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capemay (not verified) says:
I disagree with Mr. Dukakis' comments that Senator Kerry did not want any involvement with any grass-roots movement within the party in 2004. I was a grass-roots volunteer for the Democrats in 2004 and Mr. Kerry and Mr. Edwards put forth more of an effort to reach Democrats in my little town and across this country than Mr. Gore did in 2000 and Clinton did before him in his last election. After President Clinton was elected there was an assuption that local political efforts weren't necessary any longer to connect to the people. More households could be reached by commercials on TV and cable and by using the media. Mr. Kerry certainly utilitzed those forms of communication, but he also traveled and visited many small towns that had felt no connection to the Democratic Party in years- including my small town in Western PA. His campaign set up offices in my hometown and volunteers went door to door,signed up new voters, made phone calls, attended local events and handed out literature and arranged for rides for those who would find it difficult to get to the polls. Senator Kerry's whole campaign was aimed at reaching the people. Please don't blame him because the DNC in 2004 did very little to support him and the grass-roots efforts. To this day, many of our party's leaders do not even support Chairman Howard Dean's fifty state strategy.
Finally, I have to agree with some of what Steamboater above says, to get a good result from local level involvement in the Presidential race we will need a candidate that people are excited about. Take me for example, I got involved because I believed in the vision Senator Kerry held for our country. I personally liked the senator and I thought he would make an impressive president. This time around, I am not exicted at all about our candidates. I see nothing special in any of them, so far. It will take a lot for me to give as much time, effort and money as I did in 2004-this time around.
I disagree with Mr. Dukakis' comments that Senator Kerry did not want any involvement with any grass-roots movement within the party in 2004. I was a grass-roots volunteer for the Democrats in 2004 and Mr. Kerry and Mr. Edwards put forth more of an effort to reach Democrats in my little town and across this country than Mr. Gore did in 2000 and Clinton did before him in his last election. After President Clinton was elected there was an assuption that local political efforts weren't necessary any longer to connect to the people. More households could be reached by commercials on TV and cable and by using the media. Mr. Kerry certainly utilitzed those forms of communication, but he also traveled and visited many small towns that had felt no connection to the Democratic Party in years- including my small town in Western PA. His campaign set up offices in my hometown and volunteers went door to door,signed up new voters, made phone calls, attended local events and handed out literature and arranged for rides for those who would find it difficult to get to the polls. Senator Kerry's whole campaign was aimed at reaching the people. Please don't blame him because the DNC in 2004 did very little to support him and the grass-roots efforts. To this day, many of our party's leaders do not even support Chairman Howard Dean's fifty state strategy.
Finally, I have to agree with some of what Steamboater above says, to get a good result from local level involvement in the Presidential race we will need a candidate that people are excited about. Take me for example, I got involved because I believed in the vision Senator Kerry held for our country. I personally liked the senator and I thought he would make an impressive president. This time around, I am not exicted at all about our candidates. I see nothing special in any of them, so far. It will take a lot for me to give as much time, effort and money as I did in 2004-this time around.