And more is on the way...

If they want to keep the seat - let them spend every last dime.

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The sad thing, however, is that a big Democratic money advantage is not likely in the special election.  We need to make up for this by canvassing.  The district is close to every major population center in Virginia - Richmond in the center, Hampton Roads in the Southeast, and NoVA in the north - spend this Saturday canvassing in the district to get out the vote.  I'm guessing now that 40% of the district will automatically vote Republican, 40% will automatically vote Democrat - we need to get another 11% out for Philip Forgit.

Canvassing is just not an intelligence use of resources so close to the race.

Among those Republican members of Congress who gave to Wittman via their campaign committees or leadership PACs are Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri; Thelma Drake , who represents Virginia's adjacent 2nd District in and around Virginia Beach; Texas Reps. John Carter and Randy Neugebauer ; Kevin McCarthy and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon of California; Roger Wicker of Mississippi; and Terry Everett of Alabama, who is not seeking re-election in 2008.

Virgil H. Goode Jr. , a Republican who represents Virginia's 5th District, gave $500 in personal funds to Wittman's campaign as an individual donor. Other notable individual donors included businessman Paul Jost, who was one of Wittman's chief rivals for the Republican nomination at the Nov. 10 convention, and former Rep. Bill Lowery of California, who now is a lobbyist.

The National Republican Congressional Committee, which is the party's political arm in the House, and the Republican National Committee each gave $5,000 to Wittman's campaign.

By comparison, CQ only mentions contributions to Forgit from "a few members of the faculty at the College of William and Mary" and a member of the "Dave Matthews Band."

Nice.  Talk about abandoning your own troops in the field...

Admittedly, the DPVA has performed a little better recently, and I have been most impressed by their fine employees such as Susan Mariner in the tidewater area and Brian Phillips here in SW Virginia.

Also, I was glad to work with Levar Stoney and several others via the DPVA during Dr. Mike Breiner's state senate campaign.

However, until the DCCC shows me that they care about us, I don't care about them...

Thanks!

Steve

Steve

...the DPVA CAN spend money on Forgit's behalf.  State Parties always maintain a federal account, called Levin funds, which donors give to specifically.  The funds are federally regulated and thus fall under the donors' federal caps.  The limits to the federal accounts are $10,000 per donor per cycle and only individuals.  This money is used to help federal races (President, Senate, House) in each state.  So there IS a way of doing and every party does it.

According to opensecrets and the FEC, the Levin funds can come from unions and corporations if that is allowed under state law, which I believe it is in VA.  In addition, they do not count against the federal caps.  However, they have to be spent on GOTV and "party building" to benefit federal races (but that can include gotv calls/canvasses, etc), not directly on the race (i.e. TV).

The DCCC is pouring money into one or two other so-called Republican districts in other states that are open seats right now, where the hell are they when it comes to Virginia? Are they nuts? Incompetent? Inilftrated by Republicans? What gives?

The DCCC's failure to put some of their resources to work in what they may feel is a side skirmish (mistaken as they are) is assinine.

The film is about the 2004 election, zeroing in on Ohio, the state that in the end cost Kerry the election, but the messages in the film, and there are many, show why Democrats get beaten not only on the Federal level but all the way down to races for State senator and delegate.

The film ratcheted up my anger, of which I still have plenty, for the lousy way the Kerry campaign was run: the incredible errors in judgment by Kerry and his various campaign staff members, which was merely deja vu, if you followed closely the Gore campaign; the misjudgment of what the Republican operatives would do; and the amazing get out the vote effort which, in Ohio, depended less on money than the perseverence of the campaign workers as they burrowed their way to the true grass roots of Ohio and indeed Got Out The Vote.  Hear the astonished and complimentary voices of Begala and Terry McAulliffe praising the Republican tour de force and see Ed Gillispie and his buddies as they talk about their strategies, so different from those of our party.  Strategies thbat they say they used because politics is about winning, strategies which, admittedly, Democrats wouldn't utilize because they would not want to vilify the character of their opponents to such a degree that the Republican families would scream "Foul."

Watching the film and later recording the rerun at midnite for my errant wife, then re-watching it again this a.m., the film brought to mind a local campaign which I had been criticizing for using the wrong tactics.  I had tried to  offer my  $0.02 to some of the people I met who were to be involved in the very-well-funded campaign, but my remarks, based on not only years of reading about such campaigns but by hands-on experience in a losing, poorly funded effort, my remarks were pooh-poohed by people having little or no experience or, seemingly common sense.  This campaign wound up to be a disaster, especially  considering the money raised and the attractiveness of the candidate (No! I'm not Larry Craig).  The arguments given at the post mortem (i.e., RK responses top my criticism) are, after last nite's and this a.m.'s viewings of the film, not laughable but, rather, sad.  This film bore this out.  As the heavenly Gloria Steinam said, "They just don't get it."

So see this film, DCCC, however you may, and maybe you'll learn something.  To those who say that winning isn't everything, that they wouldn't sully themselves, I say tell that to 4000 dead soldiers who would be alive if Gore had won and 2500 if Kerry had won  

One week from today, voters in the 1st will be casting their ballots. Help out Philip as much as you can. Volunteer and contribute today!

UPDATE: The Daily Press has started a series of articles on the candidates' stances. Today's topic is the war in Iraq.

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In 7 days, you have a chance to show why Virginia is leading our country forward. On December 11, voters will head to the polls in Virginia's 1st congressional district for a special election.

Iraq war veteran and Bronze Star recipient Philip Forgit has a real chance to flip this seat for Democrats. His team is making its final decisions on advertising and field. We need to give them a boost in these final days to make sure they can reach every single voter in VA-1.

Click here to help Philip Forgit win the special election on December 11!

Philip served with a Naval Special Warfare Unit as an advisor to the Iraqi Army in 2005-2006. A Naval Reservist, Philip was mobilized from his former job as a 4th grade teacher at Rawls Byrd Elementary, where he won the 2005 National Education Association (NEA) Award for Teaching Excellence.

Philip has shown himself to be a leader of outstanding abilities -- in the classroom, in the battlefield, and now I hope you'll help me bring his leadership to Congress.  Our nation is at war, and we need leaders in Washington who know how wars should be fought -- not from theory but from experience.

Philip's military experience in Iraq will bring a much needed perspective to Congress to help end the disastrous policies of George W. Bush in Iraq. Virginians who care about the future of our military and about changing the course in Iraq will vote for Philip, but we need to make sure he has the resources to get his message to the voters.

Join me and help Philip by rushing him a contribution before next week's special election.

Just last month, Virginia Democrats won control of the State Senate and made historic gains in the House of Delegates. We need to build on that momentum by helping Philip Forgit win Virginia's 1st congressional seat next Tuesday.

Special elections hinge on voter turnout. Philip needs your help to make sure his supporters make it to the polls.

Please take a few minutes now and contribute to Philip's campaign today!

Philip is the ideal representative for the district and a much needed voice in Washington. With your help, we'll all be celebrating his victory on December 11.

Sincerely,

Wes Clark

he said that the dpva could not give to the race. that is how I got the info

Seems there are other special election fish to fry for the DCCC. There is another special election for Ohio's 5th Congressional District on December 11th. Interesting that it shares similar political characteristics as the VA 1st:
been in the hands of R's for years..yet DCCC is apparently unloading some cash. Found this Ohio Progressive Blog site:
www.ohiodailyblog.com/content/oh-05-dccc-pours-cash-race

I wish only the best for our OHIO friends..in the meantime..

Get out the plastic and checks and send them to Phil..get busy! !

I suppose I am too much an optimist. Hoping my party will do the right thing always.

This is a disgrace to our party.  I am not sure what the DCCC King Makers are waiting for.  While they sit on the cash they are embarrassing our Party.

I want the RK readers to know I called the DCCC last week.  I asked the receptionist why they kept asking for donations (just about every other day) when they do not invest in this race, and I was informed I could "unsubscribe" to the e-mail.  That should tell you what they think of people like me.

I also wonder what this lack of action says about Virginia for 2008...  We have Mark Warner.  We have a Presidential contest.  Countless Congressional races. Overall what does the lack of help from the DCCC say about how the "National Democrats" view "purple" Virginia?  Will we be left off the map as we were in 2004?

Also, for the record, Levar, Amy and the gang are doing a fab job at the DPVA. I have witnessed first hand their hard work, and assure RK readers the DPVA is a top notch organization.  The DCCC can learn a thing or two from the DPVA!