| Dear Phillip, Last week, Democrats won big in places like Kentucky, Mississippi and Virginia.
But celebration time is over. On Tuesday, President Bush vetoed funding for Head Start, cancer research, and veterans' health care.
Our victories in 2006 were great. So were our victories last week. But we've got a lot of work to do to win in 2008 -- and put an end to weeks like this one.
Make a donation to the Democratic Party now. People from District of Columbia have already contributed toward your goal:
http://www.democrats.org/50StateChallenge/DC
The Republican attacks against our candidates are already in full gear. They're already concocting doomsday scenarios where Democrats "seize complete control of the government."
Why are they attacking so early? Fear. As the memo Governor Dean forwarded you earlier this week stated: While the Democratic Party is better organized, better motivated, and better positioned to make the case for change, the Republican Party is increasingly challenged by "Bush Fatigue," a damaged "brand," a shrinking and demoralized base, and a lack of enthusiasm for its candidates. The 2006 elections were just the beginning of a national movement for change in Washington -- and the Republican Party knows they still have a lot to lose in 2008. As you saw in the debate last night, the difference between our candidates and their candidates is significant.
The Presidential primaries are less than two months away. Democrats need to fight back now -- using our organizers on the ground in every state -- before our nominee has a chance to get "swiftboated."
Help the organizers in District of Columbia fight back by making a donation to the Democratic Party:
http://www.democrats.org/50StateChallenge/DC
Why donate?
Because a Democratic President can restore the type of fiscal discipline our country had before Bush Republicans turned record surpluses into record deficits.
Because a Democratic President can appoint an Attorney General who will condemn waterboarding -- and set the record straight once and for all that the U.S. does not condone torture.
And because a Democratic President can get us out of Iraq, take our country in a new direction, and put America back on track.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Tom McMahon
From: Howard Dean
Subject: Fwd: Post-Election Memo Dear Phillip, I had to show you this memo that went around headquarters last week. One key line: If Democrats continue to show up everywhere, run on our values, and offer clear solutions on the critical issues, the clear lesson of 2007 is that Democrats are well-positioned to win anywhere in 2008. Last week's victories in places like Kentucky, Virginia and Mississippi prove that 2006 wasn't a fluke. In Kentucky, Democrat Steve Beshear took back the Governor's mansion, defeating Republican incumbent Ernie Fletcher by a 20 point margin. And he wasn't alone - Democrats won the Attorney General, Auditor and Treasurer elections, sweeping the failed, corrupt Republican leadership out of office, and they did it in the home of both Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and RNC Chairman Mike Duncan. But Kentucky wasn't the only place where Democrats won big. In Virginia, Democrats made significant gains in the state House and took back the Senate. In Mississippi, we took back the state Senate. And in states across the country, we had tremendous victories in local and state legislative races. With a coordinated effort on the ground in every state -- including District of Columbia -- we can take back the White House in 2008 and build on our majorities in the House and Senate. But we need 5,000 donors by the end of the week, and people in District of Columbia have their own piece of that goal. Can you help us continue our work in District of Columbia? You can track the progress in real-time: http://www.democrats.org/50StateChallenge/DC Virginia and Kentucky aren't the places most people think of as Democratic -- but they're exactly the sort of places we can win now, and win in 2008. How? By organizing early. By attending Democratic events and meeting your neighbors, like our "One Year Out" house parties. And by investing in the Democratic Party. You see, with organizers on the ground in every state and an energetic base of people like you, we're confident that Democrats can win in any state, at every level. If you've ever wondered where your money goes when you donate to the Democratic Party, read this memo. I think you'll see that your $10 or $20 donation to strengthen our national party goes a long way. http://www.democrats.org/50StateChallenge/DC Sincerely, Howard Dean
From: DNC Communications
Subject: Democrats Marching to Victory in 2008 The 2007 elections offered good news for Democrats, both in terms of yesterday's gains and as we look to the long-term goal of winning in 2008 and beyond to build a permanent Democratic Majority. Across the country, strong Democratic candidates showed that we can challenge Republicans on values and win anywhere if we show up and compete everywhere. As a result, despite competing primarily in Republican states, Democrats still hold 28 of 50 governorships, picked up two new legislatures to expand Democratic control to 56 of 98 chambers, and are poised to build on our Congressional majorities and elect a Democratic president in 2008. - In Kentucky, Governor-elect Steve Beshear overwhelmingly won in a state that President Bush carried with 58.6 percent of the vote in 2004 and is home to both RNC Chairman Mike Duncan and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Beshear showed that strong Democratic candidates offering a clear vision for the future and real solutions on the issues that matter to voters -- health care, jobs, stagnant wages, and corruption -- can beat entrenched Republicans offering more of the same failed GOP leadership. Fletcher's demise, the victory of Democrats down ballot, and Senator McConnell's failure to rescue Fletcher shows both a Democratic Party moving in the right direction and trouble for Senator McConnell's chances of reelection.
- Democrats won decisive victories in the Virginia legislative races, gaining Assembly seats and winning control of the Senate for the first time since 1999--showing that the Commonwealth continues to trend Democratic. Following Governor Kaine's victory in 2005, Senator Webb's election in 2006, and yesterday's gains in the legislature, Virginia will be in play for the presidential contest and Democrats are positioned to win the Senate seat being vacated by John Warner.
- In Mississippi, Democrats made important gains, reelecting Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood and taking back the State Senate. Gubernatorial candidate John Arthur Eaves ran a strong campaign that took values issues directly to the people, forcing former RNC chairman Haley Barbour to spend more than $9 million to hold a state President Bush carried with 59 percent of the vote in 2004.
A CLOSER LOOK AT 2007 RACES AND TRENDS: The message of the 2007 elections is two-fold: 1) the country is still hungry for change, as the American people continue to view the Democratic Party as the Party best prepared to offer real solutions; and 2) strong Democratic candidates can win anywhere if they show up andtalk about Democratic values. In contrast, by adopting the Ann Coulter politics of hate, continuing to blindly follow President Bush's failed foreign policy, and standing behind the President's opposition to domestic priorities like children's health care, Republicans have distanced themselves from mainstream American values. Kentucky - Democratic Governor-elect Steve Beshear defeated Republican Governor Ernie Fletcher 58.7 to 41.3 percent. Beshear actually outperformed President Bush, who carried Kentucky with a 58.6 percent of the vote in 2004 and 57 percent in 2000. President Clinton won the state in 1992 and 1996, with 44.5 percent of the vote in 1992 and 45.8 percent in 1996.
- Not only is the Bluegrass State home to Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan, but it is also home to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who failed to rescue Fletcher and himself faces a tough re-election campaign in 2008.
- Building on last year's election of Congressman John Yarmuth, Democrats won four of six statewide elections, including electing a Democratic Governor, Attorney General, Auditor, and Treasurer.
- The DNC investments in the Bluegrass State, including an infusion of more than $1 million this year and the hiring of two DNC-funded full-time organizers and a DNC- funded outreach director at the state party, have contributed to the resurgence of Kentucky Democrats.
- The voters in Kentucky -- a so-called "red state" -- joined so many other Americans in soundly rejecting the corruption and incompetence that came with four years of Republican rule. This is one more state where the positive, optimistic, Democratic brand of leadership is prevailing.
- This is bad news for vulnerable Republican governors running for re-election in 2008. The three people most disappointed in Tuesday's results were Ernie Fletcher, Matt Blunt, and Mitch Daniels.
Virginia - Democrats won at least four seats in the Assembly and took back the State Senate for the first time since 1999.
- Virginia has developed into a critical swing state in recent elections. After electing Democratic Governor Tim Kaine in 2005 and Senator Jim Webb in 2006, Virginia
Democrats are positioned to elect another Democratic Senator and chose the Democratic Presidential nominee for the first time since 1964. - A recent poll of Virginians showed our top three Democratic presidential candidates leading or tied with the top three Republicans in head to head match-ups. [SurveyUSA, 9/25/07]
THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE
Yesterday's victories were the result of strong candidates running competitive races based on their values, but they also reflected the wider political landscape. Democrats are poised to take advantage of widespread dissatisfaction with President Bush's failed leadership, the increasing weakness of the Republican "brand," and the increasing strength of our Party. While the GOP is losing ground in its traditional strongholds and their base is shrinking, Republican efforts to use immigration as a wedge issue to distract from their failed leadership once again were unsuccessful. - Republicans Are Losing Ground in Traditional Strongholds: Democrats are expanding the political playing field and eroding the preference for Republicans in key so-called "red state" regions. Dixie, once the heart of the Republican electoral map, is in play again as Southern voters' preference for Republicans continues to wane and break Democratic. At the end of the summer of 2006, Republicans held a four point advantage over Democrats in the generic congressional horserace in the South. According to internal polling from earlier this month, Democrats now enjoy a five point advantage (46 to 41 percent) over the GOP in Southern states. Republican support also continues to erode in the Mountain and Plains states, where Democrats now hold an eight point advantage in the once solidly Republican Plains region. [brilliant corners Research, November 2007]
- GOP Brand is Suffering: While a majority of Americans (51 percent) view the Democratic Party favorably, the percentage of Americans with a favorable view of the Republican Party has plummeted to 39 percent, down 12 points since March 2006. The GOP's unfavorable rating is up ten points to 56 percent in that same period. [Washington Post, 11/5/07]
- Republican Base is Shrinking: Key elements of the GOP base, including "fiscal conservatives" and "business leaders" are drifting away from the Republican Party "because of the war in Iraq, the growing federal debt and a conservative social agenda they don't share." [Wall Street Journal, 10/2/07] Even white evangelical voters feel that Democrats, not Republicans, are paying more attention to their top issues--the war in Iraq and health care. Just 10 percent of white evangelical voters said Republicans are addressing their top issue, compared to 24 percent who said Democrats are. [CBSNews.com, 1/18/07] The number of young evangelicals (ages 18 - 29) who "steadfastly proclaimed themselves Republicans" dropped 15 points, from 55 percent in 2001 to 40 percent today. [Washington TimesU, 10/2/07]
- GOP Party IDs at Record Lows: Just one in three Americans identify themselves as Republican in the latest Pew Research Center poll, giving Democrats the widest advantage in voter identification in two decades. [Baltimore Sun, 11/4/07]
- Republican Failures on Immigration, Economic Issues Fueling Fall: Despite frustration in many communities with President Bush's failure to address immigration reform and refusal to provide state and local communities the resources they need to enforce existing laws, Republican efforts to use immigration as a wedge issue failedonce again. GOP efforts to fan anti-immigration fears and play on growing economic insecurity and voter's anxiety over job security, stagnating wages, higher living costs, gas prices, and other facets of the George W. Bush "You're On Your Own" Economy failed in the face of strong Democratic candidates who offered real solutions on the critical issues.
- Republicans Are Losing On The Issues: The Democratic Party now has double-digit leads over Republicans when voters are asked which party is "better able to manage the federal government," is "more honest and ethical," is "more concerned about people like me" (Democrats lead by 29 points), and is best able to bring about "needed change" (Democrats lead by 22 points). Even on security, Democrats and Republicans are viewed as "equally qualified to face down national security threats." [Pew Research Center for the People and the Press poll, November 2007]
- Republican Morale is Plummeting: Only 36 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents say the GOP "does an excellent or good job" of "standing up for traditional GOP positions," a decline of 25 points since July 2004. [Pew Research Center for the People and the Press poll, November 2007]
- Republicans Aren't Happy With Their Candidates: According to the latest UWashington PostU/ABC News poll, "Republicans continue to be less satisfied with their candidate options than Democrats are with theirs." [Washington PostU, 11/5/07] For the first time since 1979, no Republican candidate has been able to gain the support of more than 40 percent of Republican voters in the November heading into an election year. Among white evangelical voters, 51 percent are dissatisfied with their choices and say they wish they had more options. [CBSNews.com, 10/18/07]
- GOP Obstructionism Is Hurting Congressional Candidates: A recent SurveyUSA poll in seven states with vulnerable Republican Senate seats showed that Democrats are "leading or tied" in five of those races and trailing narrowly in another. [Roll Call, 11/5/07] This shows that the Republican Congressional strategy of obstructing Democratic efforts to fight for the priorities of America's working families is failing, and will cost them seats next year.
THE BOTTOM LINE
In short, while the Democratic Party is better organized, better motivated, and better positioned to make the case for change, the Republican Party is increasingly challenged by "Bush Fatigue," a damaged "brand," a shrinking and demoralized base, and a lack of enthusiasm for its candidates. If Democrats continue to show up everywhere, run on our values, and offer clear solutions on the critical issues, the clear lesson of 2007 is that Democrats are well-positioned to win anywhere in 2008. Can you help us continue our work in District of Columbia? http://www.democrats.org/50StateChallenge/DC
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