Greg has a roundup of reactions to my Run Every Race manifesto (and here’s another from Hope that came later). Marc Campos says he “will address later” the issue of “running races we can’t win”. I’ll be sure to check back.
Meanwhile, if you haven’t already done so, you ought to check out Step Up Texas, which is a grassroots effort to suggest and offer feedback on nominees for offices across Texas. I see a lot of effort spent in various places talking about who we wish would run for this or that position. What Step Up Texas provides is a central place for that conversation to happen, as well as a place for those who want to commit their time and energy to a given campaign to publicly say so. Movements to draft candidates have to come from somewhere, and I think it’d be a better idea to have them come from a place where anyone can join in on it.
Some of what’s there is a little goofy – I’m pretty sure Molly Ivins will not be running for Lt. Gov., though I’m sure she’d be flattered to be asked – but I like the idea and hope it will gain some traction. In addition, I love the thought of a one-stop shop for information (and website URLs) on every candidate we’ve got. So check it out, offer some endorsements, and let’s generate some buzz.
Campos also said: “… if you fellas think we ought to have candidates, why don’t you fellas file.”
Thanks Marc. My version would have been ill-suited for print.
Charles, I’m not sure of the intent of your comment but just wanted to highlight that blogger Matt is already exploring such a run. So Campos can eat his words.
Karl-T: If Matt (and others) are exploring such a run that’s great! Maybe Campos can explore eating his words.
Following the links in the post, I see that most people with an opinion in this matter realize the importance of running a full slate and understand how this aids in maximizing your party’s vote totals.
The theory that the GOP will sit back and relax is bull. They learned a lesson from Talmadge’s razor-thin loss last year and they will be working hard to maximize the vote. You are not gonna “stir them up” by running a full slate, they are doing that on their own.
The only other comment I would make is to point out once again that nobody needs to post a filing fee to run in the general election, any qualified potential candidate can do a petition drive and get the signatures required on a filing petition and get on the ballot.
I know incumbent politicians with huge campaign funds who do this every election to save the filing fee.
All you need is a walk list, your own shoe leather and some volunteers to canvass with you. You will also find you’ll pick up multiple sigs at many homes.
Also, you need not necessarily confine yourself to a demo walk list though of course this is your target group. Many other people including people in the GOP majority will sign out of repsect for the values of freedom and the democratic process, and so you can collect sigs just about anywhere you are, not just door-to-door to identified democrat voters.