Forgive me if someone has already diaried this gem from the Cook political report. Currently I am not able to "see" the recommended or recent diaries, I don't know what's up with that. I am hoping others can, and will see this diary. Anyway, this statement really jumped out at me;
On a confrence call today, James Carville suggested that the Democratic Party should expand beyond just the top targeted races. He believes the party should help fund previously ignored Democratic challengers in second - and third - tier districts... to fully capitalize on this environment and help those candidates maximize their chances of winning.
Excuse me, but wasn't he saying Dean was wasting money on the 50 state strategy not very long ago? More below
Of course, he is saying this now because he finally caught on that a fundlemental shift is taking place in politics.
Dean already knew that, because he was the benificiary of the beginning of that shift, as better informed citizens such as myself and many others (Republicans, Independents, and formerly apathetic folks) grew alarmed about Bushco and decided to get involved.
I am sure Carville is mainly thinking about financing TV spots for these candidates, even encouraging the party to borrow money to do so.
While I am glad he finally got on board the train, I would point out that without Howard there wouldn't be credible challengers in these races to support in the first place - thus leaving the Dems no chance to "fully capitalize on this environment"!!! Furthermore, while funding for ads would be invaluable, so is Howard's plan to put a ground game in place everywhere.
It is time the Howard bashers apologized, because it is Howard and the grassroots who have laid the groundwork for the kind of "wave" Cook now believes possible.