Democrats Express Optimism

Optimism abounded Saturday when East Cooper Democrats went to the polls to nominate a presidential candidate and to elect precinct officers.

“If you look at where we were four years ago compared to today, and you consider all that this president has accomplished with an obstructionist Congress, I think there is a lot of optimism among Democrats,” said Richard Hricik, a Mount Pleasant lawyer and active Democratic Party member.

Since the summer, Republicans have dominated national and state headlines as a slate of candidates battled for that party’s nomination to run against Barack Obama.

“Right now all you’re hearing is the Republicans, and they are dominating the news,” Hricik said. “That’s fine, but when they have to run against the real President, not the fictional President they talk about in debates, I think you are going to see a stark contrast.”

Buoyed by recent economic news, a Republican primary slugfest and a sharpened message from the President as he gets on the campaign trail, local Democrats say the chances for re-election have improved.

“About six months ago, the mood probably wasn’t as optimistic … but now things seem to be turning around,” said Carl Mandrasa of Mount Pleasant. “Obama has changed his approach, and he’s learning you can’t be Mr. Nice Guy.”

Across the state, as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hints she may soon step down from her position, some Democrats have suggested they would like her interjected into the 2012 contest, either as vice president or perhaps at the top of the ticket.

“That’s a really small segment of the party,” said Carole Benson, an East Cooper Democrat and co-chair of volunteers for the county party. “We are very optimistic about the president and his chances.”

The Clinton issue didn’t come up at the East Cooper meeting Saturday, and party members unanimously nominated Obama and Vice President Joe Biden to run for a second term.

“He’s done a fantastic job,” Benson said. “And people who say otherwise just aren’t educated in the facts. When you put his positions next to the Republicans’, it will be clear that no middle class American would support anyone other than Barack Obama.”