Right now, the Democratic advantage is an consequence more of Republican failures than Democratic gains; though Democrats are favored by six points in a "generic congressional ballot" question, ratings of both the Democrats and Republicans are at their lowest points in the last half-century. In order to break out of this decline, Greenberg and Carville propose a bold move: "To become the agent of change in the year ahead, the Democrats will have to be reformist, populist and nationalist, armed with new ideas for renewing the country." Indeed, our poll found that when Democrats present voters with a real choice, drive home their critique, and offer a new direction, a clear majority of Americans, including many who have abandoned the Democratic party over the last decade, are ready to vote blue.

Without taking these steps, Democrats will likely still maintain their current advantage and make gains in 2006. But this election holds the potential for historic gains, not just incremental progress. Retaking the House and Senate will require revisiting the "Perot voter," a broad segment of the population who, as in 1992, once again feel angry with the political and economic elites who have failed to represent them. These voters see the corruption endemic to Washington, an economy which is failing them and other ordinary Americans, skyrocketing gas and health-care prices, out of control deficits, and a military bogged down in Iraq.

These voters, who can deliver a Democratic majority, see these issues themselves; the party must provide them with a credible alternative to the status quo. Democrats have to run as outsiders and reformers, against this government of the few and as champions of the many, and for a program that puts the American people first.

In the longer memo, Greenberg and Carville outline Democratic messages that voters find show a real difference between the Democratic Party and Washington Republicans, and present a map to not just temporary success at the ballot box, but real national progress to move our country forward.