State party officials say Dean understands Democrats in the West

By: MATT GOURAS - Associated Press Writer | Sunday, November 19, 2006 8:16 PM PST ∞

TETON VILLAGE, Wyo. (AP) -- Democratic Party luminaries back East who think it was a waste of money to beef up local organizations in places like Montana and Wyoming don't understand the gains the party can make in the West, state party directors said.

The state party chairmen are firm believers in the 50-state strategy employed by Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, who took his victory tour to a weekend meeting in this Wyoming resort town of the state chairmen who elected him.

"We have been able to build our party around the state by creating Democratic organizations in every county in the state, for the first time in anyone's living memory," said Jim Farrell, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party.

"In Washington some people might tend to ignore Montana because it is so frequently considered a red state, but Chairman Dean and his 50 state strategy doesn't look over a state like Montana that has been red in the past," Farrell said.

The DNC under Dean funneled more money to state organizations, which used it to hire full-time organizers and other staff to help organize Democrats and take their message to neighborhoods Democrats had long forgotten about.

But some high-profile Democrats, led by Clinton strategist James Carville, attacked Dean,-- even in the wake of big election wins for Democrats. They argue more could have been done.

Farrell and his colleagues don't buy it.

"Those people criticizing Dean's 50-state strategy are, by and large, big shot political consultants who have completely lost touch with the grass roots and fail to see its importance," he said. "We know how hard we have to fight to elect Democrats in a state that might be red. We know we can only win by strengthening our grass roots."

Mike Gierau, the Wyoming Democratic Party chairman, said his party used money from the DNC to hire positions it never had before to employ a strategy that he says kept Republicans on the defensive.

"These were Wyoming people who knew Wyoming issues," he said of the new hires.

The organization was in place to take advantage when Democratic newcomer Gary Trauner gained ground on incumbent Republican Rep. Barbara Cubin. In the end the upset bid failed but they came closer than anyone predicted, Gierau said.

Putting money into traditionally red states paid dividends, and will continue to do so, despite criticism from the Washington D.C. Democratic Party establishment, he said.

"It enabled us to stand up and it produced victories around the country," Gierau said.

Todd Taylor, executive director of the Utah Democratic Party, said the DNC used to give his state a few thousand dollars and a little advice over the phone. Now he gets enough money to hire three extra full-time staff positions.

The criticism of Dean's plan to build the local parties has the potential to create a schism in the party. It's almost as if the party insiders believe the state network is not worth the money, Taylor said.

"It almost creates a backlash," Taylor said. "It feels more personal than I am sure it is meant."

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