Stats from Yglesias yesterday belie this theory- gains came pretty evenly across the states. Not just in the west or other 'overlooked' states.

Even in the House a large number of the wins are simply solidifying Democratic grip in blue states.

I support the 50-state strategy as a matter of principle but I'm not sure it was decisive.

Let's not forget that it was Rahm Emmanuel who almost came to physical blows with Howard Dean over the 50 state strategy in '04. Emmanuel thought that the money was better spent to sock it all in the states where John Kerry had a chance to win. Dean was right and I don't think Kerry could have won even with Emmanuel's strategy. Makes me wonder about Emmanuel as COS on Obama's White House...

Anyone tell me why we need to write off Texas.

What if we could make the GOP sweat bullets over Texas. 34 electoral votes. With the Latino community, why the heck don't we do better there?

Let's find out and invite the Lone Star state to join us. I suspect it may be the gun thing.

If Obama vetoes gun bills, and fixes the economy.... Texas is in play.

So with all of the talk about who Obama is putting where, it's typical for the head of the party to change once the new President takes office. Is there any advance rumors on who might be in line for taking over the DNC now? Will Dean stay on or move on elsewhere? Is there a place for Dean in the Obama administration?

Here in Texas the GOP spent money because they were under assault. In TEXAS.

The 50-state strategy worked because it caused safe, powerful GOP dirtbags like Cornyn to siphon money from lower-level GOP dirtbags, who became more vulnerable as a result.

I'm sure Dr Dean knows this.

Walt: CoS might be a good position for someone like Emanuel who could function as a useful prick, as long as he's not given much say on policy.

I remember when Dean first articulated his 50 State Strategy, saying that it was "insulting" not to go to EVERY state and campaign for votes. Not doing so is like telling huge swaths of voters that they are not important [or perhaps too stupid to vote for the candidate (my words, not his)].

I think HUGE props should be given to Howard Dean. He took a LOT of criticism from Rahm & his pals, but he stuck with his strategy. Put Rahm on an ice floe, not in the White House.

Dean the Baptist?

If Dean had been our candidate in 2004, I think it would be much more likely that the Little Idiot would have been defeated.

The Good Doctor is a true patriot and has put country first in a way that McSame could only dream about.

"...Dean, who wears an ill-fitting suit..."

Everybody says that but it's not true. He's got issues with his vertebrae.

Re: 50 State Strategy. It's such a no brainer. There are 50 states. Dean isn't brilliant. Everybody else is just an idiot.

Dean, along with Bernie Sanders is one of the two most prominent Burlington Pols.

Burlington Vermont rules.

The 50 state Strategy is more important than one election. Obama and Dean have built organizations, donor lists, cadres of experienced staff, volunteer lists, donor lists etc etc. in a number of traditionally 'red' states.

These are resources that can be tapped in the future (2010, 2012). Sure we lost Georgia this time around. But 2010 we can pick up a house seat. Expand representation in the state legislature, pick up a couple of mayorships. Build up strong local candidates (where future national leaders come from).

As others have pointed out, Texas is a very flippable state in the next couple of cycles.

But this is a long process.

Here's to Dean for taking the first steps to creating a true Democratic majority in the United States.

Dean and Trippi practically invented modern campaigning with Dean's run in '04, and we're lucky that Dean decided to make lemonade (his Iowa loss) into a lemon by taking his skills and transferring them for the benefit of the Party.

Benen is correct. Dean definitely has not received the credit he deserves (let's also not forget how skillfully he handled the MI/FL dispute during the primary).

Let me echo Walt's concern that Rahm was vehemently opposed to stretching the map now appears poised to be COS.

Preston, Yglesias' stats were correct but you can read it differently: just because gains were seen everywhere, does not prove the 50-state strategy didn't work. Would there be the gains seen in the West absent a 50-state strategy? I don't think so.

"States getting more blue" doesn't operate apart from specific strategies; it's more likely several strategies all helped to make states get bluer.

Dean's suits are definitely not from Target.

Target does, in fact, sell "suits," but they are not appropriate business/political wear; they are aimed at impoverished young men who want to look slightly overdressed when clubbing.

In the immortal words of Isaac Hayes, damn right.

I agree with this. Politics is all about taking advantage of opportunities. Had George Bush not been such an unpopular President, Howard Dean's 50-state strategy would have had few results to show for it. As things turned out, he put the Democrats in position to take advantage, first in 2006 and again this year. Frankly, they could have done even better with better candidates, especially in Senate races, but that's hard to hang on Dean.

Zathras wrote: Had George Bush not been such an unpopular President...

Zathras, you write that as if Bush's unpopularity just happened. Instead, it stemmed from his incompetence, mendacity and tyrranical impulses, and the corruption of the Party he led.

Bush was an unpopular President because Republican governance simply doesn't work. The American people understand that. P.J. O'Rourke understood it back in the '80s. Why don't you?

Oh, I love Howard Dean! I was a Deaniac in 2004, and if you want an example of press bias, his game-ending "scream" is as good as one can find. He should have been our 2004 nominee. I always thought he was smarter than your average politician, and his 50-state strategy has been fantastic. As for Rahm Emmanuel, let's just hope that he has learned the new game rules.

And, yes, as toowearyforoutrage points out, "Anyone tell me why we need to write off Texas." After 1984, when MN gave its electoral votes to native son, Walter Mondale, rather than Ronald Reagan, conservatives targeted MN for a conservative take-over. They have been pouring money into our elections and political process ever since, with some success. Our conservative party is now as bad and moderate-unfriendly as that of Texas. To these reactionaries, we owe our Republican "no-taxes" governor, Tim Pawlenty; sleazoid Senator, Norm Coleman; and, of course, the looney congresswoman, Michelle Bachmann. This year's GOP national convention was supposed to showcase the conservative take-over of America. They might have succeeded had the 35W bridge not collapsed.

So, yeah, let's go after Texas. Let's figure out how we can crack the Texas brand of conservative. Let's plan to have the DNC in Austin in 2028.

Howard Dean became governor in Vermont when Republican Dick Schnelling suddenly died in August 1991. He made little changes to the Schnelling direction and is regarded as a very fiscally conservative Democrat in Vermont. Labelling Dean as a "way out" Democrat would be incorrect and wrong.

From an old Deaniac, thank you!

My biggest problem with both Hillary Clinton and Rahm Emmanuel, besides them being DLC DINOs, is that they ridiculed Dean for the 50-state strategy and did everything they could to sabotage it.

I personally won't be satisfued until they both kiss Howard's ass live on national TV.

Walt, doubtful etc.

In defense of Rahm. It seems like his stance against the 50 State Strategy was in 2004, well before we had a candidate like Obama (one who would use new media to raise PILES of money and actually be able to stretch the map AND maintain Democratic strongholds).

Not that I necessarily agree with Rahm's stance in 2004, but pre-Obama it's a lot more understandable. I'm sure he realizes this.

I agree with others above about Dean as a FAR superior candidate in 2004.

He spoke directly, was likable, liberal where it counted, didn't support the war and was vocal about it. Woulda been perfect.

Other than being short, he also looked "right" for a presidency.

As an unrelenting Deaniac, I was pleased to hear Chris Matthews interviewing Dean either late election night or the morning of the 5th and giving him huge props on-air.

Matthews pointeed out not only the 50-state strategy and Internet Campaign 1.0 as ideas that Obama took and perfected, Matthews also noted (correctly) how similar much of Obama's rhetoric was to themes Dean had used - empowerment, taking our country back, and emphasis on "you" and on common purpose, a way of being very progressive yet avoiding the kind of partisanship that limits the size of the tent.

Dean may not have executed well, but the trailblazer often fares poorly even while showing the way that will ultimately be successful for those who come after. Obama made the most of the ideas Dean got started; it is great to see Dean getting some due credit for it after all of the cheap shots he has endured.

It is amazing to realize that just 5 years ago, the leading figures in the Democratic Party were virtually unamimous in wanting to write-off 1/4 to 1/3 of the country. They didn't even want to try and politically compete in those areas.

I guess it makes it a little easier to understand the GOP cocoon and how hard it's going to be for them to break out of it.

Mike

Since at least 1980, Democrats have tried desperately not to lose, and sometimes, we managed to not to. Dean and Obama are teaching us again how to win.

It seems like his stance against the 50 State Strategy was in 2004... -neilt

Two problems with this:

1. It takes time to build infrastructure.
2. Rahm wanted to stick with a proven losing strategy.

Had Dean not become chairman and started working on the 50 state strategy years ago, would we have a President Elect Obama? Would we have a Senator Tester from Montana and several others?

I honestly don't think so. We can lay 2006's gains and 2008's gains at Dean's doorstep.

Without Dean's tireless work on his strategy from 2004 on, we wouldn't be having this discussion today. We'd probably be debating why Hillary just lost to McCain.

I guess the question I'd most like to ask Rahm is when did he feel we should have started changing the strategy? If not 2004, when?

I think he clearly answered that when he was the last Democrat in Illinois to endorse Obama. What Barack sees in him, I don't know, but I'll trust Obama since he seems to know what he's doing, but I'll be keeping an eye on Rahm.

I think he's an opportunist with no vision.

hey doubtful,

I don't disagree with you re: 50 State Strategy - I've thought it was a winner from the word go. All I'm saying is, back before the fundraising juggernaut that was Obama The Candidate, the arguments against 50 State weren't so obviously crazy.

I must admit, I don't know much about Mr. Emmanuel, but he was pretty tight with the Clintons (having worked for Bill and all) so I guess that could explain his lag in endorsing Obama. Also, that story Benen linked to yesterday about the dinner where he called out the traitors was freaking awesome :)

I think we'll all do well to trust Obama's instincts for the time being...he seems to know what he's doing.

cheers!

He's usually associated with the loony wing of the party, the MoveOn crowd and the liberal bloggers...

i know, i know, i shouldn't care, i should laugh, but seriously, fuck this guy. FOX News is serious and *i'm* loony? right in the ear, my friends.

"He's usually associated with the loony wing of the party, the MoveOn crowd and the liberal bloggers..."

...Who, I would like to point out to Mr Coolican, have been right about every single thing since 2000. Not so loony after all, eh?

I am a huge admirer of Howard Dean. I love what he's done for the party and I voted for him in 2004 long after I knew he couldn't possibly win. His 50 state strategy has certainly laid the foundations for Democratic successes in the past two elections.

As Joe Biden's mother would say, God love him.

But his handling of Florida and Michigan during the primary were just awful. Yes, we were able to patch things up just in time for the convention, but the extremist stance of denying both states any say at all in the primary election just to protect Iowa and New Hampshire's lock on being first in line was very nearly a disaster.

If nothing else, it denied our eventual nominee the opportunity to get a campaign infrastructure going in both states until after the primary. This made the field organizing in FL and MI far more disorganized during the general than it was in the contested primary states. The fact that we ended up winning both states does nothing to undermine this point. I did canvasing in Florida for Obama for about three months this summer/fall and I feel pretty confident that if we had had better data (which we would have if canvassing had started in January) then we might have won an additional 1,000 votes or more just in my small county (which cast a total of around 16,000 votes for Obama).

Hopefully the party learned from these mistakes and will never be so high-handed again.

In addition to the 50 state strategy (which nixes the by definition divisive if clever Clinton slice and dice tactic), Dean (w/ Trippi at his side) did not "invent" the Internet but were the first to see and use its fundraising powers. The two go hand in hand: raising money on the web means access to zillions of small donors everywhere. It also lets us follow races (and contribute to them) all over the 50 states; the Dems were able to pull together in a national way, even unimportant Dems like me. It was so exciting: the idea that we are 50 states, not just four swings, resonates. So it all works. I was for Dean five years ago, and I am so grateful that he persevered, and pleased that his ideas have made headway despite early snide remarks from assorted top level Dems including Pelosi, who I otherwise think has done a remarkably good job with a difficult caucus (full of Blue Dogs) and of course saddled with Hoyer.

I saw Dean on t.v. last night and was thinking the same thing--he deserves a lot of credit for the big Dem wins, including Obama, and he should be proud of what he's accomplished. Who's laughing now?
One of the Obama cabinet rumors I read had Dean as a possible HHS Secretary. I would give him anything he wants, but would actually prefer to see him remain at the DNC--because the Democrats could win even more in 2-4 years.

Walt: CoS might be a good position for someone like Emanuel who could function as a useful prick, as long as he's not given much say on policy.

Exactly. Emanuel's a prima donna with a temper (as I always felt free to tell him as a constituent), and he was flatly wrong about the 50-state strategy. But he was by all accounts effective in the executive branch, and might be a good COS for Obama for several reasons that include his willingness to be an asshole and his bridge to the Clinton wing of the party.

If Obama trusts him, fine. As COS, Emanuel's not going to be running midterm and 2012 campaign strategy; Obama won't be mixing the political and policy people like Dubya did.

In defense of Rahm. It seems like his stance against the 50 State Strategy was in 2004, well before we had a candidate like Obama

Uh uh! Emanuel was still pushing that crap in the 2006 midterms! He and Dean went head to head, and Emanuel had public tantrums about Dean's pushback. Emanuel wanted to abandon funding for all but a handful of seats, and he was wrong, though happy to claim all credit for the 2006 wins. However, I believe he's capable of getting in line behind Obama now that the DLC is officially and mercifully dead.

Let's give Dean some major credit for a very important attitude. "It's a sign of respect," he said in articulating the 50-state strategy, "to ask someone for their vote." Respect for voters. What a concept. And what a change from the folks nominally in charge, who seemed to view the bulk of the electorate and the citizenry with thinly-veiled contempt.

In a lot of ways "respect" sums up what Obama brought to our national discourse. A man who speaks to us as he does shows clearly that he respects us as listeners. He does us the honor of speaking to us as his equals. Arguably, that is the starkest contrast between his campaign and that of McCain.

-toowearyforoutrage- is right.
I'm a Texas transplant & this used to be a democratic state, way back in the day.
There is NO reason we can't make the right struggle out here.
The only catch to that is that the religious segment of the population is almost beyond re-educating. They are so brainwashed & conditioned to align themselves with the rightwing & only focus on the abortion issue that they fail to understand how they are their own enemy.
If we could figure out a way to penetrate through that layer, then we'd have a viable dem state. Those of us like me, who have moved here from CA, have the tolerance, understanding & open-mindedness to see comprehensive bills pass that work for the greater good of the people & not just the oil interests.
More work needs to be done, or un-done, with the Tom DeLay redistricting of this state to benefit the left & accurately measure the electorate.
I did my part & was outnumbered in my county, but I will not back down after discovering my voice during this historic campaign.

Without Dean's 50-states, Virginia wouldn't even be purple, much less blue. So, Mr Dean gets $50 from me almost every times he asks. Unlike Mr McAuliffe, who thought we were all cash cows but who didn't bother too give us anything (other than the middle finger).

There've been rumours going around that Terry McAuliffe thinks about running for Governor in Virginia. I can assure you that, if he does, he's is gonna face very stiff competition in the primaries. There's a lot of us here pissed off with him and we're madder than a disturbed nest of hornets.

Dean was right about Florida and Michigan, too -- hold on and let events take their course until it doesn't matter, then strike the deal they should have held to all along. Crawling to them would have slighted not just Iowa and New Hampshire but every other rule-abiding state in the country, violating his 50-state rule at the beginning of the primary season. The Clintons and their DLC friends nearly derailed the whole thing by campaigning in Florida and Michigan in violation of the rules and then insisting their worthless primaries be validated early, another reason not to trust them in any position of executive power.

Dean was smart enough to see all this and finesse the situation, which makes him about the smartest, most stubborn, never-say-die politician in the country. He and Obama would be interesting to watch in a poker game. I'm fine with Emmanuel as the guy who goes for the drinks.

i just want to know where are all those people who posted here four years ago, arguing that the democrats should give up on the south completely. people who said states like florida, virginia and north carolina were just too backward, too redneck for the party. just curious what you have to say now?

Finally. I've been threatening for days to make signs or a tee-shirt that says: Got Obama? Thank Howard! I hope he stays with the DNC through at least another cycle. We've really only started. We should continue to lay the groundwork for a strong national party in every state to solidify and expand what we've accomplished on 11/4/08. It's even more important that we continue to have a national conversation that defines what progressivism is in terms that all voters can easily understand. What I liked about Howard was that he was unapologetic--even if he could have been better on gay marriage. But for those of us despondent over spineless democrats and mouth-breathing republicans he was a breath of fresh air. As I keep reading in the blogosphere--more and better democrats please.

Part of the problem in Texas has been that, in large parts of the state, no one is talking to the people but Republicans. The national Democratic Party has not made a long-term effort to build the party in areas of the state where Democrats are rarer than $2 bills. If all your neighbors identify as Republicans, and your primary source of information is talk radio, you might end up being a Republican too. The caricatures of Democrats live on because there are few counterexamples and no countermessaging.

Despite this, there are areas of the state where Democrats are succeeding. Democrats just won most of the judicial races in Harris County (Houston), and have narrowed the GOP's lead in the state House to just a couple of seats. And demographically, this state is poised by Democratic gains over the next few electoral cycles. Some investment now by the national party in this state could pay big dividends.

But his handling of Florida and Michigan during the primary were just awful.

Yeah, if only Howard had let Florida and Michigan get away with telling the rest of the party to fuck off and die, maybe Obama would have actually won both states. That he lost them is definitely Howard's fault.

Sheesh.

"i just want to know where are all those people who posted here four years ago, arguing that the democrats should give up on the south completely...." I think they're over at Salon, reading Thomas Schaller. He's the one who wrote the book on "giving up Dixie." Yet another smart personnel move by Walsh....

Again, Dean was right. There are great people everywhere, including Texas and even Oklahoma. Ignoring them was a recipe for disaster, only ratifying the "East Coast elitist" crap that rightwingers loved to crow about. Check out the blue swath down the middle of the country today. Tomorrow we fill in the West, and head South.

as i tell mrs dean
[she is also an md.]
every time i take
my mother there
please tell dr. dean
we are all very proud
of him and i mean
all of us

You betcha!