No I’m not talking about THAT kind of contribution. I’m talking about how important it is that each and every one of us digs down deep RIGHT NOW to contribute to Democratic candidates nationwide.
One of the most heartening trends in American politics over the past several years has been the tsunami of small donor contributions to candidates and campaigns, due in no small part to the work of ActBlue
(You may have other choices, but ActBlue is easy to join and set up an account...you can set up recurring contributions, and easily find lots of your favorite candidates. ActBlue has been THE leading national resources in compiling and distributing small donations that differentiate Democrats from Republicans who continue to rely on often mysterious big ticket donors.)
During the past year, Donald Trump often made fun of Democratic fund raising totals for the many contenders for the Presidency, but in so doing, overlooked the fact that when all of those Democratic donations were pooled together, they swamped Trump collections. Now, Democrats can focus their giving on Biden and on their candidates nationwide.
The dominance of Democrats in fund raising this current cycle has been noted by many with large numbers of Democratic candidates up and down the ticket out-raising their Republican opponents. And with more and more signs that Donnie’s toxic Tweets and mis-handling of the pandemic are driving voters away from his brand, the battlefield this fall is tending more and more towards Dems, and forcing Trump and his big donor backers to spend money they didn’t expect to spend in places they never expected to have to spend it.
Pressure is mounting on Biden and his campaign to “go big” and contest in more and more states...not just to win, but to sweep away Republicans who have largely stood with Donnie, often in cynical silence.
So now, here, on July 14th, with the virus soaring and the election a little over 3 ½ months away, I call on every Kossack who has been donating money to candidates or who has been thinking about doing so, or has said, I am going to spread my contributions over that time period to recognize this important fact:
A tsunami of contributions NOW to your favorite candidates, but especially to candidates in tight races can have a major impact this fall:
First, a surge in small donations — more than you have been giving, to more candidates than you have supported before — helps our candidates in the drive to out-raise their opponents.
Second, a whomping big monthly total now helps discourage supporters of opponents.
And third, it stokes the budgets of our candidates NOW so they can plan, with certainty, their advertising and their investment in staff and messaging post-Labor Day.
Contributions between now and Labor Day are critical to our success.
If you are able, think about not just the Presidency, but all down the ticket-
Close House races
State Legislative seats and governorships (especially important because control of legislatures this year is control of critical redistricting and eliminating GOP-supported gerrymandering.)
Even mayors and councilmen and commissioners.
But perhaps most critical of all this fall will be the battle for the US Senate. It is stating the obvious, but a Democratic win in the White House and House but a loss in the Senate will assure four years of McConnell and his minions monkey-wrenching any attempt to dig out of the mountain of terrible being created by Trump.
Here is a list of key Senate races that you should consider in your contributions:
Maine: Sara Gideon — time to say goodby to Susan Collins
Colorado: John Hickenlooper and no more Cory Gardner
Montana: Steve Bullock has an excellent chance if he gets the support he needs to beat Steve Daines
South Carolina: Jamie Harrison….it’s getting closer and a Graham loss would be oh so sweet
Arizona: Mark Kelly and goodby Martha McSally
North Carolina: Cal Cunningham and no more Thom Tillis
Michigan: Gary Peters….this could be a close one so give him some love now
Iowa: Theresa Greenfield vs. Motorcycle Momma Jody Ernst….Theresa needs visibility.
Georgia: Raphael Warnock vs. the odious stock dumper Ms. Kelly Loeffler.
Alabama: Yes I am going to throw in Alabama and donations to Doug Jones who keeps getting written off as a lost cause, but trend lines nationwide are shifting to Dems and with enough support and a tsunami, Jones just might pull off a major upset. Republicans are split. Stranger things have happened.
If you have been thinking about donating this month or between now and election day, take the leap NOW and give as much as you can to as many as you can as quickly as you can. Focus on tight races.
If you have to space it out, try and give all you can by Labor Day. The later after that date you give, the less effective your donations will be.
Do it until it hurts…..and then holler OUCH and give some more.
We have a chance to really make a change. If Democrats take control this fall and with big margins in House and Senate, we will have about 18 months before the mid-terms to make at least a start on the huge changes that are needed to save our democracy.
GIVE NOW!!!