AdNags and Robin Toner do a write-up on the Democratic mood. It has all of the contradictions inherent in our party. Optimism is tempered with paranoia (it ain’t paranoia if people are really out to get you). There are those that want to expand the amount of races we throw money at, and those that want to shore up the bare majority we need to take the House. There are those that are worried that displays of optimism will rally the Republican base and those that think displays of optimism will rally our base and our last minute fundraising.
I liked one quote from Barney Frank:
Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, who is in line to become chairman of the Financial Services Committee in a Democratic House, offered wry evidence of the changing perception of the race. His office, Mr. Frank said, has been contacted by a portrait-painting firm offering to talk about possibilities for the traditional committee chairman’s painting, one of those perks of power long absent from the lives of House Democrats.
“I’ve acquired a lot of new friends this year,” Mr. Frank said. “And I haven’t gotten any nicer.”
But, if we want evidence that we are still plagued by overly cautious consultants, look no further than Steve Rosenthal.
“On the House side, it makes sense to be focusing on 25 seats to win 14, not 50,” said Steve Rosenthal, a political and labor consultant with close ties to the party, who described many Democrats as “overenthused.”
“If we had unlimited resources it would be different,” Mr. Rosenthal said. “But we have to be careful.”
Even Rahm Emanuel seems too cautious.
Mr. Emanuel said he was polling to see where the party might move next. But he said that barring some last-minute infusion of money, he was considering a relatively limited increase in the number of seats where Democrats would spend.
That’s why we need you to throw some cash at the Booman Tribune ActBlue candidates. Emanuel is playing it too safe. And now is the time to give because candidates will be unable to utilize money that comes in too close to the election. Things are looking good, but if we are going to have big gains we have to shoot for big gains and throw some money into the campaigns that are just on the cusp of victory.
