Republican Failure of Imagination to Stall Gains on Election Day

Republican Failure of Imagination to Stall Gains on Election Day

From change we can believe in,' to maids, witches, and wardrobes,' Democratic campaign talking points have deteriorated to a level of slapstick politics in just two short years. The trouble for Republicans is with Election Day less than a week away, the constant barrage of personal attacks is giving Democrats some much needed breathing room.

With $3 trillion in spending and unemployment still hovering at 10+%, the performance of Democrats over the last two years has been nothing short of abysmal. With an undeniably unpopular agenda and little to say by way of accomplishments, Democrats have settled on a single divide and conquer' strategy using personal attack to target specific vulnerable candidates. Despite voter disapproval of negative attack campaigns, Democrats have found a surprising measure of success in picking off one vulnerable Republican after another.

Predicted just a couple short months ago to be a sweeping election giving the House and Senate back to Republicans, the midterms are shaping up to look like a Republican retaking of the House alone by a slim margin. But with ratings of the Democratic Congress and the Obama Administration hovering at such dismal disapproval, the question becomes how are the Republicans letting some of these key battleground races slip away? The answer lies in a failure of imagination.

The 2008 elections saw Democrats sweep into power on a message of hope and change in the midst of a nasty recession. What change would occur remained ambiguous and was never clearly detailed during campaign season. Democrats gambled and won on the fact that it wasn't the message, but unification of the message that really mattered. They were able to exploit the desperation of the public by utilizing a uniform campaign strategy based on platitudes that meant something to everyone; while also growing support from a disillusioned Independent voter base.

Two years later the political climate has turned 180 degrees. The change we can believe in' turned into the change we need to run from' in European style socialism, and those Independent voters who supported President Obama and the Democrats in 2008 now feel cheated. This gave Republicans the unexpected opening to regain control of Congress and push their momentum forward towards the 2012 Presidential race. But as Election Day draws closer, the poll numbers indicate that the Republicans are beginning to lose a little steam.

The failure of imagination that is turning the Republican tsunami back into a wave can be exemplified by a simplistic comparison of the campaign strategy undertaken by Democrats in 2008 and Republicans in 2010. This comparison clearly illustrates why Republicans will not make the gains they were expecting. Democrats in 2008 utilized a two-part campaign strategy which not only fed off of public dissatisfaction and turned them against the Republican agenda, but also created a consistent and uniform message of unity and change that would make America a better place for everyone. At the time it didn't matter what the change really was. All that mattered was unhappy voters believing that any change would be better than what they had.

Republicans on the other hand, have done no more than an I told you so' strategy. They've been sitting back and waiting for the disillusioned Independents and blue dog Democrats who supported President Obama in 2008 to return to the polls next week and unchange the change. But after waiting around for these great expectations, the House appears to be the only Republican prize to be had. Republicans had a golden opportunity to run the same playbook the Democrats used in 2008 with similar results, but they have failed. And how they failed is exactly why the personal attack strategy undertaken by Democrats is proving to more effective than it should be.

Ultimately, Republicans are letting some key battleground races slip away due to a lack of a unifying message. Not just a message of partisan spin about taxes, spending, and jobs, but a message that exemplifies reunification of the Republican Party and a clear and concise plan for the future. Here lies the failure of imagination. The folks out there are frustrated and looking for something. But without a message without hope for gain, they have nothing to grasp onto. They are left to base their voting decision on nothing more than political speak which they ignore, and attack ads which they dislike in an environment where they believe the entire system is broken. As a result, political base energy begins to diminish along with the conversion rate of the much needed Independent vote, leaving the chances for an incumbent victory vastly improved regardless of who they are or what their agenda.

- J Michael Nelson

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