Democrats' prospects bleakest in 70 years, pollster says

Knight Ridder Newspapers | July 29, 2003 | Steven Thomma

[Ancesthntr]

See my # 20

[Semper Paratus]

Overconfidence is the biggest obstacle now.

A good rule of tumb of elections is to always run as if you were behind.

[Cooter]

Exactly where do you find a Democrat candidate who is strong on defense and knows about economics? I've never even seen this particular species of Democrat.

Sam Nunn - retired senator from Georgia - was probably the most recent example.

[p. henry]

Harry Truman and Scoop Jackson, maybe.

[fnord]

"The Democratic Party is in danger of being taken over by the far left," said Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., chairman of the DLC.

There must be some really really really far-left whackos if baby Bayh is concerned about being outflanked from the left, sheesh.

[Coop]

Exactly where do you find a Democrat candidate who is strong on defense and knows about economics?

They're all retiring next year when Zell Miller leaves the Senate.

[chimera]

The party still has solid support from the core of Roosevelt's coalition - union members, minorities and the working poor - said pollster Mark Penn.

I am wondering how really solid that union support is. I base this on anecdotal information, so use it cautiously. I made friends with a fellow beachgoer at North Myrtle Beach this past week, another refugee from Ohio seeking the warmth and water of the South. Turns out he was an organizer for "the union", in the Cleveland area (and a nod to you, Dennis the Menace). He mentioned he had to "screen" all the 'Rat candidates because they would "automatically" get the union endorsement, but when it came to voting he had to vote for the Republican candidates because of the wacko positions on certain issues the 'Rats would always take. He specifically mentioned the gay marriage and abortion issues. So here is a guy who was taking part in vetting candidates he had no intention of voting for himself. Interesting...

[Grampa Dave]

Excellent article. I have bookmarked it.

[Salman]

Exactly where do you find a Democrat candidate who is strong on defense and knows about economics? I've never even seen this particular species of Democrat.

Adlai Stevenson? OK, he's dead.

[cwb]

"But less than one-third of Americans now consider themselves Democrats, down from 49 percent at their peak in 1958."

Just more evidence that dead people (and illegal immigrants) do vote. No wonder they need to get the "felon" vote. I've always wondered how the Democatic Party has survived this long. They are truly a coalition of special interests that are often at odds with one and other. I mean...how can unions and blue-collar workers support a party that appeals to environmentalist, who want to destroy their jobs? How can they continue to bow to the demands of the NEA and AFT when one of thier largest constituencies (blacks) supports vouchers? There is so much pandering from Democrats that these groups are eventually going to be fighting amongst themselves for their share of the largess. I think we're looking at a gradual implosion...hopefully.

[Grampa Dave]

You tagline sums up the Rat Party since FDR.

[over3Owithabrain]

If it were an “evenly divided country,” the Democrats would not be in a poor position

You're not factoring in the election day Democrat voters that even the field: the homeless looking for a smoke, the dead, the invalids thrown into the back of the van, the clones, etc.

[Richard Kimball]

Love the article, but RUN LIKE WE'RE TWENTY POINTS BEHIND. Let's mop up the floor with them and then kick their *ss for missing the corners.

[hopespringseternal]

Union members and gays prefer Democrats over Republicans by 43 percentage points, and African-Americans and the working poor do by 41 percentage points, Penn found.

And pandering to gays turns off far more people than it gains.

"African-American" politics is largely represented by the likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, guys even blacks acknowledge are sham artists. Blacks get nothing for their support of democrats except schadenfreude at harming republicans, an empty diet. The only way democrats can really motivate them is to incite hatred.

Union members and the working poor witnessed 9/11 the same as the rest of us and are just as patriotic. A bunch of them are quite dismayed at the blatant anti-Americanism of the democrats lately.

[The Wizard]

People are anxious for someone to emerge. But when that person does emerge, people will rally behind them."

when that person emerges, GWB's numbers will go up 15 points

[Trust but Verify]

I had the exact same thought when I read that part. There is no such thing.

[gridlock]

You got that right. You gotta keep your foot on the neck, right up to Election Day (or maybe for six weeks after, if necessary).

The Pubbies should not rest until they have every single vote.

[rellimpank]

--yep--"don't count your chickens before they hatch" still counts--

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.."IS it SAFE?" = HILLARY on Senate Armed Services Committee..

http://TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=629

[comebacknewt]

There must be some really really really far-left whackos if baby Bayh is concerned about being outflanked from the left, sheesh.

Bayh was somewhat a centrist as Governor because he was held in check by Republican lawmakers. Since he has gone to Washington, however, he has been a reliable vote for the Lefties.

Too bad the people here don't see it or don't care.