Assemblywoman Linda Stender is running against Mike Ferguson in the NJ 7th Congressional District.
Today I want to express deep thanks to all of you for the
Netroots endorsement. Matt Stoller's words were a charge of electricity for us; thank you, Matt, for your confidence. And I'm so grateful to the local blogs that took this campaign as their own, with
Blue Jersey and
Dump Mike leading the way. Their tireless advocacy drew national attention.
I know there are very few candidates fortunate enough to have both Netroots support and the special targeting of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). I know it means we have a greater chance to flip this district, and to be one of the 15 seats we need to Take Back Congress. I also know that the extraordinary support I'm receiving carries great responsibility to speak out clearly on issues like the war, stem cell research, health care, and a woman's right to choose.
Never before has such a driving force been present to create the momentum needed to see a Democratic victory in NJ-7. This is the year it can all change and the shifts in this District are being tracked closely. Netroots support has directly helped me raise over $20,000 online through Act Blue and our campaign's site and through all the individual contributions, I was able to raise more than my opponent last quarter.
New York Times calls my opponent "A Vulnerable Republican". Mike Ferguson is a 3-term Republican (and biggest recipient in Congress of Tom DeLay money). The ground is shifting here. Once considered a "likely republican" district, the Cook Political Report has now ranked the district as "Leans Republican." This campaign is going national, thanks to you, netroots activists. And thanks to endorsements by groups like EMILY'S List, Democracy for America, and the Sierra Club.
Thank you for all you do. Your ideas, writing, passion and activism on the ground fuels our efforts to Take Back the House. I'll work hard for you.
Linda Stender