Democrats target Cubin in '04 (Wyoming)

Casper Star & Tribune ^ | 4/28/03 | Brodie Farquhar

[LdSentinal]

Energized by the gubernatorial victory of Dave Freudenthal last November, the Wyoming Democratic Party vowed Saturday to raise more money and field more candidates, and especially to "kick butt" against U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin, R-Wyo. in 2004.

Ron Akin, the Democrat's 2002 candidate for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, was cheered when he announced his candidacy and intent to defeat Cubin in 2004. Akin said he'll be moving to Casper shortly and will start campaigning this spring for the Democratic nomination.

"I'll be traveling around the state to organize, plan and raise money," Akin said. State Chairwoman Linda Stoval reminded the audience that in Natrona County -- the longtime home of Cubin -- Akin lost by only one vote. Tom Sedar, who served as campaign manager for Akin last fall, said the upcoming 2004 race "is a golden opportunity" to beat Cubin.

In the 2002 race, Akin earned 41 percent of the vote to Cubin's 57 percent.

County and state party faithful met at the Petroleum Club in Casper to elect new state officers. Stoval bowed out, and party leaders elected Vice-Chairman Mike Gierau as the new chairman.

Owner of Jedediah's House of Sourdough in Jackson, Gierau said he isn't daunted by the challenge of leading the party. "There's a lot of excitement in Wyoming," he said, thanks to Freudenthal's victory and the end of eight years of "one-party rule" in the state. Gierau said he intends to mobilize those who want change and will key on state, local and congressional races in 2004.

Gierau said that whoever is the Democratic candidate for Cubin's seat, the Wyoming Democratic Party is going to start now at raising money for all nominees. "We're going to give candidates the tools they need," Gierau said. "It is time for a change, and I think Wyoming is over Barbara Cubin."

Party leaders also elected Nancy Drummond of Sheridan as the vice chairwoman, after she declared her goal to "kick butt on Barbara Cubin" in 2004. Drummond, a county committeewoman and member of the Sheridan school board, was challenged by Dana Mann-Tavegia of Osage.

Dr. John Millin of Cheyenne was elected to replace Secretary Susan Flack of Rawlins, while Stoval was elected treasurer, replacing Carrol Orrison of Casper.

Gierau set the goal of raising $50,000 to $100,000 by the end of the year.

"Candidate recruitment will be easier if they know they'll get real help," Gierau said. The Democrats want to recruit more and better candidates at all levels, he said.

He urged party leaders to "think outside of the box" in fund-raising efforts. "We need to reach out to those who want to see real change" in local, state and national government. Saying that the party can no longer rely on "the usual suspects," Gierau said the party needs to ask for donations from more and different people.

He said he intends to create a fund-raising committee to develop a state action plan.

[JohnnyZ]

He urged party leaders to "think outside of the box" in fund-raising efforts.

I hear that there are a lot of paralegals and receptionists out there with money to burn.

[mallardx]

I can see the future, here's what the headlines/stories look like...

(AP) Cheyenne, WY - (2008) THE Once-Great State of Wyoming Reduced to Welfare State

After electing a string of Democrats, Wyoming residents are scratching their heads wondering "how did this place transform from an independent, hard-working, beautiful state into a trash-strewn welfare cesspool, with millions of residents grabbing "free" money from the system?"

Old-time resident Joe Smith recollects days when traffic, smog, and endless condominium complexes were other people's problems. "When the socialists forced out the ranchers, and the environmentalists closed the power plants and coal mines, I guess the whole place changed a bunch" he said.

"We have replaced the old ethos' of honest work, integrity, self-sufficiency with an all-out assault on rural values, and replaced it with something much better", stated Willy Dimwit, Democrat activist. "Now we don't have the problems of wide-open spaces - we have an all-out welfare grab and a socialist redistribution of income - we're all equal now" he stated. Now that the socialist Democrats are in charge, we can subvert our laws to those of the U.N., so we're not the victims of European resentment. Of course, we had to seize everybody's guns, or we would never have been able to carry this out..."

[Stay the course]

In the 2002 race, Akin earned 41 percent of the vote to Cubin's 57 percent.

Actually, he lost 61-36. But if they're this optimistic after an alleged 16 point loss, I doubt if pointing out that it was really a 25 point loss would discourage them much.

[The Old Hoosier]

Why did this paper waste so much space on such a hopelessly one-sided House race? Weird.

[LdSentinal]

In a state where voters under 30 gave Bush a 81%-17% advantage over Gore in 2000, Cubin will probably be safe in a presidential year.

[9999lakes]

I lived in Wyoming from 95-98. I thought they were the most republican state in the union.

I had missed the news about a democrat governor.

How did that happen?
Anyone know?

[MainstreamConservative]

Wyoming has elcted democrats to the gvernor's mansion for a long time. The key to sucess as a democrat in Wyoming is to act like a conservative, sort of what Mark Pryor did in Arkansas by running ads featuring shotguns and the bible.