Fifty State Campaign – I’d like to see that

Seriously, as a long time political activist, I really will enjoy watching Obama’s grand plan roll out. Major, particularly national, election campaigns around the world have undergone an evolutionary process which locks in an element of negativity. Parties simply won’t support their own supporters in supposedly difficult contests.

To a great extent it comes down to logistics and resources, and possibly control factors. So campaign head office tends to cherry pick serious contests for all out assault and try and limit the rest to flag waving, at best.

It has always seemed to me, often supporting in one of the write off districts, that the process wastes, rather than conserves, valuable resources. Let’s face it, if you have supporters willing to stand up against the odds you have some highly committed people on side.

But more than that, which electoral districts, states or whatever the criteria is, makes the serious attack list, and those relegated to the ‘also rans’ is often made several years before a campaign, and doggedly adhered too. The choices make no real allowance for shifts in the on the ground dynamics.

Running a totally positive campaign does take resources, and commitment and trust that most campaign teams will stick with the agenda. The latter is always a worry, regardless of who is in and who is out. Local campaigns tends to go all out, regardless of party support. But real support would lock most into the agenda.

Obama’s gift

Democratic strategists must be shitting bricks; with Obama’s highly inclusive approach the old rule books need to be tossed out and new processed put in place. Rewriting the rules is probably never a bad thing, but for old campaigners it is scary. Just the potential for loss of control must cause sleepless nights.

Obviously Obama believes he has the money side covered, and campaign funds do flow with projected success. With the money question in hand Obama took the next obvious step, enlisting Democratic incumbents to strengthen their own positions by ensuring the election of more Democrat candidates.

Both those steps, the money and loyalty, are the stuff of self fulfilling prophesies. They are the basis of the art of politics, the creation of realities. Regardless of policy plusses or deficits Obama’s bold approach sets an agenda which holds the seeds of destruction or of incredible success.

But destruction only if his campaign army fail to be set on fire by the audacity. Already the signs are that Obama’s audacity is catching fire in an otherwise emotionally depressed America. Mounting economic gloom just adds to almost certain success.