Motivate Your Candidate

I'm not a Clinton supporter, but given that she may be the Democratic nominee in November, I have a stake in how she is running her campaign. I am particularly disturbed that she appears to concede contests with great ease, prefabricating excuses rather than competing with Obama. I fear this bodes poorly for her performance in the general elections. I don't say this to gloat about Obama's strengths or recent victories. I want this to change. How can she already write off whole states in General Election in order to spin poor performances. Are we really to assume that she won't put Kansas into play? What about Colorado? Or Oklahoma, where she won handily? Does she intend to win solely on the basis of California and New York? This must change

Her campaign makes excuses about caucuses. They are a long standing part of the political process, reflecting the essence of local democracy, and given her experience, she ought to know how to work them. They are certainly important now because caucus-goers tend to be more politically active. They are the people who make calls. They are the people who knock on doors. They are the people who sit as poll observers so that republicans don't challenge voters' registrations. Clinton will need these people in November. Her organization needs to start reaching them now.

Her campaign claims to be in command by claiming that specific results were "expected." It is defeatist. The campaign wasn't prepared beyond Super Tuesday, and its showing. Clinton needs to make a serious play at the upcoming states--not just Texas and Ohio, but Virginia and Maryland and, yes, DC. She needs to start addressing African-Americans rather than conceding them to Obama. The spin about comments made in South Carolina should stop.

Please, call or write the campaign. Tell them, as supporters and donors, you want Clinton to compete aggressively in all states. You want her to compete in caucuses. You want her to affirm the value of all Democratic contests. If you find that there is no support for her campaign in your area, volunteer. Your time is better served "in the field" than on this board.

So, please, motivate your candidate. It is important to us all.