We’re getting close to the our lofty goal of raising 50K for candidates; but commenters said Cole is ambitious, and commenters are honorable men.
Since the best defense is a good offense, I’d like to introduce a recent non-incumbent addition to our ActBlue list…John Callahan is running in one of the most competitive Congressional Districts in the country, Pennsylvania’s 15th which consists of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton. This district is rated a D+2 (48% D, 36% R, 16% I or unaffiliated), but has a three term Republican, Charlie Dent. Dent is in office largely because he’s never had a real challenger before having outspent the last two by a margin of 12-1 in 2006 and 2-1 in 2008, even though Obama won the district by 13 points. This will not happen this time because Callahan has virtually matched Dent in fundraising (in the July FEC, they both had about $1 million cash on hand). Only LA-2 (D+25) and HI-1 (D+11) are higher rated D PVI district’s with republican incumbents, but those districts are so blue that it’s basically a write off. PA-15 is the best shot we have to win a Red to Blue seat in the whole country and continue going on the offense against a Bush-era Republican.
Like most Bush Republicans, Congressman Dent has been there for the GOP every time they’ve needed him. He voted against equal pay for women in the Lilly Ledbetter bill, against Healthcare Reform, supports Bush tax cuts to millionaires, voted to allow taxpayer funded Wall Street CEO bonuses, and voted for the largest cut to student financial aid in history. He even voted against allowing widows and orphan of troops to receive full benefits. He’s everything that’s wrong with the GOP and we have a chance to help knock him off.
Callahan isn’t a blue dog either. He publicly supported the Recovery Act, the Healthcare bill, Wall Street Reform and supports marriage equality.
Callahan is the mayor of Bethlehem, PA. A Callahan from central Pennsylvania steel country, that sure ought to give Chris Matthews a tingle up his leg.
Bulworth
Thanks for the reminder. Just threw a few bucks in.
DougJ is the business and economics editor for Balloon Juice.
@Bulworth:
Thank you!
Zifnab
If there was ever an issue you’d think Democrats would be able to take to the bank, it’s this. Honestly, it’s a god damn no-brainer. Show a side-by-side of two people rolling out from under the bottom of a car, covered in grease, getting handed unequal payment. Show a side-by-side of two office workers checking their unequal bank balances. Then put pictures of the two candidates side-by-side and announce, “Candidate A wants to see women paid $.81 on the dollar to every man. Candidate B wants women and men to be able to take care of their families equally.” Then end with a side-by-side of a mom and a dad coming home with bags of groceries, greeted by smiling kids.
So. Damn. Easy.
evap
Sounds like a no-brainer indeed. I just sent a few bucks his way. I will be watching for this one on Nov. 2.
DougJ is the business and economics editor for Balloon Juice.
@evap:
Thanks! There’s various reasons why I think Dems have a real chance here — one, the victory in a similar district during a special election, and, two, Callahan has a crack campaign team.
cleek
ok. $10 to each.
DougJ is the business and economics editor for Balloon Juice.
@cleek:
Thanks.
Poopyman
Good thing my short term memory is going, because there was some strong deja vu as I loaded up the various Senate candidates’ amounts. I guess I’ve pitched in for the Senate candidates a few times already this cycle. Probably not done yet.
Thanks for the heads-up on Callahan. That’s my sister’s district, so I tossed some bucks his way as well.
lamh32
@DougJ is the business and economics editor for Balloon Juice.:
Ok, this is purely superficial, but am I wrong, or did is this title an homage to MJ?
They Don’t Really Care About Us
Sorry, had to ask.
Back to the program in progress.
DougJ is the business and economics editor for Balloon Juice.
@lamh32:
No, Alanis Morisette.
lamh32
@DougJ is the business and economics editor for Balloon Juice.:
damn, I shoulda got that one. “you oughta know” is one of my fav songs in my teen years.
the lyrics of that song does seem apropos now that I think about it.
Bobby Thomson
Good post.
Bethlehem ain’t Central PA, though. It’s almost in New Jersey.
Cris
You know who said that? Mel, the cook on “Alice!”
paa
I’m in for $250. My bitterness with shitty dem politicking has kept me from giving $ so far this year, but it’s time to suck it up and defeat the republicans.
Wish there were a way just to put in the total donation amount and have it evenly split among the candidates – I guess I’ll have to do the math myself!
EL
I contributed, but I might have done it a bit faster if you named it something catchy like “balloon bomb”….
slag
See…now if you all really believed this, you would have put up an ActBlue page before I had blown the majority of my wad for this election. Early money and all that.
Nonetheless, I couldn’t resist kicking in a few extra dinars yet again just because you made such a good pitch. Nicely done!
DougJ is the business and economics editor for Balloon Juice.
@slag:
Thanks!
Yeah, you’re right we should have done the ActBlue thing earlier, I agree.
Gozer
@lamh32:
Actually it’s part of the Philly media market. The Lehigh Valley is only 35 minutes from the northern edge of Philly and about an hour and a half from NYC.
EDIT: Nice though to see this sleepy Philly/NY exurb getting some attention.