Call To Action: Use It Or Lose It
In the 2006 elections, Democrats have put far more Republican-held seats in play--upwards of 60--than nearly anyone previously imagined possible. This incredible number of competitive districts is a testament to all of the work Democrats have done over the past two years expanding our reach beyond a narrowly targeted range of districts and voters. However, since our fundraising has not increased at the same rate as our ability to put districts into play, the situation also presents us with a problem. Simply put, Democratic Party committees, and Democrats in some surprisingly competitive races, do not have the cash to fully fund 60 challenges to Republican-held districts at this time. For example, Larry Kissell in NC-08 has less than $90 cash on hand, and both the DCCC and the DNC are about to take out loans of ten million dollars.
However, while Democratic Party committees and Democratic challengers do not have the funds to fully target 60 Republican-held House districts, House Democrats as a whole do in fact have that money. According to the latest FEC reports, 69 Democratic House incumbents, each with more than $200,000 in their campaign accounts, are either facing no opposition for re-election, or are facing token Republican opposition that has failed to raise more than $10,000. Combined, these 69 incumbents have roughly $50,000,000 in their campaign bank accounts. If each of these 69 incumbents were to give 30% of their campaign funds either directly to competitive Democratic challengers and / or to the DCCC, that would make $15,000,000. Then, we would indeed have the money to fully target 60 Republican-held seats. This money is out there, and we are not using it. With so many campaigns in need of more money, it will be a tragedy if we do not use it now. This isn't about paying dues--this is about taking advantage of an exceptional opportunity that we may not have again for two decades.
Today, I am asking you to call the unopposed, or barely opposed, Democratic Representatives in your home state with more than $200,000 in their campaign bank accounts and ask them to donate 30% of that cash directly to Democratic House challengers and / or to party committees. Along with the help of several outstanding volunteers, I have put together a webpage that details the 69 Democratic House incumbents who we need to target. It tells you who these Democrats are, what districts they represent, and how much money they have in their campaign accounts. It also provides you with phone numbers to contact their campaign offices. If no one is answering there, it provides you with backup phone numbers for their Washington D.C. offices. If no one is there as well, one of those two numbers should provide you with a district office number to call.
Use this webpage to call each of the representatives in your state that appear on this list, and ask them to use 30% of their campaign funds in order to take advantage of this remarkable political landscape. You can see the list here:
Use It Or Lose It
When you call, make sure you are polite. You can also expect to receive pushback when you call, because many of these Democrats has already given to both the DCCC and / or directly to Democratic challengers. However, make it clear that because we have put so many seats in play, we all need to give far more than usual. This is a conservative ask, only 30%, and it will be used to fund a once in a generation opportunity. Thirty percent of more than $200,000 won't cripple anyone. Some have already given much more. It won't make anyone more vulnerable in 2008. It won't require anyone to lay off staff. It won't present serious obstacles for the Representative if s/he runs for higher office. It will, however, allow us to fully fund competitive challenges in districts where we may not be competitive again for years. We need to use this money, or lose this opportunity.
Please, make these phone calls to Representatives in your state. Urge your unchallenged Democratic Representatives to use their campaign money to fund our competitive districts by giving to Democratic challengers and Democratic committees. We have the money to compete far and wide--we need to use it now.
In the comments, let us know what the office says when you call. Please tell the office that if the campaign pledges the 30% goal or higher, we will publicly five them credit.
Update: This is really working. I have heard from sources that the entireNew Jersey and Massachusetts delegation are calling in to pledge more money. Barney Frank is giving another $253K of his $800K, or just over 30%. I have also received word that this new money will go to the further out races beyond the top twenty-five. People are getting the message, and it is much more effective coming from the grassroots, which normally doesn't ask for this sort of thing, than it would be if only other people in the leadership were asking. This is really working, and it is only going to get bigger. Keep the calls going!
Update 2: My mistake on the New Jersey delegation. But keep calling them anyway.
However, while Democratic Party committees and Democratic challengers do not have the funds to fully target 60 Republican-held House districts, House Democrats as a whole do in fact have that money. According to the latest FEC reports, 69 Democratic House incumbents, each with more than $200,000 in their campaign accounts, are either facing no opposition for re-election, or are facing token Republican opposition that has failed to raise more than $10,000. Combined, these 69 incumbents have roughly $50,000,000 in their campaign bank accounts. If each of these 69 incumbents were to give 30% of their campaign funds either directly to competitive Democratic challengers and / or to the DCCC, that would make $15,000,000. Then, we would indeed have the money to fully target 60 Republican-held seats. This money is out there, and we are not using it. With so many campaigns in need of more money, it will be a tragedy if we do not use it now. This isn't about paying dues--this is about taking advantage of an exceptional opportunity that we may not have again for two decades.
Today, I am asking you to call the unopposed, or barely opposed, Democratic Representatives in your home state with more than $200,000 in their campaign bank accounts and ask them to donate 30% of that cash directly to Democratic House challengers and / or to party committees. Along with the help of several outstanding volunteers, I have put together a webpage that details the 69 Democratic House incumbents who we need to target. It tells you who these Democrats are, what districts they represent, and how much money they have in their campaign accounts. It also provides you with phone numbers to contact their campaign offices. If no one is answering there, it provides you with backup phone numbers for their Washington D.C. offices. If no one is there as well, one of those two numbers should provide you with a district office number to call.
Use this webpage to call each of the representatives in your state that appear on this list, and ask them to use 30% of their campaign funds in order to take advantage of this remarkable political landscape. You can see the list here:
Use It Or Lose It
When you call, make sure you are polite. You can also expect to receive pushback when you call, because many of these Democrats has already given to both the DCCC and / or directly to Democratic challengers. However, make it clear that because we have put so many seats in play, we all need to give far more than usual. This is a conservative ask, only 30%, and it will be used to fund a once in a generation opportunity. Thirty percent of more than $200,000 won't cripple anyone. Some have already given much more. It won't make anyone more vulnerable in 2008. It won't require anyone to lay off staff. It won't present serious obstacles for the Representative if s/he runs for higher office. It will, however, allow us to fully fund competitive challenges in districts where we may not be competitive again for years. We need to use this money, or lose this opportunity.
Please, make these phone calls to Representatives in your state. Urge your unchallenged Democratic Representatives to use their campaign money to fund our competitive districts by giving to Democratic challengers and Democratic committees. We have the money to compete far and wide--we need to use it now.
In the comments, let us know what the office says when you call. Please tell the office that if the campaign pledges the 30% goal or higher, we will publicly five them credit.
Update: This is really working. I have heard from sources that the entire
Update 2: My mistake on the New Jersey delegation. But keep calling them anyway.
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