NationStates Jolt Archive

I wanted to post this before we know the outcome. It's not about gloating, but it is about the fact that the evidence is in. There were people on both sides of this election who claimed the 50-state strategy was a bad plan.

1. It was said the 50-state strategy would spread the party who didn't use it too thin, making them defend in areas where they weren't prepared. It did.
2. It was said the strategy would weaken the party using it, by not focusing on the states that matter. It didn't.
3. It was said that red states stay red, blue states stay blue and that there are only certain states that are battlegrounds. That wasn't true.

It's clear regardless of outcome that the 50-state strategy changed the map. It worked as an offensive.

So the question is, do you think it's hear to stay? Is this the race that changed the way politics is done on the federal level?

It's clear regardless of outcome that the 50-state strategy changed the map. It worked as an offensive.

dems might win house seats in wyoming and idaho. let that sink in for a minute.

motherfucking idaho

The thing I'll add that really weighs into the question is that this was a ripe scenario for this to work. The candidate was energizing and brought out people who don't usually vote. It really is questionable if a candidate like John Kerry or Hillary Clinton could have won with the same strategy.

I think as far as strategies for the Democratic Party, it's going to stick around for a while.

Even should McCain somehow win, which I personally think is unlikely, given how things are going, the 50 state strategy, in addition to his own mistakes, made the race very difficult for him.

It also ties into Obama's message about running for President of the United States, not the blue states.

dems might win house seats in wyoming and idaho. let that sink in for a minute.

motherfucking idaho

Lol, awesome.

The one biggest weakness is money. The reason it worked so well in this cycle was the vast difference in resources...Obama could afford to run every state, while McCain had to carefully choose.

If a candidate does not have deep pockets, the strategy can't work.

I wanted to post this before we know the outcome. It's not about gloating, but it is about the fact that the evidence is in. There were people on both sides of this election who claimed the 50-state strategy was a bad plan.

1. It was said the 50-state strategy would spread the party who didn't use it too thin, making them defend in areas where they weren't prepared. It did.
2. It was said the strategy would weaken the party using it, by not focusing on the states that matter. It didn't.
3. It was said that red states stay red, blue states stay blue and that there are only certain states that are battlegrounds. That wasn't true.

It's clear regardless of outcome that the 50-state strategy changed the map. It worked as an offensive.

So the question is, do you think it's hear to stay? Is this the race that changed the way politics is done on the federal level?

Not for a minute.

The fifty-state strategy is an Obama specific strategy, and I guarantee you the Democrats will happily abandon it for the good old +1 game after he's gone.

I think Obama has played a new game plan and it seems to be working. Although I think it could work better if....we reformed the Electorial college and make the Electors porportionate to the amount the caniadates have receieved in the popular votes. It would make a 50 state strategy more vivable. But I also think it's a matter of money and coverage as well.

The one biggest weakness is money. The reason it worked so well in this cycle was the vast difference in resources...Obama could afford to run every state, while McCain had to carefully choose.

If a candidate does not have deep pockets, the strategy can't work.
That was part of the 50 state strategy, though, was to find the money not from big package donors but rather from small grassroots donations. This wasn't something that Obama invented but expanded on from Howard Dean. Obviously it takes the right person (after all, it didn't work for Ron Paul), but it's essential to making it work.

Not for a minute.

The fifty-state strategy is an Obama specific strategy, and I guarantee you the Democrats will happily abandon it for the good old +1 game after he's gone.

It was a Howard Dean thing, Obama just built on it.

It is likely a onetime deal. when a party running the country poorly for 8 years finds itself against a very popular alternative.

It was a Howard Dean thing, Obama just built on it.

It's not staying. The Democrats are too incompetent to hold on to something like that.

The one biggest weakness is money. The reason it worked so well in this cycle was the vast difference in resources...Obama could afford to run every state, while McCain had to carefully choose.

If a candidate does not have deep pockets, the strategy can't work.

And how did said candidates get themselves in such financial situations? McCain is far richer than Obama, but, as this campaign has shown, far less intelligent too. Obama's fundraising efforts, together with careful spending, allowed him the luxury of running in every state, and forcing McCain to defend his own backyard (Arizona FTW!). While, on the other side, the McCain campaign has been bleeding republican money putting lipstick on a pig.

if nothing else it demonstrates the power of grassroots organization - I think that the internet is pretty much making this kind of thing possible and it will be used increasingly by both sides.

if nothing else it demonstrates the power of grassroots organization - I think that the internet is pretty much making this kind of thing possible and it will be used increasingly by both sides.

Probably so.

One notable thing about this election is that, unlike the normal situation, the Republicans did not enjoy an advantage in organization. Democratic Party disorganization is often a significant weakness in elections, but the Obama campaign was quite organized and efficient. If this remains the case in subsequent elections, the Republican Party will lose a very valuable advantage that it has enjoyed for the last several elections.

I am thinking that the conservatives are certainly at a disadvantage on this front and will always be

And how did said candidates get themselves in such financial situations? McCain is far richer than Obama, but, as this campaign has shown, far less intelligent too. Obama's fundraising efforts, together with careful spending, allowed him the luxury of running in every state, and forcing McCain to defend his own backyard (Arizona FTW!). While, on the other side, the McCain campaign has been bleeding republican money putting lipstick on a pig.

A poorly run campaign is not an indication of intelligence.

Obama benefitted in several ways: stronger grassroots organization, a sleeker campaign, and the rejection of federal campaign finance (allowing him to spend as much as he wanted, rather than the limits that would have been in place).

The biggest benefit Obama had was something very difficult to find in a campaign. It has been termed star power, but it was that intangible "it" which allows certain people to inspire others...JFK had it, Reagan had it, and now, it seems Obama is their successor.

we'll know tommarrow what worked and what didn't. so far lookin good for restoring something resembling sanity.

A poorly run campaign is not an indication of intelligence.

Obama benefitted in several ways: stronger grassroots organization, a sleeker campaign, and the rejection of federal campaign finance (allowing him to spend as much as he wanted, rather than the limits that would have been in place).

The biggest benefit Obama had was something very difficult to find in a campaign. It has been termed star power, but it was that intangible "it" which allows certain people to inspire others...JFK had it, Reagan had it, and now, it seems Obama is their successor.

Sorry, comparing Obama to Ray-Gun leaves a really unpleasant taste

A poorly run campaign is not an indication of intelligence.
*snip*

I would say that McCain has made some pretty unintelligent choices, especially when compared with Obama's choices when given the same problems. Look at how they both reacted to the financial crisis. Look at who they chose for their respective VP's. And what about McCain's fundamentals of the economy comment?

I think it is fair to say, judging by what we have seen in the campaigns, that Obama is more intelligent than McCain, and, in my opinion, by a lot.

Sorry, comparing Obama to Ray-Gun leaves a really unpleasant taste

A republican who can win California deserves respect even if you disagree with his policy.

A republican who can win California deserves respect even if you disagree with his policy.

I don't respect people just for winning.

And California isn't nearly as left wing all around as everyone thinks it is. We have a Republican governor right now. He was reelected.

Looking back, with hindsight, Ronnie Ray-Gun was one of our shittiest governors.

I don't respect people just for winning.

And California isn't nearly as left wing all around as everyone thinks it is. We have a Republican governor right now. He was reelected.

Looking back, with hindsight, Ronnie Ray-Gun was one of our shittiest governors.

Okay you have to respect a person who on reelection could win every state except Minnesota. Its not like Minnesota is a liberal bastion. (he only lost that because that's where his opponent is from.

Okay you have to respect a person who on reelection could win every state except Minnesota. Its not like Minnesota is a liberal bastion. (he only lost that because that's where his opponent is from.

No, we really dont have to respect him for that.

Okay you have to respect a person who on reelection could win every state except Minnesota. Its not like Minnesota is a liberal bastion. (he only lost that because that's where his opponent is from.

Nope. I will never respect Reagan. Ever. I have more respect for... well... almost everything... than I do for him. Maybe I might have had some respect for him if he had remained a shitty B movie actor instead of doing incredible damage to both my state and then my country.