blogger interrupted

After reading Jennifer Brunner’s post at various blogs, I found this most compelling.

For too long we have relied on a political system the sends people to Congress based on their skill in sitting in a room making telephone calls to the wealthy and powerful to raise campaign money. Some candidates will not make a personal phone call for “as little as” $250. It is a terrible way to choose who represents us in Congress, leading to policies tainted by a lack of courage to stand up for middle class Americans who live on Main Street and are the mainstay of our economic well being.

Still ailing from the last recession and having been brought down even further by the mortgage crisis and credit crunch that launched this latest recession, Ohio is among those states that can least afford to continue to select members of Congress in the same old way. This Democratic primary presents us with an opportunity to change the old ways that were clearly demonstrated in last year’s Presidential election to be outmoded and dysfunctional to encouraging full participation in a robust democracy.

To my long jaded ear, this sounds like every other candidate on earth who hates fundraising for a campaign, which is one of the most soul crushing endeavors this side of the practice of law.  It also sounds like the classic rationalization of a candidate who is not only behind in fundraising, but will likely never raise much money at all.  What’s going to keep Brunner from being just another Don Quixote candidate who loses because of this self-fulfilling prophecy?  A few things.

First, Brunner’s a statewide office holder already, and a progressive hero nationally.  Second, her natural donor base is under tremendous intimidation from people who she thought were her allies – once she files, that pressure will begin to ease until it’s gone for good.  Third, of course, is the internet.

Barack Obama has an enviable position, having raised the vast majority of his money online, in small donations, from people who hadn’t previously donated to campaigns.  This dynamic will eventually make it down the ballot, the first manifestation in US Senate races.  The most likely candidate to align those stars will be one like Jennifer Brunner.  How does she do it?  Pretty simple.

She files her petitions.