Options here. Thank you!
When you have a choice, how about giving your business to one of the local businesses in our 
Filibuster-proof majority?
Submitted by SteveKier on July 30, 2010 - 12:20pm.
...from Senator Durbin:
Dear Steve,
Which Democratic challenger should we help next?There's been a lot of talk about how this is going to be a brutal election year for Democrats, not unlike the 1994 elections when Republicans retook control of Congress.
I'm not so sure about that. As the American people see how much Democrats have been able to accomplish in just 20 months -- from a sweeping healthcare expansion to Wall Street reform -- they aren't exactly itching to hand the torch over to the party of "hell no."
That's why I'm committed to supporting the campaigns of competitive Democratic challengers to take back Republican-held Senate seats and bring some fresh new faces to Congress. Will you help us decide whom to help first?
According to the reputable poll analyst Nate Silver, there's a 1 in 6 chance Republicans could take back control of the Senate this November. But he also noted that Democrats still have a shot at picking up seats. It's up to us to make sure the odds remain in Democrats' favor -- and continue working towards securing a filibuster-proof, 60-vote majority.
That starts with ensuring President Obama's old Senate seat remains in Democratic hands. So, we're doing everything we can to elect a proud progressive, Alexi Giannoulias, right here in Illinois.
But we also need to focus our resources on the boldest, most competitive Democratic challengers around the country:
- MISSOURI: Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is running against long-time Republican Congressman Roy Blunt to replace retiring Senator Kit Bond in the Show-Me State.
- IOWA: Progressive champion Roxanne Conlin is challenging Iowa's Republican Senator Chuck Grassley. Grassley's lead is slipping as Iowans learn more about his votes in favor of big business -- and Roxanne's long record of fighting special interests.
- KENTUCKY: Attorney General Jack Conway is the progressive Democrat taking on tea-party darling Rand Paul for Kentucky's open Senate seat.
- OHIO: Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher has spent his life fighting for progressive causes and is now running for his state's open senate seat against Rob Portman, who oversaw a deficit explosion and staggering job losses as George W. Bush's Budget Director.
- NEW HAMPSHIRE: Congressman Paul Hodes is running for New Hampshire's open Senate seat against another run-of-the-mill, anti-choice Republican, Kelly Ayotte.
- NORTH CAROLINA: Secretary of State Elaine Marshall is running against Republican Senator Richard Burr in North Carolina, whose poll numbers are slipping in a swing state that voted for President Obama in 2008.
- LOUISIANA: Congressman Charlie Melancon is fighting to hold BP accountable for the Gulf oil spill while challenging Republican Senator David Vitter, whose history of scandal makes him extremely vulnerable this November.
Voters are sick and tired of seeing the same old, out-of-touch Republicans in Washington defend big oil, rake in big checks from special interests they regulate, and put big banks before big ideas for America's future.
The DickDurbin.com community was influential last cycle, raising over $100,000 in grassroots donations to elect what the Washington Post has called "one of the most productive" Congresses in 30 years. Without that hard work, so much of President Obama's progressive agenda would be dead on arrival in Congress.
By focusing our efforts on supporting the most promising Democratic challengers this cycle, we can protect -- and even expand -- our majority this November.
Thank you for voting before August 13!
Sincerely,
Dick Durbin
U.S. SenatorP.S. Forward this email to any friends or family you have in Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina or Ohio -- and make sure they know one of their candidates is in the running!
