The southern tier is hardly the ’state’s most conservative’ part! Really, way to fill in on the upstate stereotype. I think the honor goes more to Staten Island and parts of Westchester. The southern tier is definitely more ‘old school’ NY republican (which is called ‘liberal’ in the rest of the US) in a blue collar sort of way. But the war and the collapse of NY’s republican party has cost the GOP even there.

Here’s how red the 29th district of New York is: in Steuben County, home of Corning Incorporated, Hillary Clinton and Eliot Spitzer both lost the county last Novemeber, Hillary by a wide margin. Massa lost Steuben County and Chemung County, where I live, but won the Rochester suburbs.

Those of us in the 29th hope against hope to convince our fellow red state friends to change their minds and oust Randy Kuhl, who was a complete dud in his many years in the State Assembly and has been a blank check for Dubya to write upon in his three plus years in Congress.

Eric—

To clarify about the notes from the candidate, a very short note is enough!!

At least for this contributor.

Wishing you the best of luck in ‘08. We’re rooting for you.

Short it is … Eric

Cindy Sheehan called to us to rally and we did. if you and your friend the General called, we’d be there again.

me too!

i really look forward to making that a reality – but first we’ve got to help you get to congress!

Come and join us!

To clarify about the notes from the candidate, a very short note is enough!!

At least for this contributor.

Wishing you the best of luck in ‘08. We’re rooting for you.

And thank you HOWIE, for your tireless (24/7/365) efforts for BLUE AMERICA.

So glad you guys are on our side!

Blessings and love to you and everyone who supports Blue America at FDL.

AZ Matt @ 35

Eric,

If you were in Congress righ now what would tell Pelosi she should do next in confronting Bush and the Republicans on the war? And what do think might work to bring the rest of the Dems into line?

I envision a National gathering on the Mall with as many like minded voters who would gather under the leadership of the Democratic Party to show the entire Nation that we are united in standing together and telling the world that we must announce our departure from Iraq today. I don’t want to give the neo conservatives anything that will allow them to continue to discredit our commitment to the security of the country so this must be done in a manner that speaks to all Americans without radicalizing out efforts.

We must tell the world that this war is making the international security of our own country more at peril and to tell this President that he will hear the will of the people and respect our right to direct the course of the Nation. We must hold the leaders who brought us to this division accountable.

Legislatively I would like to see a series of straight up or down votes that place the Congress on the record. An ad campaign that transmits those votes via mass media and an accounting for all involved.

Just ideas.

Eric

Cindy Sheehan called to us to rally and we did. if you and your friend the General called, we’d be there again.

Eric —

I’d like to thank you for the excellent donor communications effort in your last campaign. You always wrote to thank me for contributions, which I appreciate very much. Being so far away from your district, hearing directly from you makes me feel connected to your work on the ground.

There’s some disagreement about written thank-you letters, and the investment required, but I wanted to let you know that your notes meant a great deal. From my own work, long ago, in campaigns, I know that on a rainy day with a bunch of eager volunteers, putting together thank-you mailings is sometimes the best use of their time. Please let your supporters know that their hard work means something.

Thanks again.

It’s funny that you mention that because there was disagreement. I sent out thousands of thank you letters and cards during the six weeks that followed the election because I felt strongly that every contributor deserved to hear from me … they were all signed by me, often with as much writing that I could include but it is an effort that some disagreed with. I will continue to do as I did and send out my own thank you letters in the late evening and early morning when time permits.

Thanks for the kind comments.

Eric