DSCC still looking for money

Well over a week after the elections I'm still receiving a fair amount of fundraising emails from various groups, which isn't altogether surprising. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in particular has been hitting me up a lot in emails talking about the three outstanding races still left to be decided: the probable pickup in Alaska, the recount in Minnesota (where I think Coleman will hold on) and the runoff election in Georgia. Whats significant about all three races however, is that of them, only the Georgia race is one where my money could possibly help. The other two are a matter of finishing counting the ballots, or recounting them. I also think its stands out in that of the three races, I would put Georgia as the least likely for Democrats to win. Democrats probably won't see the record turnout they did on election day, and overall excitement will be down. Plus now that its clear Democrats will have overwhelming control of the government, Georgians might be more inclined to keep a Republican in the seat to balance things out. This would follow the logic that allowed Mary Landrieu to win her Senate runoff in 2002 after less vulnerable Democrats lost in the main election.

Of course the emails I'm getting aren't highlighting the Georgia race - they're harping on the other two, and the razor thin vote margins. This is a good way to get people fired up, but I think a somewhat dishonest form of fundraising. Would my money be spent in Alaska or Minnesota? I don't think so, it would only be spent in Georgia, so why can't they say that?

Below is the text from just one of the emails which I think displays what I'm talking about.

Dear David,


The staggering scope of your victory is only beginning to sink in. Because of all of your hard work and dedication, Barack Obama will take the oath of office on January 20. It's going to be astonishing.

Because you helped the DSCC win at least 6 new Democratic Senate seats, he'll hit the ground running with big majorities in both houses of Congress. Those big majorities are essential to delivering the change we need.

Thank you - from all of us at the DSCC - for all your effort and all your support. The American people owe you a huge debt of gratitude. And our tremendous record of accomplishment this year isn't finished yet. There are still three unresolved Senate races where your time, money, and effort have put us on the very cusp of victory. Here are the latest updates:

Alaska:
Mark Begich holds a solid 1,022-vote lead over seven-time convicted felon Ted Stevens with 24,000 votes still to be counted. We should have a final count sometime this week, but I am cautiously optimistic that Sarah Palin's next senator will be a Democrat.

Georgia:
The race to win the December 2 runoff is boiling over. Saxby Chambliss, the NRSC, and the right-wing attack organization Freedom's Watch are all blitzing the airwaves. But thanks to your generous support, the DSCC and Jim Martin have been able to nearly match the Republicans dollar-for-dollar and fight back with ads of our own. Chambliss is campaigning with John McCain and Mike Huckabee, but special elections like this one are won and lost on voter turnout. That's why the DSCC already has staff and volunteers on the ground in Georgia, getting people ready to vote on December 2. Our proven strategy has worked over and over again, and I know we can do it again.

Minnesota:
Al Franken trails Norm Coleman by just 204 votes - seven one-thousandths of one percent (.007%) - and an automatic hand recount of every vote will begin soon. Coleman and his right-wing buddies are scared the recount won't go their way. So they have already started trying to undermine the process, intimidate ballot counters, and disenfranchise enough voters to win at any cost - just like in Florida eight years ago.

The DSCC and the Franken campaign won't allow them to distract from ensuring that every vote is properly counted. It might take a few weeks, but we need to count all the votes fairly. It's the only way the true voice of the electorate can be heard.

The DSCC is doing everything we can to win these final races. We'll make sure every vote is counted in Alaska and Minnesota, and in Georgia, we'll unleash the same proven field program that has already won 12 new Democratic seats in the last two elections.

We need your help to win, and even as little as $5 from you can make a big difference. Our new and condensed campaign plan shows that we need to raise $100,000 before midnight Friday. It's so crucial to make this goal, that if you give before the deadline, a group of Democratic senators will triple your contribution. Your $5 will go that much further towards giving President-elect Obama an even bigger Senate majority to pass his agenda.

Click here to rush a contribution of $5 or more to the DSCC. We still have three more chances to grow our Senate majority for change.

You have already accomplished so much to elect great Democrats and change this country. Stand with us over these next few weeks, and we can win as many as three more Senate seats to make it even easier for Barack Obama to hit the ground running on Inauguration Day.

Thank you again,

J.B. Poersch
Executive Director