November 30, 2006
The 2008 Democrats
Live from the The American Democracy Conference at the Reagan Federal Center in DC.
A panel on the 2008 Democratic Presidential Contenders with Anita Dunn (representing Bayh), Jessica Vanden Berg (representing Clark), Steve Murphy (representing Richardson), Doug Sosnik (representing Dodd), Jennifer Palmieri (representing Edwards) and unafilliated strategist Jim Jordan. The Hotline's own John Mercurio is moderating.
Question: What lessons did Democrats learn from '06 that they can use for '08?
Palmieri: "Most people who went to the voting booth were voting on economic issues... We had a big demographic change for the better for us."
Dunn: "The importance of not being part of an excessively partisan Washington political environment... I think you saw a middle class revolt of Washington politicians... It always goes against the party that's perceived to be in power."
Murphy: "The economy was a very harmful issue for the Republicans along with Iraq."
Vanden Berg: "I think one really important thing that we really did (in Webb '06) was not to cede anything to the Republicans." Webb talked about economic policy and Iraq across the state even in rural areas. "In order to win in '08 -- the foreign policy, national security issues aren't going to get any better -- It's really important that the candidates clearly articulate those issues too."
Sosnik: "The importance of running quality candidates, and candidate who fit their communities."
Jordan: "The re-recognition... of the swing voter."
Question: How will Democrats’ “liberal” and “progressive” values play out in ‘08?
Palmieri: “Edwards is not just a political label kind of guy. People want authenticity. You can be a liberal in the Democratic party and do well, but not if you’re faking it.” Same goes for moderates. “And people can tell when you’re faking it.
Vanden Berg: “I just don’t think those labels really exist anymore.”
Murphy: “You better have an answer on Iraq.” Candidates will have to state their plans soon after the Baker-Hamilton report coming up. “I think the Democratic candidate will have to say what they’ll do to get us out of Iraq…”
More Murphy: “A conservative Republican nominee who has passed universal health insurance is a very dangerous candidate… That’s going to be the big domestic issue.” Dunn signaled she agreed.
Will Democrats have a harder time running against Republicans in ’08?
Jordan: “I think we saw the elimination of the positive Bush brand… The face of the Republican party is now Tom Tancredo and George Allen, and that’s a wonderful thing for us.” More Jordon: “This (Dem) field ideologically… there’s no gap ideologically.”
Murphy: “Authenticity does dominate this… Voters will be looking for somebody who has very strong positions on the issues. Later on they’ll make a very strong judgment on who will make the best president.”
Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack announced today. Please explain whether he has an impact on your Iowa strategy.
Sosnik: “I don’t think we’re in politics any longer where people take states for granted… I think people at their peril underestimate Tom Vilsack.”
Dunn: “I can’t recall the last time we had a group of candidates that were as strong or as formidable… You’re going to have to beat a lot of very formidable candidates everywhere to win this…” Iowa “is still a very retail-oriented process,” where unpaid media isn’t everything “at the end of the day.”
How much of a role will money play? How much will a candidate have to raise by June 30, 2007?
Sosnik: “If you have a message and a compelling rationale, with the internet you can raise money.”
Jordon: $15 million. “There’s an opening bid somewhere between $20 and $30… but $60 million isn’t twice as good as $30 million. There are diminishing returns… You don’t need to raise $70 million by the start of caucuses.”
What is the selling point for your candidate running against Hillary Clinton?
Murphy: “Bill Richardson is going to be the pro-growth economic candidate...” Richardson is “someone who has dealt with the bad guys, dealt with the world leaders… And we all know that Governors make the best candidates”
Palmieri: “I think the problem is that (rural voters) just think we look down our nose at them… That’s a major hurdle…this nominee can’t be that. This nominee has to be someone who connects with everyone.”
What’s more important: red state appeal or strong national security credentials?
Palmieri: “Last time we decided on a candidate because of his strong war record… I don’t think it’s going to be like that this time. I think people look at it and say it’s more of a feeling that they get about what kind of person who is… I think the base wants to…vote for the person we think is us.”
Dunn: “Of the 29 seats picked up in the house, 10 were in the Midwest. If you don’t win the Midwest Heartland, the margins don’t matter. People tend to take Evan Bayh for granted.”
Which endorsement is more important in the primary: Daily Kos or AFL-CIO head John Sweeney?
Sosnik: “I’ll take the local community leaders in Iowa and New Hampshires any day” over those two choices.
Murphy: “I will advise my candidate to go after… the netroots really hard. …If you get support from activists with the kind of energy that the netroots have, you’re going to have an advantage.”
Posted at 01:33 PM
Comments
Post a comment
The Watergate · 600 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-739-8400 · fax 202-833-8069
NationalJournal.com is an Atlantic Media publication.
