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Grass Roots Seen Key in 2004
The Washington Times ^ | August 16, 2004 | James G. Lakely

Posted on 08/15/2004 11:29:59 PM PDT by ultima ratio

August 16, 2004

Grass roots seen key in 2004

By James G. Lakely THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The Bush-Cheney re-election campaign is convinced that it has sufficiently outflanked John Kerry in grass-roots political organization in key battleground states, a tactic that is traditionally the deciding factor for Democrats.

The Republicans say that they have worked to organize not only down to the county level, but to the individual voting precinct — a specialty of the Democrats' union-driven get-out-the-vote efforts. As of last week, the Bush team has put campaign chairmen in place in 94 percent of targeted precincts around the country.

In the swing states, the effort is even more intense.

More than 13,000 volunteers are at work in Oregon, the highest number of Republicans ever in that normally Democratic-leaning state, which is considered in play this year.

More than 46,000 volunteers are at work in Michigan, another key state, and more than 32,000 volunteers are lined up in Missouri, with every one of the party's target precincts having long enjoyed the leadership of a campaign chairman.

The party has seen similar grass-roots efforts bear fruit in other key states around the country.

"One of the advantages we have is that the president has millions of supporters all around the country," said Bush-Cheney campaign manager Ken Mehlman. "I believe that a good grass-roots effort is one that provides those supporters with the tools they need to share their support with their neighbors."

Republicans felt they had a good head start this year on the Kerry campaign in organizing a ground strategy. Several weeks after Mr. Kerry had wrapped up the Democratic nomination, he had still not filled up many county chairmen positions in key battleground states.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: battlegroundstates; electionpresident; grassroots; gwb2004; jamesglakely; precincts
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This puts the lie to those who claim Bush is not running a good campaign. Most of it is invisible. But even on the surface, he's doing just fine--considering he has the entire media openly opposed both to him personally and to his policies.
1 posted on 08/15/2004 11:29:59 PM PDT by ultima ratio
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To: ultima ratio
Tomorrow night before all of the Freepers go to bed I want someone to post a thread asking how many FReepers planned to drive people to the polls.

It should be interesting.

2 posted on 08/15/2004 11:34:33 PM PDT by GeronL (Viking Kitties have won the GOLD MEDAL in the 2,000 meter ZOTTING)
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To: ultima ratio
The doom&gloom armchair pundits,here,no matter how long they've been FREEPERS,don't really know ANYTHING at all about politics nor campaigns.
3 posted on 08/15/2004 11:37:20 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: GeronL

I'm working on getting out the vote.:-)


4 posted on 08/15/2004 11:38:02 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: ultima ratio
The Bush-Cheney re-election campaign is convinced that it has sufficiently outflanked John Kerry in grass-roots political organization in key battleground states, a tactic that is traditionally the deciding factor for Democrats.

It appears Gore's attempt at stealing the 2000 election was a huge democrat blunder. It awakened a sleeping giant.

5 posted on 08/15/2004 11:39:02 PM PDT by concerned about politics ( Liberals are still stuck at the bottom of Maslow's Hierarchy)
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To: nopardons
The doom&gloom armchair pundits,here,no matter how long they've been FREEPERS,don't really know ANYTHING at all about politics nor campaigns.

Bush will win by a landslide. There's a lot going on the press chooses not to report. That gives us cover.
Evangelicals will be out in great numbers this election. Usually, only 1 in 4 vote, but the homosexual agenda will get them out their doors like never before.
There's also the vets. They know a lot about John Kerry. They'll travel miles on foot to get to the polls this time.
Then, there's tax payers and the cost of universal health care. They're the ones who'll have to pay for it all!
I see people turning on liberalism these days. They've seen the damage it's done, and they want it gone.

6 posted on 08/15/2004 11:45:30 PM PDT by concerned about politics ( Liberals are still stuck at the bottom of Maslow's Hierarchy)
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To: GeronL
Won't post a thread but will tell you that I have been very active in getting out the vote for Pres. Bush since August 1st. Registered several people this past week that have stated they would like to vote Republican. Have a project going now within 3 precincts of identifying people who are registered to vote but have never voted. There are over a thousand of them that are valid registrations, and if I can get 50 extra votes from that group for local candidates and the President, I will be overjoyed. Might not sound like a big deal but will take all the Republican votes we can get.
7 posted on 08/15/2004 11:47:22 PM PDT by jerry639
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To: concerned about politics
There's a whole lot,going unreported and it bodes ill for Kerry/Edwards.

And many of FR's doom&gloomers do NOT want President Bush re-elected.

I won't say "landslide",though my husband has been saying do for many,many months,but yes,President Bush WILL be re-elected...unless something REALLY out of the blue happens.

8 posted on 08/15/2004 11:50:15 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: nopardons
I won't say "landslide",though my husband has been saying do for many,many months

LOL. So has mine. He says Bush is likable, Kerry is not.
Most people don't follow politics, and will vote for the person they can relate to.
Bush talks TO people. Kerry talks AT people.

9 posted on 08/15/2004 11:58:44 PM PDT by concerned about politics ( Liberals are still stuck at the bottom of Maslow's Hierarchy)
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To: concerned about politics
Apparently we both have brilliant husbands. :-)

Your husband is spot on about the likable thing.

10 posted on 08/16/2004 12:04:56 AM PDT by nopardons
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To: nopardons
The American Medical Association lists North Carolina's current health care situation as a "crisis" and blames it on medical-malpractice lawsuits such as the ones that made Democratic vice-presidential candidate Sen. John Edwards a millionaire many times over.

"The John Edwards we know crushed [obstetrics, gynecology] and neurosurgery in North Carolina," said Dr. Craig VanDerVeer, a Charlotte neurosurgeon. "As a result, thousands of patients lost their health care."

Kerry/ Edwards won't get their vote, either! The medical professionals will not be there for the left this election.

11 posted on 08/16/2004 12:07:04 AM PDT by concerned about politics ( Liberals are still stuck at the bottom of Maslow's Hierarchy)
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To: concerned about politics

They don't much like Kerry in West Virginia--but for other reasons. He bad-mouthed coal as an energy source for years in the Senate. So even with a sluggish economy, Bush will do well there.


12 posted on 08/16/2004 12:12:24 AM PDT by ultima ratio
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To: concerned about politics

A whole lot of people,won't be there for the Dems,this time around.


13 posted on 08/16/2004 12:12:51 AM PDT by nopardons
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To: ultima ratio
They don't much like Kerry in West Virginia--but for other reasons. He bad-mouthed coal as an energy source for years in the Senate. So even with a sluggish economy, Bush will do well there.

Because of the Clinton administrations environmental regulations, America has to buy most of it's coal from...............................................................................................................................................................China.

14 posted on 08/16/2004 12:18:20 AM PDT by concerned about politics ( Liberals are still stuck at the bottom of Maslow's Hierarchy)
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To: ultima ratio
..........................................China.

BECAUSE, you see, there were Buddhist monks visiting 'ol Al with a stashes of cash in their dresses. A little cash can buy a lot of business, and China is the only place where you can buy "environmentally friendly" coal.

15 posted on 08/16/2004 12:23:16 AM PDT by concerned about politics ( Liberals are still stuck at the bottom of Maslow's Hierarchy)
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To: GeronL


Since you ask, I am not posting a separate thread, BUT, for the first time in twelve years, I will not be running the polling place. I am in a minority/majority precinct, so judge and alternate judge swaps back and forth depending on the most recent election results. My Democrat compatriot lives half a block from me, we are personal friends, and regardless of who wears which badge, she usually defers to me, since I am the nutcase who carries around a complete copy of Texas Election Code, just for fun.

This time, we have new rules requiring bilingual clerks on premise, not just on phone, never been a problem, I have that much Spanish, but DOJ is giving us grief, so that's that. Since Donna, my roommate and the bilingual whosis will make three people in a precinct that could be handled by two, I am going to call in sick, let them handle the polls, and run the shuttle getting out the vote.

Probably not necessary, neither party is wasting money in Texas, foregone conclusion, but still good exercise, make some contacts for the future when we might have a really close race. (In fact the dingbat with the unpronouncable name who took over as chair of the Texas Dems is highly honked off and wants Texans to stop giving money to the DNC since they are not spending money here. Guess the idiot would prefer to see Dem dollars wasted here instead of Penn. Ohio, Fla. Oregon, Mich. and other states that will actually determine the election.)

Not really needed this time, but I don't care if you are playing chess, shooting pool, or doing politics, if you ain't looking at least three moves ahead, you are setting up for a loss.

Oh, yeah, forgot to mention NC. I used to live there, still have contacts, I don't think Edwards could get a second term there. Remember Algore blew homestate Tennessee last time, (God knows his daddy is probably still spinning in the grave over that bit of idiocy), Penn, Ohio, and Michigan go coin toss, Edwards doesn't carry NC, it and New Mexico could be the balance.


16 posted on 08/16/2004 12:42:46 AM PDT by barkeep
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To: barkeep

BUMP!! fellow Texan


17 posted on 08/16/2004 12:52:21 AM PDT by GeronL (Viking Kitties have won the GOLD MEDAL in the 2,000 meter ZOTTING)
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To: jerry639

Jerry, this is what makes things work. I am not a wealthy man, sometimes have to stretch the budget to afford my political hobby, but I cannot walk from the east side of the capitol to the west without someone pumping my hand and patting my back, because I work my buns off and turn out real live votes. You are doing exactly what I do here, targeting the demographic edge and getting them off their arses. This is going to be a high turnout, narrow margin election if I read it right. I am precinct chair in a combined precinct with a total of 1450 registered voters, swing a little clout in most of the east side. Good turnout, I can deliver 400-500 votes out of 15 precincts. Took a while to get there, but as the credit card ads put it, priceless. Average campaign cost per vote being on the high side of $6.00, they don't care about the bucks if you can deliver what the bucks buy. Go for it Jerry, best of luck in your effort.


18 posted on 08/16/2004 1:01:53 AM PDT by barkeep
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To: ultima ratio

Case you had not caught it, Teraza Ketchup is backing a number of green weenie groups in a lawsuit, that if successful, will shut down the majority of coal-fired electric plants in the US. OK, we dont want coal, gas is both too expensive and involves in the middle east, heaven forfend we disturb the mosquitoes in the northern slice of ANWAR, God forbid we even say the word "nuclear" out loud, where exactly does Teraza think we are going to get the electricity to run our hybrid/electric roller skate on wheels automobiles, or are we all going to ride bicycles to work in the rain?


19 posted on 08/16/2004 1:14:38 AM PDT by barkeep
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To: ultima ratio
This article has been posted to DoctorZin’s New News Blog!


20 posted on 08/16/2004 1:28:49 AM PDT by DoctorZIn (Until they are Free, "We shall all be Iranians!")
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