How to Survive 2010

Democrats need to make substantial political progress in the next six months.  The basic problem is math.  Currently independent voters prefer Republicans over Democrats by two to one in congressional trial heats.  Other groups, such as blue collar whites and white seniors are similarly lopsided in their preferences.  More competitive margins are possible with these groups, but that could come too late, and there are more immediate places to make up the numbers. Good places to start are among unmarried women, young people and people of color.  Voters we call the Rising American Electorate (RAE), who make up the majority of the voting age population in the country and voters who drove progressive victories in 2006 and 2008.  They remain supportive but not nearly in the same numbers.  They can help rescue Democrats from a very forgettable electoral cycle in 2010.  Unmarried women alone make up 25 percent of the population and can have the biggest impact. This joint project by Women’s Voices. Women Vote Action Fund and Democracy Corps highlights distinct opportunities among these voters, but also core problems that need real attention and major political investments to make right.