Hi Matt, I read your interesting article on Obama in this past Sunday magazine. I believe there is an error in it. One that others have made and one which drives me crazy as a non-Rahm enthusiast (Howard Dean supporter). You seemed to give Rahm credit for the success of the Dems in 2006. Howard Dean's 50 State strategy I believe was the cause of the Dems most recent success (and Obama's) and Rahm fought him tooth and nail about it, though when it was a success he never corrected anyone who gave him credit. Nevertheless, I always enjoy your views and insight look forward to more.
Thanks, Diane. Let me just say that I doubt there's any writer at a major paper or magazine or who's given Governor Dean more of a hearing or more credit than I have. You may recall my writing a cover piece on the 50-state strategy during that campaign, and I wrote about it in my book, and I wrote this after the election: http://www.mattbai.com/node/256.
Now, having said that, I think there's plenty of credit to go around here, and I do believe that no one deserves more of it for that victory than Rahm Emanuel. Governor Dean's stand was, I think, important for the long-term health of the party, and Barack Obama has built on it. But as far as 2006 itself goes, I would argue that Rahm made the most critical contribution simply by recruiting the right candidates for those districts. Republicans are finding out how hard that is to do right now, and it may cost them control in November.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you'll follow my new column in the paper, either at the Times site or by subscribing to me on twitter.
on June 25, 2010
