It’s not a great time to be the head of the Democratic National Committee.
With fewer than 100 days until the crucial midterm elections, DNC Chairman Ken Martin is dealing with the fallout from a devastating New York Times story about the “troubled, broke” committee, comparing the party’s $2 million in debt to the Republican National Committee’s formidable campaign war chest.
Based on interviews with more than two dozen Democrats, the article includes some brutal allegations: the DNC asking vendors not to send bills until after the election to mask its debt problem, Martin throwing a phone at a junior aide and a staff paralyzed by fear of leaks.
I may not be a Democrat, but I feel Martin’s pain. As chairman of the Republican National Committee during the 2010 midterms, I faced similar criticism from the usual array of backseat drivers and Monday morning quarterbacks.
Rush Limbaugh lectured me to “go behind the scenes” and said “tens of millions of conservatives and Republicans” wanted “nothing to do” with the RNC under my leadership. Rep. Tom Cole — the former chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee — demanded that I “apologize and resign” for questioning the war in Afghanistan. Major donors loudly announced they wouldn’t give money to the RNC as long as I led it. The Washington Post ran a report characterizing me as an “albatross for the GOP.”
Given all that, you would think we were headed for a historic loss.
Given all that, you would think we were headed for a historic loss. Instead, the opposite happened.
That cycle, the committee raised $164 million, even without having a president to help raise money. Republicans took 63 seats in the House — the most seismic shift of House seats in over 70 years. We gained six Senate seats, won six governor’s races and picked up the greatest share of state legislative seats since 1928, resulting in the most state legislatures switching to Republican hands since the 19th century.
I’m not going to claim that these wins were entirely my doing. But I know that I did a hell of a lot more to build the infrastructure for widespread electoral success than any of the naysayers or “anonymous insiders” catastrophizing the party’s chances that year.
Now, some of Martin’s skeptics risk making the same mistake. While no leader is ever above reproach or scrutiny, we should all be wary of questions asked in bad-faith or with ignorance as to what a national party is supposed to achieve. These do nothing to expand Democratic victories. Even if you aren’t a Democrat, it should also bother you that they are spreading confusion about how American politics works.
The role of a national party chair is simple: raise money and win elections. Deciding on the tactics and strategies to do that isn’t easy. Doing all that while also promoting yourself is even harder. That last task is the one where Martin could improve, but being bad at self-promotion isn’t the same as being ineffective.
While the RNC has a massive fundraising edge over the DNC, Democrats could take some reassurance from Martin’s recent context on those numbers. The committee has raised more money than any DNC without the White House in the party’s history. Since President Donald Trump’s second term began, Democrats have flipped 30 state legislative seats to Republicans’ zero. The DNC is delivering “substantial monthly support” to every state party in the nation. While Democrats may not be taking note of any of this, trust me, Republicans are.
And while it may not be contributing financially to individual candidates — that’s the job of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee — the DNC is spending vast sums to shore up broader campaign infrastructure and voter outreach to help those candidates win.
On strategy, Martin is emphasizing the importance of a continued Democratic presence on the ground, not waiting to do last-minute outreach when it’s time to begin casting ballots.
The final word on Martin’s effectiveness won’t be until November. It won’t be measured in off-the-record comments or damaging news stories. It will be measured in the number of Democratic victories he can mount on the walls.
Until then, Democrats need to keep their eye on the ball and their priorities clear. Maybe Martin should tell his critics what I told mine in 2010: “If you don’t want me in the job, fire me. But until then, shut up. Get with the program or get out of the way.”
For more thought-provoking insights from Michael Steele, Symone Sanders Townsend and Luke Russert, watch “The Weeknight” every Monday-Friday at 7 p.m. ET on MS NOW.
The post The head of the Democratic National Committee is taking heat. I feel his pain. appeared first on MS NOW.
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