Jerry McNerney (CA-11) is the Democratic hero who is taking on the anti-environmental nightmare known as Rep. Richard Pombo in one of California's tightest and most exciting races this year. And tonight it's about to get even more exciting as Bill Clinton comes to town to help McNerney across the finish line.
In case you missed the late night
diary yesterday, the McNerney camp put up a wonderful post highlighting the fact that Bill Clinton will be at Stockton Jet Center tonight at 9pm for a public endorsement and get-out-the-vote rally for Jerry McNerney. If you're in town, please plan to attend (see the
diary for more info).
According to Clinton: "Jerry McNerney has built a career as a clean energy expert and environmentalist. We need more people like him serving in our government, individuals willing to roll up their sleeves and work hard to reduce this country's dependence on foreign oil. As President I worked with Congress to seek more cost-efficient and environmentally sound methods of meeting America's ever-evolving energy needs, particularly as we faced increasing threats to our national security. If we are to meet those needs in 21st century and beyond, we should elect representatives with the ideas, integrity, and commitment of Jerry McNerney."
As if that wasn't exciting enough, the Contra Costa Times reports that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner will be campaigning for McNerney in CA-11 with Defenders of Wildlife -- a group that has been a real force in this election.
While it's inspiring to see local celebrities getting caught up in the GOTV effort, it's not really surprising because McNerney has turned into one of the most amazing stories of this election season because he is successfully standing up to one of the best-funded, most corrupt Republicans in Congress, and polls show McNerney is within reach of winning this election.
Realizing that Pombo is in trouble, the GOP sent George Bush to town in early October to help Pombo, and now Laura Bush will be in town as well, but McNerney felt having George in CA-11 helped his campaign: "President Bush's visit was the best thing to happen to my campaign," McNerney told supporters at fundraisers in Morgan Hill, Portola Valley and San Ramon. "He helped me raise more money. It attracted the national party's attention and it helped get my name out in the media."
McNerney has pulled in almost $2 million for the entire election cycle, and in the first 18 days of October, McNerney actually outraised Pombo, despite the fact that most of McNerney's money is coming from people like us -- not from extraction industries, tribal casinos, and the Rove/Cheney/Bush money machine.
McNerney has been endorsed by Veterans for McNerney, by Wes Clark, by almost 20 labor unions, by numerous environmental groups, as well as by the local press including the Modesto Bee, the San Jose Mercury News, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Sacramento Bee, among other papers. He is the man of the hour, and we need to push him over the finish line.
If you can help out Jerry McNerney, do so today. Attend the Clinton endorsement tonight, hit the pavement for Jerry, or phonebank for Jerry -- it's all good and it's all needed. Or you can just send him a few extra dollars to put him over the $2 million mark.
Whether we win or lose the House, by taking out Richard Pombo, we can make a huge difference for America with just this one race. Few people have wielded their power as corruptly and ruthlessly as Pombo as in his role of chair of the House Resources Committee. We must boot him out now! Join us today, and thanks for all your incredible efforts this election season!