Today in Arkansas, grassroots activists called Lieutenent Governor Bill Halter's campaign office to encourage him to run against Blanche Lincoln. The action was incredibly successful, with people calling the Halter office all day long to tell him to get into the race.
Starting at about 8:30 a.m., the calls started trickling in. I called about 1 pm and told the guy on the phone that I loved the work his boss was doing and that he needed to run against Lincoln. When I told him, "I'm sure this is the twentieth call you've gotten on this..." He said, "No...We've had more." I about did a backflip when I heard that.
What's more, the thing went viral, spreading beyond the facebook draft group. I got an e-mail from someone encouraging people to participate the night before, and I was on an unrelated conference call with someone who said his phone had been tied up all day with his wife calling and telling everyone she knew to call and get him into the race.
More importantly, the people we talked to sounded absolutely thrilled with what was happening. It took them completely by surprise, and they were ecstatically taking down names and information by all accounts. Each of us that participated in the event got the same impression from them:
BILL HALTER IS SERIOUSLY LOOKING AT THIS, AND IF HE THINKS HE HAS THE SUPPORT HE WILL PULL THE TRIGGER.
Today was a victory for grassroots networking and action. We are very close to getting a better Democrat into the race for the U.S. Senate. Whether that happens or not, today the Arkansas progressives at the grassroots let their voices be heard, and it won't be the last time!