This is the email I sent today to all of my friends and family. Use the poll attached to rate the quality of my outreach.
Feel free to steal any of this if you want.
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Friends,
All apologies for this form letter. I ask you to please read this and reply to me directly if you have questions or other feedback. If you're already in my corner on this, please take action today. Forward this on to your own circle or click on one of the links I've included.
DO YOU WANT TO HELP SAVE THE WORLD?
As many of you are probably aware, I've became rather heavily involved in Howard Dean's campaign for president this year. This sprung originally from my desire to achieve Regime Change here in the US, but has become a great deal more. Not only do I believe Howard Dean has the best chance to defeat Bush in November, I also believe that he would make an amazing president as well.
Howard Dean is the Democrat that we can vote FOR, rather than casting a vote "against" Bush. Howard Dean is progress. He stands for the facts, for doing the right thing -- signing a civil-union law, standing up to a president with a 70% approval rating -- even when it's politically risky. We need political courage now more than ever.
Howard Dean also represents a change in the way business is done. If he is elected president, he will be the first ever to not have to sell his campaign out, because people like you and me will own him. Believe the hype: the whole thing really is people-powered. While his positions are not as far-out and radical as mine, the process his campaign embodies is the greatest opportunity for real progress this country has seen in more than 30 years.
Howard Dean is the most electable candidate; his ability to motivate people to work for him speaks volumes. His honest and consistent message has already resonated with moderate Republicans and Independents, and he is best able to compete with Bush in the "regular guy" department. Howard Dean's campaign is best situated to make a difference in Congressional races as well.
Above all, unlike so many politicians who blow in the wind, Howard Dean is not a phony. I've been following his campaign for almost a year now, and I can tell you this with certainty.
Most people make up their minds about who they vote for in the week before the election. I'm asking you to start thinking about it a little sooner than that, and I want you to pass it on. I'm asking you to support Howard Dean, because his campaign's heart and soul is the support of people like you an me, and because our participation right now can make the difference in this election.
If you can afford it, I ask you do donate the cost of an average night out on the town (I kicked in $25), or at least a six pack of nice beer. $10 won't be too badly missed, and it might just buy us the White House:
http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/TR?pg=personal&fr_id=1090&px=1511169
If you can't spare $10, you can show your support by joining up with the campaign. They won't email you if you opt-out, and signing up here will be a way for you to demonstrate your support and add momentum.
http://www.deanforamerica.com/join
The most important thing you can do is reach out to your friends, your family, your co-workers. You're my circle of friends, family and acquaintances, and I'm hoping that enough of you will forward this message (or write one of your own) to make a real difference here. Grassroots action doesn't just mean going out and holding a sign; it means starting conversations with the people you know and love.
Getting involved is not weird, it's important. If we want to live in a better world, we cannot trust other people to provide it for us. We need to create it ourselves. We need to make it happen. The time to make our presence felt is now.
I'm asking you to join me in the most worthy effort I've ever been involved in in my life. Please email me if you have questions or concerns and I will do my utmost to address them. I really want all of you -- every single one -- to be involved.
Join the campaign; send a message to your friends and family; come up with $10 to help fund the greatest grassroots campaign in modern history. Politics is the art of controlling your environment. Participate!
Sincerely,
-Josh