INVASION FROM PLANET ZYRKTOR!

Dear Lucas,

EMERGENCY -- EMERGENCY -- EMERGENCY

APOCALYPTIC FUNDRAISING EMAIL WARNING!

Sick and tired of emails that make it sound like, without your $5 contribution, aliens from the planet Zyrktor will surely enslave all of humanity and force us to work in their underground salt mines?

Me, too. So I’ll level with you. There’s no alien invasion. The world won’t come to an end if you delete this email.

But here’s what might happen. We might not reach our September fundraising goal in time. We might not have the resources to answer attacks from my Republican opponent and his special interest allies. I might lose. Minnesota might have a Senator who votes with the Koch brothers instead of the middle class. That might open the door for those aliens to -- no. Not that last part.

We don’t need to exaggerate, because I know you understand that what’s really at stake is important enough: Can you chip in $5 to help?

Look, I know how obnoxious these emails can be. It’s not enough that you get about six hundred of them a day -- why do they always have to sound like the universe is about to implode?

The honest answer is that we don’t have to manufacture urgency. The reality of what’s happening in Minnesota is enough. My Republican opponent is gaining on me, according to four recent polls showing this race in single digits. And if my grassroots supporters don’t rise to the challenge, he could well overtake me -- and it might be too late for me to fight back.

Still, I will try to refrain from apocalyptic subject lines and overheated rhetoric. I know you know what’s at stake. And I know I can count on you.

Please click here to chip in $5 toward our September goal!

Thanks,

Al

P.S.: If the Zyrktorians really do invade, all bets are off -- I’d rather read an overblown fundraising email than end up in one of those salt mines. But until then, here’s a nice, calm, straightforward “extra ask”: We really need your help to meet our September fundraising goal. Can you chip in $5 today?