Blueprint: How the Democrats Won Colorado (and Why Republicans Everywhere Should Care)
Now with an updated epilogue about the 2010 elections.\ This is the inside story of one of the most stunning reversals of political fortune in American history. Four years ago, the GOP dominated politics at every level in Colorado. Republicans held both Senate seats, five of seven congressional seats, the governor’s mansion, the offices of secretary of state and treasurer, and both houses of the state legislature. After the 2008 election, the exact opposite was true: replace the word...
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The Blueprint is the inside story of one of the most stunning reversals of political fortune in American history. Four years ago, the GOP dominated politics at every level in Colorado. Republicans held both Senate seats, five of seven congressional seats, the governor s mansion, the offices of secretary of state and treasurer, and both houses of the state legislature. After the 2008 election, the exact opposite was true: replace the word Republicans with Democrats in the previous sentence, and you have of one the most stunning reversals of political fortune in American history. This is also the story of how it will happen indeed, is happening in other states across the country. In Colorado, progressives believe they have found a blueprint for creating permanent Democratic majorities across the nation. With discipline and focus, they have pioneered a legal architecture designed to take advantage of new campaign finance laws and an emerging breed of progressive donors who are willing to commit unprecedented resources to local races. It s simple, brilliant, and very effective.
Preface xxiiiIntroductionAugust 2008: The Democratic National Convention-How This Story Ends 1Part 1 The Gang of FourChapter 1 Colorado's Political Past Meets the Future-in Arizona Jared Polis 13Chapter 2 A Billionaire Decides to Spend Some Money Pat Stryker 25Chapter 3 Political Nonprofits and the Architecture of Change Rutt Bridges 37Chapter 4 "Somebody's Gotta Go" Tim Gill 47Part 2 The PlanChapter 5 Bringing It All Together: The Roundtable Is Born 63Chapter 6 Money, Technology, and Shoe Leather: The Roundtable Builds a Ground Game 78Chapter 7 "We Didn't Have a Chance": The Roundtable Unleashes Hurricane-Force Winds of Change 90Chapter 8 Circular Firing Squad: A Story of GOP Fratricide 104Chapter 9 "Financial Atomic Bombs": The Roundtable Turns a Senate Race Inside Out 109Part 3 SuccessChapter 10 Election 2004: A Great Night for the GOP-But Not in Colorado 119Chapter 11 Taking It to the States Part One: Tim Gill Draws GOP Blood in Iowa 126Chapter 12 Elevating the Game: The Roundtable Becomes CoDA 135Chapter 13 The Trailhead Group: Colorado Republicans Fight Back-And Get Sued 146Chapter 14 Election 2006: CoDA Extends Its Lead 157Chapter 15 Taking It to the States Part Two: Wisconsin and Texas in the Crosshairs 167Part 4 The Next StepChapter 16 The Democracy Alliance: The Colorado Model Goes National 177Chapter 17 Election 2008: For CoDA, No More Worlds to Conquer 186Chapter 18 The Aftermath: Money, Message, and a New Blueprint for Victory 198Epilogue 207Afterword In Their Own Words 209Index 221About the Authors 228
