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Heavy Get-Out-The-Vote Efforts Provide Long-Term Benefits |
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Close, contested, bitter primaries often cause intense disillusionment among certain Democratic voters. They complain that infighting is tearing the party apart, and that too much money was wasted fighting other Democrats that could have been spent fighting Republicans. Yet, I feel this presidential primary season is proving once again that heavily contested primaries are good for the Democratic party as a whole.
The heated primary race in Iowa is driving a huge get-out-the-vote effort, something that will benefit the Democratic party for years to come.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,†Gov. Chet Culver, a Democrat who has not endorsed anyone in the race, said in an interview in his office on Friday. “The get-out-the-vote efforts are going to be the best ever.â€Â
Specifically, Barack Obama is targeting young voters, a demographic that has been growing in recent years and played an important part in the Iowa caucus in 2004, though not in the way many had expected. Hillary Clinton is also spearheading a large get-out-the-vote effort which seems to be concentrated on the elderly.
Simply getting these people to the polls, especially those who have not voted before, is crucially important for the Democratic party, and possibly even more so for the progressive wing of the Democratic party. It stands to reason that voters who caucus or vote in primaries are more likely to vote in the general election. Moreover, to vote in most primaries you need to register with a party, thus giving that party the opportunity to raise money, volunteer hours, and awareness with that newly registered voter. Young voters especially tend to be more Democratic, and possibly more progressive than their older counterparts.
As a bonus, Democrats in general are leading Republicans in get-out-the-vote efforts, further widening the gap between the parties and making future wins easier.
Bottom line, the more voters Democrats as a whole can turn out for primary votes, the better shape they will be in for elections to come. If you can convince a first time voter to vote in a partisan primary, you are more likely to turn them into a lifelong Democrat. Hotly contested primaries not only define the Democratic party by allowing Democrats to define themselves with respect to each other instead of simply being everything Bush isn’t, but help build long-term infrastructure.
More the reason to primary challenge every Democrat, especially those elected officials who appear to be Democrats in name only.
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