Imagine This: 80% of Democrats Go to the Polls in November, 2014.

[MineralMan]

In every congressional district throughout the United States, turnout by Democratic voters would be a record. The result would be a complete transformation of Congress and most state legislatures.

Just imagine! Imagine, and then help it happen in your own congressional district. We can do it, but only if we imagine it first.

GOTV 2014 and Beyond!

[yeoman6987]

1. Wow! That would be incredible

I am hoping we double the numbers to around 40 percent. Your prediction would be amazing.

[MineralMan]

2. Goals are important.

Imagining a goal is the first step in achieving it. My point in this thread is that we actually have it in our power to make the changes that are needed to move this country forward. We just have to do it. If we do, we'll make progress. If we do not, we won't. It's that simple.

[yeoman6987]

3. You are right

I am a little disappointed in the turn out for the primaries so far. Some states are getting around 10 percent. That is atrocious. However, November will have higher numbers and a goal is 80 is perfect.

[1StrongBlackMan]

34. That 10% is not unusual for ...

Off year primaries. I think, and am working to get those numbers up ... which I don't think will be that difficult when there will be a real life goper to run against.

[bigdarryl]

4. It could happen if we had incompetent leadership at the top of the Party

Instead of the idiots who are there now

[MineralMan]

5. I believe the word you are looking for is "competent."

Not "incompetent."

My deal is that I believe the first step toward a progressive government in the US is to end Republican majority control of Congress, once and for all. If that occurs, the stage will be set for progressive change.

If we continue to allow the Republicans to retain a majority in the House and enough members in the Senate to block actions, there is no hope for progressive change.

We can make it happen, but only if we are willing to get out and bring Democrats to the polls in unprecedented numbers. If we are unwilling to do that, the current state of affairs will simply continue.

[pscot]

6. Incompetence would be a step u p

from idiocy.

[MineralMan]

8. I see. I guess I won't count on your participation, then.

Too bad.

[pscot]

10. Snark?

And I haven't even had my 2nd cup of coffee yet. Whatever my opinion of our party's "leadership", I do my share.

[Ishoutandscream2]

36. On his high horse again

That's what he does.

[pscot]

62. Agreed

I love being talked down to.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

70. You make it so easy

And make your statement that you "do your part" so strikingly unbelievable when you open with uninformed childish bashing of the Democratic leadership.

People who actually canvass, phone bank, and otherwise talk outside their little echo chamber don't do this.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[pscot]

85. Are you always like this?

[Android3.14]

64. Voting for the democrats sometimes feels like chemo for terminal cancer

You know it probably won't work, but you go ahead and pay for the treatment.
What pscot is expressing is something different than snark.
It is pragmatic hope that this time the leadership will represent the people who voted for them, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
I share pscot's cynical hope.
Now, given that 80% turnout is as unlikely as discovering a diamond in your own earwax, perhaps we should be pressuring our leaders on a more populist agenda rather than encouraging people to accomplish tasks with the same effectiveness as encouraging a child to fly by flapping his or her arms faster.

[pscot]

66. Weed helps

[Android3.14]

72. With chemo and flying

[yurbud]

67. I agree. Once we finish burying the boogey man, corporate Dems won't be able to hide behind him

[okaawhatever]

7. Big K & R, The problem is us. American voters have complete control over what happens nt

[MineralMan]

9. We do. We just don't know that we do.

We can do whatever we want to do, if we're just willing to go to the polls in high numbers. That we don't is my biggest disappointment in life. The message we need to be taking to voters is that voting matters. Not instantly, and not in every place, but in the aggregate, our voting matters more than anything else we do.

We can overcome huge sums spent on campaigns, obstacles put in place to voting, and everything else by simply registering and actually voting in every election. If we choose to use that power, we will get the government we want. If we do not, we will get the government those who do vote select.

Seems simple enough to me.

[okaawhatever]

28. +100 nt

[mopinko]

24. when people reach out, person to person, people vote.

sort of a truism that you have to get out there and ask for the vote. but the numbers are clear. it works. door to door is best. phone calls can work if you can get through to anyone any more.

if we do it, they will come.

[MineralMan]

58. Absolutely. There is no question about it.

I've watched the turnout in my own precinct rise, just from my own, personal, canvassing. Talking to people works. Ask them to vote and help them understand why it matters, and they'll vote. If they aren't registered, help them register, and they'll vote. New voters who have recently registered vote in very high percentages. Voters who have been contacted vote in higher percentages than those who have not.

It's the most basic activism there is. Individual contact is far more valuable that advertising, overall. It brings people to the polls, and that's what matters.

[mopinko]

95. you have to ask for that vote.

tho i never miss an election, for the occasional voter, you have to ask. preferably in person.
obviously in the electronic age, it is possible to craft a media campaign that makes a voter feel invited.
but there is nothing like pressing the flesh.

in '08 i took several road trips, and got to see some of the numbers in the precincts we had visited. we averaged a 5% increase in margin in those precincts.

[FSogol]

11. Make it so, DU.

[MineralMan]

16. That's activism that gets results. Thanks!

[FBaggins]

12. I'd say that you're a dreamer... but you're not the only one. :)

It's not a bad dream to have. Just don't hold your breath.

[MineralMan]

14. I always keep breathing as I keep trying.

[progressoid]

13. That's ambitious. I'd be happy with 70%

[MineralMan]

15. Look at those numbers from the 19th century!

That's what we need now. Tell everyone their vote really does matter and convince them of that. That's the activist's responsibility, IMO.

[progressoid]

21. And it's got to be easier to vote today.

Of course a lot of America wasn't allowed to vote then, but still some impressive numbers from the 19th century.

I'm sure there is some sociological studies out there explaining these trends.

[FBaggins]

17. Those are presidential years.

Do you have the same data for off-year elections?

[progressoid]

23. About 20% lower than a presidential election

[FBaggins]

27. Yep. It's also useful to note...

... that the drop-off in apparent participation on the earlier graph was less a change in voter behavior than it was an expansion of the voting-eligible population.

[Maedhros]

88. Hey - history buffs!

Can someone explain the precipitous drop from a relatively stable 75% turnout from 1836 - 1900 to a relatively stable 55% turnout from 1920 - present?

EDIT: Apparently there's this thing called Google...

http://prospect.org/article/vanishing-voters

The decline in turnout was, as one would expect, entirely by design and aimed to decrease the influence of black, poor and working-class voters:

By the 1890s three key groups came to see this highly participatory political system as dangerous. Because American electoral democracy so effectively mobilized ordinary people, it had always potentially threatened concentrations of wealth. That potential threat became more palpable at the end of the nineteenth century as disaffected economic groups, such as the Knights of Labor and farmers' alliances, turned to electoral politics, culminating in the Populism of the 1890s.

To antiparty reformers and to Protestant, middle-class Americans, the ubiquity of patronage and the emphasis on spectacle and display also seemed a threat to rational government. They wanted to reduce the role of parties and rely more on disinterested, nonpartisan administration to cope with the strains of urban life, industrial disorder, and immigration.

Finally, to conservative Southerners, a vigorous, unfettered party politics endangered the stability of the South's social hierarchies. From 1868 to 1892 both white and black presidential turnout in the South was at least as high as it is now and probably higher, despite violence and other efforts to restrict turnout. The Populist strategy of building a class-based, cross-racial coalition of poor farmers threatened conservative Democrats and their economic allies.

Through gradual changes on a number of fronts, the groups that were dissatisfied with high participation prevailed. In the pivotal 1896 election, the Democrats embraced some of the Populist rhetoric but lost the White House for nearly two decades. The ensuing realignment left the Democrats strong inside the South, but Republicans strong in every other region, and as a result created enough regional one-party dominance to reduce popular interest in politics, particularly state and local elections. The reduced stimulus of less party competition weakened the hold of what Kleppner calls "party norms" on the electorate. Turnout dropped.

The elections of 1896 also set the stage for attacks on earlier electoral traditions. The sway of the two parties in their different regions made it easier to change the rules of electoral politics. In the South, after the collapse of Populism, Bourbon Democrats were free to revive white supremacist violence and to push blacks out of politics. But the new rules they imposed, including poll taxes and literacy tests, excluded poor whites as well.

Outside the South, new rules also made participation more costly. Legislatures established personal registration during workdays. At that time workers had neither an eight-hour day nor an hour off for lunch. Between 1900 and 1930 the percentage of counties outside the South with personal registration jumped 72 percent, according to Kleppner. Nor did legislatures require registration opportunities to be fairly distributed by neighborhood. As Piven and Cloward stress, personal registration depressed worker presence in politics, so that rational politicians increasingly directed their appeals to middle-class concerns. In turn, the absence of populist or collectivist appeals continued to discourage worker involvement in politics until the New Deal.

[FBaggins]

89. Suffrage

The total population eligible to vote grew much faster than the number of people who turned out to vote.

[Maedhros]

90. That was my initial thought as well, but see my edit above.

Both parties in their respective strongholds (Democrats in the South, Republicans elsewhere) enacted structural impediments to black/poor/working class voters.

[mountain grammy]

18. All politics are local..someone smarter than me said that.

We are liberal, we are Democrats, and we are everywhere. Knock on doors, contribute, hand out flyers. Our congressional district is safe, so we are off to GOTV in the districts currently held by Republicans, starting with the 6th and that teabagger Coffman.

We'll be getting out the vote for Andrew Romanoff!

[MineralMan]

19. Thank you for your activism.

We can do it, if we all get out and do the work.

[iamthebandfanman]

20. Hope folks have

some extra cash for donations come general election season...

all the media folks seem to be rooting for republicans to regain the senate (places like the wash post saying KY is still 98% chance of republican victory even tho polls show the race within 1-2%)..


I encourage everyone to go to places like ACTBLUE.com to find local democrats to give some funds
ACTBLUE doesn't take any of the donation , but do give you the option to give to their organization if youd like (for their service of keeping a directory and money distribution).. so all of your money goes to the candidate.

[MineralMan]

35. Even those without cash can help.

GOTV requires no money from those who participate...just people and time. Anyone can get involved. Every congressional and state legislative election is a local election. And that's where we need the voters: In congressional districts.

[kimbutgar]

22. Vote in November as if you life depends on it....because it does

The rethugs will impeach the president if they take both houses you can count in that,

[MineralMan]

29. They would certainly try to impeach Obama.

I doubt that would work, but, there are much worse things they could do, and would do in a second, if they get the chance.

[randr]

25. A mere +55% of women or millennials would do the trick

Two groups who have the most to gain by throwing the dynasaurs out of office only have to show up and they take control.
This is the campaign that Progressives must wage. I have a gut feeling the DNC would not be happy with the results either.

[MineralMan]

30. I'd prefer a higher percentage.

With a high enough turnout, we could conceivably alter the entire course of the nation, even in a mid-term election. I suggest we do exactly that. Let's all work to get people to the polls.

[riqster]

79. Also, high turnout makes it much harder to steal elections.

[MineralMan]

82. It certainly does. A large margin is almost impossible to

contest. You're absolutely right.

[riqster]

86. Examples for those reading this exchange:

2000: narrow margins in key states. Stolen.

2004: narrow margins in key states. Stolen.

2008 and 2012: larger margins. Not stolen.

Other examples are out there for non-Presidential elections.

[MineralMan]

87. Another thing that large margins prevent is recounts.

Recounts can be a source of stolen elections, particularly in states without a solid, verifiable recount process.

In other states, a properly-done recount will reveal the actual winner. Minnesota is an excellent example. It's recount procedures are public, observable and fair to all parties. We've had two recently. In the first, Al Franken won his seat by a handful of votes. In the second Governor Dayton also won after demonstrating that his close election was accurately counted in the original poll count.

Every state should have a recount process that is completely transparent and observed by all interested parties. Many, sadly, do not, so a large margin protects the voters' wishes.

[riqster]

91. Indeed. And where touchscreen devices are used, a true recount is impossible.

That is because there is no way for a human to manually recount what the machine counted. The devices are the only way to do a recount, and if they were hacked or otherwise compromised, the recount won't reveal the errors.

Everyone should have a right to a paper ballot that they can mark. And everyone should USE that right. In Ohio, the easiest way is to vote absentee.

In this case, when the choice is "paper or plastic", always pick paper.

[MineralMan]

92. True. Where there are non-paper record voting procedures,

voting absentee is one way to assure that your vote has a permanent, paper record. In Minnesota, we use optical readers to read the marked ballots, and the ballots are retained. After each election, precincts are selected at random for comparison between the machine count and the physical ballots. So far, the results have shown that our elections are accurately counted. Complete statewide recounts have further proven that Minnesota's elections are fair, accurate, and are not influenced by fraudulent practices.

Something similar needs to be in place everywhere. That's why it's crucial to try to elect Democratic majorities in state legislatures. The Republicans have proven that they will create fraudulent election results if they can get away with it. That needs to stop, once and for all.

[riqster]

93. Just so.

Remember who "wrote" HAVA? Bob Ney, Republican and convicted criminal.

Actually written by Diebold and other industry players. Who are Repubs. A tidy little setup.

So any time we can wrest control from the industry consultants and restore it to the boards of election, it's best we do so.

Minnesota sounds like a good model.

[liberal N proud]

26. The GOP would be finished

Now how do we make it happen?

[MineralMan]

32. The best approach is for each of us to start right now

with the goal of getting as many people besides ourselves to the polls in November. Local Democratic Party organizations have the voter registration lists of Democrats. Each one needs to be talked to and convinced to show up and vote. Beyond that, we can register other voters who are likely to vote for Democrats and get them to the polls as well.

On a personal level, each of us should work to bring 10 other people to the polls who will vote for Democrats. Just 10. And we should try to get those 10 people to each bring just 5 more voters to the polls. It's a snowball effect that, if done properly, has proven itself as effective.

If you get involved with your local party organization's GOTV efforts, you can bring even more than 10 to the polls. This works. But, it requires people and time. Phone banking. Precinct canvassing. Talking up the election. Anything that anyone can do helps, but everyone who cares has to get involved.

[zeemike]

56. By offering them something that effects their life.

Not by defending the party...but the GOP will attack, and we will defend as usual and people will be turned of as usual.

[santamargarita]

31. If we don't vote it will be more bullshit from the crazies.

[MineralMan]

33. It's not just individual voting. It's more than that.

We all have to get others to come out and vote, too. It won't happen otherwise.

[Capt. Obvious]

37. Imagine there's no heaven

It's easy if you try

[MineralMan]

41. I don't have to imagine that.

I know there's not. No sarcasm needed.

I also don't have to imagine what happens when strong GOTV activism efforts are at work. I've seen it in action in every place I have lived. I've helped make it happen. You can do that too.

[Auntie Bush]

38. Fat chancr of that happening! Dem's have a miserable record. nt

[MineralMan]

39. So, you're saying we shouldn't try to GOTV?

Really? I can tell you that it works. I've seen it work in every precinct and district I've lived in. Active GOTV efforts have resulted in higher turnouts for the districts I live in than in other nearby districts. I've always been active in those efforts, and I've seen the results.

Saying that it doesn't work is simply discouraging people from doing the hard work. Please don't do that. Instead, get involved with GOTV efforts in your own area and see just how effective it can be. That's what I'm encouraging. I don't discourage voters. Ever!

[MannyGoldstein]

40. Like fresh pasta, they're more effectively pulled than pushed. nt

[MineralMan]

43. Manny, that is a meaningless statement.

I've been involved in GOTV efforts all of my adult life. I've worked in them and led them. What I can tell you is that in every place I've done that, Democratic turnout has been higher than in neighboring districts where such efforts weren't as strong.

You're welcome to be as cynical as you please. I can't share your cynicism and won't. Instead, I'll be here offering encouragement for people to take the steps needed to increase Democratic turnout right where they live. If you're not on board with that, that's up to you. Your cynicism will not help change this country for the better. Cynicism never does that.

Sincerely,

Positive-way MineralManny

[MannyGoldstein]

48. *My* cynicism isn't the issue

It's the cynicism of the electorate that keeps them away from the polls - no matter who they vote for, things get worse for the 99% and better for the 1%, who can blame them?

[MineralMan]

51. Whatever you say, Manny.

You've apparently convinced yourself. Keep trying and you might succeed at convincing others that there's no point in voting.

I'm not buying it. People do vote. I'm in favor of convincing more to do that. You appear to be trying to convince them otherwise.

I find that depressing, and won't participate in your anti-GOTV efforts. Sorry.

Sincerely,

GOTV-way MineralManny

[MannyGoldstein]

57. I'm not anti-GOTV, at all

Please stop claiming I am.

I just want some help from Democratic leadership, besides Elizabeth Warren and a handful of others.

[MineralMan]

59. Whatever you say, Manny.

I only have your posts on which to base my opinion, and they're not enthusiastic about getting out the vote. Just the opposite, really.

But, if you say so. I'll trust that you're personally engaged in GOTV efforts in your own area. That's great. Now, if you'd just stop constantly trying to run down Democrats, I'd feel much better.

With that, I'm not going to engage with you any further in this thread.

[Laelth]

53. +1 (and I am saddened that I must agree). n/t

-Laelth

[zeemike]

60. It's not meaningless at all.

Just try to GOTV by telling people that the GOP is evil and you should be afraid of them and see what happens...they will shut you out because you are doing what Fox does...trying to scare them.
Then try offering them a policy that will work for them and see the diference....you can drive them with a whip or you can offer them a carrot...they will respond better to the carrot.

[MineralMan]

61. Absolutely right. And that's what GOTV activism is about.

First, you learn what the candidates running in your local districts are about and you help those you talk to know about it. I never said anything about trashing the GOP. They do a great job of that all by themselves. It's not difficult. You just have to know the candidates and their positions.

GOTV efforts are positive efforts, not negative. Negativity does not bring Democratic voters to the polls, especially negativity about the Democratic candidates on the ballot.

[Auntie Bush]

42. Fat chance of that happening! Dems have a miserable record of voting.

They need a fire built under. ReThugs get out the Vote because they are so SCARED of all those LIBERAL SOCIALISTS.

[MineralMan]

45. I answered your identical reply above.

[Firebrand Gary]

44. Kick & Recd - I look forward to November, I CANNOT WAIT to vote!

[MineralMan]

47. Don't forget to vote in your primary elections, too.

Help to choose the best candidate.

Thanks for your enthusiasm. Share it with others, too, where you live.

[smallcat88]

46. Been thinking the same thing

I've been working on a flyer and the content for a blog or website to get out the vote but I'm dirt poor and can't afford to pay for domain, hosting and all that. If anyone wants to take what I've got and run with it or has any ideas - let me know. Sample flyer:



WHY YOU
HAVE TO VOTE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT, INDEPENDENT, OR
A MODERATE FROM EITHER PARTY
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Many Americans are far too busy with their own lives to pay close attention to politics and the news. Especially if you are working two or more jobs just to make ends meet.
So here is a list of what Republicans have been doing, and in far too many instances getting away with, since the rise of the Tea Party . . .

rolling back women's rights (attempts to ban birth control, obstructing equal pay)

putting more guns (including illegal guns) on our streets

pushing for the same fiscal policies that wrecked the economy

increasing corporate welfare at the expense of the poor and middle class

voting against jobs bills to help veterans

voting against jobs bills to help anyone (including the small business jobs act)

denying climate change (being anti-science in general)

voter suppression

money now has 1st amendment rights




I work at a local Kmart and whenever I mention this stuff people look at me like I'm crazy because they're not paying attention to national politics and have no idea a lot of this stuff is happening! THAT'S the problem. APATHY. If more people knew what the bat-shit crazy right-wing was doing they would get mad and vote!

[MineralMan]

49. Go to Blogger.com.

Blogs are free. Create one for your area and your election.

[jaxind]

50. Make them wish they hadn't!

Let's make the Rethugs wish they hadn't messed around with how money influences politics. Just like how in 2012, they tried to suppress the minority vote, and the minorites came out in droves. Let's hope the low-income voter refuses to have his voice suppressed, and will turn out in droves in November 2014!

[MineralMan]

54. Let's help them come out in droves.

That's what I'm suggesting. Anything you can do will help.

[Bandit]

52. If we would work just half as hard trying to establish "Vote By Mail" we would not have to

worry about GOTV nearly as much as we do now.. We would solve a lot of our problems if we would only try. Does anyone ever wonder why Republicans mail out ballots to every registered Republican while Democrats walk around muttering about getting out their voters. Republicans figured this out years and years ago.

[MineralMan]

55. I agree. However, there's no time to do that before November.

On the other hand, if we get out the vote and elect Democratic Majorities in our state legislatures, we might just have a chance to do that in time for the 2016 election.

[jwirr]

63. I really wish that would happen. It would help us both locally and nationally. It would also be

interesting to see how much of a win that would mean to the party.

rethugs are trained to follow the leader and they turn out even when they are not interested because the leader tells them to. We Democrats tend to be more independent and that hurts us in the long run.

[MineralMan]

65. Enthusiastic GOTV campaigns in individual districts

really do work. It doesn't take a lot of people to make them work, either. A few really dedicated election activists can make a big difference. I encourage everyone to get involved in their own congressional district to help with both House elections and state legislative elections, along with all of the down-ballot local elections.

Too often, a lot of us pay more attention to big national elections and forget that our local elections tend to affect us even more. That's the message I take to voters during GOTV campaigns. The goal is to get people to the polls to vote on stuff that affects them directly. In the process, all Democrats benefit.

[jwirr]

68. MM can you direct me to the precinct I need to work with? I live in Cloquet.

[MineralMan]

78. Sure. Just go to this link:

http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=4

There, click the Find Where You Vote link. Follow the steps and you'll get your precinct identification information and your polling place. That will give you the info you need.

The Secretary of State website is information central for voters.

For information about the DFL and how you can help, click this link:

http://www.dfl.org/get-involved-menu/

You'll be able to find your local DFL party organization, with contact information. It's easy to get involved, and you can help!

[jwirr]

84. Thank you.

[radhika]

69. Imagine: We could end our national nightmare in ONE well-planned day!

Even in some gerrymandered districts, a huge Dem turnout could save the day. It'll take work, but it could happen.

I have lots of issues with lots of Democrats. But we aren't touting the pros/cons of individual Democrats at this point. If we don't want impeachment, end of all safety net programs and freedom for women and minorities - ALL Repukes must be blocked.

[MineralMan]

71. Thank you for your imagination. You're correct.

The improvement would start immediately in January. Minimum wage increase? Done. Restore long-term unemployment payments? Done. Get all those Federal Court appointments ratified? Done. And that's just the beginning.

Imagine a Democratic Congress that would send bills to President Obama for his signature. I have no trouble imagining that, and that's what I'm selling to prospective voters this year.

We can make changes happen if we really want to badly enough.

[abelenkpe]

73. I will enthusiastically vote for the candidate dedicated to stop offshoring

and fight subsidies that draw working class jobs away from the US.

[MineralMan]

75. Is that your only issue?

For me, there are numerous issues. I will vote for a candidate who represents progressive movement in many areas, even when a particular issue is one we might disagree about. When the alternative is a Republican who will certainly vote against my beliefs in almost every area, I will enthusiastically vote for a candidate who will vote in ways that have my approval, even if not in every area.

Normally, we have two viable choices. I've rarely seen a candidate who agrees with me on every issue. I don't expect to. I vote because my vote makes a difference in many areas.

To get better candidates, overall, I participate in the process of selecting, endorsing, and voting for the best candidate in the primary elections. In November, I vote for the best available candidate who can win. I never skip an election and always vote for the best candidate. That candidate is almost always a Democrat. The only time I will vote for a third party is when the Democrat has absolutely no chance to win. I will never vote for a Republican. But I will always vote. Every election. Every time.

[Politicub]

74. K&r for GOTV!

[MineralMan]

76. Thank you!

[NorthCarolina]

77. Won't gerrymandering suffice to keep the house in GOP hands regardless of Dem turnout? nt

[riqster]

80. Not in most districts, no.

Gerrymandering is based in part on turnout assumptions. Exceeding them breaks the paradigm and allows us to win.

There are a few districts that are in winnable. But only a few. The rest we can take.

[MineralMan]

81. No. In some districts in some states, it may be almost

impossible to elect a Democrat in 2014. But, we don't have to win every district to regain control. A massive turnout of Democrats will win more than enough seats to have control of the House and will assure election of enough Senators to have a super majority in the Senate.

Even in states where gerrymandering has made things difficult, though, there are districts that can be flipped. If yours isn't one of those, you can do GOTV in districts that can be flipped.

But, not all states have been gerrymandered in favor of Republicans. Redistricting was done in 2011 and 2012, following the 2010 census. Districts won't change until 2021 at the earliest. So, it's even more important in those states to GOTV in districts which can be flipped. In your own area, you can also work to elect Democrats to your state legislature. Even in gerrymandered districts, a strong local candidate can turn the tables on the Republicans in state legislative races.

Whatever you can do will help, even if you can't flip your congressional district. But if 80% of Democrats actually did turn out, even gerrymandered districts could be flipped.

[Cha]

94. And, now a word from Uncle Sam..

mahalo MM

[Number9Dream]

96. My Republican Congressman is running unopposed

Democratic leadership: Please give me a candidate to vote for.

I live and work in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania. In November, I will be voting for the Democratic candidate against Tom Corbett, as well as any other Democrats running for whatever. Our two Senators are not up for election in 2014. My Congressman is Republican, Charlie Dent. This year, he will be running unopposed by any Democratic opponents. Listening to and reading various progressive media, I'm told over and over that in order to take back the House and retain the Senate, it's up to Democratic voters to vote in November. I'd love to vote for any Democratic candidate against Charlie Dent, but the Democratic Party can't come up with a single candidate to run against Dent. The Party leadership is letting down thousands of Democratic voters, not the other way around. It makes me wonder how many other races nationwide feature unopposed Republicans.