Every political analyst I read says the big question on election day is how many seemingly safe, under-the-radar races all over the country the Dems win. Even conservatives are saying that.
So once more into the breach for the Balloon Juice More More More fund, which consists of 47 Democratic candidates the vast majority of whom are in second and third tier races. This could make a difference.
MazeDancer
More is More. Send More $$ if you can.
Today is the last day you will have to be deluged by “PostCards! PostCards!” from me. (Early warning, switching on Tuesday to “Texting! Texting!” Will have info on the site.)
Heitkamp PostCards need to be mailed Monday. Delgado PostCards on Tuesday.
So, plenty of time to knock out a few. Heitkamp is just copying a script. Delgado is just saying anything to Very Bluest of Blue Genuine Dems. Can print appropriate PostCards free from site.
What has been most uplifting is having so many people who have done a batch or two of PostCards coming back today, after this week of horrid events, to say: Send me more.
People want to stop hate, stop Trump, create change. So they step up and write PostCards.
How about doing a few?
Right after you give Doug more moola.
Get addresses: PostCardPatriots.com
Frankensteinbeck
I would really, REALLY appreciate links to the analysts saying this. That would be soothing.
Gbbalto
I asked for 120 each for Heitkamp and Delgado, only got 119 for latter. Hope there are more for him, but if not, will fill all out. Almost done for Heitkamp, will make deadline!
A Ghost To Most
It’s Hit ‘n Run Doug!
guachi
Analyzing past Cook Political ratings back to 2008, the races in the “Lean” column go to the other party about 9% of the time. There are currently 27 seats in the “Lean Republican” column so that means there are, on average, 2.4 seats that Democrats will win.
However, in a “wave” (should you believe in such things) the “wave” side wins 15% of those “Lean” races. So this cycle that’s 4.1 seats. Not a lot more, but every seat matters.
All told, there are 57 seats that are Toss-Up or Lean Republican.
There are undoubtedly seats like in the VA House of Delegates that no one though would be competitive but were. And some might have flipped but for the lack of money.
Geoduck
The GOP dumped a bunch more ad money into one of the races on the list, WA 03, so they’re worried at least.
Mandalay
The NYT is reaching absurd levels in their desperate attempts to appear fair and balanced: In a Year of Women Running for Governor, One Incumbent Finds a Tough Fight
It’s a long article about how the incumbent governor, Democrat Kate Brown, is in deep do-do. Except she isn’t. She’s 8 points up in the latest poll, and 538 gives her an 85.5% chance of winning.
Of course the NYT doesn’t mention any polling data. That would burst the bubble. Instead, they base their story on anecdotal comments, such as what a 15 year old kid at the mall tells them:
Just total drivel.
But can Brown lose? Sure – she has a 14.5% chance according to Nate Silver, but that hardly justifies a pearl clutching article. Democrats have a much better chance of winning the governorship in South Dakota or Kansas than the Republicans do in Oregon, but don’t tell the NYT – they’re not interested in that kind of story.
cain
Off topic – my family road trip took us through West Virginia. Imagine a bunch of Indians singing country roads in honor of west Virginia hah! Of course a wave to John Cole and his brood of pets.
On our way to Pittsburgh for my dad’s 80th birthday celebration. The music was all Indian music now has turned into various Americana classics.
Patricia Kayden
I’m going to stay optimistic and keep working towards a huge blue wave. Trump and his sycophants have made it clear that our side can’t leave Congress in Republican hands. He’s dangerous.
Formerly disgruntled in Oregon
@Mandalay: Kate Brown is a treasure, who I think doesn’t get the credit she deserves much of the time. We’re working hard to re-elect her – glad to see those poll numbers.
cain
@Formerly disgruntled in Oregon:
I voted for her ! Straight democratic ticket.
frosty
@MazeDancer: So why the deadline to mail tomorrow? I’m using 1st class stamps, which usually only takes 3 or 4 days to arrive. Are postcards slower!
Jay
@Frankensteinbeck:
https://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2018/10/was-caravan-issue-working-for.html?m=1
Dorothy A. Winsor
@Jay: Thanks for that link. It’s encouraging news.
The Lodger
@Mandalay: Our Gov. Brown is eight points up against the least awful Republican to run for governor in 25 years. I think the media is covering a horse race and is ignoring how hard Kate works.
Jay
@Dorothy A. Winsor:
There’s lots of good news out there, despite the MSM being busy fluffing Nazi’s and recycling fact free Democrats are Dooooomed garbage,
https://www.wonkette.com/maryland-rhode-island-us-senate-seats-could-for-sure-flip-to-gop-say-broke-gop-challengers
MisterForkbeard
I threw a few last bucks towards Beto because why not and his campaign texted me.
I’m also responding to every text or call (in case it’s a GOTV) so I can get crossed off lists and no one has to spend resources on me. I have literally no free time over the next week and then I’m out of the country through the 8th, so I’m trying to figure out what else I can do at this point.
justawriter
Just interviewed Mark Ruffalo in New Town, ND. He is doing a series of get out the vote appearances on Reservations in North Dakota. I doubt I have to tell anyone here about the importance of that vote. It was pretty high energy and people are pissed. It just depends on if enough people are pissed to go vote for Heidi.
Mandalay
@The Lodger: Right, it’s all dressed up as a horse race, but I found that article incredibly offensive on multiple levels. For example, this is how Kate Brown was described:
Would NYT have described any 58 year old male politician in that manner? What is Kate Brown supposed to wear: high heels, a plunging neckline and colored contact lenses? The author of that drivel should be ashamed.
Doug!
@Frankensteinbeck:
The article I linked to is a good example. I’ve seen three or four essentially identical ones the past week or so, but I can’t find them right now. Also lots of discussion of this in Wasserman’s and Cohn’s feeds.
zhena gogolia
@Mandalay:
Ooh, that’s a new hack I’ve never heard of. I’m sure he’ll take his place with Haberman and Baker on the wall of shame.
Haroldo
@Mandalay: There is currently a re-appraisal of Julia Gillard’s tenure as Australian Prime Minister underway (in large part because she pushed for the inquiry into institutional child abuse which resulted in a variety of proposed protections and restitution), and, lo-and-behold, folks are just now realizing the incredible amount of misogyny flung in her direction not that long ago, including all sorts of speculation concerning her looks and wardrobe choices. It’s wonderful that the FTFNYT can carry on that tradition here in the states.
Ruckus
@Mandalay:
The author of that drivel is giggling and cashing his check. I assume it was a he, although anything is possible.
PsiFighter37
@Mandalay: The FTFNYT is running these to counterbalance the articles about the GOP being worried in many other places. I will say, though, that I was driving through whatever district Mikie Sherrill is running in yesterday, and there are a lot of ‘Fire Corrupt Menendez’ signs in public spots. They are yellow and red signs so hard to miss. That said, even though he’s a bit of a slimeball (I wish he’d retire and someone like Rush Holt would take his place), NJ has such a Democratic lean (and especially will this cycle) that Menendez will make it through. Talk about a charmed electoral life – ran in 2006 (first Democratic wave in Dumbya’s second term) and in 2012 (Obama running for reelection), and now in 2018 when Trump has set everything on fire. I hope he can be talked into retiring and not running in 2024, though. He’s also extremely useless when it comes to Cuba policy.
Steeplejack
@Ruckus:
Kirk Johnson. According to the Times website, he’s a “national correspondent who has covered the American West for more than a decade. Born and raised in Utah and currently based in Seattle, he has written extensively about public lands, rural economics and the environment.”
Luthe
I don’t have money to throw around at the moment, but I knocked on 44 doors today, so that’s something (out here is ruralburbia 44 doors is a lot; it took me 3.5 hours).
PsiFighter37
@Luthe: Well done! What district?
H.E.Wolf
@Mandalay:
The “sensible shoes” descriptor is code for “lesbian”, which she is; and more power to her. Shame on the writer of that article for using lazy, sexist, offensive (you’re right, Mandalay!) stereotypes.
The Lodger
@Steeplejack: That reporter sounds like a member of the desperately under-represented Mormon Mofo demographic.
J R in WV
@cain:
Well, this Mountaineer thanks you for having fun, and hopes the party is really great!! The actual song is more about Virginia, where the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah river are, but if he wanted it to be about West Virginia, then it is.
John Denver performed the song at the very first football game in the new stadium at WVU many years ago, and it is a great tradition now.
Best wishes to all your family !!
MazeDancer
@frosty:
Safety.
Also, rural ND – who knows how long they’ll take.
I’m pushing it. Virginia mailed out on Oct 25th.
Delgado delivery, if they go out on Tuesday or Wednesday, they’ll get there by Saturday, more likely on Monday. And NY has no Early Voting. And polls open til 9:00, so if they don’t get there until Tuesday, still a chance.
Ruckus
@Steeplejack:
I wonder if he’s ever written anything worth reading?
Raoul
I also want to put in another pitch for state-level races. Giving to candidates like Beto is great. And, 20 bucks for some of these people could get an extra hour of phonebanking, or gas for acar to go doorknock for a day.
https://www.sisterdistrict.com/sister-races/current
Thanks!!
Another Scott
@Raoul: Good points. Donated. Fingers crossed!!
8 days to go!!
Cheers,
Scott.
Steeplejack
@Ruckus:
Probably. People can do good work despite their biases and prejudices.
WaterGirl
@Another Scott: Part of a message from Beto O’Rourke’s campaign this evening:
Not sure if they are trying to prepare supporters for a loss with the first few words of that sentence, or are trying to make sure nobody thinks he’s got it in the bag and stays home.
Either way, it’s a great message for every campaign.
Paul in Saint Augustine
I early voted in Florida. After filling out my ballot and placing it in the voting machine, the poll worker said “thank you for voting” and sent me on my way. No paper trail, no way to confirm the votes I cast were recorded correctly. There seems to be, other than Greg Palast, no one concerned about the validity of electronic voting machines and the results they spew. I won’t be surprised if enough races result in R’s maintaining control (or expanding it) the House and Senate are announced on the 7th of November.
JaySinWA
Here’s a race that is not safe and is under the radar. WA Supreme court justice Gonzalez v Choi. Here is Choi running away from cameras and questions. https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/supreme-court-challenger-leads-in-poll-runs-from-camera/860629037?fbclid=IwAR1L1BgEXArfMPwb5A0zPy9pEwp5b9-NLFmHmuFKtiYY2sPepQlikPl0w2M
Marianne
Walked part of a precinct for Harley Rouda. Great response from voters and even better there were 25 people meeting up to walk precincts in just that one area. There were many more areas being walked. I chose to walk in a minority voter heavy area which is not where we live. My husband said there was a canvasser at our door also. Feels like a lot of energy and determination.
Turgidson
Audrey Denney in CA’s 1st, vs Trumpist troglodyte Doug LaMalfa, seems quite worthy of a little cheddar if anyone can afford it. She’s young but she’s thoughtful on the big issues and reaching out to everyone in that mostly rural district. That’s a race that shouldn’t be too close, but by all accounts she’s working hard to surprise some people, so it could be one of those “lean GOP” seats that is more vulnerable than expected on Election Day. I live in awesome unbeatable Barbara Lee’s district. Happy to vote for her always, but wish I could rent my vote out to Audrey just this once since BL doesn’t need it.