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Monday, August 21, 2006

Help Support the Netroots Candidates

Posted by DavidNYC

Alright, folks: It's time to fork over some hard-earned cash to help our never-ending quest to elect more Democrats. This week, DailyKos, MyDD and Swing State Project, as promised, will be pushing all the candidates on our combined Netroots ActBlue page:

Darcy Burner (WA-08) - 679
John Courage (TX-21) - 415
Jay Fawcett (CO-05) - 375
Paul Hodes (NH-02) - 465
Larry Kissell (NC-08) - 427
Ned Lamont (CT-Sen) - 3,064
Eric Massa (NY-29) - 905
Jerry McNerney (CA-11) - 681
Patrick Murphy (PA-08) - 687
Dan Seals (IL-10) - 375
Joseph Sestak (PA-07) - 876
Linda Stender (NJ-07) - 508
Jon Tester (MT-Sen) - 2,056
James Webb (VA-Sen) - 1,270

If you've been following the progress of the netroots page, you've gotten to know each of these candidates over the last few months, some of them quite well. But if you are new to this project, or if some of the names on this list are unfamiliar to you, I strongly encourage you to check out the ActBlue page. Each candidate's listing includes a number of local blogs devoted to covering that particular race. Those sites will give you some of the best perspectives possible on each race.

But more importantly, it really is time to throw down. We picked each of these races in large part because, at least at the time they were added, they were all non-top-tier races. In other words, we - the netroots community - identified races where netroots dollars could go the furthest. When you give to any of these candidates, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that, collectively, our money is not a mere drop in the bucket, but is actually making a difference.

In that vein, we'd like to announce our goals for this fundraising push: We'd like to see each House candidate on the list get 100 new contributions over the next week, and each Senate candidate 250. The numbers following each candidate's name above indicate the total number of donations made as of midnight Eastern time last night, so that's what we're using as our benchmark. We'll be posting progress updates daily - though of course, you can always check out the ActBlue page yourself.

Because most donations to this page are small-dollar gifts, the number of contributors is almost more important than the amount we give. When a big-time donor maxes out, he's given all he can give. But a smart campaign, with the right kind of outreach, can turn a one-time $25 donation into several repeat donations, and may even turn that donor into a volunteer as well.

So no matter what, any amount you can give is fantastic. Whether you can give $100 to ten candidates, or $10 to one candidate, you will be counted in this fundraising drive - and, I assure you, every campaign will be grateful whatever the size of your donation. This is really our chance to stand up, at a time (the dead of summer) when little fundraising activity is taking place, and show these campaigns that we've got their backs.

I also want to add that campaigns in several states have to file special "pre-primary" reports with the FEC soon. (Full list here, fourth para.) Three netroots candidates are affected by this: Paul Hodes in NH and Eric Massa in NY close their fundraising books this Wednesday (the 23rd), while Darcy Burner in WA does so next Wednesday (the 30th). So if you're looking to help someone finish out a reporting period strong, these three candidates are excellent choices. But of course, we want people to give to all the netroots candidates.

And lastly, if your favorite candidates are not on this list, we strongly encourage you to give to whomever you like. We're fast approaching Labor Day, after which most establishment players will make final decisions on where to place their last-minute support. So now is the time to help all Democrats, so that they can enter the proverbial crunch-time strong.

P.S. We'll be making announcements about the new netroots candidates within the next few days, so stay tuned! And feel free to use this thread to talk about all of your favorite candidates.

UPDATE: A brand-new SUSA poll shows Jim Webb trailing George "Macaca" Allen by just three points, 48-45! This represents an amazing 16-point jump for Webb since the end of June. We can definitely say we got in on the ground floor of this race. Go help Jim Webb out and put him over the top!

Posted at 02:22 PM in 2006 Elections, Fundraising, Netroots | Technorati

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Comments

Bill Winter CO-6

Waves of fear and hate are crashing around us, and in Colorado we are fighting hard to flip this state away from people like Tom Tancredo, Marilyn Musgrave, and Bob Beauprez. We have people like Dobson using their pulpits to spread anger and intolerance. We are fighting hard to retire the rubber stamps of Tom Delay and to quiet the angry rantings of the forces of intolerance and inequality.

We all would rather be doing other things with our time, but this fight is important and this moment is key.

In this long fight against so much negativity, we have been rewarded - not yet with victory - but with something worth fighting for.

Bill Winter gives me hope. He has strength. He has humility. He has a message that resonates with a district that is tired of hate and ready for progress.

Champion of the Netroots? Yes. He posts not only at Daily Kos, but on our local blogs. He not only answers comments on his diaries, but he comments on ones that are realated to his vision even if they are unrelated to his campaign.

This is a race where we will decide if it will be won or lost. Every poll shows that when his message is heard, people choose his positions on every topic over Tom Tancredo's (and that includes immigration). Every poll shows that where the people believe that there is a choice other than Tancredo, they want to take that option. More valuable to Winter than the money we could raise is the buzz we can create. He has been running a solid traditional campaign and the large dollars are looking for a reason to believe that their participation in this race would be backed up by popular support.

CO-6 is like a room full of people desperate for change. Imagine that Bill Winter has just given an inspirational speech that has left everyone breathless. All that is needed now is a catalyst. All that is needed for someone to be the first to applaud.

Bill is supported broadly and deeply by the National Netroots, and he has been a large part of what has inspired and driven the Colorado Netroots to believe that there is a point to investing our energy in politics.

His simple humanity, his unapologetic idealism, and his willingness to take the heat both of his opposition and of the more entrenched and fearful members of his own party, is what calls us to stand with him.

He is what this endorsement is supposed to be all about. He is a Russ Feingold Progressive Patriot, he is a Mark Warner Map Changer, he is acknowledged across the web as one of our heroes.

He is a Fighting Dem standing against a draft evader. He is a talented and qualified candidate who enjoys raising a glass to us at Drinking Liberally. He is both thoughtful and unpretentious. He builds the party at the precinct level, for the down ticket races, and he selflessly shares his time and resources to support other Congressional candidates like Ed Perlmutter, Angie Paccione, and Jay Fawcett.

We can win this seat if we want to.
We can send Tancredo into retirement and start dismantling the whole edifice of the radical right.
We can send a message across the country that it is not only acceptable but worthwhile to stand proudly for civil liberties, against corruption, and for the voice of the people.

Lets give the local grassroots the tools they need to fight. We can win this one, but it won't happen without our effort. Let's win.

Posted by: TakeBackTheHouse at August 21, 2006 03:52 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Colorado is going to be key - and the national impact for '08 will be giant with a sweep of House seats here.

Oh, and what TBTH said too.

Go Bill!

Posted by: Zappatero at August 21, 2006 04:41 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Not much left to add, but I will say he's a great speaker. Not the most polished politician maybe, but that's what makes him great. He's sincere and you can tell.

To win this race, people just need to know who he is. Lots of people are sick of Tancredo, and Winter's the guy to send him into his post-retirement career with the border patrol.

Posted by: w0nderm0nkey at August 21, 2006 04:55 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I hope MyDD, Kos, and the SwingStateProject will strongly consider the candidacy of NE-02's Jim Esch. The primary reason being that Jim has refused to take any special interest money. None. Nil. He has taken a strong stand against it, as he mentions:

I have made an unwavering commitment in this campaign to neither solicit donations—nor accept unsolicited donations—from any Political Action Committee (PAC) or any other Special Interest group. Winning an election can only be as honorable as the way in which the victory was achieved, and this campaign is no exception. When I vote in Congress, my allegiance will be to the people of Nebraska’s Second Congressional District, not Special Interest groups.

Our campaign has thus relied on numerous small dollar donations, and an expansive Team Captain program where the captain gets 10 people to secure 20 votes each. With a goal of 500 teams, that's 100,000 votes. Even if we get half of that, that's enough votes to swing the district
The Nebraska State Democratic Convention was this previous weekend. He knocked the socks off of the delegates, especially the ones from Nebraska's other two CD's who were not too familiar with his campaign. He gave a great speech. We hope to get the video of this on his website soon. In fact we're planning to get some podcasts made and other video content
Please investigate more into Jim's campaign. Here is a must listen too interview Jim gave to QNN (Quality News Network) where he gives a candid view of his beliefs: Jim's QNN interview
Here's a video of his launch event: Jim Esch Video
And here's Jim's VERY innovative website: jimesch.org

Posted by: Omaha Joe at August 21, 2006 04:55 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Bill Winter in CO-06 is running against Tom Tancredo and can beat him. Bill has made internet and traditional grassroots campaigning the centerpiece of his campaign. He has people power like I've never seen in a Colorado congressional race.

It boils down to this: if Bill Winter can raise his name ID, he wins. He is a proud progressive who can explain policies in terms that don't agitate Republicans.

I haven't been as inspired by an individual candidate since I went to Iowa for Governor Dean.

Bill Winter!

Posted by: Beaupreznit at August 21, 2006 04:59 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

NOBODY from Ohio?

Posted by: Ohanon at August 21, 2006 09:14 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment