Update: 3:55pm I just got a call from a Weed campaign staffer thanking us for putting this diary on DKos. They read here frequently and appreciate the effort.
I am going to use my daily diary to pursue one of my favorite causes - the elimination of the corrupt, incredibly shallow, Virgil Good from the US House of Representitives.
This letter just came from the best Democratic candidate any of the party faithful could hope for. But, he is fighting an uphill battle. Repeated requests to the national party for financial support have gone unacknowledged, and those of us in the 5th are pretty much on our own.
First, a little bit about the candidate.
Military experience:
Al Weed spent 42 years in the military, rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major for the Special Operations Command, Europe in the Bosnia operations. Al understands the value and limitations of the military as a foreign policy instrument.
Farmer/Businessman:
When Al began to operate his family farm, 33 years ago, there was no wine industry in Virginia. Because of his hard work and vision Virginia wines are known throughout the world and comprise a $100 million dollar a year business. Al knows how to balance a budget, provide health care for his workers, and pay his taxes.
Legislative experience:
Al worked to introduce Federal Wilderness legislation, efforts which were recognized by Mark Warner by appointing Al as the 5th District Trustee for the Virginia Land Conservation Trust Fund. Al has also drafted legislation in support of the Virginia wine industry.
Al Weed's principal platform issues include, a change of course in Iraq, national health insurance for all Americans, developing a biofuel industry in the 5th, bring broadband access to this rural area, and helping the 5th District to recapture some of the economic vitality it has lost through globalization by building on the opportunities ignored by Virgil Goode.
And, now that letter, edited a bit in the name of brevity.
40 Days to Go
September 27, 2006
Dear XXX,
Thank you so much for your on-going support of my campaign. It is because of friends like you that we have made it this far. As we begin the sprint down the final stretch to Election Day, I am ever more grateful for your support. With just 40 days left, it is increasingly important to marshal our resources for the important tasks of voter contact and turnout.
This Saturday, September 30th, we will again report our fundraising figures. Those numbers will be examined by political observers and pundits to determine the strength and momentum of my campaign. With that in mind, I ask you to go to Pull one for Weed! and make a contribution to help us demonstrate the strength and wide appeal of our campaign.
We are so close! With only 40 days to go, we have knocked on over 23,000 doors, made over 20,000 phone calls, raised over $400,000, and appeared in over 250 news articles all over the 5th district. We are far surpassing what we achieved in 2004 in every way.
Al made a run in the last cycle and garnered enough support to gain the imprinture of the State Party.
We are going further than any Democrat has in the 5th District. We have four field offices open around the district and we are devoted to personally contacting every voter we can. By Election Day, we will have raised more money and knocked on more doors than any Democrat to run in this district since Mr. Goode counted himself among our ranks.
Virgil was a Democrat, before he was an Independent, before he was a Republican... Always one step ahead of allowing competiton to mobilize, until Al Weed got smart enough to jump in early and actively.
We need to raise another $26,000 in the next four days in order to reach our fundraising goal for the quarter. Please help us get there by contributing.
I deleted a paragraph here detailing the plan for expenditures of contributions, yard signs, etc.
The letter is then signed by the candidate.
I know this is long but, the Virginia 5th has suffered a huge outflow of jobs in manufacturing and technology, a rampant corruption at the hands of Virgil Goode, and is ripe for a stealth seat victory.
Do what you can, please. Any amount will help. Remember to add that .01 cent to your contribution to give the netroots credit.