Week of June 17, 2004

The race is engaged in Oklahoma's second district

Last week Kalyn Free launched her advertising campaign on television and radio. Her commercials tell Free's personal story – that she's a Choctaw Indian from a working-class family who worked full-time to put herself through college. After graduating from law school at 23, Free became the youngest lawyer ever hired by the U.S. Department of Justice. Her ads tell voters about her strong record as district attorney and her unwavering commitment to fighting for the ordinary citizens of her community.

Free's primary opponent responded on Monday by launching his ad campaign. One-term state Rep. Dan Boren's resume is much less impressive, but as the son of a former Oklahoma governor and U.S. senator, he has considerable political and fundraising connections. Kalyn Free needs support to compete with Boren, stay on the air, and reach out to the voters who will help her win her July 27 primary and become the first American Indian woman to serve in the U.S. House. If she wins the primary, she could hold this safe Democratic seat for years to come.

Pennsylvania's 6th is "a race to watch."

House Race Hotline, a publication of the National Journal, called Lois Murphy's effort to unseat freshman Republican Jim Gerlach "a race to watch" in its June 10 issue. "Gerlach (R) was elected with only 51% and his CD gave 49% to both Gore and Bush," according to HRH. "Though there's not been much media attention, Dem Lois Murphy is setting up quite a campaign, and outraised Gerlach last Q, though he retained a larger warchest."

In his column in Roll Call, the newspaper widely read on Capitol Hill, political pundit Stuart Rothenberg concurs, saying "even a small Democratic breeze could enhance the chances" of Murphy and other Democratic challengers in 2004. This is seen as one of few opportunities for Democrats to pick up a House seat. Gerlach represents a moderate suburban district, yet votes like a Bush clone. He is vulnerable to a tough fight from Murphy, a community activist and former president of NARAL Pro-choice Pennsylvania. Murphy needs tremendous resources to win against an incumbent who will benefit from the funds Republicans are pouring into this key battleground state.

So much for independent thinking...

U. S. Senate candidate Mel Martinez pledged in a recent fundraising appeal to "vote for George Bush's conservative policies every chance I get." According to the Orlando Sentinel, "A spokeswoman for Martinez's campaign clarified that Martinez was an independent thinker who forms his own opinions. Then, he'll vote for Bush every chance he gets." So much for independent thinking....National GOP strategists had hoped Martinez, the former Bush administration official, would be less polarizing than Rep. Katherine Harris, known for her starring role in putting Bush in the White House in 2000. They must have been surprised to come across Martinez's divisive promise -- "I can become the Democrats' worst nightmare" -- in the Sentinel. A spokesperson said Democrats shouldn't misinterpret that line to mean that Martinez doesn't welcome Democratic support.

Meanwhile, Betty Castor's campaign is in overdrive. Castor is widely viewed as the strongest Democratic Senate candidate against Martinez or any Republican -- if she can get her message out in one of the most expensive statewide media markets and win her August 31 primary. But Democratic Rep. Peter Deutsch, who is notorious for running negative campaigns, is turning his attentions to Castor ... a close friend of Deutsch has formed an independent committee that press reports say is raising money and preparing to launch a full-scale attack on Castor. The Miami Herald reports Deutsch will go up on television this week.

Bush spending time in the "other" Washington...

Eager to win Washington state's 11 electoral votes in November, George W. Bush is making a fundraising visit this week to boost Patty Murray's opponent, GOP Rep. George Nethercutt. GOP big-shots like Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist have already made campaign stops to drum up money and attention for Nethercutt, who they hope can knock off incumbent Sen. Patty Murray. Time with the president won't come cheap: Republican donors who want a picture with Bush must raise $10,000.

Defeating Murray is part of an overall GOP strategy to turn the state into Bush country and limit the political power of women. Republicans are using underhanded tactics, like the state GOP's recently dismissed phony complaint against EMILY's List, and pledging millions to prevent Christine Gregoire from becoming the next governor. Bush and his loyal backers are desperate to prevent Washington from becoming the first state with women in all three top political offices: Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell in the U.S. Senate and Christine Gregoire in the governor's chair.

EMILY's List backs Gwen Moore in Wisconsin 4

EMILY's List has endorsed state Sen. Gwen Moore in her bid to become the first African American to represent Wisconsin in the U.S. Congress. Moore is running in a safely Democratic open seat. Victory in the Sept. 14 primary will almost certainly guarantee her a spot in the 109thCongress.

As a young single mother, Moore put herself through college and began her career working as a VISTA volunteer and neighborhood activist. She has served in the state Senate since 1993, where she's fought for prescription drug coverage, initiated the Wisconsin's Minority Health Program, and worked to create educational accountability standards for Wisconsin's schools. Moore believes passionately that government can improve people's lives. "I know government can help people lift themselves up, because it helped me lift myself up," she says.

Moore has a strong base in this Milwaukee district, where 33% percent of the voters are African American. Her congressional bid has been endorsed by the Congressional Black Caucus.

EMILY's List invites YOU to the Democratic National Convention in Boston July 27

EMILY's List invites you to join House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, former Texas Governor Ann Richards and over 2,500 EMILY's List members from across the country as we say ENOUGH! to Republicans' handling of foreign affairs, the economy, health care, education, the environment, civil and reproductive rights.

Don't miss your chance to attend the premier event of the Democratic National Convention, the EMILY's List luncheon, on July 27 -- followed immediately by the Revolutionary Women Rally. Learn more about how you can help give women and progressive values a powerful collective voice during a week where the national spotlight will be focused on Democratic presidential politics.

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