cajun DUers out there!!! Today Blano, tomorrow: Clark (HOPEFULLY!) or Dean or Kerry or Gephardt or Edwards.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. As a Clark supporter....

Arkansas and Tennesee are also in play next year if we have the right candidate and a good campaign.

[mndemocrat_29]

2. I'd also say that Arkansas is bucking the trend

They voted a Republican senator out of office in 2002 and nearly ousted their Republican governor, despite polls saying that Mike Huckabee was not vulnerable. The three top Republicans in the state (Huckabee, Asa Hutchison, and Win Rockefeller) have all turned down a race against Sen. Blanche Lincoln in 2004. Democrats could definitely be in play here come 2004.

[FrenchieCat]

3. yea, I agree...

Arkansas is Clark's home state...both Dem Senators have endorsed Clark.....so if anyone can beat * in Arkansas, it Clark.

Breaux is also hinting that he will endorse Clark, as is Biden.

Yep.....winning a few states in the South would leave us not to have to worry so much about Florida!!!!

This guy can do it!

Kick some A-S-S that is!

[mot78]

4. I don't think Dean, or even Kerry can win in the South

the south is essential to winning next year, and we need someone who can galvanize southern turnout.

[ronzo]

5. I'm with Clark, but...

this goes to show that Dean could take Louisiana. Trust me...

[jbutsz]

6. Dean could, yes

because he's not running on gun control and he's trying to address the concerns of the lower/working class that are throwing their votes away on Repubs who take their vote then tell them to go back to sleep and STFU.

Hell my mostly-non-political conservative father is even asking about Dean, while saying to hell with Bush.

My dad was in the Army, and doesn't like the idea of a career military general as President when I mentioned Clark (before Dean).

Scratch off Kerry or Gephardt or Lieberman; too establishment/D.C. for untrusting La tastes, especially Kerry who might even be hated moreso than Clinton was by the conservatives here. The rest are unknowns and will not make a "one of/for us" impression in La. Clark might as he is from Arkansas, but beside Clark or Dean anyone else will likely lose La. to Bush in 04.

That's just the impression I'm currently getting, from having lived in La. my entire life. Clark would interest the War-supporters of La. because he was a general but only if he doesn't make the sin of saying "gun control" and only with the ones who've become disenchanted with "hero-Bush" (:puke:) Clark needs to get more wind behind the sails of his policies though, make them more widely known and clear; having been a general is not enough.

As far as real policies go Dean is likely the only one that will interest/engage the poor and/or over-burdened class whites away from voting Repub, as long as he doesn't say "more gun control" and as long as he keeps hammering about the better education, economy(jobs), and health care THEY'RE NOT GETTING FROM BUSH. I base this on the apparent "grassroots" support Dean is stirring up already. If Dean gets the nom and comes into La telling it like it is no holds barred, he'll carry it.

Everyday-joe conservatives here know Bush is not one of them now, they can see it now even despite Fox news. But they will vote for him again or stay home unless someone gives them a compelling reason to vote otherwise.

Mostly it's the upper-middle/church-building class that pushes anti-abortion so fiercely, they are the ones who want to legislate morality and vote for extremists like Jindal while convincing their congregation to do so as well because it's "God's will."

However, the average poor joe doesn't care, doesn't have time or energy to care, and perhaps secretly approves of abortion if it means not having to support other's babies while he can barely feed, clothe, and healthcare his own... This is the race card that the Repubs have played so successfully with the poor-working whites of the South, of which Dean is trying to wedge between and disillusion if people would quit knee-jerk-attacking him long enough to let him.