General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: In 18 years since Naders run, what has been accomplished by attacking the Dem party from the left? [View all]Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)Mondale, in his acceptance speech, made the absurd claim that Carter's 1980 campaign had been too liberal(it wasn't actually liberal about anything).
And this is the first time I've heard Hart supporters blamed for Mondale's defeat(for the record, I supported Jesse in '84 and '88, and would do so again)
And there was no candidate to their right in '84 or '88 who'd have done better in those years. If there had been, there'd have been polls
showing such a candidate doing better.
Clinton took 43%...that was three points less than Dukakis had taken.
The Senate victories of Harkin and Simon(in states Reagan won going away)were proof that Dems could win on a strong, unapologetic progressive message...or in the case of 1984(when NO Dem was going to win, even Zombie Grover Cleveland)could at least make a respectable, significantly improved showing that could have been the building bloc for victory in the next campaign.