Florida Democrats regroup

This sounds promising, anyway, and could be the first step to a clearer message:

"We're always on the defensive, and we've got to go on the offense," said Sen. Ron Klein, D-Delray Beach. "We have no choice now but to go on the attack."

In only a decade, Democrats have given up to Republicans control of the Governor's mansion, the Legislature, an overwhelming majority of the state's congressional seats, and all the state Cabinet posts.

Last month's elections didn't improve Democrats' standing. Republicans expanded their control of the state House by three seats, now outnumbering Democrats 84-36 in the House and 26-14 in the Senate.

``We Democrats have to get the public to identify with what we stand for, as soon as we figure out what that is," said Sen. Walter "Skip" Campbell, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat. "The problem now is that we are seen as a conglomerate of a little issue here and a little issue there."

Several legislators said Democrats should quickly develop a populist message that can be easily captured on a bumper sticker.

"Our message now is way outdated ... It speaks to some people but not to enough of them," said Sen. Rod Smith, a Gainesville Democrat.

There certainly needs to be a Democratic revolution in one of the key swing states that can put the next Democratic candidate up over the electoral vote threshold, and if we've hit rock bottom in Florida, then it is as good a place as any to start the turnaround. They need to get it done in a little less than two years as well, or else we may lose Graham's Senate seat down there.

My only question is if other states are having the same gatherings to figure out how to expand the Democratic message. If not, what are they waiting for?