This is a clarion call to members of the Kos community and any Obama staff members and organizers who read and post here.
Our work is not over folks. As Annrose pointed out here,, there is going to be a run-off for the US Senate seat in Georgia.
We need to defeat Saxby Shameless. And this means using the power of the Netroots to deliver every resource we can to help win this run-off.
If you are an Obama organizer or staffer - keep your bags packed and head to Georgia.
If you are a Netroots activist - get ready to do everything you can to help Jim Martin win one more Senate seat for the Dems.
We have less than four weeks to fire up the power of this machine known as the Netroots, focus it energy on the state of Georgia, and use it to drive Saxby into the sea.
Back in 1992 I was a paid staffer on the Clinton/Gore campaign in a swing state in the midwest. After the general election was over, three of us were recruited to travel immediately to Georgia to help Wyche Fowler in his run-off against Paul Coverdell.
Regrettably, in 1992 both the DNC and the Georgia Democratic state party were completely unprepared for that run-off, and Coverdell ultimately (and easily) defeated Fowler.
The Georgia run-off provision is an ugly throw-back to the days of Jim Crow that requires candidates to recieve more than 50% of the vote. (Thus, making it impossible for African-American candidates to win on a plurality of votes).
I know that everyone is excited, and frankly exhausted from the massive efforts exerted for yesterday's general election. But we have to win this seat in Georgia, and we need to use the power of the Netroots to make sure that Martin defeats Chambliss.
This means that starting RIGHT NOW, we have to turn our attention to Martin's campaign. And by right now, I mean RIGHT NOW.
There are only four weeks until this run-off, and I can tell you from having worked in electoral politics for more than 20 years - that if we want to win this seat then we, as a community, need to show leadership on this.
WE CANNOT WAIT FOR THE GEORGIA STATE PARTY OR THE DNC TO DO THIS ON THEIR OWN OR TO ASK FOR OUR SUPPORT. WE NEED TO START THROWING EVERYTHING WE CAN AT THEM TODAY!!.
Remember, this is a single campaign that was, until today, "down ballot". This means that they do not have their own statewide infrastructure and/or organization in place. In a run-off race like this, the 'guy' who wins is the one who turns out the most votes. In all likelihood, the Martin campaign does not have their own large volunteer base, or extensive voter ID/GOTV capability that they are going to need to drive massive voter turnout.
Maybe the state party or the DNC can help them? Maybe.
And maybe you can go to bed tonight telling yourself that, feeling good, and feeling like you don't have to do anything else to help. We won, it's over, and you are all set.
And then the shitbag who smeared Max Cleland will laugh in our faces as he easily defeats Jim Martin four weeks from now.
Or you can decide that you want to help defeat Saxby Shameless, and you can't wait to focus the power of the Netsroot on his campaign like a fifth grader with a magnifying glass on an ant hill.
So here is how we can start helping immediately.
- If you are or you know any Obama organizer(s) or staff who want to go to Georgia to help, then call the Martin campaign tomorrow. The phone number there is 404-347-9766. Tell them you want to come and ask them to find housing for you. Details about this are still in the works, and as I find anything out - I will include those details in forthcoming diaries.
- Spread the word. Tell everyone you know, here and everywhere else - that we need their help to defeat Saxby Shameless.
- Phonebanking. Let the Martin campaign know that you are willing and able to do GOTV phonebanking for them from your house (email them at: info@martinforsenate.com). Remember, we can now do GOTV calls using cell phones from anywhere in the country. We need to help the Georgia state party and the Martin campaign build a huge GOTV network using volunteer power from across the country.
- Pushback. If you offer to help, and you don't hear back - then contact them again. The state party, the DNC, the DSCC might complain that they aren't ready for an onslaught of organizers, phonebankers, etc., because they are not as prepared for this as they should have been (given that this happened 16 years ago as well). Too bad. If we wait - we lose. And I don't know about you all - but I don't want to lose this AGAIN.
- There are other things that you can do that I am not allowed to talk about because I am a public employee and thus prohibited from engaging in certain types of political activities and solicitations.
But whatever you do, start doing it NOW. I started the drumbeat last night in New Hampshire by convincing some of the young and very talented Obama organizers there to head immediately down to Georgia to help out. A few of them have already made calls and the wheels are in motion.
So do it.
Do it because you want revenge for what they did to Max.
Do it because you want to see the Dems pick up one more seat in the US Senate.
Do it because you are disgusted by a run-off system that was designed during Jim Crow to discriminate against African-American candidates
Do it because you want to see the Netroots win another race.
Do it because you never get tired of using the power of this amazing technology to help build a better and brighter future for our country.
But do it!