The question is: can he deliver? It hink the answers is going to be yes. Expanding the small doner base is both the right thing to do and the only practical strategy for revitalizing and expanding the Democratic party because:
1) We will never have access to large corporate doners again. Corporate America responds to two things: Bribery and Blackmail. When the Democrats were in the majoreity, they were able to threaten Corporate America into supporting them because they controlled all investigation, regulation and tax matters. They don't have that option now.
The Republicans have taken a different approach and bribed their supporters with promises of deregulation, and tax breaks, and, worst of all, tort deform (it reforms nothing). Again, this option is unavailable to Democrats, becuse they can't offer better bribes, and shouldn't even try.
4) Finally, and most importantly, developing a large small donor base makes Democratic claims to be alternative to the Republicans legitimate. Democrates are about expanded prosperity and real justice; they should court those who need these things.
And I for one will take 10 huge donors over 1000 small donors any day. 10 huge donors are for more likely to raise you 1000's more even out of your district, in another state, etc. And the ONLY way to win these days is with TV early and often, and direct mail. And the only way to get that is with big donors.
This is the only way to but network primetime TV ads and bulk direct mail which are the only ways to reach a sizable portion of your voting block. You can have all the foot soldiers you want, but you'll never get the same results as TV and direct mail.
And, to qualify, I am not saying ignore the small donors. I am merely saying I would prefer 10 big donors over 1000 small ones.
I don't give a fuck about what corporate america wants.
And they can keep their fucking money.
</rant>
