We piled into the car ten days ago and turned west, stopping in Denver for a meet up with Progressive activists there, then we headed for Las Vegas and the nation’s premier Democratic Party gathering, Netroots Nation.
A blogger’s convention started five years ago, Netroots Nation is now an event on par with the quadrennial Democratic National Convention in terms of its overall influence. We had 2,300 activists crowded into the Rio hotel for three days of educational sessions, speakers, and after hours networking.
I could go on about it all, but the part Smile Politely readers will want to hear is the hour we spent at the Illinois Caucus, which was lead by Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias. Dan Seals, running for the open seat in Illinois 10 left by Alexi’s opponent, Mark Kirk, was also in attendance and had much to say.
There are four Democratic Senate candidates this cycle who are under 40 and at 34 Alexi is right in the middle of the pack. Sitka Mayor Scott McAdams is the oldest, turning 40 this year, Tucson City Councilman Rodney Glassman is just 31, and Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway is the same age as Alexi.
Holding a statewide office like Attorney General or Treasurer demands a high degree of polish and this is in evidence for both Conway and Giannoulias. Alexi pauses just a moment each time before he speaks and this was consistent between my brief personal meeting with him at his headquarters some months ago and the public discussion at the convention. I don’t think he’s the least bit uncertain, my take is that he is absolutely on top of the issues — it’s always the same little delay as he checks out the crowd. This is a smart, well versed candidate being careful not to appear brash to voters, many of whom will be his senior.
Seals sat at the opposite side of our circle of chairs so he could watch both Alexi and Georgia Logothetis, a respected netroots leader Giannoulias attracted early on to his Senate run. I wasn’t briefed but the implications were pretty obvious — Alexi has good support among the netroots thanks to how he carries himself coupled with Georgia’s presence, and lending a hand to downticket races is good for all every candidate. I think everyone present took the hint.
Seals was also very impressive. I have to tip my head to look up at him and I’m not a little guy. Like Giannoulias he is careful in his presentation — careful to project a warm presence and the questions he asked and answers he gave to those in attendance indicate to me he’s genuinely interested in the needs of those he’ll be representing, but there’s a steel core under that velvet exterior. This guy is absolutely playing to win.
OK, so I’m both partisan and partial to these two candidates, but I think we’re looking at a pair of young men who would be a credit to this state. Shall we bring Alexi in for a Smile Politely hosted event some time soon? Or David Gill, the Democratic candidate for Illinois District 15? If people are interested I think we could team up with the local Coffee Party chapter to make such things happen.