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The problem is that (none / 0)

how are you going to convince people to make runs, work long hours, raise tons of money, for a race they know is almost certainly going to end up in bitter and landslide defeat? The reason why these seats were not contested is because no one wanted to put in the effort into what bluntly would be a sure failure.
by jiacinto on Fri Nov 05, 2004 at 12:21:50 PM EST

Re: The problem is that (none / 0)

There is always someone willing to fight for the greater good. What Chris is advocating is building inroads into areas we "think" we can never win.

Besides tying up their resources, it is possible that if we properly remarket our image we COULD actually start pulling greater support. Yeah, maybe you don't win this year. Or the next. But then something strange happens a little down the road... you start actually competing.

I do maintain we'll have to refocus our image first. We'll never win if they can just pick us off with name-calling and hot button topics. We win on the big picture, but that's hard to communicate.

by Green Irishboy on Fri Nov 05, 2004 at 12:31:16 PM EST
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Re: The problem is that (none / 0)

I will say that every now and then a long shot does win a race. That being said the reason why no one contests those seats it that there is a 90% chance that a campaign there would end up in a defeat. And who wants to go throw the hell of running a race that is all but certain to end up as a defeat?
by jiacinto on Fri Nov 05, 2004 at 12:45:58 PM EST
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Re: The problem is that (none / 0)

I totally see your point. I really do. I know for me, that would be very painful, sort of like this election year in general. But I digress.

Still... look at how America works. I mean, these third party candidates actually still get out there and try. They know they're hopeless, but they put up a fight and make inroads. What percentage of the vote did some of these guys get? How many spots did they pick up? Not many, but we are more aware of them. Occassionally, it pays off for them. Either way, they still keep coming back.

I guess if there is someone willing to give it a try, knowing the odds, we should give them the resources to help us out. Like you said, you never can tell!

by Green Irishboy on Fri Nov 05, 2004 at 12:51:12 PM EST
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Re: The problem is that (none / 0)

Come up here and ask the 700 or 800 sacrificial-lamb candidates for our political parties, from the last election alone, why (and how) they did it.
by Canuckistan on Fri Nov 05, 2004 at 03:00:23 PM EST
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