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Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Voting for DFA's Grassroots All-Star

Posted by DavidNYC

Democracy For America is conducting a vote to decide which House candidate should get their next endorsement. You can vote here. The full list of candidates:

Charles Brown (CA-04)
Jerry McNerney (CA-11)
Russ Warner (CA-26)
Ron Klein (FL-22)
Steve Sinton (GA-06)
Bruce Braley (IA-01)
Dave Loebsack (IA-02)
Larry Grant (ID-01)
Jim Hansen (ID-02)
Dan Seals (IL-10)
John Pavich (IL-11)
David Gill (IL-15)
Nancy Skinner (MI-09)
Tony Trupiano (MI-11)
Tim Walz (MN-01)
Coleen Rowley (MN-02)
Duane Burghard (MO-09)
Larry Kissell (NC-08)
Paul Hodes (NH-02)
Patricia Madrid (NM-01)
Michael Arcuri (NY-24)
Eric Massa (NY-29)
Stephanie Studebaker (OH-03)
Robin Weirauch (OH-05)
Betty Sutton (OH-13)
Joe Sestak (PA-07)
Patrick Murphy (PA-08)
Chris Carney (PA-10)
Lois Herr (PA-16)
Phil Avillo (PA-19)
Dan Dodd (TX-03)
Will Pryor (TX-32)
Bryan Kennedy (WI-05)
Gary Trauner (WY-01)

I like this list because almost all of the candidates on it are not involved in top-tier races. I voted for Paul Hodes, but there are many, many good names here. Again, the voting link is here. Whom are you supporting?

UPDATE: DFA mistakenly included Russ Warner, who lost yesterday. He's been removed from the list.

Posted at 06:55 PM in 2006 Elections - House | Technorati

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Comments

Well given that Russ Warner got BEAT last night I don't think I'd vote for him! Yep got beat by Ms. Matthews the Candidate that ran last time.

He ran such a good campaign that with expenditures of 86K (as of 5/17) and total raised of 205k he was beaten by someone who spent $2,713 of money's raised in this cycle although she has 32K on hand and debts of 16K.

Now this makes a little sense. He funded his own campaign with 147K. He only raised 51K. So ending with 120K in the bank on 5/17 instead of going for broke makes some sense if you've given up.

Amazing.

Posted by: Stuart O'Neill at June 7, 2006 07:28 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

VOTE KLEIN. Bush just raised EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS in a single event for Clay Shaw. This race is extremely close, and Klein now needs all the help he can get.

Posted by: ArkDem at June 7, 2006 07:30 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

But does that make Klein a "grassroots allstar"?

I think that race is gonna be a money pit.

Posted by: James L. at June 7, 2006 07:53 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I voted for Joe Sestak because I grew up in PA-07 and have a sever hatred for Curt Weldon

Posted by: stebu at June 7, 2006 08:34 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Along with a shameless self-plug, Tim Walz should be at the top of this list. He's been profiled on dKos as a Fighting Dem, and I had a chance to interview him via IM a few weeks back: http://www.mncampaignreport.com/?p=21. He's raised a ton of money so far, and has the right message to take out Gil Gutknecht in MN-01. http://www.timwalz.org

Posted by: JelloAbode at June 7, 2006 08:41 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Tim Walz is who I am supporting.
JelloAbode is wrong, hasn't "raised a ton of money so far." He outraised Gutknecht in Q1, but expect Gutknecht to come back hard. (GG has a 6 to 1 CoH advantage.
Tim Walz is doing his work against an entrenched Republican incumbent.
In short, Tim Walz is a GREAT CANDIDATE, but he still needs all the help we can give him. Gutknecht has a record of mudslinging because he has no positive record to run on.
That is why I am supporting Tim Walz. I hope you can all join me.

Posted by: DFLer22 at June 7, 2006 09:23 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Larry Kissell all the way. People are lining up to do fundraisers, but he'll need all the help he can get going against millionaire Robin Hayes.

Posted by: southerndem at June 7, 2006 10:02 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Since it arrived on the same day with a similar appeal from the Mark Warner campaign, I combined the decisions.
I wanted to try to piggyback the support.

I eliminated candidates who have not yet won their primary, candidates who have already lost their primary
(Russ Warner is on both lists! overconfident, much??) and candidates who are not on both lists.
(This last criterion ruled out some of my personal favorites in the 2006 cycle, but I was ruthless.)

Then I looked for potential WINNERS. I want to take a break from pinning all my hopes on a long shot.

I ended up with (drum roll): Larry Kissel.

Warner's poll asks for a Westerner and an Easterner, actually. Larry Kissel counts as the Easterner.
For the Westerner I hesitated over Jerry McNerney, but I went with Loebsack in IA-02,
to piggyback on the funding he just got from Barbara Boxer's PAC.

I notice neither Warner nor Boxer credited the Feingold PAC with the idea of running a poll of this kind.
His was the first I saw. Were there earlier ones, from a candidate's PAC?

Posted by: Christopher Walker at June 7, 2006 10:39 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I think the most underestimated candidate as far as the blogosphere is concerned is OH-1's John Cranley!

This is a Democrat who took Steve Chabot to the wire many elections ago... in which Republicans were having a good year (especially in Cincinnati).

Now the tides have turned, Cranley is a known successful politician with the full backing of the Mayor and other prominent Cincinnatians.

Yet for somet reason, he's rarely even listed as a contestable candidate...

I'm serious when I say - with enough support and funds this guy WILL win.

Posted by: Casey Trimble at June 8, 2006 01:43 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I chose Patrick Murphey.

I'm no where enar PA (I'm in TX) but over the last year the few things I've seen leaked about him just seem like good common sense propositions. That and I think a democratic rep who served in Iraq will say A LOT.

Also, Al Gore started his Inconvenient Truth book tour today in Houston, I saw it. THE MAN IS PHENOMINAL! A GENIUS! Humorous, entertaining, blunt, easy to understand. I'm convinvced after meeting him adn shaking his hand he is not running (even though aht is my wet dream), but he sure knows how to push an issue now.

Posted by: trowaman at June 8, 2006 02:41 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Eric Massa - four reasons. 1) Northeast strategy 2) low LOW L.O.W. Bush approval rating in NY 3) Strength of NY ticket 4) energized NY Dems. This is a great pickup opportunity and Massa is a good man for the job.

Posted by: AlecBGreen at June 8, 2006 07:15 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Bryan Kennedy - Wisconsin 05. James Sensenbrenner has had a lot of negative media attention and is defeatable. Kennedy lost in 2004 but will have much more name recognition this time around.

Sensenbrenner spends more tax dollars than any other member of the house on travel, and then he voted AGAINST giving the desperately needed aid to Hurricane Katrina victims.

Also, after the 2000 census, Wisconsin redistricted and district 5 now includes some of the most liberal enclaves of eastern milwaukee with plenty of activists and volunteers to mobilize and get out the vote.

In the most recent local WI election, areas of district 5 that normally lean VERY republican voted to CONDEMN the war in Iraq and to bring the troops home - something Sensenbrenner is very much against.

Wisconsin is a very "purple" state. While the DNC pumps money into red states the party has neglected for decades (which I think is essential for long term party growth), the grassroots need to step up and fight in states like Wisconsin. Historically a very progressive state and home to the great Sen. Feingold.

Posted by: Ferris at June 8, 2006 09:34 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

My vote is for Patrick Murphy PA-08, and I encourage you to do the same. This district has gone for Clinton/Gore/Kerry and is a top pickup for us. I am sure most of you already know Murphy is a fighting Dem who has seen what it’s like in Iraq so I will not dwell on that. Patrick’s opponent, freshman Mike Fitzpatrick is an enemy of net neutrality, and is in favor of bills that directly hurt the Netroots movement. Fitzpatrick will say and do anything to trash his opponent. Just as he said his opponent from 2 years ago supported terrorists because she opposed the war, he accuses Patrick of supporting child molesters for being in favor of net neutrality. We must remove this extremist in moderates clothing before he become an entrenched incumbent.

Posted by: Buckscountydem at June 8, 2006 09:40 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I like Walz a lot. Minnesota actually has 2 great candidates - Colleen Rowley has a background that seems like just what we need in Congress.

Posted by: The Woo at June 8, 2006 10:11 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

larry grant (ID-01) should be one of the candidates. with a lot less money then it would take in a more populated state we can pick up a seat that the republicans might not even be paying much attention to. if any year is ripe for this sort of action it's 2006.

Posted by: mediaxhype at June 8, 2006 10:20 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

A lot of these comments seem to be about things other than the candidates' attention to the grassroots. I mean, we may not know a lot about all of these candidates, but based on my limited knowledge I voted for Paul Hodes when the poll first went up.

I think Fighting Dems are great too, and Curt Weldon is atrocious, but this is about who is the best flag-bearer for grassroots causes, isn't it?

Posted by: Bruorton at June 8, 2006 11:55 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

For a good grasssroots/netroots reasoning, check out Chris Bowers endorsment of Patrick Murphy over at Mydd

Posted by: Buckscountydem at June 8, 2006 11:59 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I notice neither Warner nor Boxer credited the Feingold PAC with the idea of running a poll of this kind. His was the first I saw. Were there earlier ones, from a candidate's PAC?
----

This is the third Grassroots All-Star vote. The first one was in Sept 2004 (when Gov Dean was still at DFA):

http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/005159.html

The second one was in Sept 2005:

http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/006886.html

Posted by: Luigi at June 8, 2006 12:23 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Larry Grant, all the way. I like Patrick Murphy a lot, but think he's going to raise a boatload of money without this extra help. The Idaho seat is a perfect example of a totally legitimate shot that wouldn't exist without special 2006 conditions. It is an apealing, but real, opportunity.

Posted by: Patton at June 8, 2006 12:39 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Vote for Tony Trupiano, he has a firm chance of defeating the incumbent mccotter. also

Michigan’s best chance to take a House seat back from the Republicans and help shift the balance of power in Congress is in the 11th District.

Democratic candidate, Tony Trupiano, former small business owner and Nationally Syndicated Radio Host, will take his lifelong advocacy for Michigan workers and families to Washington in November.

Since October, the Trupiano campaign been mounting a largely grassroots effort that has garnered National attention and attracted hundreds of volunteers.

The campaign is currently accepting applications for field internships to last through November. While this position is currently unpaid, interns may receive college credit or move into paid staff positions as the campaign progresses. Free housing for applicants from outside the District can be arranged.

Please, submit a resume and cover letter to Brandon Hynes, Assistant to the Campaign Manager, by e-mail to Brandon@tony4congress2006.com or call 734.740.6605 for more information.

Act now, as positions are filling rapidly. Victory is less than 6 months away!

Paid for and approved by Trupiano for Congress.

Posted by: blueeyedpupil at June 9, 2006 12:32 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Massa (NY-29) & McNerney (CA-11) are my faves. Surprised not to see VA-02 (Kellam-D vs. Drake) on the list.
The good news on CA-11 is that the Gop only has a 6.51% registration advantage compared to CD-50's 14.33% advantage.
I would be highly surprised if Mc Closkey endorsed or gave any form of support to Pombo. They did not have a unity get-together after the primary. Mc Closkey voters will not align with Pombo.

CA CD-11:

Dem 37.15%
Gop 43.66%
Other 3.74%
Declined to State 15.51%

Posted by: Predictor at June 9, 2006 12:44 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Chris Carney!

He's a fighting dem in a district that if we don't win this year, we won't have another shot at for a long time.

Posted by: dantheman at June 9, 2006 03:50 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Predictor: frankly, I'm pretty surprised that someone like McCloskey is still a Republican. He's way, way out of the mainstream of his party, and the fact that about 1/3 of GOP primary voters gave their votes for him is a good sign for McNerney. I read somewhere that McCloskey hinted that he'd endorse the Democratic nominee should he lose to Pombo in the primary. I bet it's only a matter of time until that happens.

Posted by: James L. at June 9, 2006 04:24 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Ditto James, of all possible republicans to convert, you'd think it would be him.
Like I said those McCloskey voters will not do what the Roach/Kaloogian voters did in CD-50. You either love Pombo or hate him, he ain't no Bilbray.
Yeah, quite amazing that McCloskey did so well given the major Gop attack on his supposed anti-semitic views, which is BS hype.
Of course Pombo beleives in raping environmental laws which McCloskey wrote into the books and which the majority Californians strongly support.
Unlike CD-50, CD-11 has been trending Dem as there has been a considerable amount of suburban flight from SF/Oakland to that district in the last 5 years.
Pombo is tainted and the s**t will hit the fan by Nov. in time for the election, Environmental PAC's funding has targeted him. They've had enough of his tampering with laws to protect the environment.

Posted by: Predictor at June 9, 2006 05:52 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

HELP TAKE BACK THE US HOUSE!

A free online vote can make a REAL difference in MI-09! Air America progressive radio host, Nancy Skinner, has been in the lead most of last week for the 'DFA All Star' Contest and is in the run off Monday. The winner gets a big push for fundraising and Nancy is facing a rubberstamp incumbent who has had public ethical troubles. The district is 50/50, this is a winnable seat! Please go to www.democracyforamerica/housevote and quickly give Nancy the means to take another seat back in '06! Thanks

For more info about Nancy go to www.skinnerforcongress.com

Posted by: Acsimonelli at June 18, 2006 02:48 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

This is it! Nancy is one of only five candidates in the country that has made it to the Democracy for America runoff! Today, Monday June 19, is the only day you can vote for Nancy to become the next candidate to be endorsed by Democracy for America. The polls are open from 9am to 5pm Eastern. Follow this link to the DFA website and vote for Nancy right away: http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote/. Just 30 seconds of your time can help raise us tens of thousands of dollars and get the netroots excited about the campaign!

Nancy is running in Michigan’s Ninth district. MI-09 is a 50/50 district and has a history of voting for Democrats. Governor Jennifer Granholm and Senator Debbie Stabenow both won the district in 2002 and John Kerry got 49% of the vote in 2004. It took Republican incumbent Joe Knollenberg outspending his last opponent by at 10-1 margin to win in ’04. Since then, he’s gotten himself into some hot water. He’s been forced to defend his $8.3 million earmark in the latest AMTRAK budget bill intended for his second largest donor in the international news.

It turns out Knollenberg’s pork is really starting to get under the skin of people who want the government to start spending their money responsibly. Largely because he toes the Republican Party line with Tom DeLay 96% of the time and turns a blind eye to wasteful spending, only 43% of respondents a recent poll registered to vote say that they plan on voting for Knollenberg against an unnamed Democrat. The time to take back our country is now! Vote for Nancy in the DFA Grassroots All-Star Contest and help make a change for 2006!

Posted by: Acsimonelli at June 18, 2006 02:50 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment