tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648635182163522911.post5945035516043735406..comments2023-11-02T09:25:15.302-05:00Comments on Texas Politics & Government: Ideas and Institutions: The Battle for Texas (Part II)Stefan Haaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08121504374747892425noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648635182163522911.post-71054814547664349822014-12-14T09:44:52.332-06:002014-12-14T09:44:52.332-06:00Thanks for the comment! I remember--when I was in ...Thanks for the comment! I remember--when I was in Carbondale, IL and Centralia, IL (1959-1963, 1969-1978)--the Daley machine and its dominance not only of Cook County but the whole state of Illinois. It was built on patronage and worked well. Today, volunteers must be motivated by non-material incentives such as partisanship and ideology. I don't underestimate the ability of the GOP to organize its party members and get them to vote and to vote a straight-ticket (61 percent of the gubernatorial votes in Texas in 2014 were straight-ticket ballots and 58.3 percent was Republican). Furthermore, Republicans are easier to mobilize than Democrats for many reasons. So I believe that Republicans will continue to dominate electoral politics in Texas for at least the next three election cycles. Building a competitive Democratic Party in Texas will be expensive and require a sustained, precinct-level effort.Stefan Haaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08121504374747892425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648635182163522911.post-6520697141819373572014-12-13T14:44:57.935-06:002014-12-13T14:44:57.935-06:00You are of course, spot on, a real organization at...You are of course, spot on, a real organization at the precinct level is the ideal standard and the most effective way to win elections. The old-time political machines, such as Chicago Daley, machine were of course masters at all of this, but modern versions can be implemented. However, don't ever assume that the other side, are not capable of copying. In fact, I think the GOP has started (and they are still far behind) the sophisticated GOTV effort of Obama. As I said in part I, the GOP sleeping giant was partially awakened by Battleground Texas. Much credit must go to state GOP chair Steve Munisteri and his effort to bring the 21st century into the gotv effort. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16375583914968320079noreply@blogger.com