Kerry did make some inroads, bright spot #2

In Oregon, Gore won by 6000 votes in 2000, Kerry increased the margin of victory to 70,000 votes in 2004. At the state level, democrats won all the major state level positions, retained all national incumbencies, changed the margin in the state senate from 15/15 to 18/12 democrats over republicans, and came close to winning a majority in the house. At the local level, Portland elected a mayor who developed a real grassroots principled campaign that began with a limit of donations to $25/person in the primary and $100/person in the general election. He spent $70,000 to his opponent 's nearly $1 million and yet he won the election 63% to 37%. His opponent was a respected local council member and there were no major scandals.

Second observation - Portland was one of 33 test markets for the progressive talk radio Air America. The AM station carrying Air America zoomed to the highest rated station in the region with a market share several times its nearest hate radio competitor.

Whats the point of this? A question? Does anyone know how democrats did in other test markets of Air America? Obviously, these are areas where the progressive message should be popular but if they are also areas where the margins of victory increased, does this tell us something about media dominance and civic engagement.

There are paths to challenge the republican orthodoxy, we just need to take them.