Now we need increased activity in the western counties — that means headquarters, rallies, yard signs and a door-to-door presence. One of our best observers in that area, Muriel Coleman, grand dame of the conservative movement in Wisconsin, said that there were some major problems that depressed the Bush backers in the area. First, there was the decision to hold the yard signs until the last part of the campaign. The Bush backers become demoralized after riding around for months in areas flooded with Kerry signs with very few signs supporting Bush.
The huge rallies that were attended by thousands of supporters for Kerry, and they brought home yard signs. Coleman believes that we need to work hard between the campaigns to organize and that we must ratchet it up during the campaigns with rallies with country western singers, more yard signs, and more effective political activity.
He points to the successes of Republicans on the edge of Milwaukee County but he doesn't understand the changed dynamic. The Republicans were able to draw the districts more conservatively and were better able to target their resources. For the first time, the Republicans recruited and supported competitive candidates in districts they could win.
Buying more yard signs, bumper stickers and knick knacks won't win political campaigns anymore than believing there were 35000 to 40000 fraudulent votes (Dohnal's numbers). To pretend the volunteers weren't fired up because the Bush campaign was slow in handing out yard signs is to miss the unprecedented turnout by Republicans across the state.
He does have one good idea, "Finally we are going to have to go door to door to identify voters and frame our literature and give them a reason to vote."
What will win are winning issues and solid candidates and proper targeting of resources. Yes, more direct mail and more direct contact with voters. And if Dohnal wants to keep up the momentum to move Wisconsin back into the Republican column, he could put more pressure on the State Senate to actually advocate Republican ideas. Then he'll have something to put on the literature and a reason to put up the yard sign.
