Progressive Democrat Issue 77: WINNING THE WEST: Revised version

Last week I wrote a three-state strategy for winning in the West in November. The three states were Nevada (Gov, Senate and House), Montana (Critical Senate) and New Mexico (two House Seats). I am still hoping more people make even just small donations to win some of the races I list for these states because we will be really happen in November that we did. But, I have had to add more thanks to some nagging. Two people on Daily Kos convinced me that I left out two important states, Arizona and Colorado, and I realized I left out yet another group that ties them all together. So please join me in a five state frontier strategy that could win us some big gains in 2006.

I want to focus on the Western States. Remember in 2004 the wonderful and unexpected win in Montana on a state level. This was a sign that the Democrats COULD deliver a message that would work in the Western States. Analyzing who is targeting what, where corruption is rife and where there are some really promising Democratic candidates, I want to introduce you to three Act Blue sites I have designed to help us win big in the Western States this year. With your help we can really route the Republicans in three carefully selected states.

Let me begin with an Act Blue site I have already introduced and which has already collected $245: my Blue Nevada site. I think Nevada is our key state this year because it has EVERYTHING: Governorship, Senate (Jimmy Carter's son) AND House seats. Nevada is considered one of the Purple States, very finely balanced between red and blue. I think this year is the year to turn it solid blue. First off, we have Jack Carter, son of Nobel Laureate and former President Jimmy Carter. Jack Carter is a great candidate with integrity and a real populist message that is going to work in the West. If we want to retake the Senate, I think this race is a must win. There are also two House races in Nevada and here is where I think we have a shot, albeit a long shot, at Sweeping Nevada. One of these House races, NV-3, is a genuinely close race, one of the 10 House seats the Republicans most fear losing. If we can win BOTH the Nevada Senate AND NV-3, we will have gone a long way to turning Nevada solid blue. But there is one more race worth considering: NV-2. This is not seen as a close race, BUT...it is an open seat this year and we all know that open seats are opportunities NOT TO BE MISSED. A concerted web-based effort to help out NV-Sen, NV-2 and NV-3 could just push the whole state into our camp. Hence, my Blue Nevada site. Please help take Nevada.

Next I want to introduce two new Act Blue sites I have made. Both are virgins so YOU could be the first to contribute.

First there is my Blue Montana site which gives us an opportunity not only to follow up on the wonderful victories in Montana in 2004, but to actually Sweep Montana. First off there is the Montana Senate race. This is one of the most important Senate races in 2006 because the seat is currently held by one of the most corrupt Republicans in the Senate. For this reason, Montana is listed by BBC news as one of the states to watch this year. Two great Democrats are fighting it out as to which has the honor of taking down Conrad Burns for his disgusting corruption. Both Democratic candidates are out-polling Burns, showing that Montana is sick of Republican corruption. We can win this seat and, like the NV Senate race, this is a must-win if we want to recapture the Senate. But there is also a House race to be won in Montana. This is more of a long shot than the Senate race, but BOTH are state-wide races and so will be determined by the same voters. A competative Senate race can make this House race competative...and if we can help the Democrat in the House race, it will also help our candidate beat Conrad Burns. Please donate to my Blue Montana site and help complete the victory that we started in Montana in 2004.

Finally I want to introduce my Blue New Mexico Act Blue Site. New Mexico is another one of those very Purple states balanced between red and blue. And it is one that we can turn solid blue with a little effort. First there is the NM-1 House race. The Republican incumbent, Heather Wilson has taken more money from Exxon/Mobil's PAC than any other New Mexico politician - $5,000 already in this cycle, and $27,000 since 2000. She took $4,000 from Halliburton's PAC in the 2004 cycle. She is the EPITOME of what I call a corrupt Halliburton Republican. The Democratic opponant is two-term state Attorney General Patricia Madrid. An extraordinarily well-qualified candidate, Madrid seems poised to be a leading Democrat from the West. This race is another must win this election cycle. NM-2 is not as hot a race as NM-1, but it is worth fighting hard for because if we win both we Sweep NM, and even if we merely come close, this kind of bold move can help turn New Mexico solid Blue by 2008. So please check out my Blue New Mexico and help at least NM-1 if not also NM-2.

Now I want to introduce the two sites I was pestered into creating...and which I DESERVED to be pestered into.

First there's Colorado, another very rich state for pickups. Not only do we have a good shot at picking up the Governorship, but there are TWO of the most cirtical House races PLUS one of the Katrina 11 Republicans to target. So, with apologies for leaving it out last time, let me introduce my Colorado Blue site. I should note the guy who pestered me into making this STILL wasn’t satisfied, but for now this will have to do.

Finally, there is Arizona. Here there is a long-shot Senate race, two very hot House races and yet another one of the Katrina 11 Republicans to target. Yet another rich pick up chance. So please help out with Blue Arizona.

On all of these sites I have included the State Democratic Party because not only will they help win the key seats I list but also will help with many state and local races that are important for developing our future national candidates. I also include Frontier PAC, one of the best organizations delivering a populist and progressive Democratic message THROUGHOUT the west. But I have left off one more excellent group. With all of the talk of "natives" vs. "immigrants" in American politics today, I want to urge support for empowering the TRUE Native Americans through the Indiginous Democratic Network (INDN).

If the blogsphere can make a good showing for these five states plus Frontier PAC plus INDN we can not only win big this year but also be set up nicely for the future. Give a little bit to win the Western Frontier!