Somehow I got on the RNC email list. Which is kind of creepy...I mean I feel somewhat contaminated every time I get an email from them. On the other hand, it is an insight into their goals and fears.
Today I got an email. Here is what it said:
2014 can be a very good year for Republicans.
Our major victories in the Florida-13 congressional election, San Diego mayoral election and New Jersey gubernatorial election prove that elections aren’t just won in a day. Those victories were won through months of hard work, and major investments in infrastructure and on the ground voter contact.
The RNC is investing in cutting-edge data, innovative ground game strategies and tactics for engaging key demographics.
“There has been a lot of structural improvement in field staff, data, and digital that will support Republican victories this fall.” – The Daily Beast
“Their investments are beginning to pay dividends.” – NBC News
“The party appears to have made the most tangible progress on voter turnout, where a multimillion-dollar overhaul has given the RNC capabilities to gather and analyze data in innovative ways it could only dream about in the 2012 election cycle.” – The Washington Examiner
“They seek the disenchanted, the disengaged, the leaners, the undecided and the ambivalent. They seek to convince a wide audience that maybe they’re Republicans — but just don’t know it. This campaign is off to a very good start.” – The Washington Times
We’re building to victory by making the necessary investments and by starting voter contact efforts earlier than ever before. The fight to win back the Senate and stop the Obama agenda is happening now, and we are winning, but we have a long way to go.
Because this effort is so important, and because of the strong results we have already produced, for a limited time, a group of our donors have agreed to match every online donation.
Donate $14 today to help the GOP take back the Senate—and your gift will be doubled.
Now we can quibble about just how significant their winning the NJ gov race is (I mean, they are hanging their hopes on Chris Christie here). And of course they leave out their TOTAL ROUT in Virginia. And San Diego and FL-13 are largely home turf for them where we have made some minor inroads. So they are kind of damning themselves with faint praise while ignoring the simultaneous complete failure of the Greedy Oil Party in Virginia this year.
But that is neither here nor there. I want to respond to them. And I responded by donating to Democrats in races that are critical in states with close Senate races. Can you help me raise some cash for candidates they are most targeting? I recommend donating $14 (or $28 if you want to cover their "double your donation" thing). Let's turn THEIR fundraising plea into something of a fundraising coup for our candidates.
Below I highlight some key Senate races and some House races in the same states that I recommend donating to. But if you want to cut to the chase, you can donate to these campaigns on my Closest Races 2014 ActBlue Site. I have raised over $500...can we make it $1000?
For those who want more info on some of the races on that Act Blue site, follow me below.
KENTUCKY: Taking the fight to their turf.
Alison Lundergan Grimes for Senate!!!
The one big chance to pick up a Senate seat from the Repubs. Take the fight to their turf. Defeating Mitch McConnell would symbolically erase most of the gains they may make this year.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Elisabeth Jensen KY-06
A long shot House race, but bringing up Dem turnout in this district can be critical for the KY-Sen race. And targeting right wing extremist Andy Barr is well worth the effort.
“Kentucky has never had a Democratic woman in Congress. It is time we had strong advocate who will fight for women’s healthcare and economic fairness.”
--Elisabeth Jensen
I would love to see a women's healthcare and economic fairness advocate representing KY-6!
Elisabeth Jensen has been endorsed by the Kentucky AFL-CIO, United Autoworkers, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 227 (UFCW 227), Teamsters Local 651 and the Kentucky Building and Trades Council.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
ALASKA: Defending the far North
Re-elect Senator Mark Begich
One of this year's key tossup Senate races. The Greedy Oil Party is so desperate to win this one that they put money and effort into a fraudulent website trying to fool Begich supporters into donating to the Repubs. They are desperate to get rid of Senator Begich, but the race remains a tossup.
Senator Mark Begich is well worth supporting. He supports overturning Citizen's United, voted for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and defends Social Security and Medicare.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
ARKANSAS AND NORTH CAROLINA: Defending the Southern Flank
Re-elect Senator Kay Hagan (NC)
Another key Senate seat we need to defend.
The first bill Kay Hagan co-sponsored in the U.S. Senate was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. You can see why the Greedy Oil Party is so eager to defeat her. The Koch brothers are POURING money into this race, yet it remains a solid tossup.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Clay Aiken NC-02
This is a long shot for us, but Clay Aiken is running a surprisingly strong campaign and I think this could be an upset by the end. In addition, high Dem turnout in this district will help us hold the Senate seat and Clay Aiken could help turnout quite a bit if he has the funding to do it.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Jonathan Barfield NC-07
We are defending this seat against a strong Repub effort to flip it from blue to red. New Hanover County Commissioner Jonathan Barfield is running to keep this seat from being taken over by the Koch brothers.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Re-elect Senator Mark Pryor (AR)
This race is another toss up and the Greedy Oil Party are desperate to win it. But it isn't just about keeping a Senate seat. It is about fighting for a state that is trending from being a swing state to a more solid red state. I was born in Arkansas...I don't want to cede it to the right wing fanatics.
This is another case where the Repubs are so desperate to win they have put up a fake website to fool voters.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Patrick Henry Hays AR-02
Another red district we have a shot of winning...and another district where a strong Dem showing could help us in Senate and Governor races. Swinging both the House and holding the Senate depend a great deal on this one district. Former Mayor of North Little Rock is a good candidate for this district and we need to have his back.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
James Lee Witt for Congress AR-04
A long shot but worth fighting for, and increasing Dem turnout here will help us in the Senate and Governor races. Former FEMA director James Lee Witt was recruited by Bill Clinton and Joe Biden to make a strong run in this red district. I believe in fighting the Greedy Oil Party on their own turf and this is a good fight to take on.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
STRENGTHENING OUR FALL BACK POSITION: Defending Colorado and Michigan
Re-Elect Senator Mark Udall (CO)
We are probably going to win this one, but even as I like to take the fight onto the Repub's turf, I also like to shore up our own positions. This is one that could use some shoring up. Particularly since the right wing is making this a fight between a pro-Choice Democrat and an anti-Choice right wing extremist.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Andrew Romanoff CO-06
This is a dead heat and one of our best chances to flip a seat. Colorado also has somewhat close races for Senate and Governor this year, so pushing hard in this seat helps state wide candidates as well. This seat was formerly held by Tom Tancredo and would be particularly sweet to flip.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Elect Congressman Gary Peters to MI-Sen!
We need to defend this seat and polls show this a close race. Congressman Gary Peters has a good shot at winning it, but I still think it worth putting some effort into defense here.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Jerry Cannon MI-01
This is a red leaning district we have a shot to turn blue. It is also a district that could be important for winning the Senate and Governor races since a strong Dem showing here would help swing statewide races. If we want ANY chance of winning back the House, this is a must win district.
A marine in Vietnam, Major General in the Michigan Army National Guard, and Sheriff of Kalkaska County, Jerry Cannon is a strong candidate for this seat.
You can DONATE TO WIN HERE.
Please chip in $14 (or $28...or more!) to at least one of these candidates and let's turn this year's momentum back to the blue.