(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . We Could Win Big [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-02-14 Looking at the special elections over the last few years, it’s pretty clear that the Democrats have done well. There’s a realistic chance that this coming election could be a Democratic bellwether, if the Democrats continue to handle the political bullshit being flung at them. In 1980, I worked on the Ted Kennedy for President campaign, after which I became a paid regional coordinator for the Carter campaign in upstate New York. I was based in Albany, NY, the Capital of NYS, which at the time was run by mayor Erastus Corning 2nd, who would be mayor for over 40 years. Corning was a true machine politician and a Carter supporter. Corning was so powerful that when Governor Rockefeller wanted to build a new $2 billion state government complex, which he knew the voters of New York would never vote to approve, Rockefeller bypassed the voters and got Albany to build the complex and the state entered into a rent-to-own agreement. During the Carter campaign against Reagan in 1980, Rosalynn Carter was coming to a Schenectady, a neighboring town, for a visit. One day, I got a call from Rosalynn’s private secretary that she had been unable to reach the head of the Schenectady Democratic Party despite many tries. I tried too. Finally, I called Mayor Corning. Within 10 minutes, the head of the Schenectady Democratic Party called me back nervously telling me he had contacted Rosalynn's secretary. He truly sounded scared. The Carter office in Albany, which I headed, was in a very busy area. I got a parking ticket every day, and would drop them off at Mayor Corning’s office. He would make them go away. One day, I went there with about 40 tickets, probably totaling $1,000 in fines. I was in the waiting area when Mayor Corning came out and said to me, “Oh, the judge is right here. He’ll be right with you.” The judge came out, and asked me why I got so many tickets. I said, “Because I couldn’t find parking.” The judge said, “How does $1 per ticket sound!” When I volunteered for the Ted Kennedy for President campaign (prior to working for Carter), I went door-to-door in a wealthy part of Albany. I was truly shocked when several people whispered to me, “I support Kennedy, but don’t tell anyone.” People were afraid to go against Mayor Corning. When Ted Kennedy beat Jimmy Carter in the Albany, NY primary, it was a surprise. No one expected it because it was a near certainty that Corning would not let it happen. I know for a fact there was voter fraud in Albany, NY at that time (but that’s a story for another day). But, Kennedy won by a wide enough margin to overcome the shenanigans. What I think is happening in the Republican Party is that a lot of Republicans are truly afraid to admit that they oppose Trump, just like back when Democrats in Albany were afraid to admit that they opposed Carter. These people have been our secret weapon over the last four years. handing the Democrats outsized victories in special elections, from Kansas to Queens, Wisconsin to New Hampshire, Pennsylvania to Alaska. Suozzi, who just won Santos’ seat on Long Island, was expected to win a nailbiter, but instead won by almost 8%. Democrats keep outperforming. I think what the pollsters are not seeing clearly are those Republicans who fear going against Trump, but who in the end will not vote or possibly will vote for someone other than Trump. If I’m right, this next election could be a very happy one for us! [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/story/2024/2/14/2223416/-We-Could-Win-Big Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/