I've been holding out on 2010 campaign donations as I have a limited budget and want to make sure they go to the places where they can do the most good. But with one of the last big fundraising reporting deadlines looming later this week, it's time to get off the pot.
I've seen diaries discussing different algorithms that people used to decide where their hard-earned contributions will go. I decided to focus on places I call home or have called home.
From Washington and Pennsylvania, I selected the top of the ticket Senate candidates, both of them with winnable races. Patty Murray and Joe Sestak are solid progressive votes and effective politicians. I'm sure I don't have to do too much convincing for the DKos crowd to understand those sentiments.
After them, I picked Denny Heck (WA-03), Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Rep. Paul Kanjorski (PA-05) as 3 solid campaigners who we need to help hold onto a Democratic majority in the House. Sure, Susan DelBenne is once again trying to turn WA-08 blue, but frankly I don't think this is the year it will happen, and I would rather stay focused on keeping WA-02 and WA-03 blue. Some recent polling had Kanjorski down significantly also, and this Central PA district may never turn blue again if it goes red.
Alaskan Senate candidate Scott McAdams is practically a Washingtonian, since it's just up the street from us, and the 3 way race is up for grabs. Alaska is also a cheap media market, so I couldn't ignore this pickup opportunity. And since I grew up in the area of Pennsylvania often referred to as "Pennsyltucky", and also due to the closeness of the polls and craziness of his opponent, Kentucky Senate Candidate Jack Conway was selected.
Finally, I made a few personal picks for people I have followed and believe in. Democratic Senators Boxer (CA) & Feingold (WI) made the cut because of the importance of their progressive voices & votes. Icing on the cake is actually a lower priority for me, but Rhode Island House Candidate David Cicilline is poised to add a +1 to the total of GLBT representation in Congress, and although he's expected to have an easier time in the general, I don't want to take it for granted.
So there you have it, my completely unscientific, self-centered picks of who I am going to help this election cycle.
I'd love to get 100 donors to join me before election day, so hit up my new Act Blue page and do whatever you can... especially you Washingtonians and Pennsyluckians.
[edit 1 - changed title to be clear this diary is about my reasoning for who I'm supporting, not trying to steal the thunder from any other great cause such as Orange to Blue which I was happy to see today added Scott McAdams to their list also!]