In a speech given at the National Press Club last month, Sen. Chuck Schumer suggested that a little bit of populism might be good for the Democratic Party.
He argued that by taking more of a populist approach, Democrats can reach and appeal to Americans outside of the party's typical comfort zone, and that includes the South.
Now, many are quick to suggest that, based on the current political climate in the South, a populist approach would never be successful there.
But, the results of this past election seem to paint a very different picture.
In fact, one of the biggest takeaways overall from the 2014 midterms is that, nationally, progressive ideas and policies are very popular.
All across the US, progressive ballot initiatives won and they won big.
For example, in the very red Arkansas, voters approved a measure to raise that state's minimum wage by a nearly 2-1 margin.
And, in other traditionally red states like Alaska and Nebraska, minimum wage increases also passed by fairly large margins.
For even more proof of how successful a populist approach in the South can be, look at the life and career of Huey Long.
Long served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928 to 1932, and was a US Senator from 1932 until he was assassinated in 1935.
Long was also a Democrat and populist, who routinely slammed the wealthy elite, corporations and big banks, and who called for a "Share the Wealth" program.
Long's "Share the Wealth" program proposed wealth redistribution measures, like a net asset tax on corporations and the wealthy elite, and also called for increased spending on things like public works, education and the social safety net.
In his famous "Every Man a King" radio address to the nation, Long said that, "It is not the difficulty of the problem which we have; it is the fact that the rich people of this country -- and by rich people I mean the super-rich -- will not allow us to solve the problems, or rather the one little problem that is afflicting this country, because in order to cure all of our woes it is necessary to scale down the big fortunes, that we may scatter the wealth to be shared by all of the people."
Huey Long's successes can be repeated.
The Democratic Party needs to reflect on Senator Landrieu's loss Saturday, and learn from it.
While the demise of the "Southern Democrat" may be historic, it doesn't have to be permanent.
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