Well, after well over a year of writing for many candidates who ran for the 2008 election, the final week is upon us. In the First Congressional District of Kentucky, I feel nothing but pride for the fight we have undertaken. In a time when the word "grassroots" is thrown around everywhere, we have truly epitomized that kind of movement to fight for our homes when nobody else seemed willing. I could not be more proud of our candidate, our campaign, and the fight we have undertaken.
No matter what the results of the election in this district next Tuesday, with a completely volunteer staff of amateurs working jobs and going to school, along with raising their families we have at least succeeded in keeping most of Exxon Ed Whitfield's Special Interest money bottled up here, and not in other races.
Our efforts have paid off too. Coming into the final week, we are experiencing momentum, and many Democrats in this district are warming up to us. First, after our initial dropoff of signs throughout the district, we recieved requests for 500 more from various counties which Heather dropped off. Better yet, the last few days have seen much action on our various ActBlue sites, and fundraising is up within the district in response to our T.V. ads.
It looks as if we are going to be able to buy at least some network time with what we have recieved in the last couple of days. We have been up in the district on cable since last Wednesday. We would very much like everyone to know, both within our state and nationwide, that this district is winnable. Not just for this election, but for every election that follows. As Howard Dean told us, when we show up, we win.
I am proud of Heather Ryan, and what she has accomplished here. She has stood up to fight against two of the most powerful men in the Congress, Ed Whitfield, and the Mitch McConnell machine when noone else would. She has been called fat, crazy, stupid, and has been accused of faking her own death to avoid a bill that she paid. Through all of this, she has conducted herself with grace, and simply pounded on the truth of Republican governance from 2001-2007.
I want everyone who reads this to realize what this campaign has represented. It has stood for the fact that ANY qualified citizen who is educated should be able to run for, and serve in Congress whether they had a bunch of money or not. Please think about how important that is to our Democracy. That is the premise of our Republic, that any citizen should be able to serve. I submit to anyone, that there is no way that Heather Ryan could make as many mistakes, or bring as little progress to our country as Ed Whitfield (R)-KY.
We need the help of our fellow grassroots Democrats. With a big push in this final week we could really make this race close. T.V. is the key in this huge district because it is impossible to be everywhere within it at once. When this is over, we are already going to turn a lot of heads with what we were able to accomplish.
Now, I honestly hate having to go anywhere and beg anyone for anything. Much less having to beg people such as myself for the money they have had to work so hard for in such trying times. I wish there was a different system which allowed non-incumbent Congressional candidates more of an opportunity. However, the system is what it is, and I am within it. With all the money flying around, please help us make a real statement in what could be a signature race this year:
Here is our ad running, which we will be expanding and hope to expand more in the final week. We also have two more ads we could use with the funding:
This ad has worked where it has played!!
I would just like to close with one last message. We CAN fight for every district in this country. That is not just a slogan, it is fact. I ask your help in this fight, and it is my solemn promise that no matter what happens in a week, I will be fighting for my home every time I get a chance.
Best wishes to all Democrats in this final week of this seemingly eternal campaign!!