Daily Kos' Lieberman obsession, or are we serious

about building a 60-seat+ majority in the United State Senate?

Friends, we are a day away from the 2nd quarter fundraising deadline. Our candidates have about 40 hours left to show the depth and breadth of their support.

Last week, when Joe Lieberman hosted a $3K-a-plate fundraiser for Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the blogosphere erupted in its usual show of Joe Loathing. MoveOn claimed to raise $355K in 24 hours for Collins challenger Tom Allen and fellow Rep. Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania. Markos front-paged the effort twice within 24 hours (here and here), and Miss Laura brought it up again yesterday.

Meanwhile, another Senate candidate - former U.S. Rep. Larry LaRocco of Idaho - stopped by Kos to do his second diary this month on Wednesday. No one noted it on the front page. It didn't make the recommended list. It basically sunk without a trace

The Lieberman Obsession is all well and good. Joe deserves all the derision we can send his way. But I submit that when a viable U.S. Senate candidate takes the time to engage Kossacks, it should at least be given a quick plug on the front page, so people can take note and check it out while it's happening. mcjoan did this with LaRocco's first visit on June 5. The diary got nearly 100 comments and rode the recommended list for several hours. But the rest of the front pagers ignored Larry LaRocco this week, and that's a damn shame.

It's a shame because LaRocco is a great candidate. (Disclosure here: I am on his staff.) As I write this, LaRocco is working a shift helping a certified nursing assistant at a Pocatello nursing home. Two weeks ago, he hauled garbage in Orofino, ID. As LaRocco wrote Wednesday, "Two weeks ago I launched my 'Working for Senate' campaign in Idaho.  And for the next 16 months I will take jobs through Idaho and work side by side with voters and listen to their concerns about our state and country. The fact is, Idahoans are tired of being taken for granted by aloof politicians who have no idea what working families are encountering in their daily lives. I will take no voter for granted."

Yes, Idaho is heavily Republican, and Democrats always face a tough slog here. But the tide started to turn a few years ago, when Boise elected a Democratic state lawmaker as its mayor. The gains continued in 2006, when Democrats picked up six seats in the state legislature (coming close on three more seats) and Kossacks helped Larry Grant come within 5% of winning in the ID-01, a district George W. Bush won by nearly 40% in both 2000 and 2004. Idaho is widely seen as the next Montana, and people are starting to talk about LaRocco as the next Jon Tester.

What's more, LaRocco is fighting a most vulnerable incumbent, Larry Craig, who is on retirement watch. Aside from nagging questions about Craig's personal life, he has failed both in his efforts to reform immigration and to give veterans the benefits the deserve. Idaho blogger Mountain Goat did a great post this week titled "A Tale of Two Larrys," noting the stark differences between a candidate who wants to mingle with Idaho voters and an incumbent who this week sought to limit benefits to veterans.

As of this morning, Tom Allen has raised more than $25K from 577 people on ActBlue - most of it this last week, and mostly because Markos wrote on Page 1 , "Anyone wanting to add an exclamation point to this hearty F.U. to Lieberman should consider dropping $10 or whatever to Allen."

Meanwhile, as of 8 a.m., Larry LaRocco has netted $6,411 in donations from 50 people on ActBlue. Yet both Allen and LaRocco represent one more potential Democratic Senate vote against prolonging the war in Iraq, one more Senate vote toward solving the health care crisis, one more Senate vote for transparency and accountability in government.

Alen will clearly have the funds to mount a robust campaign against Collins (and Army of One Lieberman)? But what about Larry LaRocco? We need a 60+ majority. Help make it happen.