(Proudly cross-posted at Clintonistas for Obama)
Hello. I’m atdleft, someone you may know from Clintonistas for Obama or MyDD or The Liberal OC. I’m new to Swing State Project, so please don’t get too rough on me.
I just want to let you know that when we’re not obsessing over all things Presidential, my friends & I are looking for good Congressional candidates to support. We already have some idea of who looks good to us, but I’d like to hear from all of you on which candidates we should help out. Whild I’d love to be of use to everyone, I at least want to make sure I’m doing something for Democrats that: (a) can win & (b) will stick to good progressive values once elected.
Because I’m in the area and I’m already familiar with her, I’m all for Debbie Cook. She’s running against an extreme right-wing wacko incumbent, and she’s the first Democratic challenger since Loretta Sanchez (in 1996) who has a real chance of winning an Orange County, CA, House seat. I’m already doing whatever I can to help her win, and I encourage everyone else in the LA/OC area to do the same.
But what about everyone else living in other parts of the country? I feel terrible leaving them all out in the cold. That’s why I’m here today asking for suggestions.
So who should we love? Which candidates deserve our attention? Is Dina Titus the one who can finally upset Jon Porter in NV-03? Can Charlie Brown blow away GOP carpetbagger Tom McClintock in CA-04? Is the second time the charm for Darcy Burner (WA-08) & Christine Jennings (FL-13)? And can Jeff Merkley (OR-Sen), Tom Udall (NM-Sen), & Jeanne Shaheen (NH-Sen) help us expand our Senate majority?
So who should we love? Tell me now. If you make a good case, you might see big chances with this ActBlue page & some diaries from me promoting your favorite candidate(s). 😉
And btw, hello! 🙂
I’ve personally known Suzanne Kosmas for many years. She is my former democratic state representative and she’s challenging Tom Feeney for the Florida 24th district. She’s moderate, but not too moderate, which is a great fit for this slightly republican leaning district. Considering Tom Feeney is one of the most conservative Congressmen in the country, a move from him to Kosmas would represent a MASSIVE shift in ideology.
The other candidates you mentioned are all good people as well. All of them are worthy of our donations except for Tom Udall in NM. And I say that not as a slight to Udall who will be a great progressive Senator from NM, it’s simply because he has more cash than he needs already. He can win that race in a landslide just on the cash he already has.
If you’re going to choose anyone in Indiana, take a look at Michael Montagano in IN-03. He’s one of like 10 or so challengers who has outraised and has more COH than the incumbent, Mark Souder. Next to Andre Carson (due to his special election), Montagano has raised more Act Blue money than any candidate in the state. This is on just about everyone’s “emerging races” list — and even the skeptical, pessimistic me is increasingly thinking Montagano is going to take a real run at Souder. Frankly, I’m STUNNED Souder seems to be doing so little, after getting a scare in 2006. He hasn’t picked up his fundraising, his campaign website consists of a grand total of 1 page, the Fort Wayne Republican Party is in shambles, and he is an absolute do-nothing Congressman. A case agaist him is just begging to be made.
Don’t let the high Republican PVI of the district scare you too much. Yes, northeast Indiana is that Republican, but it is not hard-core conservative Republican like IN-04 and IN-05 are — no Democrat is ever going to come close to winning there. Further, both Obama and especially Jill Long Thompson will do better than Dems typically do here (this is her old stomping grounds). The way a Dem wins here is runs up a majority in Allen County (Fort Wayne — and Souder’s ’06 challenger won Fort Wayne proper, something Democrats’ whose last name isn’t Bayh rarely do) and holds down the margin elsewhere. And finally, an added bonus is that this is a really inexpensive district to campaign in.
Very nice post, atd … want me to expand on the CA04 race? I have that old post from C4O in my blog folder, at the ready to plaster wherever ….
Dizzy
Is Dina Titus the one who can finally upset Jon Porter in NV-03?
Definitely. Great Investment.
Can Charlie Brown blow away GOP carpetbagger Tom McClintock in CA-04?
It’ll be hard, not sure how the fundraising parallels.
Is the second time the charm for Darcy Burner (WA-08)
I think so, house burned down has made fundraising hard for this last quarter.
Christine Jennings (FL-13)?
Don’t think so, 3ed party makes it an extreme long shot. Better investments exist.
And can Jeff Merkley (OR-Sen)
Great investment
Tom Udall (NM-Sen)
Solid win, donate elsewhere
Jeanne Shaheen (NH-Sen) help us expand our Senate majority?
Real Likely Win, donate elsewhere
OK-Sen Andrew Rice
ID-Sen Larry LaRocco
ID-01 Walt Minnick
CA-46 Debbie Cook
CA-04 Charlie Brown
I would include WY-AL Gary Trauner, but I think he already has a money advantage and we could be more useful by donating to less-well-funded campaigns. However, I’m sure he could always use some more non-money help!
And I can’t seem to remember any eastern/southern races right now, for some reason. Oh well.
I would never vote for a party puppet. She is merely the party hack. Lets see while she was in the State House from 1996 to 2004 she did nothing from 1996 to 2003 when the first thing she decided to sponsor was a Bill in support of Bush’ war. I heard her say in Public that her record was altered and that she was against the war. Well this is all public record and I have a copy she co-sponsored HR-9033 in 2003 in support of Bush’s invasion of Iraq. There is no verbage stating in support of the troops. Only in support of Bush’ invasion of Iraq. It is only one page long.
Then there is the fact that she voted against the living wage, She voted against the America Flag, She voted against a black man as speaker of the house only to vote in one of her white croonie buddies and let’s not forget the fact that she lobbied for a friend/contributer for more than twice the allocated budget for art work that she happened to be part of a two member panel.
Would you like me to keep going? O.K.!!!!!
Let’s see then there is the fact that she term limited out and walked away from her seat and would not even support Bill Smalley to help him keep a Democrat in that seat. This seat then went to a Republican! Go Figure! She simply stated “I did my time” and walked away like she no longer had any responsibility to District 24 and keeping a Democrat in office. Then there is the man who called her office while she was still in control of the seat and told him that she did not have to help him she was on her way out the door.
There are far more reasons than that as to Why we all should not vote for her but that would take too long. All I can say is just do your homework and do not vote for the 63 year old party hack who did very little while she was in office for District 24. She did however make herself a millionaire with her Real Estate deals that she would have never had if she were not in office. She is merely Tom Feeney in a skirt. There is a lot more I could give you but I will wait. Check back I will keep watching! Will you?