The contours of the general election are beginning to take form as Democrats near the end of our nominating contest; meanwhile, every sign we've seen, from record-setting turnout in every contested state to the astonishing floods of dollars flowing into the war chests of both Barack Obama and hometown hero Hillary Rodham Clinton indicate that this election has energized an electorate known for its passivity. For obvious reasons, republicans have cause to be uneasy about the Democratic wave. Here in New York, where we have several republican House seats teetering on the brink of a Democratic takeover, and the State Senate ripe for the taking, that's especially true. One aspect of Obama's strategy that's been overlooked, however, has the potential to shake up the Democratic Party's own encrusted structures. The New York Times writes:

To offset the voters who may rule out supporting Mr. Obama, because of his race or other reasons, the campaign is working to register new voters. In Georgia, for example, 600,000 black residents are eligible to vote but are not registered. In Virginia, there are 200,000 black residents not registered to vote.

From a strictly partisan perspective, the core of Obama's strategy, a massive new voter registration effort, is an unalloyed good. A wave is being created that New York Democrats would be wise to ride. What should make New York Democrats, especially of the machine variety, sweat, is this: this effort is going to be managed by the national campaign, with little regard for local fiefdoms. Now, it's no secret that voter turnout in, say, the outer boroughs, is artificially and purposely kept low, with the express goal of maintaining in office the representatives of the machine. All of that is about to change. 2008 is going to see record numbers of voters going to the polls, and the September primary is likely going to be a test run for November's general election. And contrary to usual practice, this time around, there will be a new cohort of voters without ties of loyalty and allegiance to the machine; these new voters can, properly motivated, be the lever that ends the tenures of some legislators who have sat in place too long for any good they may be doing. The best part, of course, is that these new voters will bypass the local machines - who are not going to be handling the registration effort. Exciting times.