August 31, 2006

Trying To Nationalize The Battle For.. State Legislatures!?!?!

In a conference call 8/30 a.m., the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and ActBlue announced the formation of the State Activation Project. The new organization will make sophisticated online fundraising tools available to Dem state legislative candidates in certain states.

While state legislative candidates have been hindered by high costs, DLCC exec. dir. Michael Davies says a single umbrella organization provides candidates an economy of scale that will help make fundraising more affordable.

ActBlue Pres. Benjamin Rahn says candidates in state contests in CA, IN, IA, ME, MT, OR, PA, SD, TX, UT, VA, and WI will be able to raise money online by 9/4. Those states' campaign finance laws, says Rahn, are similar enough to fed laws that legal hurtles are smallest. NH and OH will soon be online as well.

The new organization has already received help from a number of groups, including the AFL-CIO, which is sponsoring the program in CA, PA and NH; the UT Dem party; Focus South Dakota, a group fighting SD's abortion ban; and the campaign of Rep. Ted Strickland (D-OH), who's sponsoring the program in his state.

IA Sen. Dem Leader Mike Gronstal said the program was the final step that could put his party in the majority in the chamber. He was joined by legislative leaders from OR, NH and PA, all of whom expressed hope that the program would put each of their caucuses in the majority.

Posted at 02:20 PM

Comments

Great, the Democrats are finally waking up to how to be a political party and win elections.
The state houses are the places where the remedies for the numerous Bush induced maladies will be invented and implemented.
The State Houses are also the training camp for future members of Congress, cabinet officials and even Presidential candidates.
By providing a nationalized vision for the future at the state level the Democrats are sowing the seed for the revival of American Democracy, in both its senses.

Robert Chapman
Lansing, NY

robert chapman | 08.31.06 06:28 PM

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