Must Read: Shuler's win aside, Democrats surge in western N.C.

An article by the Associated Press notes that strong organizing and voter outreach efforts by Democrats in a seemingly GOP stronghold, western North Carolina, netted a Congressional seat formerly held by an eight-term Republican opponent along with other key seats in 2006. The article highlights the important work done by Democratic leaders throughout North Carolina, as well as the success of the DNC's '50-state strategy,' which helped to ensure Democratic victories up and down the ballot throughout North Carolina.

Shuler's win aside, Democrats surge in western N.C.
Associated Press
By Gary Robertson
November 26, 2006

"For Democrats in western North Carolina, there was more to celebrate on election night than Health Shuler's victory against eight-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor in the state's marquee race. In county commission votes and races for sheriff, Democrats did well across the ballot in a part of the state where Republicans have historical links dating to the Civil War and an advantage in voter registration. In Ashe County, for example, Democrats now have a majority on the county commission and the sheriff's post for the first time in about 15 years...

"Party activists say there was more to how the west was won than a national wave of anti-Republican sentiment spilling out of Washington. The party started work last year, spending time and money to hire staff and organize volunteer efforts to persuade unaffiliated and Republican voters in the region that Democrats better reflected their values...

"Republicans have had a strong voter base in much of the North Carolina mountains since the Civil War, when farmers tended to support Abraham Lincoln and preserving the union over the cause of Confederate plantation owners. Democratic state party chairman Jerry Meek made the region a priority after his election in early 2005. 'I never thought western North Carolina was out of reach,' Meek said. Meek hired a western regional staff director before the Democratic National Committee agreed to pay for three regional leaders as part of national chairman Howard Dean's '50-state strategy.' He also assigned a task force to look at ways to improve the party's fortunes in the area. But the key was reaching out to voters. Party volunteer working on a "marginal voter project" made contact with people in five state House districts most in western North Carolina who had previously voted only in presidential years."

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