Reality check for Tennessee Democrats
Two term Democratic Governor of Tennessee Phil Bredesen has some advice for Democrats on how to narrow John McCain's lead in places like rural Tennessee.
“What he’s got to do is get more specific — not so much in terms of putting out white papers — but really explaining to some of these undecided voters why is your life going to be better if you elect me,” Bredesen said. “I’m not talking about hope and change and stuff.”
That rhetoric has energized the Democratic base, Bredesen, but it hasn’t reached “that middle 10 or 15 percent, who may be D’s or R’s in their registration, but they’re certainly willing to go either way” and will likely decide Obama’s contest with Republican John McCain.
“It’s a different message for them,” Bredesen said. The Obama campaign should reach out to them by emphasizing “just one or two things” he’ll do to improve the plight of people who shop at Wal-Mart.
“I would have hoped [Obama’s campaign] would have started earlier, but they didn’t,” he said. But he added, “I don’t think it’s too late” and described the convention as a potential “pivot point in the campaign” for Obama to retarget his message.
While some leftwing bloggers have completely given up on Tennessee and continue to alienate Clinton supporters with tired, divisive language, Bredesen has not. Like the Obama campaign, Bredesen is focused on reaching out to disaffected Clinton supporters, and Tennessee has its fair share. It will be difficult for leftwing bloggers, who have dedicated months to lowering the political dialogue with heavy investments in divisive name-calling, to support Obama's or anyone's effort to bring the party together and do what it takes to win an election.
Recently, one leftwing blogger told Gov. Bredesen, who has actually won elections, to "STFU." I'd like to return that advice to those bloggers whose language and tone does not win elections, does not convince voters and does not come out of the mouth of the leaders they admire. Take your own medicine: "STFU."
If there is any state in the country that will test whether Hillary Clinton can bring her supporters to Obama, it's Tennessee. No one can make Obama's case better to voters here than the Clintons. Tennessee progressives have a choice: give up, erode progressive growth and cry like children or make Obama's work a little easier and "STFU."
More from Nashville area bloggers:
- Phil Bredesen to Obama: Get More Specific - Crone Speaks
- Bredesen Slams Obama Again... - Bill Hobbs
- Tick Tock And He Don’t Stop: Bredesen Off-Script On Obama [AGAIN] - PostPolitics
- How long am I going to have to harp on the concept of broad appeal? - Jane Q Public
