Newsom urges
Democrats to return to their base

San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom told a crowd in Iowa on Saturday that Democrats too often shade their views and dive into the political middle and that that has cost the party dearly. "If you can't stand on your convictions, you've got a weak foundation," he said. "I would argue we've got to get our foundation in order before we embark on a journey to recapture the imagination of a majority of people." As mayor, Newsom is best known for his since-thwarted effort to have San Francisco issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. His message Sunday, at a fund-raiser for Democrats working to recapture the Senate, was that issues such as marriage equality are precisely the sort of thing Democrats should face head-on. "I don't think we have anything to be ashamed of in our party, standing up for the foundation of those principles, which have been historic," Newsom said. "It's what's made the party a viable party in the past." He spoke at a private reception for Senate Democrats, and supporters said the party can succeed best by energizing its base by sticking with traditional liberal positions that Democrats have pushed for years. Newsom, 38, is considered a rising figure in Democratic politics, and the case he makes appeals to many traditional interest groups. While he said he had no plans to seek another office, his trip to Iowa, where precinct caucuses launch the presidential nomination season, raised many eyebrows. While many strategists say that the prospects for Democrats in the midterm election appear to be good, Newsom argued that the party will have to deliver a message if it's to take advantage of troubles Republicans have suffered. "It's not enough to be just an opposition party, it's not enough to be against things," he said. (AP)