Markos Stands Up for Howard Dean

Kos:

While the DCCC elites scoffed at Howard Dean for working toward a 50-state strategy, the DNC has been staffing up in every state in the union. Given my obsession with the Mountain West, I decided to check in on Wyoming. The Wyoming Democratic Party Executive Director, Kyle DeBeers, sent in the following report:

In Wyoming, the success of the DNC's 50-State Strategy is succinctly summarized by a conversation that I had with a candidate for county assessor earlier this summer. He said, "Now it's my opinion that you run with your party, because they can do a lot for you." There is no doubt that the DNC staffers are delivering tangible results for candidates across our state.

Since they began implementing our grassroots outreach program last fall, the DNC staffers have recruited and trained 681 volunteers around the state. The staff and these volunteers have given the state party a presence in places where it had been almost non-existent for years.

For eleven months, the activists have been talking with their neighbors about the Democratic message and our candidates. This is an unprecedented voter ID and voter persuasion project. And with the vast majority of these folks committing at least two hours of their time on Election Day, we will have an unprecedented ability to get Democrats as well as supportive Republicans and Independents to the polls.

For a grassroots effort like Gary Trauner's Congressional campaign, the 50-State Strategy makes a very real difference. As Gary knocks on doors around the state, he can work with the network of activists that the DNC staffers have recruited and trained.

Today Gary has matched Barbara Cubin's fundraising over the last three quarters while both internal and public polling show that Cubin is vulnerable. When Governor Dean decided to invest in Wyoming, few if any inside-the-beltway pundits would have expected the state's US House race to be competitive. It takes time to build a real grassroots organization, but because Governor Dean committed to compete everywhere, Wyoming Democrats were ready to take advantage of the opportunity that Gary's hard work created.

The 50-State Strategy is making a difference in other races too. Grassroots leaders identified by the DNC staffers are stepping forward to volunteer their time as county coordinators for the Democratic Nominees for State Auditor and State Superintendent of Public Instruction. DNC staffers have helped US Senate Nominee Dale Groutage stage press conferences and deliver his message to state and local media.

In fact, they've worked closely with a number of campaigns to communicate the candidates' vision for our state to the press. In Wyoming, many voters rely on weekly newspapers and local radio stations for news about their community. The staffers played a critical role during the last legislative session keeping our legislators connected with their hometown newspapers and their constituents.

For every Democrat on the ticket - from popular Governor Dave Freudenthal to local conservation district candidates - the DNC's 50 State Strategy has made a difference. Our state party is energized and poised to make gains in November.

The DC elite have a hard time comprehending that places like Wyoming can be competitive for Democrats. They'd rather toss Wyoming to the wolves and spend their millions on high-commission ad buys in six "battleground" states.

But we're working towards a battleground country. And it's a beautiful sight indeed.