Northwestern University Newsfeed

November 9, 2006

GALVIN: It becomes easier for the party to recruit new candidates when you can promise them that they'll be part of a governing majority party. Secondly, state politics and state legislatures…that's the training ground for national candidates.

Galvin says it remains to be seen if Howard Dean's plan to revitalize the Democratic Party by making inroads in all 50 states will be effective…

GALVIN: We won't know for 10, 15, or 20 years the answer to the question. It partly turns on whether on not Dean is able to continue funding his infrastructure building projects on the state level.

Galvin believes it's important for Democrats in the House to mount a positive agenda between now and the 2008 election…

GALVIN: If they don't come up with something positive and if they don't read the polls closely, they could end up being “Gingrichized.” Bill Clinton turned Newt Gingrich into the “Ging-grinch” just before Christmas in 1995 for shutting down the government. If the Democrats don't do anything or if they overreach like Gingrich did, they're going to be in trouble.

Galvin says a different type of Democrat was elected in many districts on Tuesday…

GALVIN: The gains that the Democrats made were primarily in suburban districts. A lot of conservative Democrats were elected. So, in order for Pelosi to construct an effective governing strategy, she's going to have to work with more conservative elements within her party.