It's great to be back blogging with you here at DailyKos! I know there's been lots of discussion in the blogosphere about how we're going to get to 60 Democratic seats in the Senate. Well, I think that 60th seat is going to come from right here in Idaho -- and I'm fighting hard to make that happen.
That's why, over these last 6 days, we're working overtime to deliver another huge Democratic victory on Election Day -- which will also be a huge victory for middle-class Idaho families here in Idaho who've been left behind for far too long.
I just saw some recent poll numbers that show things moving in the right direction: Republican Jim Risch at 45%, me at 33%, and 16% still undecided. Why is that good news? Well, first of all, for any Idaho Republican known as well as Jim Risch to be running below 50% is a huge red flag. Second, the poll was conducted before the latest debate where I really went after Jim Risch and before our latest hard-hitting TV ads hit the airwaves in the Spokane market, so the race has undoubtedly narrowed further.
More on the flip.
What's more, 81% of Idahoans say that America is on the wrong track. Clearly, Idaho voters are looking for change in our state -- that's the message I'm running on -- and that's what I'll deliver as Idaho's next United States Senator.
Now, just today, Idaho newspapers are running stories today about how Jim Risch avoided military service during the Vietnam War. He claims he wanted to enlist but he had an ulcer. Like a lot of Jim Risch's claims, that just doesn't pass the smell test. I'm proud to be the only veteran running in the Idaho Senate race, which I think will make a real difference to veterans who show up and vote on Election Day.
As you might imagine, I am under relentless attack in saturation TV ads from the right-wing in Idaho at the moment for my courageous vote to support the "Deficit Reduction Plan" in 1993 when I served in the US House of Representatives. That legislation created an astounding period of prosperity and job creation for America, yet I am being criticized for raising the taxes of millionaires. It's typical right-wing rhetoric and their only defense for putting our economy in the ditch and having no plan for economic recovery.
So we're pulling out all the stops over these last 6 days to get our message out and fight for every vote. Our hard-hitting TV ads are up on the air statewide. We've got staff and volunteers in seven field offices across Idaho, hard at work phoning voters and knocking on doors.
But to reach that 16% of voters who are disenchanted with Jim Risch and still undecided, and to make sure all of my supporters get to the polls, we've expanded our field program to reach out to as many of them as we can before That's why we've launched a $25,000 Field Fund over these closing days to fuel that expanded voter contact operation and close the gap between now and Election Day.Election Day.
I know that we have a great chance to win and become that 60th or 61st Democrat seat in the Senate. But I need your help to do it. Please spread the word to all your friends and family in Idaho. And, if you can, rush a last minute contribution to our LaRocco Field Fund right now, to help power our expanded voter contact program down the homestretch.
Thanks for your help. On to Victory!
-- Larry
P.S. I'm taking a break from call time to blog with you this afternoon, so I'll be around for a short time to answer your questions and comments before I head back to the phones. Thanks for your support!