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Yes, she has fired up her base, yes they will turn out, but guess what? These past 8 years have given democrats a sizable lead in voter identification. Regardless if she rallies the base, we must take comfort in that we're starting out with a bigger portion of the electorate that identify with democrats, so IMO we already have a head start. The number of democrats that we turned out in just the PRIMARY is just over 50% of what Bush got in the G.E (admittiedly there may be great Overlap. So please consider sending an extra 10 dollars, or better yet contacting your nearest obama field office to find out how you can help in voter registration drives and canvassing. The assumption of the Obama campaign (and it may be wrong) is that there are millions of Americans out there who want a change from the last 8 years, who are disillusioned with the tenor and talk in washington, that we can draw upon and expand the electorate.
We cannot allow 2004,2000 and other prior democratic failure to dampen our enthusiasm to help in this movement (whether it be monetary, hitting the pavement, or spreading the truth throughout the internet). In 2004 we were dealing with a Rove machine that had machinations in place to turn out the vote, faaaarr before the less than two months we have left now. Specifically with Gay Marriage ammendments designed to turn out the vote in that way, were arrranged far in advance (Colorado has a "life definition" one but there are many states where we can compete to get that 270). While Palin is seemingly more of a fundamentalist then bush, I've yet to see the savy and organization that Obama (or 2004 rove had). Their Flocks may be big, but a shepard has to do more than say all of the nice words, the shepard has to use the crook of organization to rally these people to the polls, and it's not a given that they will do that (although we prepare on our front as if they will)
The Fundies aren't unbeatable, unless we give up. WE (democrats) have the advantage right now I say, whether we stay there depends on how well Obama's campaign can handle the tough waters and it depends on OUR resolve as well. The bottom line is turnout, and Obama's "community organizing" experience which Palin mocked today, the Saul Alinski Model that Obama used so effectively to increase voter turnout throughout this country, let's turn this power, our power, on McCain, Palin and anyone else that gets in our way. Thank You
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