There are only 8 weeks until the May 17 election for CA-36
In my previous diary, I discussed phone banking for Debra Bowen's campaign from somewhere outside of the district, something which can be done just as well from Topeka as Torrance. And assuming you have an internet connection and a phone with minutes already paid for, you can do so at no cost to you.
In this diary, I'm going to go over a number of things that have happened on the campaign and then discuss the first weekly "Let's Get Calling" phonebanking goal, which is to get 5 new people signed up for phonebanking and making 15 calls by the end of the weekend.
But first, the news:
This past weekend, Bowen had an event at her campaign office with a special announcement:
California Secretary of State Debra Bowen officially launched her campaign to replace Jane Harman as the representative for the 36th Congressional District today, joined by her team of grassroots supporters and California Congresswoman Judy Chu, a Vice Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and long time colleague.
Marta Evry covered the event with a diary up at Calitics.
Endorsements from a lot of politicians don't matter too much to me, but Debra's enodorsement from Judy Chu's endorsement means something to me. I supported her campaign for the 32nd district after that opened up and so it was great to see her there to support Bowen. From her endorsement remarks:
You know with Debra Bowen in this seat, you will have someone who will stand up to Wall Street. You know that she understands our coastline is a national treasure and she will do as much as she can to defend it. You know that she understands the value of education, and that we have to concentrate like a laser to make sure we get jobs in this district.
And you know as Republicans attack a woman's right to chose, Debra will be there to stand up for us.
I also am thrilled that my State Assemblymember Betsy Butler has endorsed Debra. (Butler's district largely overlaps with the 36th Congressional district.) Butler recently got elected after facing a corporate-funded smear campaign to try to defeat her. It's the people who the corporate interest are willing to fight tooth and nail against who are the ones that are doing the right things, and Betsy Butler is one of those people. Her vote is for Debra.
I am unskilled at embedding photo's, so here's the link to a photo of Chu, Bowen, and Butler together.
News is out that on this coming Thursday the Courage Campaign will be holding a candidate forum with Janice Hahn, Debra Bowen, Marcy Winograd and Republican Mike Gin. Per LA Times, the other Republican candidates, Mike Webb and Kit Bobko, declined to attend.
Now back to the campaign event on Saturday, and Debra Bowen's comments which inspired this "Let's Get Calling" phonebanking diary:
One thing that Bowen got into in her remarks that really made me happy as a netroots-type person, was that she was not just willing to accept the efforts of the netroots helping her campaign, but was highlighting the involvement of people throughout the country who are virtually phonebanking for her campaign.
Of course, it really shouldn't surprise me that Debra Bowen doesn't view the netroots with trepidation. After all, she's been with us for a while.
She's very much involved with online social media (e.g. earlier this month, when the Governor was set to announce the election dates for this race, Bowen posted to Facebook and twitter before he could get word out himself).
She has attended Netroots Nation and fit right in. Note David Dayen's comments from the conference:
Far from dropping in for the panel and dropping out, she took time to hang out with plenty of us Caliticians. In fact, during the netroots candidate event, she was simply watching the proceedings when Christine Pelosi called her to the stage - it was not her intention to come as a candidate, but to just attend the conference.
Regardless, though, the stance that Debra Bowen is taking in her campaign is nonetheless significant: She is proud of the support she's gotten from around the country and of our efforts to help her.
So.... Now that she's giving us a shout out, it sure would look bad if we don't deliver. Please take the first step and call the campaign office to get set up as a virtual phonebanker. The number is 310-212-6792, and either Peter Berg (not me, FYI) or Brendan can get you set up. Be sure to say you're with the "Let's Get Calling" group or they won't know to credit your calls to our effort!
The goal for this week is to get 5 new signups who make at least 15 calls. If we can reach that goal by the end of the weekend, my youngest daughter will pull out her Crayolas and make an awesome picture whose setting will be one of the many beautiful places we have in the 36th CD. BUT, if we don't make the goal - no picture! So sign up, make some calls, show Debra the netroots has got her back, and be rewarded with a new work of (kiddie) art
By the way, I won't be counting myself for this week's total since I'm already phonebanking, but I will be making calls too and (to keep myself accountable), I'll share my results.
Let's Get Calling!