In just a little over a month on September 1, voters in this East Bay district will go to the polls to select their Democratic nominee which will replace Ellen Tauscher. I continue to become more impressed with Anthony Woods (CA-10), who has become a serious player in this race as we observe the rise his campaign.
Not only does he tell a compelling story, but he offers hope that we can do better in the type of people we send to Congress. We have a candidate for Congress that fought in the Iraqi War and lived for most of his life without health insurance.
Despite never having held elected office and facing others in the race with more experience, Woods has amassed some very impressive endorsements from Vote Vets and the Human Rights Campaign. While these have translated into campaign donations and publicity, I am asking other progressives to take a look at Woods and considering financial help.
How many members of Congress on either side of the aisle know what its like to live without health insurance?
Steve Singiser had this to say in his diary about Woods at this site yesterday
His unique biography has earned him some endorsements that political neophytes might have trouble garnering. He also has earned endorsements from VoteVets and The Human Rights Campaign/Victory Fund. Now, given that Woods is the only candidate in the field that is either gay or a veteran, their endorsements were not exactly shockers. An endorsement by a major organization, nevertheless, is a very real admission of campaign viability. These organizations, it must be said, do not endorse every candidate in every race who fulfills that baseline criteria of being among the group in question.
Like all candidates, perhaps, Woods senses that momentum and voter interest is on his side, pointing out a spirited town hall that he had held the night before in Fairfield, where health care, education, and jobs were at the top of the electorate's list of issues of concern. He also pointed out that the grand opening of his headquarters earlier in the month led to thousands of voter contacts via phone banks and precinct walks. "We are blowing up on Facebook," explained Woods, "We're blowing up on ActBlue. And that's the exciting thing. You try to harness that wave."
If Woods is able to harness that wave, given the likelihood of a suppressed turnout in a late summer special election, he could add a very unconventional twist to what promised to be a conventional Democratic primary.
Anthony Woods deserves to be in Congress. The voters of this district deserve him as do millions of other progressive voices in this country. I had the special opportunity to speak with Anthony back in May. I knew then that if he got the right attention that he could get some well-deserved national attention. He has and not a day goes by that I don't get a press release from the campaign or see another diary about this campaign. With national endorsements and appearances on Bill Maher, Woods is getting the needed publicity and attention. However, small dollars matter as we have seen time and time again.
However, with other well funded candidates in this race it is very important to continue to find a way to help Anthony. Join me and donate $10, $25, or whatever you can afford now to Anthony Woods as we help make history again. Click on the thermometer and give to Anthony now.
