I write this diary in response to the recent news by Uber-Chief of Staff David Plouffe that the campaign is epxanding its advertising into North Dakota, Georgia and Arizona.
We all know that Obama has more money than God and he can absolutely afford to go up in these states. Markos has made Obama/Dean's 50 state strategy decision into one that has the possibility to dramatically change the landscape of this country for years to come. Establishing that elusive permanent majority that Newt and Rove so desperately fought for. And I think its brilliant, possible, plausible and maybe even at this point likely.
Imagine a Democratic President with a mandate butressed by wins in North Dakota, Montana, and Arizona, along with deep south states like Georgia, North Carolina and dare I say LOUISIANA???? Blue states on every coast, bordering every major lake, river and ocean. Bringing together hunters, fisherman, lawyers, doctors, students, republicans and independents, north and south. It seems like a fantasy but we are very close to it becoming a reality. If Obama were however to lose this election the I-told-you-so's would all say the same thing: Maybe he spread himself too thin.
Of course other factors would be discussed and blamed, the now-debunct bradley effect, overexposure, Rev. Wright, Ayers and other yet to be named boogeymen. But there will also be that question, should he have stuck to the Kerry '04 strategy and just pounded on Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida. After all, the economy is, as Bill Clinton said last night "In the ditch, which helps us". (Actually he said that about the country but not one of his best sound bites either way). And who is hit harder by the economy than Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan? Now granted, Pennsylvania and Michigan look like they are in the bag but Florida and Ohio are close, too close to call at this point.
Now dont get me wrong, I think Obama's 50 state strategy is the right way to heal this country. Concentrating on a few states only furthers the idea that we are divided and only a divided electorate is one that can be successfully exploited for victory. McCain is running that campaign right now and look how he's doing. (Right leaning Fox News Poll aside). And I also believe that he will win and win decisevely. And maybe if Obama spent his whole load on Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Florida, the oversaturation would reach a point of diminishing returns. But maybe just maybe, we have not reached a point in our culture where the racial divide is trumped by the joint concern of our economic well being. And maybe those 4 crucial states are the only places desperate enough, economically, to put race aside and vote for their interests for the first time in 8 years. Maybe...
At this point, anyone still reading is thinking "is this guy a concern troll or what?" And in some respects I am concerned about Obama's chances of winning(No thanks to Miss Rachel Maddow's nightly chickenlittleism).
But one thing I am CERTAIN of is this: No matter what happens in this election, no matter how many voting machines "mysteriously" break down, or how many voter rolls are purges, or how many closet racists come out to vote, this country has turned a major corner. From this day forward NO democratic candidate black or otherwise, will make the mistakes of Dukakis and Kerry, NO democratic candidate will sit idly by while the Repugs exploit fear of change, fear of terrorism and fear of gun control, and NO democratic candidate will be afraid to put up their shingle in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Indiana, North Carolina, Missouri, Georgia, Louisiana and Virginia every again because Obama went there and he did that and he created the blueprint for the permanent Democratic majority that Kos, Dean and Obama and the people before them have fantasized about. This election has changed the face of politics and the map for decades to come and no one, not the Florida Secretary of State, not the Ohio courts, NO ONE can take that away from us now!
Obama/Biden '08,'12, Democratic Majority Forever!