On my Election Calendar last Sunday, I alluded to an event Frank Kratovil is holding on Saturday morning both locally and across the district. Well, it looks like the big guns of Organizing For America (a front group for national Democrats) are keenly interested in turnout. I got this from Jeremy Bird, a Deputy Director for OFA:
There have been some stark reminders this week of exactly what's at stake in the coming elections.
It's not just that everything this movement has accomplished -- from health reform to the Wall Street reform that we're about to pass -- would be in jeopardy.
It's who would be in charge if Republicans and their extremist allies prevail.
Sharron Angle -- the GOP Senate nominee in Nevada -- said that the work of a Democratic Congress might require "Second Amendment remedies." Rep. Michele Bachmann said that President Obama is turning America into "a nation of slaves."
And a group in Iowa proudly unveiled a billboard featuring the President's image next to Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin.
It all shows that we don't have a moment to lose as we organize our communities to get out and vote, to fight back against these extremists -- and why your time and energy is so crucial to the success of this movement.
And just what is the plan for Saturday?
Our formula to win against this hateful -- and, frankly, disturbing -- opposition is simple: register new voters, and get as many first-time voters from 2008 as possible back to the polls.
If it sounds familiar, it's because Barack Obama followed a very similar path to victory in 2008 -- registering new voters and getting millions of folks to the polls for the first time.
But it can only work if committed folks like you start working now -- knocking on the doors, making the phone calls, and registering the voters who will lead us to victory in November.
It was in part because of this increased turnout that Frank Kratovil made it to Congress. But President Obama is hardly popular among a lot of Wicomico County residents so it will be interesting to see just what sort of resonance he has among voters now. Also, the contortions which will need to be made among loyal progressives to justify Kratovil's votes against the Obama agenda (such as voting no on health care) will be fascinating to hear. Frankly, given the local mood, another endorsement from Wayne Gilchrest would probably be better for Kratovil's fortunes than the backing of our President.
Without a primary opponent, Kratovil has the luxury of focusing his efforts on defending his record, attacking whichever GOP nominee voters select as "extremist," and gladhanding voters with more promises of independent thought.
As a strategy, the tactics of 2008 worked well in that election but whether conditions on the ground will be conducive to a 2010 reprisal remain to be seen. Kratovil has more funding available, according to published reports, but also gets a much larger percentage of his contributions from political action committees.
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