I'll be brief today, because I want to also try to make a dent in my promised 2+ hours of calls for Sestak this week during my son's nap.
Senator Specter headlined a fundraiser for Sestak yesterday, the first public appearance he's made on Sestak's behalf since the Admiral beat him in the primary.
I'll probably also talk more about this later, but the Sestak campaign is doing a fundraising push between now and Oct. 22 (the date of the Pittsburgh debate) to put this over the top. The goal is $400,000. If you haven't given yet, please give now.
Quotes and ways you can get involved over the fold.
Senator Specter has been called many things (especially around these parts), but in this case he is a man of his word. He said during the primary that if Sestak beat him he would endorse the former Navy Admiral, and so he has, headlining a fundraiser this week:
U.S. Senate candidate Joe Sestak spoke at a fundraiser in Philadelphia not as much about his own future, but to give thanks to the man he personally drove from public office.
[snip]
"It was not as much a campaign speech as a tribute to Sen. Specter," Sandals said. "It was less political in that sense. Most of what Sestak said was about Specter’s legacy in the Senate and how he hoped he’d be able to continue the initiatives. What a model he’d been for people like himself."
[snip]
Specter, who spoke right before Sestak, talked about the rising conservative wing of the Republican Party and said Sestak's Republican opponent Pat Toomey is a part of that. The lawmakers spoke about relationships with the Jewish community and said Sestak would be a better friend to Israel than Toomey. Specter warned that conservative politicans want to cut off foreign aid across the world, Sandals said.
.... Specter seemed touched by the kind words said about him by people in the room.
---The Morning Call (Pennsylvania Ave blog)
The Philadelphia Weekly blogreported on the fundraiser and commented on the Toomey and Sestak stances on Israel and funding for the Jewish community in PA:
Sestak, on the other hand, has done things his own way since he began running for office, however awkward it’s been, but part of his “voting with Nancy Pelosi 100 percent of the time” or whatever, was a very pro-Israel voting record.
We’ve contacted the Toomey campaign regarding his stance on earmarks for Pennsylvania Jewish organizations, as well as his support of foreign aid for Israel. We’ll let you know his stance as soon as we hear something. If we hear something.
---Philadelphia Weekly blog
There were also a couple of articles about the various endorsements Sestak and Toomey are racking up.
The momentum is in our direction, but Sestak is still down in the polls!
Here's what we need to do:
- Donate (Seems to me this diary series ought to be able to get at least 50 contributors - and the Sestak campaign is trying for a goal of $400,000 raised between now and Oct. 22 - let's help put Sestak over the top!)
- Canvass --- getting out the vote is critical. You can also go to their contact us page
- Call - they have a Virtual Phone Bank, so you can make calls from anywhere! (h/t angel65)
- Send email (link takes you to the diary yesterday with a template) or call or talk in person with those you know in Pennsylvania about this race.
- Go to go.joesestak.com (GoJoe for short) create an account, and look for ways to get involved.
- And, if you are in Pennsylvania, plan to vote, and bring as many people with you as possible.
Other diaries in the series:
#18 - "You don't vote just once for change" and GOTV Challenge Results
#17 - GOTV Challenge - You comment, I call.
#16 - New ad says Toomey=Santorum (w/VIDEO)
#15 - Sestak pummels Toomey on economy (w/VIDEO)
#14 - Pushing Obama on Afghanistan, and October debates!
#13 - GoJoe site is back and today is voter reg deadline!
#12 - The narrative begins to change.
#11 - Matching funds until tonight! And, Sestak in his own words.
#10 - New Poll, We're Gaining Ground!
#9 - Toomey's outlandish beliefs on parade
#8 - Knocking on doors in Pittsburgh this past weekend
#7 - The Admirable Admiral weighs in on tax cuts.
#6 - Sestak v. Toomey on crime
#5 - Mobilizing Pennsylvania's Progressives
#4 - Why is dKos advertising for a Tea Party Republican?!
#3 - Obama's other engagement today
#2 - Lies, Damn Lies, and Pat Toomey's ads.
#1 - Let's do better than the teabaggers in DE. Seriously, people, fight for it.
Thanks for reading and for all your help, and make sure to check in to see what tomorrow brings in this incredibly important contest.