Progressive Democrat Issue 92: NATIONAL ACTION: Barbara Boxer's Challenge

The Republicans recently conceded that they will lose many Senate seats and decided to entrench, or as they called it, build a fire wall at three states: Missouri, Tennessee, and Virginia. Barbara Boxer, the excellent Senator from California, is challenging all Democrats to help break through that Republican firewall. Here is her challenge, including some good info on the three Senate races.

The Republicans have drawn their line in the sand and are making their last stand in 3 "firewall" states to desperately try to hold on to their narrow Senate majority. This Republican firewall is the only thing left standing between us and a Democratic Senate -- and we've got 18 days to break through.

Contribute to the 3 Senate races that will ensure a Democratic victory -- break down the Republican firewall now!

Yes, there is an almost unanimous view (with that pillar of integrity Karl Rove dissenting) that the House and the Senate are poised to swing to the Democrats this November.

So now the Republicans have started to circle the wagons around their most threatened Senate seats. They have admitted pulling money out of other states where they are trailing badly to try to build a firewall around these three seats: Tennessee, where Bill Frist is retiring; Virginia, where George Allen has been imploding; and Missouri, where Jim Talent has consistently rubber stamped President Bush's extreme right-wing agenda.

This Republican firewall strategy is an admission that they are giving up on other seats where you and our PAC for a Change community have been involved -- a last ditch effort to fend off the strong challenges from 3 tremendous Democratic candidates who are on the brink of winning "safe" Republican seats in "red states."

We can't let the Republicans win these three critical seats.

Let's break down this 3-state Republican firewall -- contribute to our strong Democratic candidates today!

Here are the 3 Democratic Senate candidates who need our help to break down the Republican firewall:

* Congressman Harold Ford in Tennessee. Despite the most negative attacks against Harold's family and despite the fact that George Bush and Dick Cheney have campaigned heavily again him, Harold is currently leading Republican Bob Corker by a few points in recent polls.

If Congressman Ford wins this race, America will celebrate indeed. Not only will we have a new young star in the Senate, but Harold will be the first African American elected to the Senate from the South since Reconstruction. I spoke to Harold earlier this week, and he wants you to know he is working his heart out and that his TV buy literally depends on what we raise for him.

* State Auditor Claire McCaskill in Missouri. Claire tells me that her TV ad spending is also "hand to mouth," so she, too, is counting on fundraising over these last few weeks to keep pace with the vast infusion of right-wing money that is coming in against her. And when she says "keep pace" she doesn't mean dollar for dollar. She has been vastly outspent, but as long as she can match them one dollar for three of their dollars, she can hold on.

Claire's opponent, Senator Jim Talent, has voted with George Bush 94% of the time. No wonder there is no limit to what Republicans will do to keep his rubber stamp stamping! Now, in a sign of desperation, the Republicans are attacking Claire's family as well. Clearly, there is nothing they won't do to hold on to power. If you saw Claire go up against Talent recently on Meet the Press, you know that she is tough and smart -- and that Claire is the one with the real talent.

* Former Navy Secretary Jim Webb in Virginia. Jim has run an amazing grassroots-powered campaign, roaring back from being 14 points down to now running neck-and-neck with George Allen. Jim will not allow Allen and his right-wing pals to "swiftboat" him as he expresses his strong opposition to the war in Iraq.

George Allen thought he would be a shoe-in for re-election, but these rubber stamp Senators are all in trouble because the American people are fed up with the status quo. Jim Webb is a smart, experienced leader and would be an incredible addition to the Senate.

Help Harold Ford, Claire McCaskill, and Jim Webb break through the Republican firewall -- contribute to their campaigns today!

Political analyst Charlie Cook is characterizing this year as a "once- or twice-in-a-generation election." So the time to act is now. We won't always have a chance like this to reshape the political landscape for decades to come -- and we don't want to wake up on November 8th asking why we didn't send that extra $25 or $50.

You and I have worked so hard and done so much to get to this point. Thanks to your help, our PAC for a Change community has already contributed more than $903,000 to candidates across America. We can't stop now.

Please contribute to the strong Democratic candidates who must break through the Republican firewall -- and make me proud to call and tell them how our PAC for a Change community is coming to their rescue.

My best always to you and yours for a better America -- for a great America.

Let's do it folks. Time is running out and these days I am hearing more premature victory speeches from Democrats than I am actual donations and activism. So please give a little bit. You will be VERY glad you did.