Democratic Party Strategy Plan for 2008 Presidential Election

[Frank Bellamy, MAP Masters of Applied Politics]

Sen. Evan Bayh droped out of the 2008 Presidential Race

Well...The Republican Party will win the Whitehouse in 2008.

[Frank Bellamy, MAP Masters of Applied Politics]

Democratic Party Strategy Plan for 2008 Presidential Election
By Frank Bellamy, Political Consultant [imailisbest@sbcglobal.net]

The political party and 2008 Presidential Candidate that I will use for this campaign strategy plan is U.S. Senator Evan Bayh, Democrat from Indiana.  The 2008 Presidential Election could be viewed as the Democratic Party's opportunity to claim modern political dominance.  In this political era of heavily funded campaigns and technology driven political consulting, political dominance is more apt to resemble social dominance as well.  The Democratic Party may consider it necessary to repackage the ultra left wing liberals of the party into something more widely accepted by Middle American social and family values.   

Before discussing the strategy of this campaign it would be wise to give some thought to the "Context" of 2008 Presidential Election (Shea and Burton 2001, pg 25).  The 2008 Presidential Election will arrive on the heels of one of our nation's most stunning displays of political party displeasure by the electorate in recent history [2006 midterm election ousting many Republican candidates].  This election will happen in a Time of War and international uncertainty.  The U.S. Presidential Office is definitely in play this election due to term limits and an energized electorate.  The U.S. national demographics in term of social attitudes are historically slanted towards the center of many divisive issues.  This new aversion for being divisive may become the single thing to set a momentum against Democratic Party Presidential Candidate front runner Hillary Clinton.  Many media reports portray Senator Clinton as being very divisive in her political positions.  In my view the Democratic Party may consider the safer and more conservative appearance of Senator Evan Bayh.  The Democrats may opt not to risk the nation's possible rejection of a female or African American Candidate like Senator Barack Obama. 
A FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll (Dec. 5-6 '06) Question; "If the 2008 Democratic presidential primary were held today, for whom would you vote if the candidates were?" among the listing of some eleven capable Democrats Senator Evan Bayh was ranked near the middle of the pack at only 2% of the respondents selecting him.
Senator Evan Bayh's poll ranking remained steady with very similar polling questions used in other polls like: (1%) WNBC/Marist Poll. Nov. 27-Dec. 3, 2006. N=967 registered voters nationwide; (2%)  CNN Poll conducted by Opinion Research Corporation. Nov. 17-19, 2006. N=530 registered voters nationwide who are Democrats or independents who lean to the Democratic Party; (2%) USA Today/Gallup Poll. Nov. 9-12, 2006. N=544 Democrats and Democratic leaners nationwide (PollingReport.com Website 2006).
   Fortunately for Senator Evan Bayh all of the Democrats ahead of him in poll percentages also offer the voters a good reason to vote against them as a Presidential Candidate. The Democratic Candidates that have lower percentages may not desire to risk their personal wealth at a long shot political race.   
The Democratic leaders are promoting their party's "50 State Strategy" plan for giving them a kick start for grassroots organizing across America.  This plan was also mentioned in the book "Crashing the Gate" by Jerome Armstrong, Markos Moulitsas Zuniga The founders of the Daily Kos and MyDD blogs.  The plan has some similarities to the Republican Party's legendary G.O.T.V. operation. 
"The Democratic Party is hiring organizers chosen by the state parties in every state -- experienced local activists who know their communities- Those local leaders recruit more leaders and volunteers until every single precinct in their area has a trained, effective organization of Democrats dedicated to winning votes for Democrats" (The Democratic Party Official Website 2006).  This plan or idea for a plan is well received by Democrats at all ranks, its proof of value will be the ability to turn out Democratic Voters on Election Day.
Strategy Plan for the 2008 Presidential Election, Democratic Party based on Ohio county voting pattern, exit polling and campaign financing.  The Strategic Political Plan suggests; what has to happen to gain the largest part of the voter pie, the tactics of this plan will encompass the things that the campaign team will do. 
Voter turnout ranked above 50% of the Total Registered Voters for a great majority of Ohio counties [of the 88 counties 77 reached this 50% voter turnout rate].  More interesting was the heavy voter turnout in12 of the 88 counties that reached rates 60% and above (Ohio Sec. of State; 2006 Election Voter results).  The unusually high midterm election indicates that the voters are energized and the Democratic Party will need to create some "Voter Perceived Shared Values" in their minds.  A Democratic Party message of securing more jobs for Ohio would give the voters something that they can identify with, something that matters in the lives of the voters.  Ohio voters seem to be genuinely disgusted with the Republican Party's atmosphere of "Pay-to-Play Politics". 

The political strategy of continued over exposure of Republican political misdeeds can become an attraction for endearing the Democratic Party to the electorate in Ohio.  The present anti-Republican Party national atmosphere can continue to play well in Ohio if the Democratic Party calls into question any appearance of a Republican Officeholder's ethical mistakes.  The Democratic Party is not likely to question every misstep of their opponents but this tactic used periodically could frame a strategy for promoting the notion for GOP mistrust.   

High midterm election turnout percentages also suggest that the Democratic Party's "50 State Strategy" plan will be well received by Ohio voters.  The Ohio voter may now desire to feel that they are removing political power from the elite classes of the past that was evident under Republican Party rule.   
http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/ElectionsVoter/results2006.aspx

              The CNN Exit Polling indicates a stark contrast as to the voter's opinions and the voting patters between Republicans and Democrats.  The polls paint a picture of divisiveness that will make it fairly easy to predict certain elections based on factors like Race, the War and the National Economy. 

   The exit poll question of "Opinion of Bush" was especially telling in that the Republicans who were polled recorded 93% as Enthusiastic in their opinions of President Bush and 84% as Satisfied.  While the Democrats when asked the same questions recorded 91% as Angry and 68% as Dissatisfied.  These extreme differences are repeated throughout this entire exit poll.  These percentages are very good for the Republicans because, even in the worse of political times they are still willing to almost blindly support their party's positions and candidates.  The notion of converting Republican voters to vote affirmatively on Democratic issues or candidates for even one election cycle would seem to be a waste of time.  The Democrats on the other hand my find it easer to recruit swing type Independent Voters to vote for their party's candidate.  These types of voters can be convinced by using tactical political ideas that could excite them to vote anti-Republican but not necessarily pro-Democrat.   

               Political Campaign Finance and Campaign Fundraising will continue to set new donation and spending records.  However, the Republican Party may find it simpler to raise political money; the polls show that 73% of Republicans rate the National Economy as Excellent or Good whereas the Democrats rate it as 73% Not Good or Poor.  This vision of good national economic times may cause the Republicans to donate more money in the 2008 election cycle.  The Democrats may find it somewhat pressing to raise money on the Rank-n-File levels because of this dismal view of the economy.  This may cause them to pursue the ultra Left Wing of the Democratic Party for large political donations to stay competitive with the Republicans.  And of course, the ultra Left Wing of the Democratic Party could include many of the West Coast Democrats with political demands of their own that may not correlate with Middle American values. 
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/