How Democrats Will Win Virginia

This is exactly how we're going to win Virginia this November, and in years to come. Great work by the coordinated campaign!

Democrats Barnstorm Virginia Over Labor Day Weekend

Thousands of Volunteers for Campaign for Change, Virginia Coordinated Campaign Knock 125,000 Doors Across the Commonwealth

RICHMOND, Va. – Labor Day weekend is long considered the official opening of the political season, and this Labor Day, Democrats across the state -- in conjunction with U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's Campaign for Change and the Democratic Party of Virginia's Coordinated Campaign – celebrated the holiday weekend by knocking more than 125,000 doors in cities and towns across the commonwealth.

This impressive number was achieved with the help of several thousand volunteers visiting their neighbors and urging support for Obama, former Gov. Mark Warner for Senate and Democratic congressional candidates.

"We're excited about the enthusiasm we're seeing from volunteers in every corner of Virginia and proud of the efforts of our supporters this weekend," Mitch Stewart, the Obama Campaign's Virginia State Director, said. "Virginians are energized to make a break from the past and deliver real change in Washington, and they know that is what they will get with Senator Obama and Mark Warner."

In addition to the campaign's Labor Day efforts, more than 13,000 Virginians attended watch parties Thursday night when Obama delivered his acceptance speech in Denver. Nationally, some 40 million Americans tuned in – more than watched the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics.

"2008 is shaping up to be a record year for Virginia Democrats," said Levar Stoney, executive director of the Democratic Party of Virginia. "As a former field organizer, I can tell you that most campaigners would be thrilled with 125,000 doors on Election Weekend. With this level of enthusiasm on Labor Day, Virginia Democrats are well on their way to a first-class, record-breaking field campaign."

Anyone interested in helping Judy Feder, please sign up here or click here for upcoming events. Thanks!

What's the "Democratic National Congressional Committee?"

From a panicky email by Frank Wolf:

We want to make you aware that last Friday, the Democratic National Congressional Committee decided to add the 10th District to its list of "targeted" races. This will mean more out-of-state money for Congressman Wolf's opponent...
We need your help to counter this out-of-state operation.

Uh, Congressman, how long have you been around Washington? Wait, don't answer that. Ha. :) Still, don't you think that after several decades in D.C. you should know that it's the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, aka DCCC, not some make-believe organization you call the "Democratic National Congressional Committee," that has added Judy Feder to its "Red to Blue" list? Well, then, maybe you shouldn't read this:

The DCCC's list adds up to over $34 million on TV ads this September and October in 31 targeted districts, a move designed to swamp the NRCC with the Dems' huge cash advantage.

Or this:

The DCCC raised $10 million in June, and reported $54.7 million cash on hand at the end of the month. The NRCC raised $6.1 million in June, and ended June with $8.5 million in its campaign account.

A nearly 7:1 cash advantage for the DCCC over the NRCC? No wonder why Frank Wolf is making up names of organizations that don't exist.

Paul Begala: July Deadline Coming Up!

From Paul Begala - who spoke strongly for Judy Feder the other day in McLean - let's help the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee elect great Democrats like Judy!

Hard as it is to believe, there's less than 100 days until Election Day. And, in a political campaign as intense as this one, 100 days will disappear faster than Karl Rove did when he was subpoenaed to testify before Congress.

But before we even start the 100-day countdown, there's another big deadline charging at us even faster than that - in just 48 hours.

July 31st marks the final FEC filing deadline before Barack Obama accepts the Presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. It is so important to show our strength to the media before this deadline passes.

Oh, and speaking of the Democratic National Convention, if you give in the next 48 hours, you'll have one more chance to be there and see it all happen in person.

Contribute $15, $25, or more to the DCCC's 100-Day Voter Action Fund in the next 48 hours and win a chance to attend the Democratic National Convention. The more times you contribute, the more times you'll be entered to win.

In the last 100 days, mobilizing voters is the name of the game. That means putting boots on the ground, dialing phones, whatever it takes to get every voter to the polls.

With less than 100 days to go, the DCCC has kicked their mobilization plans into overdrive. They need make sure that all of our great House candidates can take their messages of change to every voter in their districts. But they need your help to make it all happen in the final 100 days.

Contribute $15, $25, or more to the DCCC's 100-Day Voter Action Fund in the next 48 hours and win a chance to attend the Democratic National Convention (August 25-29). The more times you contribute, the more times you'll be entered to win.

The critical July 31st deadline will pass in just 48 hours and we're still $99,000 away from our goal. Put us over the top and win a chance to be in Denver to watch Barack Obama give an acceptance speech for the ages live in front of 75,000 people in one of the greatest moments in time.

We're down to the wire.



Paul Begala

P.S. Every dime you send will help Democratic House candidates reach more voters with their messages of change in the final 100 days. Help us raise the final $99,000 before the July 31st FEC deadline passes at midnight this Thursday and win a front-row seat to history. Contribute to the DCCC's 100-Day Voter Action Fund today.

More Evidence That 2008 Is Not a Republican Year

Even before today's latest new, the national GOP was facing an extremely difficult political climate this year, with surveys showing people favoring the Democratic Party by wide margins. In that context, this certainly doesn't help matters for our Republican friends:

US SEN TED STEVENS INDICTED ON 7 CRIMINAL COUNTS RELATED TO HIS HOLDING OF PUBLIC OFFICE - SOURCE

It's news like this that makes a lot of us Democrats optimistic about November. With any luck, and a lot of hard work over the next 98 days, we will take back the White House and gain a bunch of seats in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The plan here in the 10th CD is for one of those gains to be a superb woman (and nationally recognized expert on health care) named Judy Feder. Go Judy! :)

100 Days.

From the Democratic Party of Virginia:

100 days.

That's all the time we have to make history in Virginia. As of Saturday, we'll have just 100 days to turn Virginia blue for the first time since 1964, to elect Mark Warner to the Senate and to take back the majority of Virginia's Congressional delegation.

Saturday marks the beginning -- over the next 100 days, we will change the course of the country. But we can't make history in Virginia without your help.

That's why we need you and your friends to knock on 100 doors in your neighborhood this weekend for our "100 Days to History" canvass.

This Saturday and Sunday, volunteers across Virginia will hit the streets to talk to their neighbors about Barack Obama, Mark Warner and the Democratic candidates on behalf of Virginia Victory '08, the DPVA's Coordinated Campaign.

Sign up here to join our 100 Days to History canvass!

Plus, there's an extra bonus if you join our "100 for 100" program.

If you and your friends knock on 100 doors in your neighborhood this weekend, you will all get a limited edition Obama-Warner photo, personally signed by Gov. Warner. The average volunteer knocks about 25 doors, so you'll need two or three friends to make it happen.

So, why do we need you to get out of the air conditioning and knock on doors on a hot July weekend?

Because the Commonwealth of Virginia could make the difference between President Barack Obama and four more years of Bush-McCain policies. As Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne put it last week: "If the 2008 election is destined to break up a frozen electoral map, Virginia is one of the most likely venues for the great political thaw."

But this "thawing" doesn't happen by itself. To make history, we're going to need to out-work, out-organize and out-campaign the Republicans for the next 100 days.

We need you to start this weekend by joining our "100 Days to History" canvass.

For months, Virginia Democrats have been talking to voters where it matters most: face-to-face, on their doorstep. This weekend, that task becomes even more important, with only 100 days (15 weekends!) separating us from history.

Remember, the last time we turned Virginia blue, LBJ was President, gas cost 30 cents-per-gallon, and Ronald Reagan was just a movie actor. This year, with your help, we can win Virginia for the first time in 44 years.

There's still plenty of time this summer to enjoy the air conditioning or to fire up the barbecue. But right now, we need your help to make history.

Sign up here to join our "100 Days to History" canvass this weekend.

Thank you for all of your help,

Levar Stoney

Exciting Times for Loudoun Dem's

These are exciting times for Loudoun Democrats:

The LCDC JJ dinner on Friday evening was great. The turnout was incredible, and our Governors (Warner and Kaine) gave stirring speeches about the mission of Democrats in 2008 and beyond. We need to recover the strength and dignity of our county, and Virginia can lead the way.

I completely agree with Leesburg Tomorrow that "We've come a long way in Loudoun County (a point which each speaker repeated) and we have just as much work to do to keep our majority and keep Loudoun on the right track." Keep it up!

Fairfax, Prince William Democratic Committees Choose New Leadership

Last night was a big night for the Fairfax and Prince William County Democratic committees, as both voted for new leadership. In Fairfax, Judy Feder was present as Scott Surovell defeated Steve Bunn, 217 votes (59%) to 152 votes (41%), for FCDC chair. Scott emphasized the importance of FCDC operating on "all cylinders," pointing out that if it doesn't, we end up with people like Bob McDonnell and Bill Bolling in office. Scott declared, "We're gonna take this committee to the next level." He added, "I've got a lot of energy, we're gonna do great things." I'm sure he will...great things like helping to take back the 10th and 11th CD's for the Democrats this November!

Meanwhile, in Prince William County, Pete Frisbie was elected to serve a full two year term has chairman. Frisbie, just 28 years old, is one the youngest chairs of a local political party committee of any party in Virginia. Also elected as Vice Chairs were Kevin English in the 1st CD, Cindy Kennedy in the 10th CD, and Ernestine Jenkins in the 11th CD. Jim O'Connor and Dottie Holley were elected as Recording Secretary and Corresponding Secretary, respectively, with Bill Westhoff elected as Treasurer.

Congratulations to everyone who was elected last night; 2008 should be a great year, and you'll all be a big part of it!

"Return to Normalcy" in Loudoun County

The other day, I wrote about the good things that happen when Democrats take charge from Republicans. Today, there's more evidence of this phenomenon in Loudoun County:

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, led by a freshly minted Democratic majority, took a sharp turn at its first meeting yesterday, reversing course on several of the previous Republican-led board's efforts.

As one of its first acts, the board gave Chairman Scott K. York (I) a host of powers that the previous board had stripped from him four years ago. In November, voters ousted four Republicans who had been supportive of growth and development and often clashed with York because of his slow-growth stance.

The board, now made up of five Democrats, two Republicans and two independents, voted unanimously and without comment yesterday to restore York's powers, including the right to set the board's agenda.

"A return to normalcy doesn't require a lot of comment," said James G. Burton (I-Blue Ridge).

This is more like Democracy's supposed to work, as opposed to the "power plays" used by the Republicans when they were in charge. And this -- a "return to normalcy" in our Democracy -- is exactly why we need more Democrats at all levels of government, including Congress. Go Judy Feder!

"Red to Blue" in the 10th?

The Connection Newspapers has an article up entitled, "Year In Review: Red to Blue? RoVa to NoVa?" Here's an excerpt:

Virginia Democrats hope to carry the momentum through 2008 and win the seat currently held by retiring U.S. Sen. John Warner (R- Va.) as well as two congressional seats currently held by Republicans Tom Davis and Frank Wolf. Former Gov. Mark Warner (D) will be the likely nominee for the 2008 senate race against a Republican field that includes former Gov. Jim Gilmore.

Out of both the Republican and Democratic candidates running the 10th congressional district, prolific fundraiser Judy Feder is considered a strong candidate against Wolf, though the incumbent garnered 57 percent of the vote against Feder in 2006.

Exactly right, Judy Feder IS a strong candidate, the 10th district's trending from "red to blue" (see the tight race between Karen Schultz and Jill Holtzman Vogel this past year), and Frank Wolf's continuing to rubber stamp George W. Bush. It's time for a change in 2008, and Judy Feder's going to provide that change.