Tim Kaine quote :

[kentuck]

(lifted from www.talkingpointsmemo.com )

"I had to do three things to win in a red state: find and energize Democratic voters; share my story with the voters; reach out to independent and Republican voters in a strategic way. That's exactly what I did."

Do you agree with this strategy? And how do you reach out to independent and Republican voters in such a way that you are not obliged to follow their agenda to a large degree and you are forever frozen in the status quo?

[LiberalEsto]

1. Kaine also benefited from Warner's success as gov.

If Warner hadn't preceded him and straightened out a lot of rethug messes in Virginia, I'm not sure Kaine would have had a chance.

[endarkenment]

2. Talk issues that matter to working people everywhere.

Education, healthcare, etc. Core Democratic issues that cut right into the independent voter base. Kaine is wrong about reaching core Republican voters: you can't do that without turning off your Democratic base.

1/3 D, 1/3 I, 1/3 R. The trick is to get more than 50% of the 'I' votes.

[kentuck]

3. How do you get more than 50% of "I" votes ?

I agree with you.

[onenote]

4. Kaine did it just right

He played to the issues of fiscal responsibility and to dealing with the real world local issues, such as traffic, that impact voters regardless of party, and he make indies and some repubs feel like he wasn't out of the mainstream.

Its how a Dem can win in a largely red state. And since he's barred from seeking reelection under state law, he's not obligated to follow anyone's agenda but his own.

onenote