Breaking down the Ohio election

All you have to do is visit a liberal blog this morning, or listen to progressive radio, and you can taste the enthusiasm. Everyone seems to be thrilled with the results of yesterday's election. Not that Hackett lost, but that he only lost by 3.2% in a district where Dems usually lose by 50%. To a Republican that outspent him 3 to 1. Most seem to regard it as a lesson to Beltway Democrats' strategy of appeasement, conceding Republican districts without a fight, and the continued DLC insistence that Democrats need to imitate Republicans to win.

Major Paul Hackett has shown the flaws in that argument by doing something that was thought to be impossible just a few months ago. All the more because he was outspoken, blunt, and supported solely by Internet activists and progressive radio.

Already, three more Iraq vets have decided to run against Republican incumbents in 2006 (follow link at top). And now we have some solid evidence that we can fight-- and not fear-- the Republican machine. After all, they vowed to "bury" Major Hackett and put $500,000 toward the effort. And in a solid, dark red district they barely managed to hold the seat.