Franken Looks Like A Winner In Minnesota

It’s nice to start the new year with some good news from Minnesota! The state Canvassing Board is expected to announce today that Al Franken has a 225-vote lead over Republican Norm Colman and was the winner of their November 4th contest. Colman held a slight lead after the initial tally, but Franken has steadily gained votes throughout a lengthy recount. The AP with reactions from Washington:

New York Sen. Charles Schumer, who until recently was the head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said Sunday that Franken had won the election.

“While there are still possible legal issues that will run their course, there is no longer any doubt who will be the next Senator from Minnesota,” Schumer said. “With the Senate set to begin meeting on Tuesday to address the important issues facing the nation, it is crucial that Minnesota’s seat not remain empty, and I hope this process will resolve itself as soon as possible.”

Sen. John Cornyn, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, called Schumer’s comments premature and troubling, since Schumer is the new chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, which has jurisdiction over contested elections.

“Senator Schumer will likely play a key role in determining who ultimately assumes this Senate seat,” Cornyn said. “Pre-judging the outcome while litigation is still pending calls into question his ability to impartially preside over this matter when it comes before the Committee, as it most certainly will.”

This is great news, but it looks like Senate Republicans may try to keep Franken from being seated for a while. With all of the controversy surrounding President-Elect Obama’s seat in Illinois, Democrats will likely start the new Congress short a few Senators.

More: Minnesota SOS Website

Rep Cleaver: For Obama, Job First

Former 21st Century Democrats' endorsed candidate Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-5) recently penned an opinion piece in which he discusses the pressures and pitfalls of being a groundbreaking elected official. From today's WaPo:

... Since Obama's historic Nov. 4 victory, there has been much discussion in the media suggesting that he faces a plate filled not only with issues related to the slumping economy and other urgent national challenges but also a hefty portion of the extravagant expectations of African Americans and other minority groups. Some, it seems, would rather put the new president into a pressure cooker instead of a melting pot.

I know something about what Obama faces. In 1991, I was elected Kansas City's first black mayor. I and more than 400 other African American mayors who served during the most diverse period in the political history of America's large cities experienced a similar, and understandable, unreasonableness from brothers and sisters who saw in our election an opportunity at last to get a slice of the American pie. Obama will fall short of fulfilling the considerable hopes and dreams of the minorities who supported him, just as we could not fulfill those of ours.

To be sure, he will do all he can. Just as the black mayors of the '90s appointed able blacks to positions that were previously beyond their reach, championed capital projects in often-ignored and ailing parts of their cities, and included minorities in municipal economic opportunities, President Obama will certainly be attentive to the unique needs of the nation's neglected. Clearly, the goal of the Obama administration will be to destroy, not supervise, any government impulse to favor one group of Americans over others. ...

Read Rep. Cleavers full piece here.

21st Century Democrats was privileged to have Congressman Cleaver speak at both our June Major League Action Training in Washington, DC and at our Kansas City Training in August.

Civic Engagement 2008

This post was written by 21st Century Fellow Ellen Austin

The Associated Press published an article entitled “Voter Turnout Rate Said to be Highest Since 1968” on December 15, 2008. The article reports that 61.8 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the 2008 election. The article also notes that turnout in Virginia, Indiana, and North Carolina, all of which President-elect Obama won despite Republican victories in recent presidential elections, increased substantially.

As a political science student, I am very excited about increasing levels of voter participation, and I am particularly excited about all of the new voters that were excited about the election and turned out to vote, and got involved throughout the campaign.

However, while I am excited by the historically high turnout rate, 38.2% of eligible voters did not turn out to vote. Voting is a right, but it is also a responsibility. Every eligible American has the responsibility to educate themselves about the issues that the country is facing and the positions advocated by the politicians for whom they are voting. Apathy is dangerous, and inexcusable in the face of eight years of disastrous Bush policies that have harmed our economy, health care and education systems, the environment, and our status in the international community.

The increasing turnout in 2008 demonstrates that we are going the right direction, although there is still room for improvement. There is certainly much to be excited about as we say goodbye to the failed policies of the Bush administration and move forward with the hope of creating effective policy solutions and increasing civic engagement among Americans.

The record turnout expected in Washington, D.C. for the inauguration demonstrates that there is a great deal more excitement about politics than there has been in a very long time. The historic nature of this election justifies this excitement. My hope, though, is that the excitement does not end when the crowds clear out and the tourists leave, and that all of those who were energized by this election continue to remain engaged and involved in politics.

Kilroy Win Caps Strong Democratic Year

21st Century Democrats’ endorsed candidate Mary Jo Kilroy defeated Republican Steve Stivers after a lengthy recount in Ohio’s 15th Congressional district. From the AP:

Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy came from behind Sunday to snatch a central Ohio seat from House Republicans after elections officials tallied provisional ballots.

Kilroy’s victory by a little more than 2,000 votes over Republican Steve Stivers put the 15th Congressional District seat into Democratic hands for the first time in 42 years after the retirement of Republican Deborah Pryce.

Franklin County officials released unofficial results Sunday that showed Kilroy with a margin of victory of 2,311 votes out of roughly 300,000 cast, enough to avoid an automatic recount.

Kilroy got 139,582 votes to Stivers’ 137,271, or 46 percent to 45 percent. Two minor candidates split the remaining 9 percent.

“I am very proud to serve our community as the next congresswoman from central Ohio,” Kilroy, a former Franklin County commissioner, said in a statement. “In Washington, I will work together with both Democrats, Republicans and president-elect Obama to tackle the real problems that our community faces.”

Stivers conceded the race to Kilroy shortly after the results were released.

This is a huge pick up for Democrats and further demonstrates the shift away from Republicans in southern and central Ohio. In 2006, 21st Century Democrats’ endorsed candidates went 4 for 4 in statewide races with Governor Ted Strickland, US Senator Sherrod Brown, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and State Treasurer Richard Cordray all winning their elections. This year, we were privileged to work with another strong slate of Ohio Democrats. In addition to Kilroy, Steve Driehaus (OH-1) and John Boccieri (OH-16) were elected to US Congress and Treasurer Cordray won his race for Attorney General.

Jim Martin’s Concession Speech

Kilroy Wins!

21st Century Democrats’ endorsed candidate Mary Jo Kilroy won a lengthy recount in Ohio’s 15th Congressional district and will be part of a strong class of new Democrats in the US Congress. Kilroy’s win caps a successful election cycle for Democrats, who will control the Executive Branch and both houses of Congress for the first time since the Republican landslide in 1994. 21st Century Democrats was privileged to be part of the effort to elect Barack Obama and progressive up and down the ticket. 47 of our endorsed candidates won their races, with only 24 failing to win both their primary and general election contest.

Read More About Kilroy’s Victory Here

Opinion: Effective Stimulus? Think Local, Mr. Obama

In an opinion piece for the Washington Post earlier this week Maryland State Senator Jim Rosapepe, Co-Chair of 21st Century Democrats’ Board of Directors, argues that a portion of the proposed stimulus package should be used to help state and local governments weather the economic downturn. From Sunday’s WaPo:

... As the economy deteriorates, more state budget cuts are in the works. Furloughs of state environmental inspectors, college librarians and state police officers, as well as reducing the number of teachers in our schools, are options already on the table.

But there is an answer—one that would protect schoolchildren in Beltsville and help get the world economy growing again. That is to focus a big part of the fiscal stimulus package being planned by President-elect Barack Obama on aid to state and local governments, putting a priority on schools, police, transportation and health care. State and local governments cannot print money or, in many cases, even borrow, now that credit markets are disrupted. They can close deficits created by recession only by cutting services or raising taxes. Either of these approaches will only make the recession worse.

In contrast, the federal government can and should borrow money to stimulate the economy. That’s how America got out of the Great Depression and how it has rebounded from most recessions since then. After President Bush’s $700 billion bailout for Wall Street, both the incoming president and congressional leaders are discussing an economic stimulus package that also could cost as much as $700 billion. The Republicans’ top budgeteer, U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg (N.H.), says, “It’s clearly got to be a big one.” But that doesn’t answer the question of what should be in it.

For the federal government to give hundreds of billions of dollars to banks to use the money to pay dividends and buy other banks is clearly inefficient as well as morally questionable. But for the federal government to plug the holes in state and local budgets so school crossing guards, teachers, police officers and nurses are not laid off may be the fastest, most efficient and most productive way to stimulate economy.

No new bureaucracies are needed. The money will go to working people who will spend it in their own communities to pay their bills and buy food, clothes and even cars. It will help more homeowners avoid foreclosure and help more renters buy foreclosed houses.

A stimulus package focused on state and local government will also pay big returns over time. For example, in the past five years, Maryland has invested $20 billion in schools throughout the state to hire teachers and raise standards. That investment has paid off. In the two counties I represent, Prince George’s and Anne Arundel, test scores are up 29 percent and 21 percent, respectively. Recession-induced budget cuts are putting those gains at risk. Federal aid to stop such cuts will keep the momentum going, both for the students in school in 2009 and for America’s competitive position in coming decades.
...

Click here to read the full article.

Jim Rosapepe is Co-Chair of 21st Century Democrats’ Board of Directors and
a member of the Maryland State Senate

Right-Wing Smear Machine: Down But Not Out

The results from yesterday’s run-off in Georgia demonstrate one thing – despite the great gains we made in November, we cannot let our guard down now.

Jim Martin ran a great campaign against a far-right conservative who has stooped to some pretty low tactics in his political career. In 2002, Chambliss ran ads against Democratic war hero Max Cleland comparing him to Osama bin Laden and questioning his commitment to national security. Sen. Cleland had already given three limbs in service to his country. Saxby Chambliss just spit on him.

And if anyone thinks Chambliss has turned over a new leaf, just look who he trotted out to campaign for him this week: Sarah Palin. In fact, Chambliss went so far as to call her “a rock star.” He’ll be sworn into the Senate next month, folks, so if you thought it was going to be smooth sailing from here on out, think again. The conservative smear machine may be down, but it’s nowhere near out.

At 21st Century Democrats, we’re not mourning Jim Martin’s loss. We’re taking it as a rallying cry. Every day that Saxby Chambliss sits in the U.S. Senate is another day we have to fight to protect the progressive values that have made our nation strong. That’s why we’re ramping up our Progressive Priorities campaign.

So far, the response has been fantastic. We’re already received over 1,500 signatures to the petition. We hope you can help us push that number over 2,000 by inauguration day on January 20th. Our Senators and Representatives need to know that we’re not going to sit back and take for granted everything we’ve worked so hard for over the past few years. We’re not going to allow another four or eight years of far-right Bush policy, and we’re not going to sit back and underestimate the right-wing while people like Sarah Palin and Saxby Chambliss are out there spreading hate and threatening progress in our country.

If you haven’t already signed the Progressive Priorities petition, I hope you will do so now. If you’ve already signed it, please send it to your friends. There are more progressives in this country than right-wing conservatives. But if we don’t speak up, nobody will hear us.

Georgia Runoff Results

US Senate Runoff – Georgia

Candidate	Votes	Percent
Saxby Chambliss	1,220,856	57.4%
Jim Martin	905,637	42.6%

97% of precincts reporting

Another Election Day

You might call it a “second bite at the apple.” Today we have one more chance to take down GOP Senator Saxby Chambliss. I must confess that revenge is an important element driving so many Georgians to work tirelessly trying to right the wrong perpetrated against our beloved Max Cleland 6 years ago. I won’t repeat the details of Saxby’s ad campaign called “reprehensible” then by his current supporter John McCain.

While Sarah Palin barnstormed the state yesterday for Chambliss, our candidate Jim Martin campaigned with Civil Rights legend, Congressman John Lewis. At a late afternoon rally at the state Capitol, Atlanta- based rappers Ludacris, Young Jeezy and T.I. were the draw for hundreds of young people. Personally, favorite celebrity of the day was former Miss Alaska Maryline Blackburn. She had the pleasure of edging out perky young Sarah Palin in the contest years ago.

As Jim Martin told the shivering crowd (there were actual snow flurried in GA yesterday!), he’s not going to be “landslide Jim.” This race should be determined by a razor-thin margin. Once again making me proud of the way he conducts himself, Martin joined in on the 10 pm statewide field call last night to thank those hundreds of field organizers for their work which gives Jim great hopes for victory today.

Our little band of organizers again contributed a strong effort in the last Monday of this extended campaign season. Renee Hickman continued to burn up the phone lines, and my buddy Shannon Marietta showed her usual ingenuity. Tired of the hold music on the predictive dialer that she was using to make outreach calls to volunteers, she talked her mother and two friends into making those calls for her. She then went back to calling voters the old fashioned way.

Gary Harrell, who represented us well in Florida in the closing days of the November election, jumped in to help here in his home state. Yes, you knew I’d find another Roman to join the fray. After helping our local volunteers complete the targeted calls to Rome voters, Gary jumped into the volunteer recruitment effort. Today, it will be all GOTV calls to voters all the time using that awesome predictive dialer.

Not satisfied with making calls from SC using the easy web tool (my.barackobama.com/call4martin), Harold Geddings insisted on coming in to Georgia for the last two days. Harold and I became acquainted in snowy Iowa last year where we worked on Governor Richardson’s presidential campaign. Since then, Harold jumped into the fray for 21st Century Democrats in New Mexico. We put him on the ground in northern NM in the Primary campaign for Ben Ray Lujan, and then Harry Teague picked him up to work on his field staff for the General Election. Harold is eager to add a new US Senator to his list of federal wins in 2008. How eager you ask? Well, he knocked on 300 doors yesterday and made 200 phone calls!


Gotta get out the door to cast my ballot for Jim Martin and Jim Powell! This one’s for you – Max!!

Wendy Davis is 21st Century Democrats' National Field and Training Director

Georgia - Only the Strong Will Survive

Run-Off campaigns are a battle of wills. From what I’ve seen so far, our side seems to have the strength and the passion to continue this uphill battle in Georgia’s US Senate race.

As you’ve probably heard, more than 100 field organizers who worked around the country for the presidential campaign and other top tier races have staying in Georgia and/or volunteered to travel here to campaign for Jim Martin and Jim Powell (Georgia Public Service Commission). These campaign veterans are joined by thousands of Georgians who are committed to finishing this mission. Also, the tool that allows out-of-state callers to dial into Georgia has been used by our organization and other like-minded groups across America.

In addition to our out-of-state callers, we’ve got four, fresh-off-the-trail, field organizers volunteering with me here in Georgia. Before I got home to Georgia, I worked on recruiting volunteers nationally. After a brief visit with my mother for Thanksgiving, I hit the ground trying to find the way I could use my extensive contacts in the state to best help the effort. After conversations with state Party leaders and the Martin field team, I took an assignment doing outreach to county Party chairs.

There are an amazing 159 counties in the state, and the Democratic Party of Georgia (DPG) has an organization in all but 17. The DPG set up a special pool of targeted voters for the county committees to contact and notified the chairs via email. My current task is to reach out to each chair, assess their progress on this task and assist them as needed. Sounds simple until you think about the wide variety of experiences across the state – some chairs are very tech savvy, while others don’t even have an email address. So far I’ve been able to confirm that 13 counties have completed the task or are now working on it. Another 35 counties will require our support to make the calls. I hope that we can also have an impact in 28 of the smallest counties, but I’ll need to expand my volunteer recruitment. The five biggest counties have been actively engaged with the Martin field crew and are in great shape.

Luckily, there is a Martin field office around the corner from my Mom’s house in Roswell. The field staff have made me feel right at home in the office. It probably didn’t hurt that I brought a table for the office and two cell phones for their volunteers to use. For some reason they were a little shocked when I offered to help label the door hangers when it was too late to make more calls. Their energy is contagious!

Shannon Marietta (one of our June trainees and field director for Congressman Tim Bishop’s successful re-election in Long Island) started making calls into a key county for us, but I had to interrupt that project when a new task presented itself. The DPG called me with an urgent request for help with volunteer recruitment calls. Shannon threw herself into the task and contacted 300 volunteers who had signed up to help.

Renee Hickman worked for me in 2004, and I was happy to recommend her to Andre Carson’s Special Election campaign for Congress this spring in Indiana. Since then she’s been managing stage legislative races in Iowa. She’s working with the field crew in Gwinnett County and making calls for us. I think she was happy to stop knocking doors in the rain and start making calls across the state. She was impressed with Jim Martin when she attended his rally today. I reminded her that Jim was a progressive long before being progressive was cool!

Working in the north Fulton office, I get to hear one side of lots of volunteer calls. Wish I had a dollar for every time someone mentioned that the voter said they had been called multiple times today. I was thrilled to talk with Renee tonight and hear that the calls I had her making in the rural part of the state were a bit different. She encountered many people who weren’t aware there was a Run-Off, and the Martin supporters she talked to were thrilled that someone had bothered to call their little county.

I must confess that my home phone did get hit three times today with recorded calls from President Clinton, former Senator Max Cleland and First Lady-elect Michelle Obama. My mom fussed at me for not giving her the phone last night when she got her robocall from Max. I saved my calls from today, and I’ll have to play them for her in the AM.

I’ve got volunteers covering the calls to Rome. Tomorrow Harold Geddings arrives in Augusta for us, and Gary Harrell will start burning up the phones. I’ll tell you more about them tomorrow. I’ll also start making calls to voters tomorrow and figure out my Election Day assignment.

Wendy Davis is 21st Century Democrats' National Field & Training Director

New Martin Ad: "Answered"

21st Century Dems in Action: Mark Ritchie

Jay Walljasper has a great piece about the man in the middle of the Norm Colman vs. Al Fraken recount, Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie:

Each day Ritchie faces phalanxes of lawyers and recount observers from both sides as he tries to ensure the election results are accurate, fair and above partisan reproach. To that end, he appointed judges with ties to Republicans and the state’s Independence Party (but none with apparent Democratic ties) to join him on the board that will oversee the recount’ final results. Minnesota Governor Pawlenty, a Republican, has stated his public support for Ritchie and for the process despite complaints from the right-wing of his party.

21st Century Democrats was privileged to be part of the effort to elect Secretary Ritchie in 2006 as one of our endorsed candidates. We are proud of his success in encouraging voter participation (Minnesota ranked 1st in the nation this year) and his commitment to running fair and transparent elections even in the most politically charged circumstances.
Click here to read the complete article

New Martin Ad: "Go To Work"

Help Jim Go To Work In Washington

New Poll and a New Low in Georgia

Jim Martin is hanging tough with Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss. The pair are set for a December 2nd rematch after neither man took a majority of the vote on election day. Research 2000 just released a poll commissioned by DailyKos showing Chambliss winning just 51% of the vote:

Saxby Chambliss (GOP): 51
Jim Martin (Dem): 45

Chambliss is clearly worried, and has returned to the same sleazy Karl Rove style tactics he used against Vietnam War hero Sen. Max Cleland in 2002. The Republican recently released a despicable television ad distorting Martin’s record by telling Georgians, “You need to know, one public leader failed to look out for Georgia families: Jim Martin. First he actually helped block stiffer penalties for drunk drivers. And then, Martin voted against tougher sentences for domestic abuse.”

Thankfully, the Martin team is fighting back with this powerful and personal new TV spot: