I hope you've all had a chance to view the newest Sestak ad, Belle --- despite (or, combined with) Toomey's (less-inspiring) response, you can see why Sestak has a reputation for being a closer.
The AFL-CIO is citing some pretty impressive statistics about their own outreach efforts (all emphasis mine):
For example, in Pennsylvania on Labor Day, Sestak had a slim 45% to 39% lead among union members. Since then, Sestak’s lead has ballooned to 29 points (55% to 26%), a major reason Sestak trails Toomey by a single point in the most recent polls.
---NYT
Over the fold for more, and ways you can get involved.
The union memo underscores the importance of getting the Democratic base to the polls:
"I'm not saying there won't be losses. There will be," AFL-CIO political director Karen Ackerman wrote in the memo. But she said that "outside the political party committees themselves, we have the largest political mobilization operation in the country." And she contended the federation, through its education and contact programs, is already moving numbers in some races.
The labor analysis comes a few days after the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies released a study that said black voters concentrated in key districts could determine whether Democrats hold the House and Senate. The reports underscore how critical it is for Democrats to get their most loyal constituent groups to the polls in a year when Republicans are far more enthused about voting.
---Politics Daily
When taken with the fact that outside influences supporting Toomey are basically bankrolling his campaign (the DSCC has had to spend boatloads of money on this race to make sure that the Admiral stays competitive):
Aided by a flood of independent spending from conservative groups, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has spent less than $630,000 in Pennsylvania so far and waited two months longer than the DSCC to run its first television spot there. While the NRSC disclosed plans to spend a total of $3.7 million in the coming weeks, doubling its previous reserve, that’s still less than half of what Democrats are expected to spend by Nov. 2.
[snip]
Democratic-friendly groups ... have spent less than $600,000 combined so far.
---CQ Politics
... it leads to one conclusion. I've said it before and I'll say it again. We need to GOTV GOTV GOTV. We are not going to win this by buying more airtime. It will be won by being smarter with the ads and having a better ground game.I got an email saying that the campaign was running out of lit this weekend. If you've got $5 more you can kick their way, it can help put materials in the hands of the volunteers talking to voters in these final days. Or, volunteer to make phone calls (from wherever), knock on doors, or distribute literature yourself.
Sestak needs our help to put him over the top.
- 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 earlier diary that contains 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.
Thanks for reading and for all your help. Make sure to check in tomorrow for the latest in this incredibly important contest.
Previous diaries in the series can be found here.