Dem governor's group DGA not supporting Wendy Davis campaign? Says Dems can't win in TX.

[madfloridian]

Democratic governors group lacks faith in Wendy Davis campaign

It occurred as Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin, head of the Democratic Governors Assn., detailed for reporters the group’s target races this year.

Top tier: Maine, Pennsylvania, Florida. Second tier: Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin. Fingers crossed: South Carolina, Georgia, Kansas, Arizona.

Notably absent was one of the supposed marquee races of 2014, Democrat Wendy Davis’ effort to derail Republican Greg Abbott in Texas.

Shumlin sent an unmistakable signal that the moneyed organization had better places to place its dough.

“We all understand Democrats haven’t won Texas in a long time,” he said, after a reporter noted that Texas had not been included among his targeted states.

Way to have faith in an outstanding candidate, DGA. Sounds like fear to me.

Meanwhile back in Florida which they do consider one of the top tier races, we have good old Bill Nelson standing by to enter the governor's race if Scott picks on Charlie Crist too much.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. I think Wendy's a better bet in TX

than Burke is in WI.

[Skidmore]

2. Perhaps the DGA needs to hear from the membership of the Party.

[madfloridian]

12. I would think so. This really surprised me.

I have seen this kind of thing happen from the DCCC all too often in Florida through the years.

Wendy Davis deserves their support.

[kelliekat44]

47. Sorta like Christie and NJ all over again. We are our own worst enemy. nt

[elleng]

3. That's why I don't contribute to any Dem party groups.

May send something directly to Wendy.

[UTUSN]

42. Sez it all:"minority and young voters who embrace the party. But that's a tough audience to inspire"

[KamaAina]

4. Dems can win in SC and Georgia but not in Texas?

[madville]

11. Last polling I saw

Had Georgia +2 for the Democratic candidate over the Republican incumbent. Last Texas polling had Abbott up around +10 over Davis, that doesn't factor in the typical Democratic midterm turnout slump on top of that. Texas is a long shot, most of those other races are much more competitive at this point.

[dsc]

13. Obama came much, much, much closer to winning in those states than he did in Texas

and both of those states had Democratic governors in the 21 century while Texas has not.

[madville]

21. It was Romney 60%, Obama 39% if I remember right

During the midterms that typically becomes an even taller order due to low turnout.

[TBF]

68. Obama was not as popular as Hillary Clinton in TX -

that is fact. The latin/latina community wants Hillary.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. A fine way to keep it in the loser's box...

so I wonder what's really on their minds.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Wendy Davis is too liberal for them?

Just a thought. (And I do not know her, but this would not surprise me)

[madville]

14. She fairly moderate

Even backtracked on abortion issues since she declared, saying some late term restrictions are acceptable. Has also been trying flex her Pro-gun muscles, it is Texas after all.

[TreasonousBastard]

15. I'm not sure, but I suspect they are afraid of a very high profile...

campaign that has a good chance of becoming a high profile loss.

I think they are wrong, but it's their money and their big contributors who call the shots.

[dsc]

7. the problem in Texas is two fold or actually likely three fold

First, Davis is a pretty big underdog by any measure. Second, Texas is an incredibly expensive state to compete in, I would bet the cost of competing in Texas would be higher than that of competing in all of the second tier races combined. Third, even if she were to win, Texas is a weak governor state so we wouldn't gain nearly as much as winning in say MI or WI.

[TreasonousBastard]

18. I remember that pretty much all the Governor's power was...

cut off after they found one selling pardons out of the kitchen door. Real power now lies in other places, like the Railroad Commission, and the Governor is a figurehead.

I'd prefer to see Wendy in the Senate, but then again, she wouldn't be the first Texas figurehead to head for the White House...

You gotta see American politics for the game it is.

[SheilaT]

8. Howard Dean instituted a 50 state policy.

They need to go back to that.

[DrDan]

41. you are right in general, however they need to make judicial decisions regarding finite funds

spreading them too thin could cost us states we otherwise might win

[herding cats]

9. With party support like that, it's true.

Dems won't be winning in Texas anytime in the future unless the Dem Party decides to get behind them again. Paging Howard Dean...the Democratic Party needs you and your 50 state strategy.

[Jefferson23]

10. That would be an awful mistake to not support her:

April 24, 2014

Wendy Davis says “something magical” is happening that polls aren’t yet capturing about her campaign

Wendy Davis reassured supporters today that her campaign for governor is making progress despite “the naysayers who say we can’t do this. “I know there is something magical happening in this state. It’s hard to measure in a poll, but I am seeing it.” Davis appeared via Skype at a luncheon sponsored by Annie’s List, which supports Democratic pro-choice women candidates. She is still recuperating from neck surgery and chose to stay in Fort Worth and speak long-distance rather than make the three-hour drive to Austin for the luncheon. Davis trails Abbott in recent polls and analysts say she faces an uphill battle in a state that has not elected a Democrat for governor since Ann Richards in 1990.



While Davis herself was in Fort Worth, top members of her campaign team were in Austin for the luncheon and a day-long meeting of the candidate’s campaign finance team. Among them were chief political consultant J.D. Angle and communications chief Zac Petkanas. One supporter attending the finance session said the campaign hopes to rely heavily on new technology — the same high-tech programs that boosted President Obama’s reelection — to identify and boost voter turnout.

Davis cited issues that distinguish her from her Republican opponent, Attorney General Greg Abbott, including her support of abortion rights. But she dwelled on the issue of education, saying the Republican approach neglects some students while benefitting others. Both Abbott and Davis have made education a campaign issue. Abbott has proposed a pre-kindergarten program for some students, based on assessments. Davis is proposing state funding for universal pre-kindergarten. The Davis camp sees her message about education and reproductive rights as important to her appeal to women, especially moderate suburban women who were important for Richards. In 1990, Richards got 61 percent of women voters – a crucial constituency that the Davis campaign believes she needs to match in order to win this year.

http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/04/wendy-davis-says-something-magical-is-happening-that-polls-arent-yet-capturing-about-her-campaign.html/

[DJ13]

16. New party slogan

[dembotoz]

25. live in a republican area in wisconsin-run into this all the ding dong time

the party claims to be active everywhere, but the truth is somewhat less than that

recruit a candidate and watch your own team crap all over them
gets old really quick

[woo me with science]

57. The proclaimed goal of the party

is not always the actual goal of the party.

If we have learned anything from the corporate purchase of our party...

[Warpy]

17. Well, they've just declared themselves an utterly ridiculous,

self defeating organization that is completely out of contact with reality.

Davis can win Texas, especially if she plays it smart and campaigns on the ACA and the way the corrupt and cruel Republicans have tried to foul it up in Texas, leaving many uninsured.

Yes, Republicans have held that state for a long time. They've completely fucked up and it is obvious to everybody that a change is necessary, whether the preachers and oil barons like it or not.

I have the most disgusting suspicion that they'd be supporting a man.

[maddezmom]

19. This really pisses me off

[JI7]

20. donate directly to her campaign

[malokvale77]

22. It wasn't that long ago that Dem's held Texas

Maybe if they investigated the election fraud that has been going on since W mysteriously beat Ann Richards. they might get a clue.

I think there has been a secret hand shake that allows big money, big oil and other big corporations to have Texas. Everything in Texas is BIG, including the corruption.

Thanks, I feel better now.

[Paladin]

23. There's plenty of pessimism about Wendy Davis, right here at DU. (nt)

[kentauros]

53. Isn't that the truth!

I've even seen at least one such pessimist state that they donated to Wendy's campaign, all the while crapping on her ability to win. If you're that much of a pessimist, then keep your money for your local candidates, and leave us alone. We'll win without your "support."

[northoftheborder]

24. Tx Dems should be running on accepting Medicade, the ADA, but they are not. Some consultant...

....must be saying no, for some reason. I think it is a mistake. It needs to be pointed out how obstructionist Perry and the Rep. leg. has been on the health care issues, but I haven't heard it.

[Gothmog]

29. Accepting the Medicaid expansion was on the Texas Democratic Party primary ballot

Parties are allowed to have some non-binding measures on the ballot and one of these measures on the Texas Democratic party ballot was the acceptance of Medicaid expansion. This measure passed with 89% of the vote
http://news92fm.com/418311/2014-texas-democratic-statewide-primary-results/

Prop 3 Medicaid expansion
IN FAVOR DEM 279,782 89.53% 495,751 88.95%
AGAINST DEM 32,715 10.46% 61,564 11.04%

The Democratic Party is pushing a program called Texas Left Me Out where the party and other groups are trying to mobilize the voters who are being screwed by Goodhair's refusal to accept Medicaid money http://texasleftmeout.org/ There are 1 million people being screwed by Goodhair and we are trying to get them to vote.

[northoftheborder]

43. That's good, but I don't hear this mentioned in speeches; but...

.....maybe that's because the media isn't reporting on it. Perhaps polling shows independents not on board with it.

[Gothmog]

26. I am a Wendy supporter and I know that this will be a tough race

Wendy is an outstanding candidate and I think that she has a good chance which is why I have contributed to both Battleground Texas and her campaign (they are functionally the same organization). Texas is a tough state where the Democrats have not won a statewide office since 1994. I think that Wendy has a good chance in that she is strong with some key groups such as single suburban women voters and Hispanic voters.

Wendy is helped by the fact that Greg Abbott is no Rick Perry and Greg is making Goodhair look intelligent. Greg is not a good speaker and has been running a bad campaign so far. Wendy should be able to take advantage of Greg's mistakes.

[liberalhistorian]

27. "Those who insist something can't be done

should stay out of the way of those who are doing it".

Just a little something for the DGA to remember.

[Swede Atlanta]

28. That's why I give ZERO to the DGA.....

I only contribute to individual campaigns.

The DGA is nothing more than a governor's clique like the DNC and its counterparts. They are THE PROBLEM and not the solution. Never ever give to the DGA.

[HooptieWagon]

30. Nelson? in FL? God help us...

[davidn3600]

38. Getting rid of Scott is priority #1

But beyond that, there isn't a whole lot of hope of getting any left-of-center policy in place because the legislature is a very dark red, and that won't change this year. So even if Crist wins, that legislature will tilt him back to the right.

So we might get rid of Scott, but I wouldnt expect much to really change.

[MisterP]

31. "and if she loses it'll be the lefties' fault, and never ours! NEVER! OURS!"

[madfloridian]

32. Good point.

[MisterP]

34. "because WE win elections, not the voters--even when we refuse to try"

[justabob]

39. even when we refuse to try

Yup... It is so infuriating. Wendy can't win, so don't support her? What about the next election? Isn't it in the Party's interest to get the dem platform out there in front of the people? Maybe Wendy won't win, but more people will be engaged and we can build on whatever growth from this cycle in the next. The Party and apparently this group are happy to wait until the demographics tip in our favor (or whatever today's rationalization is) and until that time Texas is "unwinnable". I am so fucking tired of that attitude, both here at DU and out there in the party.

[MisterP]

58. but if you get more people voting we might win--or even see PRIMARIES!

won't you think about the smoke-filled rooms FOR ONCE?!

the people
Had forfeited the confidence of the government
And could win it back only
By redoubled efforts. Would it not be easier
In that case for the government
To dissolve the people
And elect another?
--Brecht

but in all seriousness, this is the same mindset that says both "don't vote 3rd party, vote in the primaries" AND "don't you dare vote in primaries, we'll lose the general"; their problem is it's convincing noone--especially once more and more remember that it was Jeb and Harris in '00, or their relief when Brown ended the Supermajority so they wouldn't have to work as hard... this is the exact same way we got Jeane Kirkpatrick: she was disappointed McGovern and Carter had turned against JFK and LBJ's level of interventionism (even if the presidents themselves were quite reluctant and demanded pullouts)--and, worse, were appealing to undesirables (especially women, a la Jan Crouch and Anita Bryant)

[JoeyT]

35. "And if she wins it'll be in spite of the lefties rather than because of them." n/t

[madfloridian]

33. Seems they might as well say to her to give up...she doesn't have a chance.

That is so discouraging. I noticed at Twitter the right wing is rejoicing that the party is giving up on her.

[blogslut]

36. It's okay. We're used to it.

Texas Democrats realized a long time ago that we're pretty much on our own.

http://www.battlegroundtexas.com/

[Paladin]

48. +100. On our own. If Abbott becomes TX governor, he'll make you miss Perry.

Unlike Perry, Abbott is smart. And unlike Perry, Abbott doesn't have even a sliver of human decency in his makeup. This is the most critical Texas governor's race in my relatively long lifetime, and you defeatists make me want to puke.

[Firebrand Gary]

37. Screw the DGA, Wendy Davis can do this on her own then...

YES SHE CAN! It actually might play even better for her that she has no association with the national DGA, she is doing this on her own!

[brooklynite]

40. Okay, WHICH Democrat would you prefer DGA NOT support?

This has nothing to do with ideology, and DGA (I've met with Shumlin several times) isn't in the business of picking winners. It has finite resources and it has to perform triage. Races that don't need the money don't get it (Say, Jerry Brown in CA) and races where the money won't help don't get it either.

I gave Davis some money early on, but the cold reality is that she's not displaying any forward traction and this is still rated as "SOLID R". Supporting her might make YOU feel good, but it won't change the outcome, and it would require DGA to hold back money from a candidate with better prospects.

[n2doc]

45. South Carolina

Not a chance in hell a dem wins there.

[tabbycat31]

65. 2nd closest governor's race in the country in 2010

Keep in mind 2010 was THE worst year to be a Democrat in my lifetime and Democrats came within 60K votes of capturing the governor's mansion in SC.

It's also a lot purpler than most people realize. Obama won 44.5% of the vote in SC without spending a dime and by sending his volunteers to NC.

FWIW I get emails from DGA and they mention Wendy Davis a LOT more than Vincent Sheheen (SC candidate).

[madfloridian]

46. Would have been better if they had not made it public.

I can not blame her campaign for being furious. The DGA did not have to call her case hopeless.

The DCCC has done that so much in Florida that most of us don't even pay attention anymore. We know if we like a candidate too much, that person will be taken out of the primary or deprived of help.

Is it cold reality or refusing to take advantage of a situation that could be built on hope?

[Bluenorthwest]

49. Announcing that you think the Republicans are a shoo in is campaigning

for the Republicans. It's that simple. Even if Shumlin, like all of his cohort, are super certain they can predict the future they should not assist Republicans by engaging in Republican boosterism.
He's suppressing our national turnout to indulge in self serving rhetoric and that's the nicest way I can put it. He's disgusting.

[madfloridian]

54. Exactly right.

[brooklynite]

55. No it isn't

If you can go to Texas and help her campaign, great. I'm talking (as the OP is) strictly about financial support, and giving to Davis is effectively not giving to another Democrat.

[ananda]

44. It doesn't help that the entire media..

.. has given Greg Abbott and the Texas Reeps a free pass on
their extremism and their horrible anti-woman comments and
racism.

And I mean the entire media across the globe, not only in Texas.

[liberal_at_heart]

50. Texas is on the verge of becoming a purple state. DGA needs to grow a spine.

[Savannahmann]

52. No, it isn't.

Texas isn't going Purple. Abbot is already coasting, saving money, and doing just scheduled friendly and heavily scripted events. He's won the race already, and unless he makes a huge mistake, and says something terribly stupid, which isn't going to happen when he is only doing very carefully scripted appearances.

So we have a simple choice. We can throw money at Texas, and hope that we can cut that 12 point Abbot has in half, which would be the most we could realistically hope for, a six point bump, and still lose badly, or we could take that money and spend it defending vulnerable Senate seats in the vital effort to save the Senate from the Rethugs. I think the Senate is far more important than a hopeless challenge in Texas, but everyone is free to do whatever they wish with their money.

[DavidDvorkin]

59. I'm afraid you're right

There's too much wishful thinking on DU.

[madville]

61. Last polls I saw from mid-April

Had Abbott +14, 51-37%. Wendy's favorability rating is awful as well, 33% favorable to 47% unfavorable.

These are from PPP around the 14th of April.

[Paladin]

62. Fuck it. We Texas Democrats know we're on our own. (nt)

[Savannahmann]

63. Personally...

Personally, I'd like nothing better than to see Wendy Davis win the Governor's mansion. But I don't believe that wishes will come out that way. So I have to take a look like the rest of us, at the Strategic, instead of tactical, situation.

But for the sake of argument, let's pretend that Wendy did win the Governor's mansion. She would have a hostile Rethug Legislature, and would be powerless to enact the reforms she wanted to vis a vie Choice without them. So best case scenario, gridlock in the Texas Legislature. Worst case, she has to sign legislation that they can pass without her signature by over-riding her veto. We know she's far more pro gun than a majority of Liberals, so she would have minimal support through the non traditional media on many of those bills that Texas would certainly submit for her approval, bills designed to make the recent Georgia gun bill look wimpy by comparison.

The Strategic I mentioned a paragraph above. We are in real danger, and don't let the cheerleaders fool you, very real danger of losing the Senate. Right now, eight toss up races exist, if the Rethugs win half of them, just four, they win control of the Senate. Republicans in control of the House, and Senate, means that the last two years of the Obama administration is shot to hell. The best we can hope for is that he remains strong and veto's the legislation put before him, forget reforming anything, or liberalizing any policy. Now obviously, that is the most important strategic situation facing us as Democrats. Nothing can matter more this election than holding control of the Senate.

Now, with that Strategic reality facing us, and acknowledging that we have limited funds and abilities, where do we dedicate our assets? If we try and win everything including races like Wendy's where there is no real hope, we will lose the Senate, and a lot more. If we ignore the battles we can't win, and focus on those we can, we stand a fair chance of holding onto the Senate by one vote, one.

Now, that reality is one we can't afford to lose. In the last two years of President Obama's term, we may have the opportunity to appoint a Supreme Court Justice. Imagine the Justice we'd be stuck with should the Rethugs control the Senate. With that reality in mind, I say that the one thing we can't afford to lose is the Senate. It's more important than showing Wendy how much we appreciate her courageous stand. it's more important than putting up a good, if token fight, for a district in which the Rethug will be re-elected. It's more important than anything we can try and do.

The larger the majority we can manage in the Senate, the easier it will be to handle the Judicial nominees, and especially a Supreme Court Justice should one open up. But if we lose the Senate, we should all take to praying that nothing happens until such time as we can regain the Senate.

Sun Tzu calls this sort of situation, Death Ground. It is literally not figuratively victory or death. Because if we lose the Senate, we start the battle for the White House in 2016 from behind, and with nearly unlimited funds via the two Supreme Court decisions, the Rethugs will have a much better chance in 2016 than we would like to think. This election is setting up the biggest battle any of us has ever imagined. This November, the ground will be lain for the battle for the White House and control of the Government in 2016. We just can't afford to lose the Senate. I can't say that strongly enough. I'm sorry that means not supporting a woman who is obviously as worthy as Wendy Davis, but worthy doesn't mean capable of victory, and the Rethugs will hold the Texas Legislature, there is no way we could afford to fight the various individual battles to take that back. I'm sorry, but that is the reality we are facing.

[Paladin]

64. Fuck it. We Texas Democrats know we're on our own. (nt)

[oldandhappy]

51. We here at DU can change this in 24 hours.

Pepper Gov. Peter with emails. That will do it.

[brooklynite]

56. So people who don't support DGA are going to convince them to change their priorities...that'll work

[TBF]

67. In Texas we'll go it alone if we have to -

and DGA and DNC can suck it. No $$$ from me while folks like you keep disparaging us.

[brooklynite]

69. I'm not disparaging you...I'm making a cold, hard calculation.

The $$$ I (or DGA) give you are $$$ not going to another candidate. There aren't enough $$$ to go to every challenger. Which ones are less worthy?

Personally, I make that judgement based on whether they have a chance to win. I actually gave Wendy money at the start; I'm not seeing any sign that the dynamics of the race have changed. But please try to convince me that the voters of Texas, who two years ago elected Ted Cruz by over a million votes, are ready to elect a progressive Democrat.

[oldandhappy]

60. Here is the address

https://secure.democraticgovernors.org/contact-us-email

Other threads are posting this also.

[TBF]

66. I hope the DGA doesn't need contributions from dems -

because they will never get one from me after this.