Obama campaign aims resources to help lower races

In an interesting article today, Obama’s campaign manager indicated that a great part of Obama’s goal in putting resources into traditionally red states is to help Senate and congressional candidates who can win.  

But winning the White House won’t be his only goal, deputy campaign manager Hildebrand told Politico: In an unusual move, Obama’s campaign will also devote some resources to states it’s unlikely to win, with the goal of influencing specific local contests in places like Texas and Wyoming.

“Texas is a great example where we might not be able to win the state, but we want to pay a lot of attention to it,” Hildebrand said. “It’s one of the most important redistricting opportunities in the country.”

Texas Democrats are five seats away in each chamber from control of the state legislature, which will redraw congressional districts after the 2010 census.

In Wyoming, Democrat Gary Trauner, running for the state’s sole congressional seat, lost narrowly against an incumbent in 2006 and is now seeking an open seat.

“If we can register more Democrats, if we can increase the Democratic performance and turnout, maybe we can pick up a congressional seat,” Hildebrand said.

This is truly amazing news.  Obama and his campaign are not just dedicated to expanding the map for the Senator’s own race, but they are interested in helping out a host of other candidates.  I know this is a different year than years past, but I am extremely impressed with their focus.  They realize that this could be a cycle that is unlikely to come about again for Democrats.  

“This November, we have a chance to create a Democratic Senate majority like we haven’t seen in decades – but it won’t happen on its own,” he wrote.

The whole article is worth a read.  

http://www.politico.com/news/s…