I've
been hearing a lot of talk about what we're up against in the
critical 2006 elections as we take on the corrupt, power-abusing,
Swift Boat style-attacking Republican Party.But, truth is, they
need to worry about what they're up against.
Just look at what we've done in the last twelve months. Time and
again, we've demonstrated that we have the power and political will
to fight for the things we value most and for the candidates who
embody those values.
This past November, our 3 million citizen volunteers helped
spearhead Get Out The Vote efforts in critical Democratic victories
across the nation ... And since the end of 2004, together we gave
$4.5 million to Democratic candidates, committees, state
parties, and progressive causes.
We mobilized to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
from the Bush-Cheney drill-at-any-cost onslaught... And we
garnered endorsements from over 700,000 citizens, from every
state in the nation, for our Kids First Act to provide health care
for the 11 million uninsured children.
Our national lawyers' network helped ensure that the
voting problems of 2000 and 2004 were not repeated in 2005, and it
is poised to do it again in 2006.
You also helped me travel around the country to rally
citizens, engage grassroots volunteers, and help raise funds on
behalf of Democrats.
In Pennsylvania, we've helped Bob Casey wage a strong
Senate campaign that has incumbent Rick Santorum on his
heels. Long a poster boy for mindless support of Bush policies and
the right-wing agenda, Santorum is now scrambling to convince
Pennsylvania voters otherwise.
In Washington state, we've stood by Senator Maria Cantwell.
She joined me in leading the fight to protect the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge - and now powerful oil company special interests are
coming after her with everything they've got.
In Florida, we're helping Senator Bill Nelson, who is
running for re-election against Katherine Harris. As you
know, Harris made a name for herself by playing a leading role in
the 2000 Florida voting fiasco, and we will not allow her to parlay
her partisanship into a seat in the Senate.
And that's just a small sampling of the dozens of candidates who
have come to count on us to be there for them. Together in 2006,
we're going to do even more to help pull through to victory
Democrats running at the local, state, and federal levels.
We'll defeat candidates who refuse to challenge the Bush/Cheney
administration's illegal, warrantless spying ... We'll replace
Republicans who have refused to lift a finger to end the Bush
administration's mind-numbing incompetence... We'll end the careers
of Republican politicians who have cozied up to unethical lobbyists
and sold out the American people.
And, we'll be there, each and every day, to make sure no Democrat
stands alone in the face of the Republicans' desperate, underhanded
election tactics and facts-be-damned campaign ads.
Thanks for all you've done to help Democratic candidates set the
stage for victory. And stay tuned for the next steps in our work
together.
Sincerely, John Kerry