This summer I had the unique experience of managing a congressional primary campaign in a solidly Democratic district. My candidate was a sincere progressive, challenging a 12-term representative in a furiously anti-incumbent season. It was a long shot, but with projected low turnouts and the possibility that our opponent could be indicted at any time, it seemed worth trying.

We knew we needed to run to the left of the incumbent, who had a very solid liberal record. We seized upon an increase of the minimum wage. I think Obama has talked about $9. We decided on $12 as an amount that would appeal to the downtrodden district and would be, I believe, an economic stimulator. 

The candidate believed in this policy with all of his heart. It looked great on billboard layouts. Simple and bold. $12 that you can believe in. For families, for the future, for America. We came up with a way it would not be a burden on small businesses, which would be able to hire for less than chains and large employers. Some employment tax magic was conjured up to make all that stuff work.

Then the candidate wakes up one May morning with cold feet. His wife and friends have been telling him he'll lose potential financial supporters if he even touches minimum wage. It's too extreme. Refuses to even revisit it. Backers can be liberal --- up to the point that it affects their financial interests. And money is like oxygen to a campaign, much more than I ever knew.

From that day on, win or lose, the candidate was, to me, a dead man walking.