video at link(talking to Ed)
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/10/25/913210/-Thank-You-All-For-Your-SupportIt-Means-The-WorldThese last few months have been the kind of challenging, inspiring, difficult, wonderful experience you don't often have in public service. Many of you know that I have a very close race on my hands, and that I've reached out to the progressive community for support. I want to thank each of you, and everyone else who's helped out, for the amazing response. I'm not exaggerating when I say it's going to be the difference in this election.
This race has become about much more than one person, one seat or even one campaign cycle. Conservatives want to silence the progressive movement, and they think this is their chance. Outside groups -- Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform, the Chamber of Commerce, the astroturf 60 Plus and still others -- have poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into my district, hoping to turn this into an auction instead of an election. Negative ads have blanketed the airwaves, including one with Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl sitting in front of a black background telling the camera why I'm such a bad person.
Unfortunately, it's not just political talk that's come our way this year. An envelope with swastikas and a white powder was sent to my Congressional district office in Tucson a few days ago. I talked about that ugly incident with Ed Schultz the day afterward.
As I say, it's been challenging.
But it's also been truly humbling, because so many of you have shown such tremendous support, good wishes and encouragement throughout this political season. That support has kept this race on an even playing field, because we can't rely on the kinds of outside corporate money Republicans bring bear for months before every election. I thank you again from the bottom of my heart for all you've done.
Please remember, and remind your friends, that there is nothing inevitable about winning. We can look at trends, demographics and long-term projections and tell ourselves that progressives will own the future without any special effort. It might feel good, but we need to remember that we have to act now, when it matters most to the millions of working families who need a hand up and think about voting Republican because they're so damn mad about the status quo. Person-to-person relationships mean more to how people vote than any other factor. If you tell people why privatizing Social Security, cutting funding for public education, and passing big new tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest individuals are bad ideas, they'll listen.
Get out the vote. Get your friends to get out the vote. Offer rides if you can. Go to your local headquarters and offer to walk or get on the phone. There are always ways to be helpful, and even small gestures -- like cooking some food for hungry volunteers -- are appreciated immensely.
We're progressives, which means sometimes we're dreamers and sometimes we're pragmatists. Right now, we all need to be pragmatists. The country is looking at the prospect of Republicans claiming a mandate they didn't earn and using it to end the progress we've made on jobs, infrastructure, health care and other issues people want to see progress on. Please do everything you can from now until election day, because Tea Partiers aren't taking a minute off.
Thank you once again for all you've done and for all you'll do over the next eight days. We're stronger when we work together, and right now we're all working harder than ever. That makes us stronger than ever.
Peace.
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