LTE published August 23rd in the East Hampton Star:

To the Editor:

The East Hampton Star editorial about a “First District Dilemma for Democratic Voters” (July 5, 2018) asks whether one should give money and work for political causes nationally or locally. The question itself goes against the grain of my experience.

There is no dilemma. Giving money to national campaign groups is a good shortcut to supporting national efforts to get money to elections where the money will make the most difference. That doesn’t preclude giving to local candidates.

For people with the time and interest to investigate, and work on, local issues and candidates, the rewards are great. As a canvasser for many political campaigns for six decades, I can testify to its effectiveness and the satisfaction it brings. It’s like investing in companies. You are more likely to succeed, and take pleasure in succeeding, if you understand the product and the prospective buyer. Nothing replaces face-to-face contact.

A successful local political effort is enormously satisfying. You see results in the people you talk to and in the election results. In New York Congressional District 1, my wife, Alice, and I have been supporting Perry Gershon. We were pleased when he won the primary, and ecstatic when his issues-oriented campaign attracted the support after the election of all four of the non-winning candidates.

JOHN TEPPER MARLIN, PH.D.

I would like to add that recent  political races have yielded impressive Democratic gains (since early 2017) that were often quite unexpected.  One has to wonder what might have happened had folks abandoned their local candidates!

Read more here: Republicans Lost Support in Every Special Election Since Trump Became President

The Dem “swing” average at +16 points in elections held in 2017.

In NY CD-1 the R>D diferential was about 16 points in 2016 for the congressional race.  To win, all that is needed is an 8 point Dem swing.  That is absolutely feasible in the current environment and given the history of the elections in this district.  It is also comparable to what has happened in all the special elections. In other words, no “First District Dilemma for Democratic Voters.”

Flipping the house: an interactive map!

David Posnett