Dear Loyal Democratic Avenger Readers and Other Blogsphere Friends
I am so completely proud of our community; we have rushed the crucial dollars in small dollar amounts to Paul Hackett's Campaign for Congress and have Jean Schmidt and the entire Republican Party on the run. But come tomorrow win or lose, our blogsphere energy must continue, this is why I am suggesting 15 House districts which represent a different and eclectic group of candidates, some of who are in the top tier, and some of whom have not yet gotten on the radar screen. I am hoping to get feedback and input on the races chosen and also to expand out to thirty races, as we get closer to Election Day. You can follow the progress at http://democraticavenger.myblogsite.com/ and contribute at http://www.actblue.com/list/Democraticavenger Thank you so much and now the 15 races.
1, Texas 22nd Delay versus Lampson
This one is probably no surprise to anyone, but it is also extremely important. Tom Delay can be expected to raise an unlimited amount of money to whitewash over his record of illegal behavior. We have to be able to meet him dollar for dollar, shoe leather for shoe leather, Delay must be forced to do nothing but defend himself and then he must be defeated, Congressman Lampson is having the courage to comeback and fight back. We must have his back. It was us who put this race on the map. It must be us who put it over the top.
www.lampson.com
2. Minnesota 2nd Kline versus Rowley
A person who is willing to speak truth to power is a rare thing, a woman who was intimately involved in the defense of our nation who is willing to potently criticize this administration is rarer still, but this is the gift we have been given in Coleen Rowley an FBI agent, a time woman of the year, someone with a different perspective who in the Hackett mold will be able to talk about counter-terrorism having been on the front lines unlike the sidelines. The district skews slightly Republican but as an Ex-Republican and Woman she will be able to gather the needed cross-over votes if we can give her the early support.
www.coleenrowley.com
3. Pennsylvania 18th Tim Murphy Versus Hafer
This race is about reclaiming what has been lost and also honoring party switchers. This region of Pennsylvania is right near Pittsburgh and is the region that turned and in many ways turned the whole house, this is Rick Santorum Country, this seat with PA 4 and PA 3 make up the turn in the nation. In addition, We must support our Candidate Barbara Hafer the former Republican Treasurer, in 2001 she switched sides and joined in supporting Gov Rendell, she was considered a possible challenger to Senator Santorum, when she graciously bowed out when the DSCC went with Casey, regardless of what you think of Casey, her act was selfless and she is now having the courage to step up in a race that is important and slightly against the odds. We need to reward her and show once again that these are not the same Republicans as before. This race is also in a key swing state with a governor's and Senate race. That is why we need Hafer.
4. Connecticut 2nd Simmons versus Courtney
This is the most Democratic District in the country to have a Republican Congressman this most change. Fortunately we have the perfect candidate to win this district, his name is Joe Courtney, running in 2002 he came within 19,000 votes of wining and that was in a clearly Republican year both in Connecticut and Nationally, since then he ran Edwards Campaign in Connecticut and strongly supported our nominee in 2004. Joe Courtney also clearly understands the netroots and you can find a great blog for his campaign at http://2cd.lonseidman.com. Joe Courtney website can be found at
www.joecourtney.com.
5. Illinois 6th Open Seat ? versus Cegelis
This race is another clear netroots favorite and with good reason, Illinois is one state where Democrats have been slowly gaining, this district is far more Democratic than the Il 8th which we just turned blue in the last election. This is now a clear open seat in which John Kerry got 47%. We invested heavily in this race, our candidate put up an extremely impressive 44% last time and we can carry Christine Cegelis into the House and we should not back off an inch in making sure it happens.
http://www.cegelisforcongress.org
6. Florida 22nd Shaw versus Klein
A Kerry won house district in which an extremely a very credible challenger State Senator Ron Klein has emerged. This is the district in which a Democratic Candidate came less than 500 votes of beating Congressman Shaw in 2000 and a seat the netroots looked at before Jim Stork ended up getting sick. Money is already following into Klein and he should be a top target worth supporting.
http://www.ronklein2006.com
7. Arizona 8th ? versus ?
This is a race that may or may not make it on the radar screen. The Incumbent Jim Kolbe will face another primary challenge from former State Rep Randy Graf who is running on an Anti-Immigration Platform, if anything this issue is heating up and clearly this a district that agrees with Graf's position over Kolbe's. If you combine this with the Napolitano race and Pederson spending a lot of money on GOTV and this is a relatively close district with an outside chance at a pick up. At the least we have to get a credible candidate into this race.
8. Connecticut 4th Shays versus Farrell
The 4th district of Connecticut was also the 4th best democratic challenger in the country. With an extremely small vote difference 14,000, and the same challenger running again needs all the help possible to over turn that last bit of difference, This campaign also needs to find the netroots for strategy and toughness as well as just cash. Just a small netroots help in this race good get the campaign thinking differently. This is a must have seat, in a very Democratic district. Please support Diane Farrell.
www.farrellforcongress.com
9. North Carolina 11th Taylor versus Shuler
If Tom Delay is the poster child for corruption Representative Taylor is not far behind, with this extremely lackluster ethical standards, Representative Taylor is vulnerable, fortunately for us Democrats, our candidate has arrived, former quarterback and real-estate agent Heath Shuler is running, He is exactly the kind of Democrat who fits in with the rural district with a lot of conservative Democrats that can be reclaimed in this election. We have to reward unorthodox candidates who step up and fight for the party. Heath Shuler is a prefect example.
http://www.heathshuler.com
10. California 50th Open Seat ? versus Busby
An extremely crowded primary field combined with a scandal ridden former incumbent in a district that is Republican but not completely so, is how you slowly and surely climb back into a majority that would be otherwise difficult to win. In this race our candidate Francine Busby ran against Congressman Cunningham previously and is also an education specialist. She is actively seeking the DFA endorsement and is kind of the out of box candidate in an off the map race who is worth supporting.
http://www.francinebusby2006.org
11. Wisconsin 8th Open Seat ? versus ?
An Open seat in the heartland of America is something that can not be overlooked, while a slight lean to the Republicans this district can be swung back with the right candidates in the right year. In fact a recent Emily's list showed one of candidates a point ahead of the lead Republicans Candidates. This is a seat we can take.
12. Ohio 15th Pryce versus Losey
Another Battle in Ohio, This is one set in one of the18 districts that John Kerry won that also sent a Republican to Congress, in this case the fourth ranking Republican in the house Deborah Pryce. Once again a quality has emerged, Mark Losey is a candidate who understands and is build his campaign around the netroots and is preparing to fight for us all. We need to stand with him.
http://www.loseyforcongress.com
13. Colorado 4th Musgrave versus ?
This race is one of last cycles key netroots successes holding the one-issue bigot Marliyn Musgrave to an extremely unimpressive 51% with almost no DCCC support. We now have to finish her off and take another large step toward turning Colorado Blue, sadly so far a candidate is not known but maybe so one else knows whom we can begin to help because Musgrave is completely beatable.
14. California 26 Dreier versus ?
One of the big surprises of the night was Congressman Dreier extremely unimpressive 53% this was a race that was barely funded either by the netroots or the DCCC truthfully it was on nobody's radar and yet the result is there. Dreier is far weaker than we predicated and the netroots should push that this race be strongly targeted.
15. Connecticut 5th Johnson versus Murphy
Congresswoman Johnson is the number one recipient of phrma money; she is the author of the disastrous Medicare bill and she is another in the group of moderate's who prop up this house leadership. It is great news than State Senator Chris Murphy has stepped forward to challenge Congresswoman Johnson. Chris Murphy has made a career out of beating well liked Republican incumbents and if properly funded should be able to give Congresswoman Johnson a serious run for her money, much as another Challenger did in 1996 by using the Gingrich scandals, Murphy will have the Delay scandals at his side, he just needs the money to get out the message, which is the netroots can come in handy.