The Fairfield County Version of the 2010 Survival Guide For Democrats

Politico released the 2010 Congressional Democratic candidate survival guide.  Highlights from Harrison Hickman’s post:

3. Get back to basics. Hard things win campaigns, not exotic technologies or clever messages. Don’t look for silver bullets. There are none. Raise lots of money. Knock on doors. Return calls. That stuff.

4. Get in touch. If you’re in trouble, you’re probably disconnected from your voters. Contrary to what your political family might think, you need the voters more than they need you, at least on Election Day.

5. Get aggressive. Statesmen may not push their accomplishments on voters or push back against their opponents. But winners do. If you’re not going to fight for yourself, no one will.

Realizing that President Obama is not going to sprinkle his “magic fairy dust” on the local state rep and state senate races next year, would be a start. So let’s tweak the top 10 things a Democrat might consider.

  1. Get Real. High cost of living, high unemployment, high net worth, high income fluctuation, there’s your Fairfield County paradox. Your party colleagues want to balance the state budget on income earners who are stretched to keep what they have earned. Jobs, homes, that Fairfield county lifestyle. The voters here want to concentrate on fixing their economic challenges, not fixing the State of Connecticut’s revenue challenges by taxing them more.
  2. Get Going. On those long drives to Hartford you might want to take note at all those state funded projects you drive by. Seems like the funding tap hasn’t been turned off upstate. You might want to have an answer for that before your unnamed opponent jumps ahead and calls for it first. You represent Fairfield County, not the upstate Connecticut.
  3. Get Back to the Basics.  Same advice as Politico gave to the congresscriters: “Hard things win campaigns, not exotic technologies or clever messages. Don’t look for silver bullets. There are none. Raise lots of money. Knock on doors. Return calls. That stuff.” With the gubernatorial and senatorial races sucking up next year’s election oxygen you might as well start now.
  4. Get in Touch. Do you really know your voters? Are they trying to contact you? Are you trying to contact them? You may not like what they are saying but they are the ones that will show up on election day. That includes the vast majority of voters who proudly register as unaffiliated in Fairfield County. They aren’t buying brand donkey, you need to know who they are.
  5. Get Aggressive. Winners lead, losers follow. If you follow your party’s leadership all the time, you are a …
  6. Get Smart. Know more than your opponent does. The advice travels on down nicely. Own the issues. Know your district. And tell people about it. Do you think your voters know their own district? Inform them.
  7. Get Tough. Voters are angry. Voters are fearful. Voters think no one in government listens to them. Remember Bill Clinton, he felt their pain. You need to feel some pain too. Confront your most vociferous agitators and tell them to stop being part of the problem and start becoming part of the solution.
  8. Get Out There. Your district needs to see you beyond the usual photo op where you and 17 of your colleagues all claim credit for spending some state money on some project. You don’t have the luxury of a major media market, you have a fractured media market. You need to be in the field and covered by that weekly paper as well as the newsletters and emails sent out by your constituents. Will you be able to afford to be in the shadows of your party’s primary? Can you afford to be on the losing side of that primary? You can if voters know who you really are instead of same name they read or hear about.
  9. Get Focused. Did you really mean that you single handily got some bit of legislation passed? Most voters don’t believe all those laundry lists of accomplishments. They want to know what you will do for them. Simply.
  10. Get Fast. Don’t wait to respond to issues until they become your problem. If it happens in your district, be on the record with a position. Defend that position. No one likes a dithering politician.
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  • Just asking…

    Anyone know the results of the recount?

  • Dem in the Wilderness

    Thank you. the last election was a farce. I am sorry for the losers who I know and supported, but they need to read your list. A complete failure to communicate a cohesive message was just the beginning of their problems. After that, a party that failed to rally support for their own. It goes on….
    Hate to say it, but the best thing to happen to the dems in town was this election. Time to clean house and start over, even if it takes 4 years instead of 2. attrition will help, but a coup would be the best news. There’s a lot of dead weight in the party.

  • Barnstorm

    The “disconnect” with party members is not a recent development. It is the main reason I chose to disassociate myself with the Democratic Party almost 30 years ago.

    The complete arrogance of the party leadership can’t be pinned on one or two people either, so don’t expect me to name names. Let’s just say they all thought they had the best ideas and weren’t interested in what anyone from the “outside” had to say. So much for grooming the next generation, unless you happened to walk in lockstep with the current party “bosses”.

    I don’t agree much with the republicans but you have to hand it to them. They have a plan, they are united, they follow through, and they listen. As a result, they get elected. As much as I may think some individuals aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed, they’re smarter than the Dems right now, and that says volumes about how far the Democrats have to go to catch up.

  • ENW

    Registered as Independent, but I voted for Himes last time–more of a protest vote against Shays’ support for Iraq war than anything else–but I will be looking for a good challenger next year.
    I made repeated requests to Himes’ Stamford, Bridgeport and Washington offices for help in dealing with TARP $45 billion recipient Bank of America, with regard to a mortgage modification–absolutely no help whatsoever.
    He seems to be just a one trick pony. So far as I know, the only thing that he focuses on is the health care issue.
    And Dodd–far as I am concerned, he ought to be out getting quotes from moving companies.

  • Sick of Himes

    Himes should be a one-termer.
    Big Ivy-league hypocrite who espouses PUBLIC education and the PUBLIC option yet he himself went to PRIVATE schools and has PRIVATE health insurance…lives in waterfront property in Cos Cob just like the “common man”…made millions at Goldman Sachs…what a PHONY…speaks just like Caroline Kennedy with his ums, ahs, and ers befitting his IVY league education.

    • turfgrrl

      wow, such deep analysis of Himes’ performance in office. I can hardly wait for your next comment, maybe you don’t like the color of his shirt today too.

  • BLARNEY SKANK

    All I can say is that I went to 2 Health Forums he held. He said he would keep an open mind. The few days later in the paper it was reported that he will vote for the Public Option as he knows that the majority of voters want it. My questions is that every poll shows a different story. What did he even hold these forums for, as his mind was made up?

    He was carried in by Obama’s shirt tails and got rid of Shay’s who was a pretty honest guy.
    Hime’s also said at the last forum, that if the government passed
    health care reform “He would give up his congressional medical coverage, and take the Government Option plan.”

    I suggest no one hold their breath waiting for that promise to be for fulled.

  • I want answers!

    Let’s get the damn moth balls out of Geakes’ pockets and run him again! He can carry the Dems and everyone knows it. He’s a certified political All Star right up to the state level. Let’s stop playing around here! You people are trying to play the scare card but it’s not working for me. I WANT ANSWERS!

  • Barnstorm

    OK, at least now we know what name Mikey is using since the election.

  • Secondhand Rose

    Thanks for a good laugh to start the morning! hahahaha

  • I want answers!

    Rose, glad I could help you start the day right but it’s nothing to laugh about. I’m serious. We need strong leadership more than ever. Someone who can pick up the Dems by the boot straps and get them going again. That’s what he offers! Does no one see this? He’s heavy! I WANT ANSWERS!

  • Secondhand Rose

    Oh please, on that subject at least, you’re not going to get me to agree with you.

    Nice try, though.

  • I want answers!

    I gather we are talking about one in the same. What’s the issue? We can’t agree he is a heavy weight? Former at-large playmaker. Temporarily on ice.

  • NorwalkSpectator

    Quite frankly, after that oh-so-enlightening series of Mikey’s little temper tantrums, I’m content to let the Democrats cool their heels a little while. From what I have heard from those Democrats in the know, Answers, you are on target with your comment about the Dems being disorganized. And Mike Geake just may be the person that could provide them with some serious leadership. But you have to give him some time to actually get it done. That won’t just happen overnight and it won’t happen without a fight. If you are serious, give him a call and ask what his plans are. Offer to help. Just be aware that what you want will be a tough row to hoe, and I’m pretty sure Mike already is aware of that.