Democrats try to stake claim in Texas

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AUSTIN, Texas — In Republican-dominated Texas where voters opted for John McCain in 2008, the Democratic National Committee is waging one of its biggest organizing efforts in the nation.

Organizing for America, an arm of the Democratic Party established this year and successor to President Barack Obama's campaign, has a staff in Texas as large as any of its other state operations, including California and Ohio. It's seizing on the opportunity presented by the 3.5 million Texans, mostly in urban areas, who voted for Obama over McCain.

Although its immediate purpose is to build support in all 50 states for a federal health care package and other legislation on Obama's agenda, Organizing for America also is looking to help Democrats regain their footing in Texas for the 2010 election.

"We are going to make sure that we have volunteers ready to go at a moment's notice," said Hector Nieto, Texas spokesman for the organization. Nieto and state director Luke Hayes aren't yet divulging details of their election year strategy.
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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6778698.html

[sonias]

1. Yes we can!

The Texas effort is mostly centered on metropolitan areas like Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio along with Brownsville — all in counties that went for Obama in November 2008 — plus Waco, a conservative area which voted for McCain last year but where U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, a longtime, popular Democratic incumbent often draws a serious Republican challenger.

For organizers like Shandra Jackson in Arlington, the volunteer work means spending up to eight hours each week outside of her regular job as a paralegal. She got involved with the Obama campaign in 2008 and decided to stay on after the election.

"We have an opportunity that we can actually capitalize on," said Jackson, 35.

Sonja McGill, a 38-year-old attorney in Dallas and a Democratic community organizer, said she believes the group will help Texas voters learn more about candidates in the coming year. She said it's not surprising the Obama-backing group is taking root in a mostly Republican state like Texas.

"It would be easy to do it in a blue state," she said. "I think we're on the precipice of being able to be competitive in this state."

First we turn the large urban areas blue (we have pretty much) then we we win. There are more votes in the large urban areas than the rural ones, and more are moving to Texas everyday. It takes shoes on the ground, in every neighborhood. Plus some DNC money would really help. A coordinated campaign with some national funding.

Sonia