Online Victory Plan

America needs honest, foresighted leadership—leadership that Democratic Governors can and do provide every day. They deal with the challenges of job creation in a global economy, and position their states to compete by innovating—by building smarter government and spurring economic growth, while extending opportunity to all.

To elect Democratic Governors in 2006, we need to spread our message. That means educating Americans about the good work our Governors have done all over United States—and showing how Democrats plan to make those innovations work for Americans across the country. We know that a key component of our election success in 2006 will be our online program, which cannot succeed without your help.

We have to make this a team effort. You know the people in your communities, workplaces and families better than anyone. Many of you have joined or helped to build successful online communities and have smart ideas about how the DGA can move opinion, rally support, and change minds online better than it has before.

We will win—in 2005 and in 2006—by working together, sharing ideas, and making sure that our candidates have the resources to run high-energy, grassroots campaigns.

We pledge to:

  • Shape Americans’ understanding of the issues—before Republicans.
    Through the Internet, we can share and distribute information faster to more people than at any time in history. That means we can put our views in front of huge numbers of voters. Combining the savvy and incredible number of Internet activists with the strength of the DGA, we can ensure that no Republican levels a charge against a Democratic candidate—or paints a false impression of our ideas—without us having spoken first.
  • Plug into networks of online activists in every state.
    Flourishing communities of bloggers have sprung up everywhere. They argue policy, back candidates, talk about nuts-and-bolts campaign tactics, raise money, and do what it takes to help Democrats win. The synergy between those new groups and the resources of the DGA can amplify the messages of our candidates and help us all execute political strategies at web speed.
  • Share ideas and listen to each other, so that our successes become successes for everyone.
    The web makes a great listening post. That fact is on display every day, at megasites such as the Daily Kos—visited by hundreds of thousands daily—and at blogs beloved and well read in their communities. When good ideas bubble up there, they deserve a wider audience because only when we put our best ideas in the field can we wage effective campaigns everywhere.
  • Demand accountability from the Republican leadership in every state by fighting—and winning—the battle of ideas.
    Democrats have a bounty of innovations and field-tested ideas, and it’s up to us to broadcast and tell the truth about the power of our ideas—because when we talk about making government work, we mean a government that works for everyone, not just a favored few.
  • Grow and empower the online grassroots for years to come—not just in 2006.
    The first blogs appeared just before the turn of the millennium. Political blogging took off in 2001. The communities we see today—with their free exchange of ideas, and high-energy approach to politics—have taken years to develop. To execute a strategy for a Democratic resurgence, we need to build a durable relationship, one that recognizes the growth of online communities, and capitalizes on the value of the Internet as a community-building tool for years to come.

The components of the DGA online program share one common goal: to elect Democratic Governors in every state. We want your ideas on how to make these goals happen—and as part of this plan, we commit to a program of steady improvements that reflect what we learn from you.

We want to build a site and an Internet inclusion strategy that reflects the excellence of our candidates and of the communities we serve. To get there, we’re counting on everyone to contribute ideas that can make that happen. You don’t need to be an online organizing guru or an information technology expert. We just want ideas—so send yours in.