Disclosure: I've been with this campaign since the 2007 CDP convention.
Manuel Perez has a significant, double-digit lead over his Republican opponent and is well-positioned to win back the seat for Democrats in California’s 80th Assembly
That's the latest polling we have (Source: Heidi von Szeliski and Associates), and it looks good all over. This has been a district made for Democrats to win since the last redistricting, and yet we've lost over and over. But now California Democrats are heading into the general of a key battleground for our 2/3 majority fight with four major factors in our favor: numbers, nominee, polling and ground game. Maps, polling, links galore over the flip.
I'm John Autry, a Progressive Democratic Candidate for Congress in NC-08. I have been following the national immigration debate with interest. Here's what I believe in regard to immigration. I believe we are a country founded on immigration. I am proud of this history and believe our diversity is one of our greatest strengths as a nation. I believe we must address the issue of illegal immigration by enacting just and fair comprehensive reform at the federal level, and I intend to work toward this goal as the representative from NC-08. This reform should include a way for undocumented immigrants who work hard, and obey our laws once they arrive, to stay here legally, and earn a path to citizenship if they so desire. Bringing people out of the shadows will improve our security, and help immigrants living here integrate into American society.
Barry Welsh, Democratic candidate for US House in the Indiana 6th Congressional District, released the following statement in response to a speech made by Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN06) from the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday in Washington, DC. Rep. Pence's office released a statement yesterday which is referred to below in Welsh's response.
Alan Greenspan squeezed and the toothpaste is out of the tube, and it cannot be put back inside. Iraq has been, and continues to be, about oil, not freedom as Congressman Pence pontificated from the floor of the House yesterday. Congressman Pence is once again trying to mislead people, just as he did with his comments comparing Indiana to Iraq.
Mr. Pence advocates blindly following the failed Neo Conservative Bush policies that include the permanent occupation of Iraq as he calls for "tuning out Washington D.C" and thus tuning out the facts.
"Despite the lack of political progress at the national level in Iraq, the military surge is working. Because the surge is working, our troops can start coming home. I urge every American to tune out the rhetoric in Washington, DC, and read the report.
"But don't just read the testimony of General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, read the recent report issued by the more liberal-leaning Brookings Institution. In each case, our men and that liberal think tank found civilian deaths are down, Sunni leaders are cooperating with US forces and al-Qaeda is on the run in Baghdad and al Anbar Province.
"These independent assessments should be read by every American, and every American should be encouraged. For even to a war-weary nation I say, if we do not grow weary in doing good, freedom will prevail in Iraq."
Congressman Pence needs to answer one simple question. How can a country claim to be bringing freedom during an occupation?
From the floor of Congress Mr. Pence tried to convince America that the war was about freedom in Iraq, of course from that same floor he also bellowed a personal guarantee that there were Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq. He wasn't honest then either. Citizens of this district deserve better representation that aligns with their own common sense values, and that is what I will bring to the district as its next Representative in Congress.
Thank you to the Matt, Mike, and Chris at OpenLeft.com for inviting me to blog here. As a blog reader, but infrequent contributer, I'm excited to join the discussion about how to propel this movement forward and bring together all the allies - national and local, insider and outsider, public figures and grassroots activists. My day job is in the political department of the AFL-CIO. I also work on the Analyst Group which is convened by the AFL-CIO and am co-founder and board member of the New Organizing Institute. That's for disclosure, though what I post here isn't official work of these organizations. Mike's post yesterday about the opportunities and challenges for labor and the netroots to build a strong relationship, has particular resonance for me - and sparked a great discussion. Thanks again to Matt, Chris and Mike for all your work to create this incredible, new space.
Last night, the former Alaskan Democratic party chairman Jake Metcalfe was in DC and stopped to meet with some folks. There was an interesting discussion with him about his background, family, why he decided to run for Congress, and what's important to the Alaskan electorate. Jake stepped down from the state party on Saturday to throw his hat into the ring in 2008 for the single house seat in Alaska. Jake has also worked as an attorney for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (Local 1547) and has a lot to say about labor in Alaska, one of the most union-dense states. Pending the primary in August of 08, the winner will face off against Don Young, who is currently the subject of a criminal inquiry.
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