Progressives across the country have watched the special election in Ohio's second district with hope, excitement, and pride. Paul Hackett deserves our thanks and our admiration for a job well done. In the final days of the campaign, he received a groundswell of support from the netroots and from the Democratic party. He got that support because he campaigned honestly and tirelessly. He talked to the people in his district and they responded
They responded to his conviction. His willingness to say what he believed and to stand by what he said when it was used against him. They responded to his commitment to his district and his country. They responded to his progressive message, as he resisted the conventional advice to adopt a centrist position in order to win swing votes. His honesty, his policies, his hard work, and his commitment all contributed to the energetic grassroots campaign that caught the attention of the netroots, the Democratic party, and most importantly, Bush supporters in his district.
While Paul lost the race, he did so with a very narrow margin in a district the Republicans took for granted. His success in narrowing the vote so drastically, and outright winning in counties that Bush just won with double-digit percentages, shows us that when Democrats stand up and fight for what they believe in, the base becomes energized and the center doubts the Republicans.
Paul's campaign was significant for all progressives looking ahead to the 2006 elections. His success in winning the votes of "red state Americans" will have systemic effects on the Ohio GOP and national Republican Party. And it validates what Howard Dean has been saying - we have to fight for every seat in every state. It shows that standing up for what you believe in is more important than trying to be all things to all people, and that grassroots support is more important than "big money".
If I am not mistaken Paul did this mostly on small donations from many people and people volunteering their time. That's the shift we should see in politics - where we all participate in helping to fund and get candidates elected, and the party supports the grassroots. It's a shift that we're fortunate to see happening here in District 6.
Paul Hackett deserves our thanks and our respect. He may not be heading to Congress this year, but it is our hope that he will run in the future, perhaps for the Senate or the Governor's office. Our country needs the strength and energy that Paul offered. It is my hope that in the near future, the voters in Ohio choose him to lead