Lone Democratic Candidate getting NO SUPPORT from the Democratic Pary

[funkybutt]

5th District, Louisiana

Y'all remember the last minute party switcher Rodney Alexander! Well ONE democrat HAD qualified previously to run in this race for congress. Her name is Zelma "Tisa" Blakes from Monroe. www.blakesforcongress.com

Due to the attention Alexander's switch had received many people are rallying around Mrs. Blakes. But not the Democratic Party. It seems they've failed (once again) to see an opportunity here. I'd like to start a letter and email campaign to encourage the state and national party to support her. Who should we contact about this?

[reprehensor]

1. Have you tried to get her listed on the 'Dean Dozen'?

[funkybutt]

3. I'm not familiar with that so, no

[fudge stripe cookays]

6. Here ya go, funky.

No candidates selected yet for Louisiana...go for it!

This is how Howard Dean is helping out the party right now. Throwing his major grass roots support behind selected candidates. He gets all of us Deaniacs to throw time, money, and support behind people in major races that they deem winnable.

http://www.democracyforamerica.com/candidates/states.php?state=Louisiana

[funkybutt]

7. WoW! what a great idea! Thanks!! (n/t)

[madfloridian]

9. Post it at the Blog for America as well.

www.blogforamerica.com

The org pays attention to the comments at the blog. Sign up is easy, and many people there respond by giving small amounts right away. Then when a new article is started, post it to the comments there, ask someone to do it.

Just check the comments section.

[WI_DEM]

2. Well if they aren't backing her

who are they backing? or do they think she is not "ready for prime time". I agree she is the only democrat on the ballot and the party should be giving her support.

[69KV]

4. Tisa Blakes rocks!

I think the reason the Democratic party isn't getting behind her is LA-5 is a strongly Repub district, and priority is being given to races that the national party sees as potential pickups. There are tons of others facing the same problem: Jim Harrell in NC-5, Jack Davis in NY-26, Stu Starky in AZ (US Senate)...

That's a shame.

With all the anger over Alexander switching parties, there is a huge potential for online fundraising for Tisa Blakes, and drumming up national support for her campaign. Daily Kos might be a good place to start, that is how Jeff Seemann in Ohio got on the map even though the national party at first wrote off his district in Ohio as a lost cause.

I don't believe that *any* district is a lost cause.

While I understand that the national and state parties have limited resources, that is where the online community and all the new liberal activist groups come in to fill the gap. I would think especially, with the party switching traitor Alexander having shown his true colors, that we have a big opening to make sure LA-5 is a hotly contested race.

[funkybutt]

5. I'm unable to post on the Daily Kos

Maybe i'm just missing something but I registered and I'm not able to see a link or anything for posting. Any clue how this is done?

Thanks in advance

I've tried to encourage DUers to contribute via the webpage ---> www.blakesforcongress.com There was significant interest BEFORE her website was launched, but now, nobody seems to be interested in contributing. I had hoped that the DU would rally behind her. Oh wel.

[69KV]

8. Posting on Kos

On Daily Kos only kos and a few others can post on the main page. What you can do is post to a diary. Everybody who is registered gets their own diary. Click on "new diary entry" to make a post. You can also post comments to articles on the main page. Kos sometimes asks for recommendations for candidates to add to the Daily Kos 8, and there have also been posts on Rodney Alexander's party switching that would be good places to promote the Tisa Blakes campaign.

BTW some of us *are* donating to Blakes. Knowing that the DCCC, DSCC, and state party orgs will be funneling money into the closer races, I tend to make my donations to longshot candidates. Trying to do my part to help make sure the Democrat in *every* race has a shot at winning. So far I have sent donations to Democratic candidates in Florida, Ohio, Arizona, and New York who are considered longshots, and Tisa Blakes will be getting my next donation.

In fact, how about a challenge to fellow DUers (and Daily Kosers, and maybe elsewhere) to see if we can show our disgust for Rodney Alexander by raising $10,000 in donations for Tisa Blakes over the next week? On Kos I think they add 3 cents to the donation to show that it came from the online activist community - so for example donate $50.03 instead of $50.

[fudge stripe cookays]

10. Yep, and

the Deaniacs add .44 cents.

It was initially to say that Howard Dean was going to be the 44th president, now it shows that it's coming from a Democracy for America supporter.