Hackett

I prematurely blogged exit polling on election night, so I'm typing with much trepidation. But these are raw numbers. And 52-48 with almost 30% of the vote in is amazing in this district:

195 out of 753 precincts. Hackett 52-48 Schimdt. Hackett 14,600--13,549 Schimdt.

You can argue and post and pontificate until you're blue in the face, but until you start to win elections none of that matters. This would be absolutely enormous. The great thing is that this shows how valuable the grassroots is to the Democratic Party. That won't be lost on its current chairman. The DNC was slow to reach Hackett, so the blogs and the grassroots did it themselves. Where others saw a lost cause they saw an opportunity. Regardless of the outcome we've already won tonight, but if we can pull this one out it would be a fantastic bellweather for 2006.

UPDATE: Well, he didn't quite make it. But 48% in such a heavily Republican district is pretty damn good. A great run. And I agree with Jerome Armstrong that Hackett should take his message statewide. It's too much of an uphill battle in his district but he would demolish Bob Taft for Governor. And he would come pretty damn close to blowing out Mike DeWine for the Senate seat.

Hackett proved that Democrats can walk into any district in the country and make it a race. Now it's a matter of turning that into a victory.