No...I am not going to be talking about Nader. What I want to push is my idea of targeting races that play double or even triple duty. There are particular House races that are not only important in their own right, but also will help get out the vote for a Senate candidate. In some cases they also will be important for a Kerry win in a swing state. These are the races we have to help with time and/or money.
So I have compiled a list of house races that pair up with a Senate race or even are triple plays, helping Kerry as well. Please help me focus on these key races. These in some ways are the most important races of this election.
Triple plays: (house races that will also help Senate AND Presidential races)
Colorado: there is a close Senate race (our boy is Ken Salazar--not the ideal Dem in my book, but he has a real shot at winning) and this is one of those Red states that just might tip Blue this year. There are two close house races in Colorado that will play triple duty, helping us win the House, win the Senate and win the White House. These may be the two MOST critical house races:
John Salazar: http://www.salazar2004.com/
Dave Thomas: http://www.davethomasforcongress.com/
Go straight to their sites or go to my Colorado centric Act Blue list: http://actblue.com/list/colnm
Florida: Yes...we all know how important Florida is. You don't need me telling you. Kerry needs Florida. But we also need Betty Castor to win in the Senate. The House race that plays triple duty is:
Jan Schneider: http://www.schneider-for-congress.com/2004/
Support for Schneider actually plays quaduple duty! In addition to helping us win the House, Senate and White House, a win for Scheider will give us revenge on Katherine Harris!
Pennsylvania: This is a big, BIG state. Not only is it a must win for Kerry, but it has a Senate race that we have a shot at, AND it has FIVE particularly close house races. Support for any of these House races will help Hoeffel win the Senate and will help Kerry win the White House:
Lois Murphy: http://www.loismurphy.org/
Ginny Schrader: http://www.ginnyschrader.com/
Allyson Schwartz: http://www.allysonschwartz.com/
Joe Driscoll: http://www.driscollforcongress.com/
Tim Holden: http://www.holdenforcongress.com/index.php
Or go to my Pennsylvania centric act blue site: http://actblue.com/list/paoh
Washington state is one we probably have sewn up for both Kerry and Senate. BUT, Patty Murray is being targeted by the Repubs, so we don't want to be surprised. There are two close House races in Washington that can play triple duty of ensuring House, Senate and White House wins:
Don Barbieri: http://www.barbieriforcongress.com/
Davd Ross: http://www.daveross2004.com/
N. Carolina: North Carolina is another Red state we have a shot at. Plus Bowles needs some real help in his Senate races. There are three house races we could focus on:
Jim Harrell: http://www.jimharrell.com/
Patsy Keever: http://www.keeverforcongress.com/
Beth Troutman: http://www.bethtroutman.com/
Now we come to Double plays, house races that will also help Senate but not President. These are still pretty important!!!!
Kentucky: We have a real surprise chance at the Senate here. And there are two close house races to help out Mongiardo:
Tony Miller: http://www.tonymillerforcongress.com/
Nick Cloony: http://www.clooneyforcongress.com/
S. Dakota: Our favorite wimp Senator, Tom Daschle, needs a hand and Herseth is the House race that could make the difference. I think Herseth has more GOTV power than Daschle.
Stephanie Herseth: http://www.hersethforcongress.org/
Finally we come to:
Oklahoma: Carson has a REAL shot at the Senate here and we have a surprise chance at one House race...but it needs money BADLY:
Doug Dodd: http://www.dougdodd4congress.com/