My recent comments about how John Tobin helped launch the PDD’s endorsement process got me to thinking about how effective that operation has been.
For people who still don’t know about the PDD, like the Stonewall Dems and the Women’s Democratic Club we are a Recognized Club of the Delaware Democratic Party. Like the Stonewalls and the WDC we have an agenda, a special interest within the Party. Our interest is in pulling the party to the left from within. As Paul Wellstone famously put it, we represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party
As the entire nation swung hard to the right, the Democratic Party moved to the right as well. That was a huge mistake. Politcal Parties don’t exisit to chase voters, or they exisit (or should exisit) to arttract candidates to run for office based on some shared values.
Has the PDD helped do that? Absolutly it has. Just look at our track record.
Democratic candidate Bryon Short was victorious in the 7th District Special Election this spring and PDD played a role in that victory. So far, Short is doing a nice job in Dover. No complaints here.
In the 25th District PDDers worked hard for two cycles to elect John Kowalko. John is also doing a nice job, with a few toe-stubs that should be allowed for newly elected Representatives.
PDD has endorsed other good progressive candidates including, Senator Karen Peterson (who’s affiliation with us goes back to our Howard Dean campaign days), Treasurer Markell, and Insurance Commissioner Matt Denn. All three of these elected officials have sponsored and supported legislation and issues that PDD holds dear. Some of these are Wind Power for Delaware, FOIA for the General Assembly, and several insurance regulation reforms aimed at making insurance rates fairer for everyone in Delaware.
We don’t always win. In 2004 we endorsed Diana McWilliams, Steve Tanzer, Terry Schooley, John Kowalko, John McNeal and John Cartier. Only McWilliams, Schooley and Cartier won.
In 2006 we endorsed Charles Potter in the primary against Harris McDowell. Potter lost. We also endorsed Vincent White in the primary against Dennis Williams. White lost. Up in the 7th District we endorsed Carl Colantuono against Boykin in the primary and Colantuono won the primary but lost the general to Wayne Smith.
Diane Clarke Streett was endorsed by PDD and won her race for Register of Wills. We also endorsed Michael Kozikowski for Recorder of Deeds. Other candidates who received PDD endorsements in 2006 include: Pat Morrison, Richard Korn, Mike Barbieri and Dennis Spivack.
We do not blanket endorse the Democratic slate. Candidates must file a questionnaire with our endorsement committee and those who meet the minimum progressive score are called in for an interview. The endorsement committee prepares a slate of approved candidates and the steering committee votes to approve or disapprove these candidates. A PDD endorsement carries support in the form of contributions and volunteer time. Staffers at the Delaware Democratic Party know that we will knock ourselves out for our endorsed candidates and welcome the help.
Those same staffers, and the party hierarchy, know that there are some Democratic candidates that we won’t touch. No money, no volunteers for these folks. No need to list them here – those who need to know, know, including the candidates. We’ve sent a clear message. We can do that because we choose to work within the party.
Do we work behind the scenes?. You betcha!
Are we non – or bipartisan? Hell no!
That does not mean that Green Party members have not helped out and some even count themselves as members. It simply means that we have limited resources and we choose to apply them where we think they will do the most strategic good for progressive Democratic causes in Delaware.
Finally, we strongly believe that the people who do the work set the agenda. PDDers who turn out their pockets and volunteer their time get to say how the organization operates and determine the tactics we follow to achieve our ends. You can be certain that publicly chastising us will have no effect on our course. If you want to have some influence, join us and work with us toward a better Delaware.