Alisa flahooley@gmail.com These are the races I think are the most important for winning in November. If I had $30, I'd get $10 each to McCaskill, Webb and Ford. How did I pick these candidates? They are the candidates that I think are the most likely to make a difference. The senate candidates are all from toss-up races (although Tennessee is a long-shot, but it is surprisingly competitive.) For the house, I generally looked for one of two things from competitive races. Either I wanted a competitive race in a seat where there is also a competitive senate race (I am assuming that GOTV work and a strong Dem presence helps both races.) Or I am looking for a race where the district went for Gore and Kerry in the past, while having a Republican congressional representative now. I excluded some races that met those criteria because they either had a huge disparity of money one way or the other, or something else seemed to make it less competitive. (Note, I did not include a page for Shays' opponent, Diane Farrell, who really should have one, based on every criterion I've outlined. The reason is that Shays, in my opinion, has more integrity than 90% of the Republican house combined. Yes, we can't be sentimental, but with limited dollars, he isn't the person I'd target. Otherwise, I really did include people based nearly entirely on competitiveness.) public true 2555.25 13 Claire McCaskill false MO-Sen mccaskill 4800.00 371464.78 10997 http://www.claireonline.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/8848 505.30 10 Montana is very competitive right now, with McCaskill at a 50/49% lead in late August Poll. However, McCaskill has half as much money as the Republican. James Webb false VA-Sen webb 4800.00 888842.23 16153 http://www.webbforsenate.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/9390 350.29 7 George Allen is self-destructing at an amazingly quick race, but he has raised almost 3 times as much money as Webb! Webb is pretty conservative (secretary of the Navy for Reagan), but he has a real shot at winning, and seems pretty well connected with what is really happening in Iraq (his son is currently serving in Iraq). He is kind of introverted, but I also think a good addition to the Democratic Party. Harold Ford, Jr. false TN-Sen ford, 4800.00 263069.32 7325 http://www.fordfortennessee.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/390 220.28 6 Ford is a terrific candidate and the polls are within the margin of error. However, I think that racism is a real issue and some people may answer a poll one way and vote another. Additionally, The RNC is pouring tons of money into this race with some of the nastiest ads ever, so we really need to support his campaign! Ned Lamont false CT-Sen lamont 4800.00 452598.64 12061 http://nedlamont.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/9354 20.28 3 Every other candidate on this page is pivotal for taking control of the house or the senate. Whether we should spend precious resources on a race that won't tip control is a valid issue. However, we need to make sure that Democrats stand up for us (and the Constitution). If Lieberman wins, he tells every Democrat that s/he can ignore the base, the Constitution and the 'reality-based community' with impunity. Lamont is a strong, middle of the road candidate that will stand up for checks and balances and won't provide Bush's rush towards totalitarianism with cover! Darcy Burner false WA-08 burner 4800.00 223452.63 6471 http://www.darcyburner.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/8619 120.27 5 This district voted for Kerry and Gore. Republican incumbent, has raised more (about 50%), but quite competitive. Tammy Duckworth false IL-06 duckworth 4800.00 73966.45 1702 http://www.duckworthforcongress.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/9278 100.28 6 Tammy has run out of money--this is an urgent race! It breaks my general rule of thumb (Dem voting record or Dem swing senate race). However, Henry Hyde is retiring from a reliably conservative district (voted for Bush in both elections). Duckworth is an Iraq war veteran (who lost both her legs in Iraq) and has a real shot of winning this race. Linda Stender false NJ-07 stender 4800.00 64456.53 2987 http://www.lindastenderforcongress.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/9293 220.27 5 This was a long shot--probably the least competitive on the page, but it is now within reach! Linda is running a smart campaign (I've volunteered, so I can promise they know what they are doing--as least as far as I could tell--they were on the ball and used resources well), it is within the margin of error, and she is workign with Menendez for GOTV, so a dollar here helps both campaigns! Ed Perlmutter false CO-07 perlmutter 4800.00 22219.52 378 http://www.perlmutter2006.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/8417 120.27 5 This district voted for Kerry and Gore. It is an open seat--they've raised about the same amount of money, but Perlmutter has spent almost all of it, while the Republican has 5 times as much money left on-hand! Patricia Madrid false NM-01 madrid 4800.00 34877.69 587 http://www.madridforcongress.org/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/9039 190.27 6 This district voted for Kerry and Gore. The Republican incumbent has raised 1 million more and has 800K more on hand. Baron Hill false IN-09 hill 4800.00 20413.79 303 http://www.bringbackbaron.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/8448 70.27 4 Here's another that breaks my rule. However, Baron Hill was the Representative until 2004, when he lost. He is ahead in the polling data and has a great shot. (There was a great piece on him on the Jim Lehrer news hour last week.) Mary Jo Kilroy false OH-15 kilroy 4800.00 129861.27 1300 http://www.kilroyforcongress.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/9149 70.27 4 This is a tossup race in Ohio. District more conservative (Bush in both), but includes Columbus and I think it is competitive. Lois Murphy false PA-06 murphy 4800.00 83217.00 2426 http://www.loismurphy.org/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/8471 70.27 4 Suberb of Philly, voted for Kerry and Gore. Republican incumbent has raised a little more money, but not a lot and they are pretty even with cash on hand. Phil Kellam false VA-02 kellam 4800.00 9683.63 145 http://www.philkellam.com https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/9463 70.27 4 VA is a swing for senate, which is why I'm including this district, which voted for Bush both times. However, the Republican incumbent is VERY conservative and Virginia seems to be changing a lot, with a very popular dem governor who just retired and a new dem governor. I think it is totally doable. Tim Mahoney false FL-16 tim mahoney 4800.00 505463.44 1429 http://www.timmahoneyforflorida.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/8937 75.28 4 Tom Foley's old district and his name is still on the ballot. Conservative district, but who really wants to vote for Tom Foley right now? So, this is competitive--he's only got 165,000 on hand right now so a little should go a long way as the new Republican will have to start from scratch. Ron Klein false FL-22 klein 4800.00 35946.96 562 http://www.ronklein2006.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/527 90.27 5 Miami suburb that voted for Kerry and Gore. The Republican incumbent is pretty conservative, and has over 1 million more than Klein. Joe Courtney false CT-02 courtney 4800.00 27983.88 445 http://www.joecourtney.com/ https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/8441 70.27 4 CT district voted for Kerry and Gore. Republican incumbent has slightly outraised and outspent Courtney, but quite competitive. Bob Menendez false NJ-Sen menendez 4800.00 49435.18 1320 http://www.menendez2006.com https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/692 20.27 3 OK--I really wish this one weren't on the list--NJ shouldn't be competitive, but Kean is incredibly popular in the state (despite blowing his credibility on the “Path to 9-11” nonsense). But it is competitive, and the RNC just did a huge, multi-million dollar buy in because they think it is competive. However, Menendez has a sizable cash advantage right now, so I'm not sure that more money will help much.