Before the late 1990’s much of the Republican grassroots infrastructure was “outside” the party or campaign organizations. Organizations like the California Republican Assembly, Republican Federation of Women, and Young Republicans were useful suppliers of large numbers of committed trained volunteers. But over the last decade or so for various reasons the volunteer armies have tended to drift over to the Party proper, and to a much lesser extent the campaigns.
Why? A few of the coalition organizations had pretty serious demographic problems. In English, that means the base of their active membership got old, and as the organizations began to refocus towards the schedules of the retired instead of younger families, membership declined as people died. Other organizations depended on ideological tensions within the Party on being high. These groups tended to suffer during the enforced ideological peace of the Bush Machine era.
That’s why I’ve been so impressed with the College Republicans under Davidson, Puetz, and Mason. In the battle for control of San Diego’s City Council earlier this year – hardly something to make the heart thump faster if you don’t live here – they fielded 92 workers for three days. In the April Special Elections and the June Primaries these young adults were everywhere – every campaign appeared to have a few in leadership positions or learning the trade. Often on both sides of various campaigns.
This weekend 91 College Republicans from all over California descended on the target 78th Assembly district – walking some 11,500 households. An additional 57 of them went out to the target Assembly District, where it is estimated they contacted 7,000 homes. That’s 148 bodies for three days. And for the most part they didn’t need training. They got it. From talking to them it was clear they understand that respect for their organization – and for them each individually – is directly tied to actual performance in campaigns.
These are the managers and deputy managers of the 2008 election cycle. These are the fresh, motivated young crop of legislative staffers (and not a few new Chiefs of Staffs and District Directors from what I can tell). These folks are out there doing the block and tackle spadework that, as they rise, will greatly benefit their employers who need staff that understands both the legislative process and the practical politics. And in the looming struggle for the soul of our Party, I’d rather have them with me than against me.