Comments on: Jefferson Defeated by 1st Vietnamese Congressman

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:17:52 +0000

If you are going to run on picking off the unlikely scraps, you have to run everywhere with non-incompetent candidates.

Right. That's what I was getting at in the last paragraph. Basically, you have them in place in case the race gets interesting, and then pour money in. That's different than treating every race as winnable and spending money foolishly.

By: fester

fester — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:50:35 +0000

James --- speaking as a Dem supporter of the 435-Plan --- run everywhere, all the time, just as a matter of logistics I think decent candidates have to be running at all times in all districts to take advantage of incumbents who shoot themselves in the foot. Take a look at Carney in PA-10 who won in 2006. He was not a top tier candidate, but not a horrendous candidate either (good local ties, military history, professor of a relevant political subject area etc) who benefited from the Republican incumbent having a reasonably well publicized mistress choking problem. If a 3rd or 4th tier placeholder was running that seat would have stayed Republican. The Dems faced the same type of problem in PA-6 in 2004 where the incumbent had a mini-scandal and the Dems were running a perpetual activist candidate and she could not capitalize on the massive infusion of attention and cash.

If you are going to run on picking off the unlikely scraps, you have to run everywhere with non-incompetent candidates.

By: The Obligatory William Jefferson Blog Posting | Political Byline

The Obligatory William Jefferson Blog Posting | Political Byline — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 19:13:55 +0000

[...] Michelle Malkin, The Next Right, Outside The Beltway, RedState, The Moderate Voice, Wizbang, Fausta’s Blog, Betsy’s Page, NewsBusters.org, [...]

By: PD Shaw

PD Shaw — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 17:20:09 +0000

Louisiana has a blanket-primary system, which poses a different set of opportunities and problems for the G.O.P. I lived in Jefferson's district the first time he won election. There were about 6-8 people on the primary ballot, consitsting of IIRC Republicans, Independents, and Democrats.

But the top two vote-getters in the primary then go on to run against each other in the general election. I remember voting for Jefferson's opponent in the general election, Marc Morial, another Democrat. It's extremely difficult in that situation for a Republican to win a majority Democratic district.

By: Sister Toldjah

Sister Toldjah — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 17:19:42 +0000

Rep. Louis “Fridge” Jefferson loses reelection bid...

Nancy Pelosi no longer has the problem of Jefferson on her back and the Republicans pick up seat:
Indicted U.S. Rep. William Jefferson suffered what may be the final blow of his storied political career in the most improbable way Saturday, when an unte...

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 14:08:13 +0000

The GOP long had a structural problem of people wanting to start at the middle (Congressman or higher) and thus ceding municipal offices and the state legislatures -- the preparation grounds for those middle level jobs -- to the Democrats. That's no longer the case but, unfortunately, it's most the religious right that's doing that ground level organizing.

By: odograph

odograph — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 14:01:18 +0000

My amusement with the sneering was that "community organizing" is a lot like campaigning, and of course like the "ground game" that everyone focuses on in the closing weeks.

It might have been a case where believing their own BS undermined their own preparation.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 13:35:04 +0000

Yeah, I noted that too. "Community organizer" is a good background for an aspiring legislator. It's usually skipped over when campaigning for president, what with years of experience in more important jobs generally on the resume.

By: sam

sam — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 13:33:15 +0000

Republican challenger Anh “Joseph” Cao...community organizer

Wait a minute...