Comments on: From Jesse to Barack

By: DLS

DLS — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:38:53 +0000

Given the size and nature the Triangle, the North Carolina result isn't that surprising, especially because Obama was also popular not only with the black population but with a number of rural whites as well.

Obama was preferred by many to the status quo. Consider what the results would have been if Obama had been running against Cheney.

By: DLS

DLS — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:37:13 +0000

Elrod, careful. You're continuing to lose grasp of reality. The Dems will make progress in the South[east] and West (beyond any California migrant “spin-off” to other Western states and to Atlanta, or to Florida) but these states will tend to remain red and the kind of new Dems you will see will not be Blue Nation 1960s dinosaurs.

North Carolina is interesting but what's more interesting is that not all the Senate elections have been decided yet, and there may still be a chance for the Dems to get sixty seats. (At least there was as of yesterday, Thursday.)

By: elrod

elrod — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:52:03 +0000

I'm a hardcore Democrat, not a hardcore liberal. On policy matters I'm more moderately liberal than anything else.

But you are right that a staunch liberal cannot win in the South. That said, the changes in places like VA and NC mean national Democrats can win there without all the culture war gymnastics that Democrats have had to do in the past to win in the South.

By: Patrick E

Patrick E — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:34:35 +0000

I would point out Elrod that the success in the South has been by candidates running as moderate or conservative Democrats.

I would think that for a hard core liberal like yourself, such Democrats would not be a real good thing ?