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Why The White House Has To Be Optimistic [GOP voter-turnout machine humming]
hotline ^ | October 18, 2006 | Marc Ambinder

Posted on 10/18/2006 1:14:58 PM PDT by freedomdefender

Perhaps the biggest danger to Republicans in the wake of all these bad polls is that their volunteer base, so critical to victory in 2004, won't put their heart in their work. If volunteers become convinced that Republicans will lose control of Congress, what incentive do they have to work hard?

If you're ever read a profile of Ken Mehlman, you know he is obsessed with metrics. For him, one of the most important sources of data is a weekly e-mail his political team prepares called the "Weekly Grassroots Report." It meticulously records the work of tens of thousands of volunteers in targeted states, counties and congressional districts across the country. The data summary allows the RNC to determine which states are meeting goals and which states are falling behind.

The RNC declined to share the most recent report, which was issued Monday. But two independent sources who saw last week's report professed to be surprised: not only was their no drop off last week, 12 states broke new voter contact records.

In a month, the party completed more than a million phone calls and door contacts conbined. Bigger states are putting up big numbers -- even Ohio, which lagged behind its targets all summer, has caught up. The RNC is particularly pleased with their progress in New Jersey, where they've rapidly set up a more aggressive version of their 72 Hour Program in light of the state's more competitive Senate race.

These are the numbers that motivate Karl Rove's optimism. The spreadsheets show that Republican volunteers are working hard. There are plenty of volunteers and they seem plenty willing to knock on doors and make telephone calls. That's why it makes sense for Rove, for White House pol. dir Sara Taylor, and for Mehlman to exude uncanny optimism even while their brains pore over pessimistic polls. Right now, a strong volunteer corps on election day working to turn out voters is the only hope they've got. If the volunteers detect a shred of defeatist cross-talk or come across a newspaper article suggesting that Rove is panicked, then they'll start to panic, too.

The point is that top-level Republican optimism is pragmatic, not ignorant.


TOPICS: Editorial; Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: elections; frontpage; gop; votegop
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To: albie

No, they are appearing calm, there is a difference.. We are letting the media make us appear as though our position is weak and we are not projecting our poll numbers..


41 posted on 10/18/2006 2:42:22 PM PDT by mnehring (http://abaraxas.blogspot.com/)
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To: musikman

Good for you!


42 posted on 10/18/2006 2:43:05 PM PDT by AuH2ORepublican (http://auh2orepublican.blogspot.com/)
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To: freedomdefender
I think that the MSM also has decided to ignore states like mine where Republicans are on the offense, not defense.

Our incumbents are Dems, not Reps, and we can't wait to vote them out.
43 posted on 10/18/2006 2:44:52 PM PDT by kcbc2001
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To: Jedidah

My niece is volunteering to hack the Diebold voting machines for Halliburton to ensure that the Republicans win in a landslide.

(The above is SARCASM, intended to cause DU and Kossacks to go completely stark raving bugf*ck crazy.)


44 posted on 10/18/2006 2:45:19 PM PDT by BeHoldAPaleHorse ( ~()):~)>)
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To: mnehrling
No, they are appearing calm, there is a difference.. We are letting the media make us appear as though our position is weak and we are not projecting our poll numbers..

In other words, we're letting the media march off the cliff?

45 posted on 10/18/2006 2:46:14 PM PDT by BeHoldAPaleHorse ( ~()):~)>)
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To: Paul8148

Rush was saying much the same thing today.

IT IS ALL ABOUT VOTER TURNOUT

VOTE REPUBLICAN!!! NO IFS ANDS ABOUT IT. IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN....... VOTE, VOTE EARLY !!!


46 posted on 10/18/2006 2:46:21 PM PDT by JFC (Conservatives, you are either with us or against us)
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To: BeHoldAPaleHorse

;-)

They'll be quoting you on DU within the hour.


47 posted on 10/18/2006 2:51:49 PM PDT by Jedidah
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To: GeorgefromGeorgia

You mean Charlie Rangel, John Dingell and John Conyers of course.


48 posted on 10/18/2006 2:52:13 PM PDT by moose2004 (You Can Run But You Can't Hide!)
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To: musikman

"Not going down without a fight."

That's the spirit! I hear you on the borders; I'm frustrated on that one issue alone to the point I want to scream. A whole lot of Republicans deserve whatever they get. But you know who doesn't deserve it? The troops. The troops deserve better than Pelosi and her minions. If the Democrats take over, our efforts in Iraq will have been in vain. And THAT will happen over my dead body.

It's a straight "R" ticket for me. Because of the troops.


49 posted on 10/18/2006 3:00:14 PM PDT by LadyNavyVet
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To: art_rocks
"Got an appointment for the limo to pick me up and they will serve coffee and danishs to us fat cat repubs on the way to vote."

You actually have to go and vote? You mean, like with the riff raff? Man, that's harsh.

They bring the voting machine right down to my yacht...

50 posted on 10/18/2006 3:01:18 PM PDT by telebob
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To: Doogle
Ah yes, they "HAVE" to be optimistic. Another way of saying the GOP is still going to lose. I can't wait for Wednesday, November 8th. The Dems and the Drive by Media are going to be like Martians listening to Slim Whitman in Mars Attacks!
51 posted on 10/18/2006 3:11:17 PM PDT by Alas Babylon!
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To: telebob
They bring the voting machine right down to my yacht...

How many times do they let you vote? Do they let you into the black box secret hacker controls and change "D" to "R?"

52 posted on 10/18/2006 3:11:21 PM PDT by BeHoldAPaleHorse ( ~()):~)>)
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To: The South Texan

Let's all be magnificent bastards!

Turn out Republican votes!


53 posted on 10/18/2006 3:13:44 PM PDT by NaughtiusMaximus (Bush Assassination Flick. Save your liberal friends a few bucks: the black guy in the tux dunnit.)
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To: Names Ash Housewares
Funny how all the MSM polls lately never talk about little things like this.

The MSM finds it far more satisfying to report on what they want to happen.

It's not "news", it's wishcasting. But what the hell...???

54 posted on 10/18/2006 3:14:22 PM PDT by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: freedomdefender

To volunteer go to http://www.GOP.com/72hour
You will have a great time and do great work. I'll be in Pa. for Rick Where will you be?


55 posted on 10/18/2006 3:21:45 PM PDT by jmaroneps37 (DON'T BELIEVE PESSIMISM: FEELINGS ARE FOR LOVE SONGS. FACTS ARE FOR PREDICTING WHO WINS IN NOV)
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To: BeHoldAPaleHorse

I can vote as many times as I want. I punch the 'R' buttons until my little stubby fingers get too tired. Then I let the 'help' punch 'R's until they get tired too.

Then we all laugh and get drunk...


56 posted on 10/18/2006 3:24:00 PM PDT by telebob
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To: freedomdefender

"
Perhaps the biggest danger to Republicans in the wake of all these bad polls is that their volunteer base, so critical to victory in 2004, won't put their heart in their work. If volunteers become convinced that Republicans will lose control of Congress, what incentive do they have to work hard? "

The worse it looks, the more reason to work hard!
We have so much to lose if we dont keep the Congress.

Folks, it is absolutely BS to think that qualified and excellent Republicans will be tossed by inferior leftwing opponents ...
The Democrats are more leftwing and dangerous than ever!


57 posted on 10/18/2006 3:48:52 PM PDT by WOSG (Broken-glass time, Republicans! Save the Congress!)
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To: HOYA97

I've done that also.


58 posted on 10/18/2006 3:55:31 PM PDT by mcashman
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To: ModelBreaker

Link?


59 posted on 10/18/2006 4:13:16 PM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (The idea around which liberalism coheres is that NOTHING actually matters except PR.)
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To: Enterprise

Theres an article on Drudge that says Dean and Schumer are looking into borrowing money because they feel they are going to win.


60 posted on 10/18/2006 4:18:23 PM PDT by linn37
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