It's great to be back blogging with you all here at DailyKos!
Last week, Markos released the results of a new poll that show us running strong in Idaho's U.S. Senate race. I blogged here about the new poll numbers last Friday. But for those of you who haven't seen them, here they are:
Research 2000 for Daily Kos. 7/28-30. Likely voters. MoE 4.5% (No trend lines)
Risch (R) 42
LaRocco (D) 32
Rammell (I) 5
Undecided 17
There's something happening here in Idaho. I see it everywhere I travel, including at each of the 32 "Working for Idaho" jobs that I've taken where I'm working shoulder-to-shoulder with working Idaho families, and these numbers are telling the tale.
More over the flip.
Our own internal poll in May showed the gap at 15 points -- and now the Research 2000 poll shows us down just 10 points, so clearly we've got the momentum. What's more, our internal poll showed that once voters get to know me and get to know more about my Republican opponent, Jim Risch, poll respondents shift and choose me over Risch. Clearly, looking at these poll results, that's starting to happen.
To capitalize on this momentum and close the gap with Jim Risch even further, we just went up this week with our first big TV ad buy. You can watch our first TV ad here:
Now, this race comes down to resources. Jim Risch has spent more than $800,000 of his own money to try to buy political seats -- including nearly $500k in this U.S. Senate race alone. The people of Idaho don't like that. They don't like the fact that Risch is not even campaigning, he's refusing to participate in a statewide debate, he's running false TV ads. In short, he's taking the voters of this state for granted. Risch is part of the status quo that has failed to deliver for Idaho, and now with healthcare costs skyrocketing, unemployment rising, and our civil rights being eroded, Idahoans are looking for somebody who can help deliver real change. (Risch's campaign doesn't like progressive bloggers much either, calling them "left-wing hatemongers.")
That's why our grassroots campaign has got the momentum, why our message is resonating, and why we're moving up in the polls. With our new TV ad, we're going to reach even more Idaho voters who don't know about me yet -- and many of the disenchanted Republicans who aren't high on Jim Risch -- and bring them into our camp.
But we're going to need even more resources to keep up the momentum all the way through November. Unlike many other Senate races that cost many millions of dollars, we can win here in Idaho with a fraction of that. So the support of the netroots can make a huge difference.
I hope you'll consider supporting my campaign through our ActBlue fundraising page, where we've raised $178K and counting. A contribution of any amount makes a huge difference here in Idaho. Heck, it costs just $150 to run my new ad on local network TV. So consider sponsoring all -- or part -- of one broadcast ad spot!
As I've been saying for many weeks now: The road to 60 Democratic Senate seats runs right here through Idaho.
Thanks, everybody, for your continued support. I look forward to answering as many questions as I can over the next hour in the comments below.
-- Larry
P.S. Want to see how the blog coverage of the Idaho Senate race is playing out in the traditional media? Check out this clip from last night's local network news.
UPDATE (1:55pm MT): I've got to sign off for now. It was great blogging with you today, and I look forward to being back again soon! I'll be spending the afternoon with Moscow police and then heading off to a house party in Lewiston. Keep an eye on Idaho!