Winning D.C.
Signals in the political landscape had all been pointing towards a big win for Republicans in the fall of '14, and sure enough, just that happened: a smaller and older body of voters chose the champions of obstruction.
Though the scenery is quite different from that in 2008, when voters threw out the other party, the pattern of boom and bust is a constant. And so, the defeated in 2014 look forward with hope to the familar scenery of redemption somewhere down the road.
What might that familiar scenery look like? A newly victorious party is energized and emboldened by success. Actors further out on the fringe are given greater heed and the inevitable correction then occurs at the next election (though let's skip that eight years of Bush-like misunderestimating please!). So, expect to hear more of Senator Ted Cruz and other wingers, who look to be candidates for over-the-cliff leadership.
In the meantime, Democrats might examine their presentation for '16. The path ahead seems likely: many low-information voters remember the Clinton years as the 'good old days'. The Clinton presidency's appeal was broadened by addressing typically Republican concerns (Al Gore's attack on red tape in DC bureaucracies, for example). And a woman at the top of a national ticket should generate enthusiasm and provide for a convenient narrative.
And it's never too early to engage in what works, politically. The most effective GOTV (Get Out The Vote) efforts, it should be noted, have been shown to move elections, if done right. Here's a good backgrounder on what works (short version: canvassers going door-to-door, talking with voters for 10-20 minutes each).
My own input here, as an unpaid door-to-door canvasser in my youth, is that engaging the public by ringing doorbells is hard work, even when paid, say, $20 an hour. The temptation is to linger on friendlier porches and make a run for it otherwise.
So, the key is obviously prior training on how to present a candidate. There are also the work parameters that a party might engineer to reward success.
Pretend you're part of a 2-person team knocking on doors. If you've been well trained in how to present a candidate, you're halfway to a successful GOTV effort. Now imagine that before and after ringing a doorbell you sign in on a mobile device. Perhaps the device buzzes at the 10 minute mark to keep you moving. Perhaps it senses heat and can tell when a third body is on the other side of a front door. Maybe it senses the give-and-take of conversation to encourage questions asked. Constructing work parameters can reward solid effort, minimize the lackadaisical impulse, and, coupled with effective training, get out the vote effectively.
Can enough money be raised to pay for the best trained and equipped canvassers? That likely won't be a concern with potentially our first female president asking for votes.
