Coming out of the August 5 state primary, Missouri Democrats may be likened to a plucky baseball franchise that has had an amazingly successful season but will win or lose it all in the final few months. Whereas in big league baseball the right trade acquisition or minor league promotion can make all the difference, Missouri Democrats badly need two tricky things: party unity and African-American engagement.
In 2008, Missouri Democrats have had stunning successes in beating back Ward Connerly’s anti-affirmative action initiative and a Republican legislative effort to mandate state-sanctioned picture identification at the polls. They inspired progressive Democrats (and independents) in every corner of the country by favoring Barack Obama in a critical swing state. Then they subjected themselves to a characteristically bruising set of contested races in the state primary, which are likely to be prolonged by calls for recounts in the attorney general and 5th Senatorial District contests.
The attorney general outcome is the most critical. That office, of course, often serves as a launching pad for a future gubernatorial bid. The unofficial results on election night had Chris Koster besting Margaret Donnelly by the tiniest margin, which was further trimmed as new results came in the next day. Donnelly represents both the progressive edge of the party, which must be energized for Obama to win, and women voters, who must be engaged and included, given the Hillary Clinton factor. And Koster is a highly divisive former Republican. How Missouri Democrats manage this nomination – and, quite possibly, the need to “heal the party” around a former Republican – will strongly influence the outcome of a key statewide election in November.
African Americans, who received some compelling promises from Koster during the primary race, could be critical in his general election campaign effort, if he gets the nomination. And the support of black folks – the party’s most reliable voting base – also will be essential to Jay Nixon’s run for the governor’s mansion, given how poorly regarded he remains in this community. Whether or not Nixon mends fences in the next few months could determine whether a Democrat has the top job in Missouri government for the next four years.
Above all, it is crucial that Democrats engage African Americans in Missouri if they want Obama to carry this battleground state, which has a time-tested reputation for picking presidents. This responsibility, however, cuts both ways. The Obama campaign and the state party must seek out qualified African Americans as operatives and vendors – they must invest in the black political establishment. But members of the black community also must be willing to volunteer in large numbers for the Obama campaign and other statewide efforts. We must be willing to invest our time and commitment (individually and as groups) in this high-stakes election. There is, simply, no better time in history than the next three months for a black person in Missouri to get passionately engaged in the political process – a process that can be used to effect positive change.