I'm still a Biden Guy, but I will admit that I've been really impressed with the campaign ideas coming out of Senator Chris Dodd's camp. Sure, I thought parts of the website were a little hokey - the "Dodd Squad" and the "Dodd Pod" get a nod - but many of us have seen the talk clocks; an Internet presence second only to that of Edwards; great use of ustream.tv; the first bare-bones, text-only "personal" e-mails; YouTube as a tool for pushing bills through Congress; and more. In the words of Marc Ambinder:
his campaign itself is near flawless; his argument is pitch-perfect and attuned to his audience ... he's the first out of the box with attractive policy ideas, like a carbon tax. And, especially for a campaign run largely by veterans of Washington, he's used emerging technologies more fruitfully than just about everyone else.
Dodd was definitely surging as my second choice due to his voting record, innovations, and subtle jabs, but his latest idea makes him a second-place lock ...
Chris Dodd wants to take you to a Red Sox game:
There's something about a Boston Red Sox playoff game at Fenway Park.
Maybe it's potentially clinching a World Series birth under the shadow of the Green Monster, the Citgo sign in Kenmore Square, or the fact that if you squint hard enough you can almost make out Carlton Fisk waving that ball inside the foul pole.
I got two extra tickets -- great seats -- to Game Six of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Indians next Saturday. And I believe they might have your name on them.
Here's how it works. You make a minimum contribution of $20.04 (in honor of the last time the Red Sox won the World Series, 2004) and you have as good a shot as anyone else to bring along a guest of your choice to attend the game with me.
Now, this is interesting for many reasons. Not only does the low price ($20.04) make it the cost of a glorified raffle ticket, but the prize - Game 6 of the ALCS or Game 2 of the World Series at Fenway Park with Senator Dodd, travel and accommodations paid - is amazing.
Also, it sets Dodd apart from Clinton and Richardson, whose lack of vision and leadership on the subject of Major League Baseball is indicative of an over-reliance on triangulation. Seriously, Bill, you can't like both the Red Sox and Yankess. It's like a dKos blogger giving money to Obama and Huckabee. Dodd (Sox) and Biden (Bronx) are showing clear leadership by picking a team and staying with it.
Snark aside, I think the coolest thing about this is an opportunity to see a candidate in a raw state. Building a house with John Edwards, or having a videotaped dinner party with Obama ... as cool as they could be, they're still controlled environments where a presidential candidate can keep their composure. That's not true with baseball. All reports indicate that Senator Dodd is a real fan, and bound to get into the game. What it all boils down to is a unique opportunity to get closer to a "real" candidate than most people have been. Sports takes men to a spiritual plane of emotion and love and loss and vulnerability and victory not usually seen otherwise. Maybe the winner would get a glimpse of what President Dodd could be like when the pressure is on.
I had pitas with Dennis Kucinich at 1 am earlier this year, but this Dodd experience would be light years ahead of that. And I've worked for campaigns with really cool original ideas, but this takes the cake.
So, in spite of how much I'd like to raise money for Joe Biden, I have to give Dodd props and give you the chance to enter the coolest political raffle I've seen yet. If you happen to win, I'd love to join you ;-)
P.S. - If you want to keep up with the Dodd campaign, you can help me out by going here and sign up for updates (and use my name, Sam Spencer IV, as your referral code).