Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Paul Hackett - Ohio Democrat of the Year
Back on July 11 we had a post saying that Paul Hackett is THE perfect candidate. The only question we had back then was how good his campaign would be.
The impressive showing that Hackett & Co. put on answers that question. A unique combination of contrarian vision, ballsy gusto, internet savvy and trust in the public was apparent. Further, the ability of the campaign to scale up its operations as more and more people got involved in the very end would have crashed most other campaigns. Sure, there were some problems, but the fact is that the Hackett campaign defied the legion of doubters in both parties.
4,000 votes - that's a goddam miracle. Denny White and the staff of the Ohio Democratic Party should kiss Hackett's feet. That campaign is a wakeup call to those that are still stumbling around in a funk leftover from last November. White better wake up, grow some balls and start acting like he understands Ohioans want are sick of the corruption and want a viable alternative. He if can't articulate that vision, if he can't deliver (and there is not one shred of evidence that he can), then he should should get his pathetic self out of the way.
And make no mistake - the battle for OH-2 ain't over by a long shot. Denny - even the Enquirer gets it. Do you?
The impressive showing that Hackett & Co. put on answers that question. A unique combination of contrarian vision, ballsy gusto, internet savvy and trust in the public was apparent. Further, the ability of the campaign to scale up its operations as more and more people got involved in the very end would have crashed most other campaigns. Sure, there were some problems, but the fact is that the Hackett campaign defied the legion of doubters in both parties.
4,000 votes - that's a goddam miracle. Denny White and the staff of the Ohio Democratic Party should kiss Hackett's feet. That campaign is a wakeup call to those that are still stumbling around in a funk leftover from last November. White better wake up, grow some balls and start acting like he understands Ohioans want are sick of the corruption and want a viable alternative. He if can't articulate that vision, if he can't deliver (and there is not one shred of evidence that he can), then he should should get his pathetic self out of the way.
And make no mistake - the battle for OH-2 ain't over by a long shot. Denny - even the Enquirer gets it. Do you?
Yet this victory offers little respite for the new congresswoman. Tuesday's win only allows her to finish Portman's term. She will have to defend the seat in 2006. And given the Democrats' strong showing Tuesday, she should expect a formidable challenge to begin immediately.[UPDATE:] Tim Tagaris at the Swing State Project has more on this theme here:
The Republican Party is on notice. For that matter, the Democratic Party establishment is on notice; get with the program or we will leave you behind. We have a country to take back.
