This week, a group of Iowa Democrats were sitting around a table talking about redistricting and the 2012 campaign. Everyone at the table was a veteran of many campaigns and present were elected officials, retirees, union members, a couple of folks who had run for office and a couple interested in running for office. Core activists in a Democratic party that hopes to regain some of the ground lost in the 2010 midterms. The conversation effused political experience and some of us relished that quality of the evening.

The coalition of voters who elected Barack Obama and Democratic majorities in the US House and Senate disbanded with the tide that brought Democrats to power. The sooner we embrace this idea, the more effective we will be in the run up to 2012.

Despite the persistence of Organizing for America, and its transfer from the DNC to the Chicago headquarters of President Obama's re-election campaign, the coalition of voters will have to be rebuilt for 2012. If the midterms are an indicator, there is a lot of work to do to re-establish Obama's mantra of “Respect, Empower, Include” which got lost in the last election cycle. People at the table nodded when talking about starting from scratch, something we do with every election.

As we snacked on chips and salsa, what seemed hard was taking the moment for its actuality, understanding it apart from the political habits of the past. If Republicans were disorganized in 2008, they have become better opponents despite the wide range of views in their party. Much of Iowa is turning purple, leaning red, in reaction to our government's failure to do things to bring us out of the recession and towards full employment. There are proven tactics in campaigns, like raising money, meeting voters and gaining visibility in communities. At the same time, ground tactics are not enough, although that evening, strategy seemed elusive.

A significant question was are “no preference” voters really without preference? Or, do they seek cover to get along in a society that is overly politicized? This seemed more true than not. Heads nodded again.