We have just officially begun Q2 of the election cycle. I want to bring back a good friend to the netroots community from the election cycle of 2006- Larry Grant.
As a refresher, Larry ALMOST pulled off an upset of epic proportions by barely losing to extreme right-wing nutjob Bill Sali. In 2006, by running a grassroots and netroots oriented campaign, he gained recognition amongst both communities and garned immense name recognition and popularity. Alas, Larry lost the district by a slim margin of 50-45.
Here is a quick summary of the district from plf515‘s Congressional round-up diary:
District: ID-01
Location Western ID, bordering OR, WA and MT including Boise
Representative Bill Sali (R)
First elected 2006
2006 margin 50-45
2004 margin NA
Bush margin 2004 30-69
Notes on opponents Larry Grant raised about $750K to Sali’s $1 million
Current opponents Larry Grant
and
Rand Lewis (site down)
and
Walt Minnick
Sali is also being primaried
Demographics Tied for fewest Blacks (0.3%), 14th most Republican
Assessment Even for a Republican, Sali is crazy. Even for an Idaho Republican Sali is crazy. He’s really nuts. He might even lose in this Republican stronghold (I hope he wins the primary)
To kick off our fundraising efforts for our BlueMajority, Red to Blue, and Obamajority candidates in Q2, I would like everyone to consider Larry as a potential candidate to donate to.
Although Idaho is a ruby red state, Larry provides the Democratic Party and the progressive community the perfect candidate to paint this state with a brilliant shade of blue.
Here are his stances on the important issues:
Dear Friend,
Recently, I was asked what the Democrats should do when we win the election in 2008. I started imagining what it will be like having more seats in the U. S. House, a filibuster-proof Senate, and a Democrat in the White House. Starting with what Speaker Nancy Pelosi called her “6 in ’06” agenda last time, it wasn’t hard to come up with 9 for 09
Here they are:
1. Provide for negotiating prescription drug prices under Medicare:
Speaker Pelosi got this one through the House last time, but it got blocked in the Senate. Let’s try again.
2. End subsidies for big oil:
Speaker Pelosi got this one through too, but it got blocked in the Senate as well. Let’s do it again, too.
3. Pass the expanded State Children’s Health Insurance Program (“SCHIP”):
Six million more deserving children would have been covered by the new SCHIP program. Let’s get them covered as soon as possible.
4. Repeal No Child Left Behind:
Let’s quit mandating what local schools have to teach without providing the funds to do it.
5. Pass an extended Craig-Wyden plan:
We need to continue the Craig-Wyden program for replacing revenue that local communities lost when the timber harvest on federal lands was curtailed.
6. Repeal the Patriot Act:
We need to protect our civil liberties and stop spying on American citizens without a warrant.
7. Balance the budget:
We need to stop burdening our grandchildren with our national debt.
8. Pass comprehensive immigration reform:
We need to protect our borders while providing employers the workers they need.
9. End the war in Iraq:
The war is costing far too much in both lives and money.
There you have it, my goals for Congress in 2009. Now its your turn what are your top 9?
Larry Grant
His stances is a perfect example of a true progressive looking to make a difference in Washington.
To add a bit of a personal touch, here is a story from NYBri‘s diary over at DailyKos:
I have asked those who work with Larry in his campaign to tell me in their own words about why they are committing themselves to working with Larry in Idaho, and over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing with you what they have written in a series called, In Their Own Words, and when it’s all over, I think Larry will be one of your favorite people as well.
Larry’s North Idaho Field Coordinator is Kristy Reed Johnson, and here is her story:
When I met Larry Grant over two years ago, I thought he was just another attorney who was willing to throw himself on his sword for Idaho Democrats in another 1st District Congressional race that would end like all the others since the early 1990’s.
I’m a fairly jaded political junkie. In 1968, at the tender age of 22, and a “hostess” for Trans World Airlines I received two “special assignments.” First I was sent to work the Republican National Convention in Miami, FL. That was the year of Barry Goldwater, Nelson Rockefeller, and Richard Nixon. We all know what happened.
My next assignment was to be one of three crews who worked the Hubert Humphrey Charter after he won the Democratic nomination. It was five years after John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and three years after the Democrats got Civil Rights legislation through Congress, lost all the support of the Southern Democrats, and Lyndon Johnson decided not to seek re-election. It was also the year that Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Two months after that, on the same evening he won the California Primary, Bobby Kennedy was also shot to death, as we all watched on television.
I became a Eugene McCarthy supporter. At the scene of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, there were protests in a park across the street against the ongoing war in Vietnam. Those kids (my age) were dragged and beaten by Chicago Police, actions ordered by Mayor Daly (a Democrat and the father of the current Mayor Daly).
I formed my life long opinion of politics that year. Politicians are just people, some good, some dreadful, and all flawed, just like the rest of us. There is nothing “grand” about them.
But they seem come in two types, regardless of party: The ones who are in it for their own aggrandizement and those who honestly believe they can make a difference in the lives of ordinary people.
Larry Grant is the only candidate I’ve had the opportunity to know that I would walk on hot coals for to get elected. Larry Grant earned my respect.
Time after time I have seen his honesty, his integrity, his core values and moral compass lead this campaign team in a way that restores my faith in the democratic process. It’s all about us, the people of Idaho, the team, the crew, the mission. I actually believe Larry possesses at the very roots of his character everything we so desperately need in our political leaders.
His kind of responsible, intelligent, thoughtful leadership is missing in most of the politicians who are running for office these days. Larry leads by example.
He will take that Idaho-grown moral and ethical compass to Washington D.C. and restore our faith in how a government should be run — of the people, by the people, and for the people. Can you support a man like that?
Larry has a list of 9 reasonable, achievable goals he wants to accomplish the first year he gets to Congress. They are his ‘9 for 09.’ Check them out. You don’t have to walk on hot coals for him, but could you help us, his staff, help him, communicate with the voters in the 1st District?
Larry doesn’t take money from corporate lobbyists. Small donations of $9 or $19 or $29 are gratefully accepted. Larry knows times are tough for working families in Idaho, and he knows every donation that comes to him means that the donor is sacrificing something for him or herself.
As I write this, The Grant Team just received a bulletin: Larry Grant just received a phone call from a person who offered him the database for the Republican Party in Idaho. He refused. He thanked the potential donor, but said it would not be ethical, and warned us (the staff) not to accept something like that either.
I can vote for a man like that. Will you join me? Become a member of the club and let’s send Larry Grant to Congress. He is just what the citizen’s of Idaho ordered.
There you have it, please head on over to Larry’s website to join and contribute to a truly stand up guy!
Grant for Congress:
http://www.grantforcongress.co…
Larry’s stances on Issues:
http://www.grantforcongress.co…
Give Larry a shot in the arm!
http://www.actblue.com/entity/…
If we start now, we can provide Larry with an even BETTER chance!