I've decided not to campaign for Hillary.

[PdxSean]

After closing my law practice and (soon to be) listing my house for sale, I was planning to volunteer for the campaign to elect Hillary Clinton as President. On further reflection, I think it would be better to help wherever necessary to take back the Senate.

First, we know the Republican controlled House will use any excuse, no matter how fraudulent or disingenuous, to investigate Hillary Clinton for so much as sneezing, and they've already proved willing to impeach a President for purely political reasons.

Second, Hillary will need the Senate to confirm her judicial nominations, including any Supreme Court vacancies.

Hillary needs at least one chamber of Congress if she is to have a fighting chance.

Oregon is left of center, as are our Senators. Thus, I'll be traveling to I know not where to help some Democrat take a seat from a Republican. Any suggestions?

[leftofcool]

1. I think that is a smart move on your part.

Hillary has plenty of people on the campaign trail. I don't think we have enough out there for our state and local elections. Good for you!

[frazzled]

2. Illinois and Wisconsin, for starters

The Tammy Duckworth and Russ Feingold races are competitive, and we could flip two Republican seats. And you could work both states: northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin are a hop skip and jump apart. Tammy might need more help.

[PdxSean]

4. I really like this idea, frazzled! Thanks!

[Tal Vez]

3. Well, there is lots of room for improvement in Alabama. ;-)

[think]

5. Here's a a short list of Republicans seeking reelection in toss up states

The entire list is at the link with possibility rankings.

Rubio (FL)

Kirk (IL)

IN (Coats)

Ayotte (NH)

Portman (OH)

Toomey (PA)

Johnson (WI)


http://cookpolitical.com/senate/charts/race-ratings

[imaginary girl]

9. add IN

While you're working with WI and Illinois, you might help out Evan Bayh, who has a decent chance to beat Coats in IN!

[salin]

38. the race for governor is also now very interesting in Indiana

[PdxSean]

10. Thanks, think!

[2naSalit]

11. Isn't Feingold

running for Senate in Wisconsin? If he is, I'd say go help him get back into the Senate, he's against Citizens United in a big way and could get back into Committee Chair positions if we get a majority. I would rather energy was placed there than the one House seat in Montana.

[think]

15. Yes. He's running against Johnson. Would love to see Feingold back in!

[2naSalit]

18. Same here, he's one who

should have never left. At least his trying to get back in, hope he wins the election, Johnson's a ...

[DFW]

46. I talked to Russ for nearly half an hour about ten days ago

He knows he'll have a superior amount of Koch money tossed against him, but he's cautiously optimistic about his chances to reclaim his Senate seat. He's not letting up for a minute, though, until the election returns are in.

[WheelWalker]

6. There are also state races here at home that can use help, including Governor.

[The Second Stone]

7. I am so jealous. I wish I could close my law practice

but keep my house.

[PdxSean]

36. I got lucky.

With the crazy housing market in Portland, I'm hitting the escape hatch with my home equity. Ideally, I'll find a way to catch the kids BEFORE they get caught up in our "justice" system.

[AwakeAtLast]

41. That's incredible!

Good for you!

[The Second Stone]

44. Yeah, don't let them go to law school!

Or did you mean the other end?

[2naSalit]

8. Montana.

We have one House seat and we need to get rid of the TPer we have now. There is a fine lady who won the primary on the D ticket... Just a thought.

[PdxSean]

12. Are Dems actually going for the House?

I'd love it if Democrats were scratching and biting to take the House, but that isn't the sense I'm getting. I'd love to be wrong on this.

[2naSalit]

17. I would imagne that to be the case for any open seat

held by a R at this point. At least I would hope so.

[forjusticethunders]

20. It can be done. Trump is THAT toxic. He's literally walking Voter ID for the GOP.

[DFW]

47. We are, but we're not overestimating our chances

It's an uphill battle, and unfortunately, the Republicans are not stupid enough to concentrate a majority of their resources on the presidential race. They know the House is their last and best chance to thwart Hillary's agenda.

[2naSalit]

56. Unfortunately true.

[Maru Kitteh]

31. Zinke the Twinkie. I hate that guy.

If that f'ker stays in Washington long enough mark my words, he'll start running for Prez.



On the upside, between all of our college towns, art towns, resort towns and Butte which is freakishly Union and Dem, I honestly think we have a good chance of making some blue magic this election year.

[madaboutharry]

13. Iowa

Democrat Patty Judge has a chance of taking the seat from Charles Grassley.

[mountain grammy]

14. I had hoped to do that for Bernie, but I love your idea..

Hoping to trade our camper for a small motorhome by Sept, and I'm hitting the road. Would love to see New England in the fall again, so New Hampshire sounds good. I'll have plenty of Hillary bumper stickers too. Wisconsin and Pennsylvania sound good too.

[Maru Kitteh]

32. That sounds lovely, mountain grammy! nt

[msongs]

16. i we could get 1 million california dems to spread around the nation a bit...voila, landslide nt

[democrattotheend]

19. Why not go to a swing state that also has a competitive Senate race?

Then you can do both simultaneously.

[PdxSean]

26. Ooooh, a double-whammy!

[Wednesdays]

43. Using the list above,

Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania fit the bill, among others.

[dbackjon]

50. ARIZONA

[Lochloosa]

21. Florida

[McCamy Taylor]

22. Trump is gonna flip the Senate and maybe the House, too.

Campaign against Trump. That's the ticket.

[DFW]

23. How far are you willing to travel from home?

PA, IA, NH, NC, IL are all tough but within reach. Closer to home, Cortez-Masto is in a tough race to keep Reid's seat Democratic in Nevada. She could use all the help she can get as she'll never match the Koch money being poured in against her.

[PdxSean]

25. Luckily, I can go anywhere.

I'm going to try to get an idea of what any particular campaign would have me doing. Other than phone-banking (which I absolutely hate doing), I'm pretty open.

[DFW]

27. In that case

I think my choice would be with Maggie Hassan's campaign to take Kelly Ayotte's seat in New Hampshire.

[No Vested Interest]

37. Your skill as an attorney, despite states having different election laws,

should make you a valuable asset in many states.

[uponit7771]

45. +1

[63splitwindow]

24. Safe travels, you will be doing good work...

[RandySF]

28. I would urge you to help hold the Nevada seat.

Last edited Sat Jul 30, 2016, 03:49 AM - Edit history (1)

Biggest bang for your buck.

[Warren DeMontague]

34. Probably closest, too.

The west coast is in the bag.

[Firebrand Gary]

29. Florida or Pennsylvania (Maybe Arkansas)

They're the most critical for the GE and it's possible that we could pick up the Senate seats as well. Rubio and Toomey are both crazy obstructionist, Rubio with further ambitions.

Side note: Connor Eldridge is top tier candidate in Arkansas, I can guarantee the we're going to put up a fight for that seat as well, keep your eye on him, he may need all the help he can get.

[PdxSean]

35. Vile!

Just watched that video. The clip of Trump humiliating the woman by referencing her "down on her knees" is nothing short of vile. I thought my view of him couldn't get any lower.

[DemonGoddess]

30. Campaigning from the ground up!

There are also governorships up for grab.

...and, while campaigning for the Senate seats and whatnot, you could still throw in a word or three for Hillary!

[Warren DeMontague]

33. I'm on Team Tammy Duckworth.

For starts.

[athena]

39. Why do you need to make a distinction?

If Hillary wins big, she will probably carry the Senate and the House as well. If many new voters who came in with Bernie Sanders vote for Hillary and all the Democrats down-ticket, then this will easily happen. If disenchanted Republicans who vote for Hillary can be convinced to vote for a few other Democrats as well, it would be icing on the cake.

I admire your decision to volunteer in a swing state, but is it not possible to campaign both for Hillary and for a member of the Senate at the same time? Maybe I'm missing something.

[Person 2713]

40. Please come to the Midwest . The weather will be nice up until election time!

[cally]

42. Yes, contact the local Hillary campaign

There will be groups going to swing states. Tell them you want to mostly work on Senate campaigns. It will be much easier to get plugged in and put to work by going through the campaign. I've done it both ways. Best to go through campaign.

[rug]

48. Take your pick.

http://www.dscc.org/races/

[dbackjon]

49. Arizona

Ann KirkPatrick has a great chance to defeat John McCain

Hillary Clinton has a great chance to beat Donald Trump here

Paul Penzone has a great chance to win over Joe the joke sheriff

In Southeast Arizona Matt Hynes is a true progressive and has a chance to turn that seat

[DinahMoeHum]

51. As Hillary herself has said: she can't do this alone.

Wishing you the best of luck.

[renie408]

52. WE could use you here in NC. n/t

[niyad]

53. a most excellent idea! we do need a decent senate, at the very least, to back up HRC.

[LAS14]

54. Good for you!!! But I get really tired...

Last edited Sat Jul 30, 2016, 05:03 PM - Edit history (1)

... thinking about you tearing around the corner of Lake Michigan from Indiana to Wisconsin and back. You have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to where to work.

I do like Sanders' constant call to take back the senate AND HOUSE. Maybe we can't get the house this time, but it'll sure be easier next time if we reduce their majority.

Also, reading this inspires me to go to NH and campaign for Ayotte's competitor.... whoever that is. (I'm from Boston).

[LAS14]

55. You've definitely inspired me!!!

I've picked a close by senate and house candidate and have donated and signed up!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512327618

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512327658

[BainsBane]

57. Clinton generally works with coordinated campaign efforts

Meaning she joins her campaign with Democratic races up and down the ballot. So when you canvass for her, you're also working for Democrats from your state house and senate, US House, and governors and Senators (provided the last two are up for election in your state). Therefore you need not choose between supporting the top of the ticket and down ballot races.

For out of state campaigns you can make donations or phone calls, but the most effective method is face-to-face contact with voters, and generally that means in one's vicinity.