DNC spokesman Hari Sevugan on the Party's efforts

[ProSense]

Update: DNC spokesman Hari Sevugan e-mails: "While there were nearly a half dozen blind quotes criticizing our strategy, we have elected to respond on the record to provide a semblance of balance to this story. This story and the concerns expressed by these strategists are based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the effort OFA and the DNC are engaged in. First, our strategy is based on turning out base and reliable as we would traditionally do, AND turning out those who would otherwise be 'fall off' voters from 2008. Turning out so called 'surge' voters is not exclusive of turning out our base. In fact, and second, our base and the surge voter population have high level of overlap. Of the 15 million first time voters in 2008, 30% were under 30 years old; a majority were minority voters. Third, in order to run an expanded turnout operation we have raised and committed more resources both in terms of money and manpower to do so.The DNC has raised a record $165 million this cycle so far, and has committed a total of $50 million to 2010 efforts. $20 million in transfers to state parties and campaign committees (this is not including 50-state strategy dollars or other transfers) and $30 million in additional services. By way of comparison our total commitment in 2006 was $17 million. So, even the direct transfer amount alone, that would ostensibly be used in a way the state party and committees traditionally use those funds, is greater than our TOTAL commitment in 2006. That said, all $50 million of our resources are directed to turning out base, reliable, sporadic and surge voters. For example, we recently announced a $3 million advertising effort to reach African American voters, which is more than ten times what was invested in 2006. It should also be noted that the idea that we are committing nearly 3 times as much total as the last midterm cycle to this year's midterms clearly demonstrates that our focus is singularly on getting as many Democrats elected this year as we can. Fourth, with OFA Democrats now have the largest field effort in the history of the party for a non-presidential year with offices in all 50 states, organizers and volunteers in all 435 congressional districts, and with trained, experienced field staff that has been working in the communities they are going to turn out the vote in for the last 21 months."

"By turning out base and reliable voters as we would ordinarily do in addition to expanding the pool to turn out surge voters, and dedicating more resources by multiple folds to do so, we haven't taken on any additional risk. The risk would be incurred by not optimizing and leveraging our resources."

link

[ProSense]

1. Someone unrec'd this? Really? n/t

[angee_is_mad]

2. CRAZY SEASON

but great post.

[ProSense]

4. Better to keep

having fact-free discussions.

[CakeGrrl]

3. From the "Teach the Dems a lesson" crowd, most likely

Crazy.

[Kdillard]

5. Excellent. I hope a lot of people are eating crow come Nov.

[AC_Mem]

6. I'm starting to get that feeling

of excitement, of being teary-eyed with pride. That feeling that we got when we saw Candidate Obama's wave become larger and larger as we got closer to the November 2008 election.

I wonder if many others are feeling this way too. If we can grab that feeling again, remember the pride we had, how we all worked so hard together and watched as our democratic candidate excited and engaged crowds that were enormous. The man we knew would be called President Obama - that energy could create a very good outcome for Democrats.

Remember?

[Ramulux]

7. Me too

I pay really close attention to the polls and to be honest I find this whole red wave narrative more ridiculous by the day. A month ago, the senate was completely up for grabs, now it is pretty much safe. Any number of house races have seen the Dem come back from the dead to be within the margin of error. We have seen a report from Pew showing how big of a difference not calling cell phones makes in polling. We have seen record breaking fund raising numbers from various democratic committees and we have seen how much money they have put into GOTV operations. The tide has turned and it is up to us to stay positive and not let the media bullshit get us depressed. Things are getting better, trust me.

[oswaldactedalone]

8. As a result of this info from the DNC

I'm doubling the contribution I planned to make today to both the DNC and OFA. Will you join me? Also, consider using your email address book to remind friends and family to vote. Get your enthusiasm up and let's get out the vote!

[oswaldactedalone]

Just did it!!!

$500 to each group, had only planned to give $250 this time, but I'm fired up and ready to go!!!!

[cornermouse]

9. So why were the republican yard and highway signs out a month to 6 weeks

before the democrats finally got around to it? If they were organized, experienced, and effective shouldn't the democrats have had signs out before the last couple of weeks?

Seriously, you're driving down the highway or through a familiar part of town looking for things of interest and all you see is republican signs with the names of republican candidates? Isn't that (getting the candidate's name out there and making it familiar/recognizable) at least part of what successful politics is about especially with those who are not as interested in politics but who still vote?

[ProSense]

10. Which

state?

[cornermouse]

12. Let's just say it was the 48 state mainland and leave it at that.

What's your point? That I should make a choice about whether to get rid of my full time job, full time school, or full time house and kids to distribute signs? I don't think so. There were no democratic signs on the highway or even in the city until 4 - 6 weeks after the republican signs appeared. I know because I was specifically looking for them.

[ProSense]

14. "What's your point? " My point was asking which state you're in.

You obviously don't want to say for whatever reason.

[cornermouse]

15. That doesn't change the fact that they didn't have signs up

until late in the campaign.

[ProSense]

17. When the signs went up

doesn't refute the OP. You chose to make it to counter the DNC statement that they are in all 50 states.

I asked which state out of curiosity. I'm in NJ. Are you afraid to disclose your state?

[cornermouse]

18. Why.

I'm not sure why it matters what state at this point. I posted about it at least a couple of times earlier in the campaign season and no one seemed to find it interesting or important. You can't correct the mistake this late in the campaign season even if you were in a position to correct anything within the democratic party, which I rather tend to doubt.

[babylonsister]

11. Do you also complain when the sun rises? NT

[cornermouse]

13. Correcting an obvious oversight. n/t

[Spazito]

16. Tell me something...

Have you ever driven, walked by signs that are up so long you no longer notice them, any effect they first had on you has totally disappeared?

Have you ever driven, walked by a new sign, noticed it BECAUSE it was new and read it, again because it was new?

Timing is everything.

[AC_Mem]

19. The signs

there are so many of them that I really don't pay attention. I will say this though, I wish that the democrats would use blue signs and put on there that they are a democratic candidate. If they did - I would pay close attention. Or even use the new "D" logo.