MANCHESTER, N.H. - Young Democrats from around the country were in Manchester this weekend, picking up tips they hope will help their candidates win next year's election.
Among speakers Saturday was a former Massachusetts governor, Michael Dukakis, who won the 1988 New Hampshire primary, but lost the general election.
He said he might have won the presidency if he hadn't run a "lousy" national campaign.
And Dukakis said John F. Kerry would be president today if he had responded quickly to attacks on his Vietnam War record during the 2004 campaign.
"Pack of lies. Total pack of lies," said Dukakis, a guest speaker on grass-roots organizing.
Dukakis and others led sessions for hundreds of members of the Young Democrats of America and Stonewall Democrats. They encouraged activists to share secrets to past successes and rekindle party spirit for another battle in 2008.
The party must start training voting precinct captains and preparing for partisan attacks and electoral challenges, Dukakis said, singling out the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads that targeted Kerry in 2004.
"If you're organized," Dukakis said, "you might fend them off."
The conference also included regional members of the Democratic National Committee. It aimed to give younger party leaders tips on how to organize, network, and raise money and resources.
The Young Democrats of America covers people 18 to 35.
John Walsh, chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party and architect of Governor Deval Patrick's election in 2006, also underscored the value of neighbors reaching out to neighbors to promote issues and candidates.
The Internet makes reaching out and raising money easier, but it is really just another campaign tool, Walsh said.
Walsh and Dukakis encouraged Democrats to take individual action in their community without necessarily waiting for marching orders from a campaign's regional or national headquarters.
"Just do it," Walsh said.
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
