I promise, this is the last time I'll ask for money.
When I joined DU eight and a half years ago, I didn't know enough to create a user name; I soon found that I'd have to be careful about what I posted and settled into a lurker's role, mostly responding to other posts and railing about Hannity and other toxins in our society. But I always considered DU as my main source of news and analysis, keeping it as the top bookmark at home and at work, on all devices. I went through the loss of Andy, Kephera and others, the elections of '04 and '08, the rollout of DU3, and all the events that have shaped this community.
When I decided to run for State Representative, the first thing I did was make a post about it here. Immediately I got some kudos, a caution from Omaha Steve about RW attacks, and indeed a few jerks at Conservative Cave who tried to initiate dirty tricks. For a few days I was worried that posting anything here about my campaign would give my opponent ammunition against me. I even thought that my membership in something called "Democratic Underground" might be incompatible with actual public service. This was balanced, though, with the idea that the huge membership of DU could help jumpstart my fundraising efforts, like a Friends and Family list. I set up a specific DU link in Act Blue, and mentioned it here. I raised only about $75 this way, and realized I'd have to have a proper website to make the online connection.
Meanwhile, I traveled around the state to meet with many elected Dem representatives who were impressed with me as a candidate but didn't see how I could knock off the Republican leader of the State House. The general consensus was that I should run hard this time, take my licks and come back next cycle to have a better chance. Well, one part of the brain will allow this thought to exist, but the other part of the brain is in this fight to win it.
And that's the thinking I'm sharing with you now. Since July I have knocked on 5,000 doors. There are 600 of my lawn signs out in this district. We have run two radio ads and a television ad, although we're off the air right now because we're out of money.
There are about 12,000 Republican registrations in this district, and about 11,000 Democrats. (My opponent has peeled off Democrats in the past simply because no candidate has run against him like we have, and he's had name recognition.) Here's the key: There are almost TEN THOUSAND non-affiliated and independent voters, and the ones I've personally met at the door vote for me by about 70%. We have the numbers to win this, and I have 15 to 20 canvassers going out for me this weekend to wrap this up, as well as delivering for President Obama and Peter DeFazio.
My opponent is so busy with his largesse to other Repubs around the state that he's not even checking my media buys (he has not done a TV ad himself.) We are poised to win this election, but we're out of money and have debts to pay. And this is what I'm posting about, dear friends of DU - I'm asking you one more time to go to my website and contribute. A few DUers have done this, but only a very few. If you can do $25 or even ten bucks, we can push through and win. A Comcast cable spot in this market runs from $20 to $50, depending on the show. Consider paying for one TV spot.
As I promised above, this is the last time I'll ask you for money. If there are other DUers running for office, support them as well; but please support me in these final days. Keep this post kicked if you will, because I'm out today to knock on 100 doors.
Thanks for everything.
http://www.rongreen.org
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I sent you $25.00. Thanks for running!
