Butchie, I understand your sentiment. You want to be as effective with your resources as possible. I think all of us here agree with that. I'm in Virginia's 6th CD where Karen Kwiatkowski is running for Congress and although I've volunteered and performed some leg work for her campaign, all of my contributions go to Ron Paul. I'm embarrassed to say that the people in my district look to the national scene to determine their support at the local level. The political phrase is "coattails" not "floorjacks" for a reason. For Karen to have any chance to primary a popular 10 term incumbent, it will be on Ron Paul's coattails. To get her into office, we have to make Ron Paul as successful as possible.
This political phenomenon has a lot of historical traction too it. Simply put the majority of voters don't research deeply so they vote for who/what they are comfortable with, which means what they know and that which is endorsed by/associated with what they know.
Even among the politically savvy members of RPF (and yes the average level of know how here is a cut, if not two or three, above the standard voting curve) you can see 'coattails' in action. Just think how many voters wouldn't even know of liberty candidates (let alone how many wouldn't even be running) if not for Dr. Paul.
There's more of a conversation on the issues and how the interconnect, there are more personal connections and thus people who can vouch for the legitimacy of liberty candidates. Even Rons Official Campaign has
already created some degree of a coattails effect by training and inspiration for many local supporters to run for party offices. Also the 'fair weather friends' who dance like weather-vanes to the prevailing political winds *cough*Romney*cough* at various levels (esp federal) will become at least more receptive if not actually supportive. The White House is not just an office, it's a symbol, and a symbol of that potency would have an impact on the
perceived legitimacy of the liberty movement. Anyone who's talked about how important a 1st place straw poll state would be/is should understand this fully, to occupy the white house is the mother of all momentum creators for federal politics. On top of which it would put a liberty defender (Ron Paul) in a position to hold the line for four years giving the movement not only momentum but the traction to grow into a much more formidable force.
Without the advantages that the white house grants? Well things are going to get even more up hill than they are this election cycle (I have read reports from many voters turned away for various reason and GOP insiders talking about altering how nominations are handled in their area to protect the insiders. There have been rules changes
after votes where being counted in Ohio to block everyone on the ballot except the incumbent establishment candidate. And I know at least one Idaho voter cut out of the PCO process by the way the party has stacked it's regulations). The proceeding parenthetical is a growing trend and what we're seeing now is only what they've done on the fly, just wait until they've had 2-4 years to work on it.
We need wins, in the sense of liberty people elected and holding offices,
this election or the next time round the fight is going to be even more stacked against us, it will be
harder. If we win elections the reverse happens and we're facing a more even playing field next cycle than this one but that's the situation, this election is double down for the liberty movement, that bet has already been made (was made the moment we started seeking party and political office as an organized political force, made when Paul decided to make a
real push to win this year and go after delegates) if we fall short now there will be a price paid and we'll have to fight even harder to accomplish our goals.
So lets make this happen in 2012
