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Luke, I appreciate your comment, although I think you meant to add them to the previous post not to this one.

The strategy that you highlighted where Republicans defer to the National GOP for Policy and Networking is there Achilles Heel. Because Idaho is such a strong Republican state the only way the Democrats could upset that is by taking a locally focused approach.

I don't pretend to know (or care) about either party. I personally look at each candidate, what they stand for, where they get their money from and *how they run their campaign* (the later 2 tell me more about what kind of leader they will be than anything else).

Of course I realize that I'm in the minority and unfortunately *most* conservatives (of which I count myself among) just look vote the Republican party line because it's easiest.

Of course at the end of the day 99% of the time I'm left looking at both candidates and thinking "is that really the best you got?"

Personally I'll probably still vote for more Republicans than Democrats. But from what I've seen there are more Democrats that interest me than ever before (based on the two criteria I listed above).

Also Luke in order for my prediction to be right we're not talking about huge numbers. I never said The Democrats will run the state or would win more that the Republicans. I only said they'd win a record number of elections. (Those aren't huge numbers)

And there are a lot of your leaders and party members who off the record agree with me.

I may be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time and I invite you back after November to make me eat crow if I am.

A simple Google search would have revealed the fallacy of this argument: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Idaho+...

As far as social networking sites: I manage Idaho Young Republicans Myspace, another couple manages the Facebook account. We have an weekly email sent out to every know Idaho Young Republican. Every person who has signed up with a Idaho Young Republicans either via a College campus group, High School group, various other outlets gets the email. Jonathan Parker, who works for Rep. Bill Sali in Washington gives periodic info out this way and the head of the BSU Republicans is also very active on this network. Idaho has also consistently sent delegations to the Young Republicans forum in Washington DC and boasts one of the highest Republican-clubs in High Schools in the nation.

As far as blogs: One thing is very unique about the Idaho Republican party; it tends to "defer" to the National GOP for policy and networking. This is both a advantage (already established media outlets, blogger networks, etc). Its disadvantage is that sometimes the local "homegrown" feel of the message is diluted. However, in a state that votes overwhelmingly Republican, even the most robust blogging network would be at a disadvantage to fight the cultural and societal preferences that become inherent in the political norms. However for every pissedoffbluevoterinidaho.com there is a redstate.com or townhall.com. Admittedly, the Idaho Republican blogger network could be stronger, but then the uniqueness of sites like mine or Clayton Cramers, for example, would be diluted.

Idaho Republicans are not in any trouble. The Democrats have tried this message over and over again the last four election cycles. They have nothing to offer conservative minded folk who want to keep government small. Let me be clear: Barack Hussein Obama is not going to win any rural precincts in Idaho. McCain will. My bet is that Barr will pick up more votes in rural Idaho than Barack. Never mind Ada county, when was the last time a Democratic contender won on a *tatewide* level? LaRacco is a twice ran failure. Most voter see his name and think, "is that really the best you got?". And Minnick. Hahaha. Right. Sali is second in popularly in the state only to Gov. Otter according the data.

Nationally, yes Republicans have much cause to worry. However trying to paint Idaho as a threatened state is not sufficient without the data to back it up. Republicans are out-fundraising and out-canvassing Democrats by nearly a 3:1 ratio.

In the end the problem with Democrats is that they just are not Republican enough to get elected. By that I mean Idahoans don't see government as the solution, they see it as the problem. Democrats will have a hard time overcoming that obstatcle.

Tac,

Thanks for the post. Your comments were all spot-on terrific! We definitely appreciate the support.

We're putting this out there to show everyone that disclosure is the right thing to do.

Cheers,
Michael

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michael@blogcouncil.org
312-932-9000
I am a Blog Council employee and this is my personal opinion.