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September 28, 2007
End-of-Quarter Donations (And A Recommendation)
I always mean to exhort you guys to donate money early in the cycle to good, if longshot, candidates. Money donated early has a multiplier effect; candidates, slightly tautologically, have to demonstrate fundraising prowess in order to convince donors that they're worth giving money to. So early donations spur later donations. It's the theory behind EMILY's list (Early Money Is Like Yeast -- it helps raise the dough), and it's quite correct. Plus, since this site is moving over to the American Prospect, I really won't be able to push you to donate to candidates any more.
So: Since the quarter ends on September 30th, which is this weekend, here's my pitch: Donate to Dan Grant. I've met Grant a couple of times now and have come away continually impressed. His background is in the foreign service, and he's spent time reconstructing civil society in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. It's a background which would not only be good for his votes, but good for the Democratic Caucus, which desperately needs credible foreign policy voices whose personal expertise will enable them to stiffen spines in Congress and convince their colleagues that all national defense thinking needn't be outsourced to DC's permanent foreign policy establishment.
Grant's race, in an oddly gerrymandered district that includes Austin, Texas, is a longshot, but a winnable one. And Grant's a more interesting -- and useful -- candidate than most. If his race picks up buzz, it will focus national attention on a credible Democrat just back from Iraq whose able to loudly argue that Republicans have been deeply incompetent in conducting American foreign policy. So if you're looking for a race to pump some early cash into, Grant's a good choice.
September 28, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
"Donate to Dan Grant."
Damn, too late! I already donated to his brother, Glenn Grant!
:D
Posted by: Gray | Sep 28, 2007 3:02:49 PM
"Early Money Is Like Yeast -- it makes candidates row"? That sounds extraordinarily wrong, unless we we want our candidates to be scullers.
Anyway, Dan Grant is a fantastic candidate. I live in Austin the congressional district in question, so I'll be volunteering next year. More support for Dan!
Posted by: Sean | Sep 28, 2007 3:10:36 PM
According to The West Wing, Early Money Is Like Yeast in that it "helps raise the dough."
Posted by: tps12 | Sep 28, 2007 3:21:30 PM
Right - -that was it! Edited.
Posted by: Ezra | Sep 28, 2007 3:24:27 PM
We're moving to the American Prospect? Details!
Posted by: Phil | Sep 28, 2007 3:50:07 PM
You gotta do that thing were you get credit for bundling. It makes you look cool.
Posted by: Chris | Sep 28, 2007 4:26:12 PM
Since we are talking end-of-quarter donations, I'll make a microscopically brief pitch for sending dough to Edwards based on the fact that with public financing, the feds will match your donation to him up to $250, doubling your voice.
Posted by: Petey | Sep 28, 2007 4:59:12 PM
"Right - -that was it! Edited."
Huh. I'm curious what you had in there originally.
Posted by: Petey | Sep 28, 2007 5:00:45 PM
Please send your donations where they will be most beneficial, to the Iranian Red Crescent or other Iranian relief agencies that are we may still legally contribute to.
Posted by: LarryM | Sep 28, 2007 5:09:32 PM
Sweet, that's my district. Last election we had Ted Ankrum, who was also an incredibly well-qualified candidate to go against the guy whose only claim to fame is marrying into the Clear Channel fortune. McCaul is the ultimate Republican stooge. I don't know if he's shown any leadership on any issue.
Grant needs all the help he can get. Our district contains the very conservative northwest Houston area as well as a ton of rural Texas chock full of Republican voters. Ankrum ran essentially as an independent, was well qualified as a former top adminstrator at NASA, Ambassador, and veteran with 4 tours in Vietnam in an election tilted heavily towards Democrats, and still got only 40% of the vote.
Splitting Austin into 3 small pieces outweighed by conservative pieces elsewhere in their respective districts was exactly Delay's intent when he gerrymandered in 2002, and it worked. Austin's only liberal congressman is Lloyd Doggett, so at least the one we do have is one of the best.
Posted by: spike | Sep 28, 2007 5:19:16 PM
People who are interested in this sort of thing might also want to check out Jay Buckey, in New Hampshire. Republican incumbent John Sununu is very vulnerable, and the current presumed frontrunner in the Democratic primary is former NH Governor Jeanne Shaheen. But Shaheen is painfully status-quo -- she supported the Iraq war, she wanted to solve NH's school funding problem through video gambling at state racetracks, etc. It's clear that her candidacy is based chiefly on her Democratic Party insider status.
I know Jay Buckey personally, so I admit I'm somewhat biased, but he's a great guy, astonishingly charismatic; he's a doctor, a former astronaut, and a major plank of his campaign is solving the energy/global warming crisis. But don't take my word for it -- his website is http://www.buckey08.com/
Buckey is the better candidate, but as the current underdog he needs support (financial and publicity-wise) if he's going to surpass the Shaheen juggernaut.
Posted by: Galen | Sep 28, 2007 5:31:13 PM
You've been assimilated? I think that merits a post to your loyal fanbase.
Posted by: SDM | Sep 28, 2007 5:34:26 PM
