33 Day until the Nebraska Democratic Primary and things are heating up!
Columbus businessman and life long Republican, Tony Raimondo draws first blood -- digital blood:
It seems to be a big ad buy -- I've seen it five times today and I worked all day. However, I guess when you write yourself a $500,000 check you can spend it on anything you would like.
My take on the ad below the fold.
It's not a bad ad by any means. Tony has hired some good people. People who have won Nebraska elections before with Sen. Nelson and to some degree Sen. Kerrey. Yet I can't shake the feeling that this would be a much better general election ad. Something one would run in June or July after you get the nomination.
The primary is only a month away and there is no mention of when it is, or what party's nomination Raimondo is running for. TR has some serious ground to make up amongst Democrats. Activists (like myself!) are lined up squarely behind Scott Kleeb (netroots hero!), but a large chunk of voting Omaha Democrats know little about either. Some are making the arguement that it is not in Raimondo's interest to play up his Democratic credentials (probably because he has none...) because it will hinder him in the general election. That may be true and it has been the case in the past. But at the end of the day, you can't win the general if you don't win the primary.
Adding to that is the over arching theme I have been pushing for the past eight months. It isn't that Nebraskans will not elect a Democrat this cycle, in fact, I submit that the people of Nebraska want to elect a Democrat in 2008. This race will not be decided on the false choice of liberal vs. conservative. This year is about what is safe and taking a risk.
Guys like Mike Johanns and Tony Raimondo are safe. Johanns because he has been a public figure in Nebraska for decades and he refuses to ruffle any feathers. Tony Raimondo because he brings the same businessman mentality that has dominated national and local politics for too long. I mean honestly, do you want your U.S. Senator to remind you of your neighbor or the CEO of a business!?
Scott Kleeb is different. That's why I think people can hear him, why people can connect with him. He's not from the cynical generation of politics that allows guys like Mike Johanns, Tony Raimondo, John McCain, and George Bush to thrive. He comes from a new generation of politics, a new brand of political leadership that is sweeping this country of its feet. A generation that has less to do with age or income, gender or race, but a understanding that America's days are ahead of her, not behind. But only if we get involved and change the direction this country is headed.
There is a real buzz here in Nebraska. Scott is raising the money, building the campaign structure, and making his campaign people powered on ever level. Just remember, we drafted him to run for U.S. Senate. Not special interest, not big wig party leaders behind closed doors -- us!
If you can spare it, I urge you to throw Scott a few dollars and help put this campaign on our backs. Raimondo writes checks, Johanns host George Bush fundraisers, our campaign is people powered. Powered by people like you! (okay...and guys like Warren Buffet, but he is the exception to the rule!)
Help the Kleeb campaign take back the airwaves, help Scott wrangle the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Nebraska and victory in November!
P.S. Please recommend this diary so we can get this message to as many people as possible! Thanks.