doug wilder tells it like it is
(1/1)
y04185:
full commentary
The defeat of Creigh Deeds, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, by Republican Bob McDonnell was surprising only by the height of the double-digit margin of victory.
There have been and will be more post-mortems written, but I want to add the observation of one who literally predicted the Deeds defeat in the pre-mortem published in this newspaper weeks prior to the election. During the past few days I frequently have been encouraged to point my finger and loudly proclaim, "I told you so!" -- but I resist such behavior because it would be unproductive.
Candidly, though, I will state that Deeds' inability to resonate with the base of the party was not his only failure, as some have claimed. He also failed to connect with the overall root base of Virginia voters of all persuasions -- particularly independents and crossover Republicans. If a candidate cannot attract the votes of a broad-based coalition, it becomes extremely difficult -- if not impossible -- to win any statewide election in this commonwealth.
That is Virginia Politics 101, but sometimes it does us all good to refresh ourselves about the lessons these past few decades of elections have taught us.
As one who 30 years ago was in the vanguard of changing the electorate in Virginia's Democratic circles, I am incredulous that anyone could assume the party's base can be taken for granted anymore. It is difficult for me to understand why knowledgeable campaign advisers would instruct a candidate to assume he had the support of the Democratic base while displaying no reason at all for that assumption.
I was interviewed by a reporter from this paper who said that there were Democrats -- some of whom that reporter cited by name -- dismissing my pre-election admonition to the party and suggesting that such sentiments were inconsequential and would have no effect.
My quoted comment from that interview accurately reflected my view: "Wait until Election Day." I am not saying that my refusal to endorse Deeds was the cause of his defeat. What I am saying is that I seem to have shared the inclination of the vast majority of Virginia's electorate relative to Deeds -- and that was reflected at the polls.
oldsport:
Quote from: y04185 on December 07, 2009, 12:50:29 PM
full commentary
The defeat of Creigh Deeds, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, by Republican Bob McDonnell was surprising only by the height of the double-digit margin of victory.
There have been and will be more post-mortems written, but I want to add the observation of one who literally predicted the Deeds defeat in the pre-mortem published in this newspaper weeks prior to the election. During the past few days I frequently have been encouraged to point my finger and loudly proclaim, "I told you so!" -- but I resist such behavior because it would be unproductive.
Candidly, though, I will state that Deeds' inability to resonate with the base of the party was not his only failure, as some have claimed. He also failed to connect with the overall root base of Virginia voters of all persuasions -- particularly independents and crossover Republicans. If a candidate cannot attract the votes of a broad-based coalition, it becomes extremely difficult -- if not impossible -- to win any statewide election in this commonwealth.
That is Virginia Politics 101, but sometimes it does us all good to refresh ourselves about the lessons these past few decades of elections have taught us.
As one who 30 years ago was in the vanguard of changing the electorate in Virginia's Democratic circles, I am incredulous that anyone could assume the party's base can be taken for granted anymore. It is difficult for me to understand why knowledgeable campaign advisers would instruct a candidate to assume he had the support of the Democratic base while displaying no reason at all for that assumption.
I was interviewed by a reporter from this paper who said that there were Democrats -- some of whom that reporter cited by name -- dismissing my pre-election admonition to the party and suggesting that such sentiments were inconsequential and would have no effect.
My quoted comment from that interview accurately reflected my view: "Wait until Election Day." I am not saying that my refusal to endorse Deeds was the cause of his defeat. What I am saying is that I seem to have shared the inclination of the vast majority of Virginia's electorate relative to Deeds -- and that was reflected at the polls.
As long as K----s continue to give Demo-Craps their vote without conditions they'll keep getting chit on by those same Demo-Craps who laughing say we have the Nigg-..s vote in our pocket.
thirdeye:
::)
Hel! I think we actually agree on something OS. I actually just stated that very thing to one of your illustrious Republicans in an email. Deeds took the Black vote for granted and overused and counted to heavily on Obama's endorsement so he wasnt as diligent about his campaign. That blind party affiliation (which works for you Republicans too) is a mutha....that ultimately fosters a complete lack of respect for the Black vote.
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