The analysis of the past elections led Rowe to believe that what they needed was precinct workers on the ground going door to door. It seems someone told Rowe about "nuts and bolts" politics. The Republicans organized volunteers to go door to door and make personal phone calls to their own neighbors in selected precincts in 41 states. Most of the seats at the Bush rallies were reserved for these volunteer workers. They think the volunteers increased Republican turn out in the areas it was done by about 5.2 percent. They will know more as they get into the precinct by precinct analysis.
The fact is they got out the vote the same way the Democrats have always done it. The truth is the Democrats did not get out their core vote. What we saw here in Ohio took place almost nation wide. Let us say it took place where it was most needed. In precincts where it counted we out hustled the Democrats for the first time in recorded history. Make that recorded or unrecorded history.
It turns out that in many states the McAuliffe and Clinton crowd turned their backs on "nuts and bolts" and went with media. Their turn out was down 5 or 6 percent from normal off year elections. Races that were expected to be razor thin turned out to be blow outs because the Democrat turnout was light and the Republican turn out was heavy.
There is all the talk that Bush will have to court the Democrats. Kiss that goodbye baby goodbye... The Democrats in the senate will look at what toeing the leftist line did for Cleland. It cost him a sure thing. That will not be lost on Democrat Senators that have to run in 2004. Bush has coat tails that rival or exceed FDR's coat tails. Cross him and he will come to your state and defeat you was the message from last night. Over and over there will be a dozen Democrats telling their leadership that they dare not cross Bush.
There will be 10 or 12 Democrats who will just simply tell their leadership to shove it. Their object at least until bush's popularity falls, will be to convince BUSH that he has zero reason to pick them out to be defeated in 2004.
Bush is at least two 800 lb Gorrilla's. And many democrats will be trying to vote on key issues it so he has no reason to go after him.
This electin was a the way this game has never been played. Bush put his entire store of political capital at risk. It did not turn out to be the risky investment the Democrats thought it was. There was not much rish and it paid 3,000 Percent Interest in just 3 weeks. Bush now has FDR sized political capital in the bank. The democrats don't have enough to get Bill Clinton a Big Mack if they were on sale. They certainly couldn't aford the fries with that.
How many people will follow a Daschle or Gephardt in an effort to challenge George Bush. Only those Democrats that got elected last night and will not have to run again with Bush on the ballot or in the White Jouse.
Lots of people were critical of the Republicans in the Senate. They thought Hastert and Lott were doing it all wrong. They wondered why Bush was trying to reach out. Why he was trying to offer his hand as Daschle slapped it?
We got the answer last night. In bad and dangerous times the voters want leaders who will work together to solve problems. Leaders that won't get defeated. Bush, Lott, Hastert et all were constantly trying to work out the problems. Even on the Judges Bush was trying to find common ground.
Severl times I mentioned in my posts that in times like these the candidates and party that is trying to work together and fix things prevails. I think that is true.
Tto those that thought bush was doing it wrong. I would ask.