Shaking off the political blues

When Congress returns from its August recess after Labor Day, the 2004 campaign will have begun in earnest. "I think we've turned the corner," Brazile says. Adds Rep. Robert Matsui, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee: "We are trying to win this election, and we are not trying to be nice to people." The new message they're focused on is a sequel to the old: It's the economy, stupid, Part 2.

And they plan to hit the message hard now. Democratic leaders say they simply can't wait the eight months until the party settles on a presidential nominee to begin rebuilding their own image or waging war on the president's. "We have to energize our base this year, right now," says Brazile. "Because next year is all about swing voters and independents. We have to do it right now." So Democrats are meeting all over Washington, crafting that message to replace the eerie silence they offered voters in 2002. The presidential campaigns are working on the message. Former Clinton White House Chief of Staff John Podesta is heading up a think tank to work on the message. "Never again will we go into a campaign where the public will not know . . . how different we are from the Republicans," says Rep. Nancy Pelosi, leader of the House Democrats. "Without the message we can't get the support. . . . We have to use our time here developing the issues, designing the message, and communicating that message. If you're not part of those three things, you're overhead, baby."