I just received an email from Rick Noriega's wife Melissa on behalf of his campaign:
This week and the next, my husband Rick Noriega will take leave of his campaign to perform mandatory National Guard Annual Training (AT). During this time, I will be joined by several prominent Texans in the effort to "Fill Rick's Boots" on the campaign trail.
They have set a goal of raising $50,000 over the next two weeks - which kossacks should surely be able to help out with. It would show wonderful support to exceed that amount.
Here is the important link. More below:
In an op-ed for the Dallas Morning News last week, Lynn Woolley wrote:
Mr. Noriega is the Houston state legislator who's taking on Sen. John Cornyn. He's got a lot going for him. A Hispanic name. An easy victory in the primary election. Democratic coattails of Barack Obama.
Noriega's biggest problem? What do you think?
The other big indicator is "the mother's milk of politics" – money. Recent disclosures have Mr. Cornyn with $8.7 million in the bank – a formidable war chest in a state with huge media markets like Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. Mr. Noriega reported just $330,000 as of March 31. To put that in perspective, Mr. Noriega might be able to afford a couple of TV flights in one of those markets. Mr. Cornyn has enough cash to blanket the state.
That means fundraising is really important for Mr. Noriega. As the newspaper headline says, if he can raise $10 million, we've got ourselves a contest. But Mr. Cornyn is having an easier time raising money. His total for the first quarter of 2008 was $2.15 million. In that same period, Mr. Noriega raised just under $500,000.
Rick is a strong candidate and makes a good impression if voters only have some exposure to him. All the money in Texas can't make Mr. Cornyn look like the Senator we deserve.
I made my contribution for this month and wanted to get this posted between the Saturday marathon meeting and the LAST FINAL END-OF-ALL primaries tomorrow. Please donate if you can, bookmark his website for a reminder and/or send to a few good hopeful Democratic friends.
Also - tips to alpolitics for this diary that scrolled away Saturday while I was snoozing.