Michael Rentiers

If you are part of an organization that has interests in government, now is the time to be in the grassroots.

If one were to look back to the news headlines from the aftermath of the 2008 elections and compare them to headlines from the recent elections in Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts, they would be almost identical just by reversing the political fortunes of the Democrats and Republicans. Similarly, it is not the mood of the electorate that has changed so much as it is the target of their disdain. As the 2010 midterm election season draws near, one thing is for certain, the same winds of change that forced the GOP from power are still blowing strong. This time however, the 2010 the forecast calls for the Democrats to have that wind in their faces.

Taking into account recent polling and the results of the stunning elections that have happened over the course of the past year, it is becoming increasingly clear that the electorate is still hungry for a change in government and is willing to vote out the party in power to prove it. Approval numbers for Congressas a whole are stuck in the basement, and party identification is down on both sides of the aisle. The Republican brand has not made a resurgence from 2008, yet the generic ballot tests gives them their widest lead since 1994. Going into the 2010 election cycle, most analysts are predicting a number of seat pick-ups for the Republicans in the House (with another score being viewed as toss-ups) and at least a three-seat pick-up in the Senate.

The American public fundamentally distrusts its government. And rather than focus on the economy, deficit spending and other kitchen table issues, the Democrats, buoyed by their vast majorities, have seemingly overreached their mandate and taken on unpopular issues like cap-and-trade, government-driven health care reform and big business bailouts. It seems the electorate is poised to once again teach the party in power a stiff lesson. The American public didn’t elect them because they wanted the Democrats’ most left-leaning policies; they were elected because the previous party in power abused the trust of the people.

Now the shoe is on the other foot and the Republicans stand a chance of being swept back into power on the same winds of change, but the lesson remains the same. The public is not necessarily clamoring for Republicans. They are clamoring for an open and honest government that does not overreach; one that addresses the issues that are pertinent to everyday lives. If the Republicans can’t produce a campaign platform based on that premise and deliver on time, then the electorate will continue to keep shopping.

If one spends time working at the grassroots level as our team regularly does, it is easy to see that an increasing number of voters are acutely aware of what is going on in government. Unlike any time in recent memory, the general public is actively engaged on the issues and is taking note of what their representatives are doing. It should be a clear signal to elected officials, advocacy groups, and other grassroots organizations that the public is paying attention and is a powerful force for change. If they would take the time to educate those individuals and deliver on their promises, a chance to truly shape the public conversation is real. This emerging grassroots force may spell trouble for entrenched politicians; it also presents a golden opportunity for businesses and organzations that have an interest in communicating with the public.  This election cycle represents a prefect time for those groups with issues that intersect between the government and the people to speak and work directly at the grassroots level.  The public is listening and is motivated to act if they are engaged properly.  Using the right strategy and mesage is key to success this year.

The 2010 election cycle is already shaping up to be historical on many fronts, the first of which will be the power of the independent-thinking grassroots movements already shaping the political landscape.

This post is cross posted at my firm’s monthly government affairs brief