Tomorrow night, as Nebraskan families sit down to watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, my campaign is going to launch the first ad of the Senate general election cycle in homes across the state.
Significantly, we are going up on TV before my opponent. We will have the airwaves to ourselves, and we've crafted an ad to take advantage of the moment. This ad, called "Future," will introduce me to Nebraskans as a father and a candidate for United States Senate...
Introductions are as essential in life as they are in politics. They can be as simple as a handshake and a how-do, or as elaborately crafted as a policy brief or a power-point-presentation.
When I first introduced myself to the netroots three years ago, I was running for Congress in Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District. As I criss-crossed that district in my pick-up truck, I was able to introduce myself to Nebraskans where they lived. In small towns across Nebraska's west, people learned my name, my ideas and my character. They took the measure of me as a candidate.
As I run for the United States Senate this year I'm bringing my message to the entire state of Nebraska. In doing so, I'm introducing myself in places like Lincoln and Norfolk and Omaha, big cities and towns across the eastern part of my state where people don't know me as well as out west.
This is our answer to that:
The netroots understands the power of introductions. Candidates routinely come here to introduce themselves to readers and activists across the nation. What I'm asking tonight is if you can help me introduce myself to Nebraskans in their homes across my entire state.
We've set an ambitious goal of raising $15,000 to get this ad out across Nebraska. Fortunately, a media dollar goes further in Nebraska than it does in other states. Already, 73 generous donors have contributed over $5,000 to this effort.
We all know that winning this election will take more than a handshake and a how-do. It will take more than the aggressive listening tour that has taken me across the entire state. Winning this election will also take a savvy media strategy that gets my name, my character and my ideas before the voters in every town and city of my state.
You can help with that tonight with donations large or small. In fact, I'm sharing this video with you because so many of you have helped in the past.
If you can, please contribute to this effort.
Thank you,
Scott Kleeb