‘Help Wanted: A Loser'
Maybe Democrats in Indiana's 2nd Congressional District could try a “help wanted” ad. “Wanted: A loser.
“Must be willing to work hard for over a year — nights, weekends and some 12-hour days required — as Democratic candidate for Congress in heavily Republican 2nd District. Expect to drive around sprawling 11-county area in all kinds of weather.
“Need to present positive message while being way outspent in campaign funding and knowing chances of winning are about the same as White Sox chances now of winning the 2023 World Series.
“Compensation: No congressional salary likely after campaign, but knowledge of helping other Democrats win and possibility you can win by losing.”
Democratic leaders have had difficulty finding a serious candidate to run next year against Republican Congressman Rudy Yakym. No wonder. Yakym, who replaced the late Jackie Walorski on the Republican ticket after her tragic death, won big last year, with 65% of the vote. He carried all 11 of the district's counties, even St. Joseph County. And that was while Democrats in many states were doing far better than expected.
But it's vital politically for Democrats to find a congressional candidate to rally party voters as a ticket leader, especially in St. Joseph County, if they hope to recover from the drubbing in 2022, when Republicans took control of county government in what long was regarded as a Democratic bastion. Democratic voters stayed home in droves all over the county, with no party nominee for Congress leading the ticket to raise issues, to excite the party base, to counter Republican criticism and to at least provide a message on TV with campaign ads and in debate.
There was a nominee, Paul Steury, someone willing to try — when all Democrats with name recognition, actual campaign skills and credentials for Congress wouldn't run.
Steury, sincere and trying his best, found that his best just wouldn't make a dent.
Party leaders know it's important to have a viable ticket leader, somebody to get Democrats to vote.
They need to find a loser. The right loser. Someone knowing that it's possible to win by losing.
Pete Buttigieg is an example. He launched his political career by losing in a hopeless race for state treasurer. Although he had no chance in a Republican sweep in Indiana, he was impressive, very impressive, and soon became a favorite for mayor of South Bend, winning that office twice and gaining attention nationally. Then he lost a bid for Democratic national chairman. He again won by losing, with accolades for his presentations. That helped him in his amazing presidential campaign. He now is transportation secretary.
John Brademas, longest serving member of Congress from the South Bend-centered district, lost twice before he went on to win 11 races for Congress and become House majority whip. Then he was president of New York University.
Joe Donnelly, trounced in his first congressional race, then won three Houses races and election to the Senate. He now is ambassador to the Vatican.
There's no guarantee that a Democratic nominee for Congress in 2024 would go on to future success.
There's a virtual guarantee of losing to Yakym, who has already established a likeable image.
But a Democrat losing by only 10 percentage points, not by over 30 points this time, and carrying St. Joseph County and maybe some other country, would win praise for the effort and for helping Democrats in other races. Could it be a win by losing?
Actual win? I guess there could be a scenario of a big blue wave sweeping even across Indiana from a Donald Trump meltdown. There also could be the opposite, another big Trump win in Indiana.
Meanwhile, Democrats need to find a congressional candidate — one who would answer a “help wanted” ad for a likely loser role that could, maybe, result in winning by losing.