WTF Is It Now?!?

DISILLUSIONED VOTERS DISS DEMS
Discontented donors: 'drop dead!'

With the House and Senate elections less than four weeks away, several Democratic officials cite a troubling drop in contributions from disaffected groups and they fear a sluggish Election Day turnout from minorities, women, suburban professionals and others.

'Our liberal base wants us to stand up and challenge Bush on the war,' said Donna Brazile, who runs the DNC's Voting Rights Institute. She said loyal Democrats in low-income areas and black neighborhoods, along with many women and liberal suburbanites, are bitterly complaining that 'no one is talking to us, no one is addressing our issues' on the economy and preparation for war. 'There is a real danger out there.'

Direct-mail donations to the DNC took a nosedive in August and September, party officials acknowledge. Several of them say a major cause is discontent over the acquiescence of many Democratic leaders to Bush's preparation for war with Iraq. If Democrats can't energize their base - especially liberals, many of whom want stronger opposition to Bush on Iraq - their chances of holding the Senate or taking over the House will diminish.

One Democratic strategist familiar with the situation said, "Democratic donors want the leadership to fight harder on Iraq. Instead, people see Democrats are not raising questions." - From the Washington Post.