Akron BJ description of GOP grassroots campaign

[Kolesar]

It is devoid of details. I don't get anything of the GOP using the churches for organizing.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/politics/10096196.htm

excerpt:

Bush won 72 counties -- as he did in 2000 against Gore -- but this year his margins of victory in most of those counties and the number of voters who came out were much larger. In 43 counties, Bush captured at least 60 percent of the vote, and in 11 counties he took home 70 percent or more.

Green said those huge Republican margins in Ohio's less-populated counties made the difference. ``That adds up to a lot of votes -- 10,000 votes here and 20,000 votes there,'' he said. Republicans have used that strategy for years in Ohio to offset the Democrats' advantage in urban areas.

Green said the 72-Hour Program the GOP kicked off in 2002 was used effectively again this year. ``Ohio has a first-class Republican organization. It's extraordinary and it performs very, very well. There's no magic involved. ``People know how to do it and how to get results. It's an older-style organization, so it may get discounted by some. But it's a powerful weapon,'' Green said.

[cmd]

1. Our volunteers were very reluctant to talk to voters

I believe that the republicans have convinced us that we are nothing; that we have no rights; that we are stupid. We let them demonize the word liberal. We now have to live with that. Anyone who thinks that an election can be won in a few months before that November day is foolish. We must begin today and not let up. We can do no less than we have been doing since Kerry won in the primaries.

I have begun by contacting my volunteers. The most valuable thing I took home from HQ was my list of supporters. I will continue to nag and cajole them to keep up their spirits and not let down their guard. I thought that being retired was going to be a life of ease. It's not, it's work and I'm ready for it. Good luck to all of you. We cannot rest.

[AngryOldDem]

2. GOP didn't have to use the churches for organizing...

...the churches did most of the heavy lifting for the GOP on their own, no questions asked.