MUST READS: Democrats Discover New Political Frontier; Democrats Push for Gains in Mountain West, Look to '08
November 2, 2006
As President Bush campaigns in Western states today, recent articles in the New York Times and Billings Gazette note a shift in the Mountain West from red to blue as Democrats make electoral gains in governorships, state legislatures, and Congressional seats. Democrats are making inroads with voters in the Mountain West as voters reject Republicans' huge deficits and extreme social agenda and embrace Democrats' new direction for America. The DNC's 50 state strategy has bolstered Democratic state parties, providing resources for voter outreach and building a long-term infrastructure to reach out to voters all year-round.
Democrats Discover New Political Frontier
By Carl Hulse
New York Times
November 1, 2006
"...Despite a Republican edge in registration, Democrats are discovering the Mountain West - and Colorado in particular - to be a new political frontier as the party benefits from a potent mix of changing demographics, anger over the war in Iraq, resentment toward conservative social initiatives and millions of dollars' worth of advocacy advertising.
"...If that trend holds, Democrats could be in for a big day next Tuesday. The Democratic candidate for governor, Bill Ritter, is leading in his race against Bob Beauprez, a Republican congressman. If Democrats can retain control of the State House and Senate, which they gained in the 2004 elections, they would have total control of the state government for the first time since the early 1960s.
"...In neighboring states, Democrats are seen as having a good chance of capturing a Senate seat in Montana, are battling in what should be safe Republican House seats in Idaho and Wyoming, and have their eyes on Republican seats in Arizona and New Mexico. The increasingly blue tinge of the formerly red region - some say it gives new meaning to the phrase 'purple mountains' - has the national party seriously considering holding its 2008 presidential convention here at the foot of the Rockies. ..."
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Democrats push for gains in Mountain West, look to '08
Billings Gazette (Montana)
By Noelle Straub
October 28, 2006
"Democrats' hopes for a political resurgence in the Mountain West have soared nearly as high as the region's snow-capped peaks recently. Party officials want not only to increase their tally of governors and members of Congress next month, but to put some Western states in their column come the 2008 presidential election.
"...They are trying to build on a number of recent successes. Four Western states, including Montana and Wyoming, that all had GOP governors have elected Democrats since 2002. In Colorado in 2004, Democrats won control of both houses of the state Legislature for the first time in 40 years, and the Salazar brothers won U.S. House and Senate seats that had been Republican. The state may elect a Democratic governor Nov. 7. ...Democrats control at least one house in half the Mountain West state legislatures. They have a chance to pick up U.S. House seats in Colorado, Nevada and Arizona. Even in Idaho, which went 68 percent for President Bush in 2004, Democrats have a shot at picking up the governorship and a congressional seat.
"...Between 30 and 40 full-time staffers are on the ground in the West, according to DNC officials. State parties make the hiring selection and supervise the staff, who work to mobilize voters and get the national party's message out. ..."
To read the entire article, please click here.
