How do Democrats increase midterm turnout?
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  How do Democrats increase midterm turnout?
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Author Topic: How do Democrats increase midterm turnout?  (Read 5271 times)
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Icefire9
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« on: November 05, 2014, 07:07:00 PM »

Let's be honest, 2018 could be even worse than 2014 if the electorate is the same as it has been in the past two midterms.

We have 5 Senate seats in deeply conservative states (West Virginia, Montana, North Dakota, Indiana, and Missouri).  We have an additional 3 Senate seats in battleground states that are very vulnerable with a midterm electorate (Virginia, Ohio, and Florida), and 3 Democratic leaning states that could also be vulnerable with that kind of electorate (Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.)

Even more importantly are the results of Governor's and legislature races in Florida, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois etc.  These will be a huge determinant in how redistricting plays out.  If we do as poorly in 2018 as we did in 2014 and 2010, we'll almost certainly be saying goodbye to the House for another decade.

I'm not willing to accept that.  So what do Democrats have to do to prevent a third consecutive midterm wipe-out?
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IceSpear
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« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2014, 07:14:44 PM »

Sadly, I'm just not sure there's too much that can be done. Americans are by nature lazy, uninformed, and entitled. Unfortunately, the Democratic side suffers more from this affliction.
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Mehmentum
Icefire9
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« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2014, 07:16:09 PM »

Sadly, I'm just not sure there's too much that can be done. Americans are by nature lazy, uninformed, and entitled. Unfortunately, the Democratic side suffers more from this affliction.
None of this defeatist attitude!  We can't just give up!
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Boston Bread
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« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2014, 07:31:17 PM »
« Edited: November 05, 2014, 07:40:06 PM by New Canadaland »

Create some kind of nation-wide plan to run on. Focus on economy, not tidbits like abortion. Make it clear we want change and what kind of change it is. Moderate heroes don't win crossovers so there's not even a point of running away from Obama. Speaking of which, support Obama's policies and explain how they help ordinary people. Primary out corrupt and incompetent officeholders. Less attack ads (I doubt they help turnout anymore), run mid-term national conventions instead.
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Mehmentum
Icefire9
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« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2014, 07:40:51 PM »

Create some kind of nation-wide plan to run on. Focus on economy, not tidbits like abortion. Make it clear we want change and what kind of change it is. Moderate heroes don't win so there's not even a point of running away from Obama. Speaking of which, support Obama's policies and explain how they help ordinary people. Primary out corrupt and incompetent officeholders. Less attack ads (I doubt they help turnout anymore), run mid-term national conventions instead.
I had exactly the same idea earlier today!  They're basically just political pep rallies which is what we need.
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Reaganfan
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« Reply #5 on: November 05, 2014, 08:00:26 PM »

Unfortunately, the Democratic side suffers more from this affliction.

It's true. Republicans like me are nerds. While I made sure to vote, follow election coverage, google two judges to make sure that I was voting for the Republicans...my sister called and complained that Chicago Fire got interrupted by Election Coverage.

She didn't vote. Had she voted, it probably would have been straight Democrat.
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Clarko95 📚💰📈
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« Reply #6 on: November 05, 2014, 08:16:39 PM »

 - you need to make your base feel like their vote matters, and that the results of the election are very important to them. You have to inspire them, you have to make it personal.

 - when you govern, you have to deliver. They're not going to vote for you if you don't do anything for them.

 - defend your accomplishments. Don't back away from them or run around them. Demonstrate how your policies directly help your base and swing voters.

 - don't just focus on the base. You also have to win over every swing voter you can.

- adopt a number of issues to run with. Balance them out between social policies, economic, foreign policy, or some other topic. Have a broad agenda, but campaign on them narrowly enough to define your positions and allow you to focus on those select few and go in-depth with them. Also agree on a number of issues to nationalize and have everyone run on those plus their local issues.

 - don't forget to heavily localize some issues ala Hagan. Make some of them entirely about the state/district and don't mention DC in them.

 - adopt more positive attitudes while being ruthless in attacks. They're not mutually exclusive campaign styles. Talk up your policies with big smiles, and emphasize your candidates' backgrounds so people feel you are capable and in-touch. Then in other ads, completely destroy your opponents. Don't be afraid to outflank them and attack them from the right, if you can do so.
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Mister Mets
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« Reply #7 on: November 05, 2014, 08:17:59 PM »

They'll be motivated by opposition to President Paul.
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jaichind
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« Reply #8 on: November 06, 2014, 11:25:46 AM »

Let's be honest, 2018 could be even worse than 2014 if the electorate is the same as it has been in the past two midterms.

We have 5 Senate seats in deeply conservative states (West Virginia, Montana, North Dakota, Indiana, and Missouri).  We have an additional 3 Senate seats in battleground states that are very vulnerable with a midterm electorate (Virginia, Ohio, and Florida), and 3 Democratic leaning states that could also be vulnerable with that kind of electorate (Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.)

Even more importantly are the results of Governor's and legislature races in Florida, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois etc.  These will be a huge determinant in how redistricting plays out.  If we do as poorly in 2018 as we did in 2014 and 2010, we'll almost certainly be saying goodbye to the House for another decade.

I'm not willing to accept that.  So what do Democrats have to do to prevent a third consecutive midterm wipe-out?


Lose in a very close if not controversial 2016 election to a radical GOP candidate.  2018 will most end up being a flat if not pro-Dem year.  If it was not for 911 2002 would have most likely have been a good Dem year.
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I Will Not Be Wrong
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« Reply #9 on: November 06, 2014, 11:38:15 AM »

More bait on the ballot,  like minimum wage increase, birth control, and heck get the GOP to put on more personhood amendments.
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Slander and/or Libel
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« Reply #10 on: November 06, 2014, 11:49:49 AM »

Can we flip the question around? Is there a way for Democrats to make a better pitch and appeal more to the crowd that turns out more reliably? Seems possible there's more bang for their buck there.
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« Reply #11 on: November 06, 2014, 11:55:05 AM »

I guess ballot proposals. Stuff ballots with minimum wage, medicaid expansions, fluffy happy "second bill of rights stuff", marijuana, voting rights etc. Either that or attempt to move governor races to the Presidential year...

And try not to step on gun people's toes. It's a waste of time, and I really wish Democrats had spent their political capital on something, y'know, useful.
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King
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« Reply #12 on: November 06, 2014, 12:06:46 PM »

Stop supporting Medicare so old people die fast.
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Grumpier Than Uncle Joe
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« Reply #13 on: November 06, 2014, 12:44:06 PM »

Stop supporting Medicare so old people die fast.

That position is already taken.

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King
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« Reply #14 on: November 06, 2014, 12:50:52 PM »

Stop supporting Medicare so old people die fast.

That position is already taken.



Yes, it seems very popular with olds.
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Boston Bread
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« Reply #15 on: November 06, 2014, 01:39:19 PM »

I guess ballot proposals. Stuff ballots with minimum wage, medicaid expansions, fluffy happy "second bill of rights stuff", marijuana, voting rights etc. Either that or attempt to move governor races to the Presidential year...

And try not to step on gun people's toes. It's a waste of time, and I really wish Democrats had spent their political capital on something, y'know, useful.
Like I said in an other thread, pass gun control through referenda, not the legislature. If it's as popular as polls have us believe they will pass. And the anger can't be passed onto democrats as long as their politicians ignore the issue.
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Likely Voter
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« Reply #16 on: November 06, 2014, 02:04:26 PM »

What is easier?
- getting the youngs (and therefore more non-whites) to vote in midterms
- winning back the olds (they Dems won the olds in 2006 and 2008)

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Mehmentum
Icefire9
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« Reply #17 on: November 06, 2014, 02:08:38 PM »

What is easier?
- getting the youngs (and therefore more non-whites) to vote in midterms
- winning back the olds (they Dems won the olds in 2006 and 2008)


Well, Democrats actually improved their margin with the 65+ age group by 6% between 2014 and 2010.
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Negusa Nagast 🚀
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« Reply #18 on: November 06, 2014, 02:25:22 PM »

Make voting compulsory, adopt automatic voter registration, and make election day a national holiday.
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Citizen (The) Doctor
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« Reply #19 on: November 06, 2014, 02:42:03 PM »

Make voting compulsory, adopt automatic voter registration, and make election day a national holiday.

Make elections either a holiday or a weekend. Tuesday voting at this point is inane.
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jaichind
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« Reply #20 on: November 06, 2014, 02:54:01 PM »

Make voting compulsory, adopt automatic voter registration, and make election day a national holiday.

Make elections either a holiday or a weekend. Tuesday voting at this point is inane.

Voting day being on the same day as a working day with polls closing sometimes before people get off work is a feature not a bug.
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Anti Democrat Democrat Club
SawxDem
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« Reply #21 on: November 06, 2014, 03:22:31 PM »

More bait on the ballot,  like minimum wage increase, birth control, and heck get the GOP to put on more personhood amendments.

Thank god Senator Begich and Governor Quinn won their re-elections. That minimum wage really saved their asses.
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AggregateDemand
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« Reply #22 on: November 06, 2014, 03:25:33 PM »

Democrats need a new platform. Vote-buying doesn't work.

Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid are pork-laden disasters. If Dems had no other way of verifying these claims, they could count the number of old middle-class Republicans with healthy 401k's who are reveling in the SS/MED handouts that they "paid for" (lol?). Yet talk to Democrats on this board and throughout the electorate, and they genuinely believe that SS/MED entitlements are noble anti-poverty programs, despite what they have done to u-24 employment, and SS/MED need to be expanded, not reformed. Furthermore, they believe that working-class citizens should be forced to pay more taxes to cover the exponential cost growth.

I didn't know it was possible to be so dumb. Republicans are boarding LBJ's Titanic by the millions, and Republicans are spending on entitlements in ways that would have been unimaginable under Reagan. Yet, Democrats still can't figure out that it's time to abandon ship.
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jfern
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« Reply #23 on: November 06, 2014, 04:10:20 PM »

Give your base a reason to vote for you. Don't bash them. Don't suck. Stand up for your principles. Argue why your position is better. Kick the 3rd-way crap to the curb.
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Grumpier Than Uncle Joe
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« Reply #24 on: November 06, 2014, 04:19:00 PM »

Give your base a reason to vote for you. Don't bash them. Don't suck. Stand up for your principles. Argue why your position is better. Kick the 3rd-way crap to the curb.

In other words, do everything Obama hasn't been doing?
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