How the West Will Be Won

The NBC Nightly News and the Today Show are about to do a piece on the new trend in western states turning blue. They were tipped off by a great piece in the Denver Post about organizations like Forward Montana and New Era Colorado.

"The descendants of the rebels themselves - today's Western youth - are leading the charge for a more Democratic West. If the trends continue, the Republican Party may find itself in a world of hurt."

So NBC is asking what is going on and is the movement in the west a trend or a blip. We talk a lot on here about numbers we see move in various communities. Mike just talked to us about Evangelical Youth dropping their previous support of the President like cold Prada such that its caused a drop overall in Republicanism by 15% nationwide. So many different people and groups and communities are leaving the GOP but it doesn't always equal big win. That said - a win is a win and by all accounts trending red to more blue means a beautiful indigo wonderland of progressivism.

ED of Forward Montana and renown blogger Matt Singer says its due in large part to

"young progressive voters reacting hugely against one party rule"

And how else do you bring the youth to the choices but by utilizing alternative forms of outreach. Such as hosting CANDIDATES GONE WILD!!! Advertised by asking FMT members:

Are you "sick of boring candidate forums? Wish that you could learn about the candidates, have a beer, watch some comedy, and mingle with hundreds of other community members all in one jam-packed evening? You're Gonna LOVE Candidates Gone WILD!"

And from what it seems - they did:

"By making policy process and voting more understandable, we think we can create an atmosphere where caring about issues is cool.”

My question for people in my neck of the woods is how this kind of outreach and this astounding progress out west will effect Heartland trends.

Clay Pope - Lobbyist for the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts says that they are just behind. He expects Heartland states like Oklahoma and especially Kansas to begin trending in the next 4 years, particularly after a Democrat takes the White House in 2008.

"Sometimes we're a little slow and caucious but it'll happen. I count Oklahoma in the South so I see it happening in Kansas and Nebraska sooner. In Nebraska as soon as this Senate race and it will continue in Kansas."

City Councilmember Jason Croucher a young recently elected official in Osage City, Kansas isn't as sure.

"It isn't that we in the Heartland or specifically in Kansas are trending blue, its more that Republicans are continuing to go so far outside the mainstream and Democrats are so big tent when it comes to being individualized to Heartland issues, that I think they are losing them and we are easily gaining them."

As the adage goes - its easy to get them to eat their vegetables when the only other choice is liver and gizzards. But I think they are all right - there is an excellent opportunity for both Western and Heartland Democrats to build a big tent and explain our values to Republicans that have become so disenfranchised by a narrow agenda and who have clearly been used and manipulated by the Religious Right.

What I fear most is that young people will only APPEAR to be a part of that dialogue. If we are the ones brininging the new folks to the progressive fun then I think we should have more of a seat at the table than the drop-in or line-item we receive now. After all we are the... future... majority...