Dear Lucas,
This election cycle is heating up. If there's one thing we learned from the primary elections this year, it's that anything can happen! We have watched some stunning outcomes in races all across the country, where right-wing Republicans beat moderate (and more electable) opponents, giving us new possibilities for victories on November 2.
Unfortunately, since Republicans won't be competitive in many of these races, they are diverting even more money to races they think they can win -- the races they must win to allow them to take control of the Senate.
Barbara Boxer, Patty Murray, Robin Carnahan, and Elaine Marshall are all running strong campaigns in tough but winnable races that have moved to the top of the GOP target list. They need us to step in and give them the resources to fight back against the avalanche of Republican money heading their way. Their crucial September 30 filings are just five days away, and they need your help today if they are going to be ready.
These races have been top GOP targets all along, but now the Republicans have even more at stake -- and more to spend. If we don't help these women, the GOP could succeed in taking the majority -- and filling the Senate with extremists. I've been in tight races before and know how much the support of EMILY's List means in the crucial final weeks of a campaign. We have so much important work to do, and I really need Barbara, Patty, Robin, and Elaine with me in the Senate!
Thanks so much for your support.
Sincerely,
Sen. Debbie Stabenow
BARBARA BOXER, California
A progressive stalwart in the race of her career
OPPONENT: Failed ex-Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, who's been called the "new face of the pro-life movement"
THIRD PARTY GOP SUPPORT: Sarah Palin, Karl Rove's American Crossroads GPS, anti-choice Susan B. Anthony List, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
LATEST POLLING: Shifting daily, slight edge to Boxer
POLITICAL SITUATION: This race is reaching fever pitch, with the GOP and third-party groups lining up for a chance to attack Boxer, who's been a leading voice in the Senate on choice and the environment. A little over a week ago, Boxer gained a slight edge in the polls, leading to a sharp increase in spending on third-party attack ads. The GOP is chomping at the bit to take this seat, and it's clear they're willing to spend what it takes. Fiorina, who refers to climate change as "the weather," spent millions on her primary, and just launched her own ads for the general election. She's also been courting tea party groups and has pledged to overturn Roe v. Wade. Statewide races in California are among the most expensive in the nation, and Boxer needs your help today to defend herself from the barrage of attacks being aimed at her on the airwaves.
PATTY MURRAY, Washington
A Senate leader in a GOP must-win race
OPPONENT: Anti-choice Dino Rossi, known as "Dirty Dino" for his shady business dealings
THIRD PARTY GOP SUPPORT: Norm Coleman's American Action Network, Karl Rove's American Crossroads GPS, Jim DeMint's Senate Conservatives Fund, National Right to Life PAC
LATEST POLLING: Shifting daily, slight edge to Murray
POLITICAL SITUATION: This seat is a GOP must-win, and they're going to any length to defeat Patty Murray, the highest-ranking woman in Democratic Senate leadership. Murray has been the target of some of the earliest attack ads this election cycle, and the ad buys are increasing every week. With Rossi now up on the air as well, this may be one of the ugliest races this cycle. Recently, Murray has been able to build a slight edge in the polls because she's been able to get her message out to voters on the airwaves, but she needs your help to stay on the air throughout the coming weeks.
ROBIN CARNAHAN, Missouri
An open seat pick-up opportunity against a D.C. insider
OPPONENT: U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, who's said the federal government shouldn't have gotten involved in Medicare
THIRD PARTY GOP SUPPORT: Karl Rove's American Crossroads, National Right to Life PAC, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
LATEST POLLING: Toss up
POLITICAL SITUATION: The GOP knows that the Missouri Senate race is going to be a nail biter and are already targeting Carnahan with a heavy wave of attack ads. Just last week, Karl Rove's American Crossroads spent an additional $330,000 on television against her and in an unprecedented move, Fox News, the same outlet that has donated more than $10,000 to Blunt's campaign committee, is suing Carnahan's campaign. Blunt, named one of the most corrupt members of the U.S. House by a nonpartisan group, has millions to spend in his effort to convince voters he's not a Washington insider. Carnahan is a proven statewide vote-getter, but this race will be close. She needs your support to defend herself on the airwaves and make sure every supporter gets to the polls.
ELAINE MARSHALL, North Carolina
A challenger to an entrenched incumbent
OPPONENT: Senator Richard Burr, who voted to keep domestic violence as a pre-existing condition
THIRD PARTY GOP SUPPORT: Karl Rove, Sarah Palin, National Right To Life PAC
POLLING: Burr leads, but his support is soft and lots of undecideds
POLITICAL SITUATION: Polling shows Burr with some of the lowest approval ratings of any Republican Senate incumbent in the nation. Burr is staunchly anti-choice and called the Lilly Ledbetter Act to end pay discrimination "political theater." But Burr has a multi-million dollar war chest to draw from in the final weeks of the campaign, and a cadre of special-interest allies on his side. Marshall is building support across the state, but Burr has already gone up on TV, so she needs your help to get up on the air and stay there through election day.