Activists and the Massachusetts Dems

In Lost Weekend Adam Reilly writes:

In terms of sheer drama, this spat — coming at the tail end of a remarkably uneventful convention — was a welcome development. But as far as the overall health of the Massachusetts Democratic Party goes, it did not bode well. For the Democrats to retake the corner office next fall, the candidate, whoever he or she is, will need to squeeze every vote possible out of an electorate with a demonstrated affinity for Republican governors. If frustration prompts the Democratic left wing to lose interest — or to look to a third-party candidate, as happened with the Greens’ Jill Stein in 2002 — only the Republicans will benefit.

It's not just the "Democratic left wing"--it's the Democratic grassroots. And that includes everyone from dyed-in-the-wool liberals to disillusioned ex-Republicans who want to find a home with a party that stands for fiscal responsibility and social justice, to McCain-type independents who want open and honest government--all people who are willing to fight for what they believe in as long as the party apparatus is willing to work for them. And until that day, I guess we'll still need Democracy for America.