Democrats' Campaign Themes

Another nationally known political analyst speaking on background put it more bluntly, telling a group that when labor organizers knock on the doors of union households these days, trying to find people to hit the streets for the Democrats, instead they confront “a lot of people watching Glenn Beck.”

Using fear as a political mobilizing tool is clearly not a new tactic. Its roots run deep in the forest of electoral methods. Expect to hear a lot of scary messages in the next six weeks.

But there is also an irony in the strategy.  The fear-based attacks themselves are motivated another kind of dread – Democratic panic that a lethal dose of disappointment, complacency, and rank and file anger will conspire to kill their congressional majority.  That’s a song Democrats don’t want to hear.