Jerry McNerney's website

Make McNerney a Map Changer -- one more time!

I have some great news.

You made Jerry McNerney a Finalist in the MapChangers competition!

Thank you so much for everything you did to put Jerry over the top. At midnight on Thursday, after days of non-stop emailing, calling and text-messaging to get out the vote, you helped Jerry secure a coveted spot in the final round.

Of course, our work is not over. There's just one more step to go. The final round of the Map Changers competition just launched this morning. Can you take just a minute to make Jerry McNerney the #1 Map Changer?

Even if you voted in the second round, please vote for Jerry AGAIN in the FINAL round right now:

http://www.forwardtogetherpac.com/mapchangers

There are three easy steps to voting:

1) Login,
2) Click to vote for Jerry, and
3) Most importantly: Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click “SUBMIT BALLOT”. 

If you have a moment before submitting your ballot, please also write a short “testimonial” for Jerry as well.

The last three weeks have been an amazing ride, from winning the Progressive Patriot and DFA “Grassroots All-Star” competitions to being selected as a Netroots Endorsed candidate and making it to the finals of Forward Together’s Map Changers competition.

Day by day, you have been there every step of the way, putting Jerry on your shoulders and carrying him from early June’s overwhelming primary victory to Friday’s great news.

Can you carry Jerry just one more time? Please take a minute to make Jerry McNerney a Map Changer right now:

http://www.forwardtogetherpac.com/mapchangers

Thank you!

Eden James
Grassroots Director
McNerney for Congress

p.s. want to know if the campaign filled the new $250,000 "boot" after blowing past the original $200,000 quarterly goal on Wednesday? We're processing everything right now. Stay tuned!

McNerney: Pombo refuses to "just say no to Big Oil"

After the passage in the House today of a bill backed by Richard Pombo seeking to end the ban on offshore drilling, Jerry McNerney released the following statement:

Today Richard Pombo proclaimed, "you can't say no on everything." But time and again, when given the chance to draft legislation that would actually reduce our nation's dangerous addiction to oil, Pombo refuses to  just say "no" to Big Oil.

The bill that just passed the House is just another example of Richard Pombo being the number one shill for Big Oil in Congress. The legislation is so outrageous that even Governor Schwarzenegger and President Bush have come out against it.

I have called Richard Pombo "Big Oil's Best Friend" because he has no problem putting the best interests of Big Oil ahead of the American people. Pombo's bill is riddled with industry-friendly loopholes that blow yet another hole in the Federal budget. In addition, the bill would give states a maximum of three years to ban offshore drilling; providing Big Oil lobbyists time to derail any offshore drilling moratoriums at the state level.

If Governor Schwarzenegger and President Bush understand that this bill is bad for America, why doesn't Richard Pombo?

If you would like to share your thoughts with Jerry McNerney on Pombo and this bill, please take a moment to post a comment.

Go for it! Only a few hours left...

Before I get to the wonderful news, if you haven't already voted for Jerry McNerney at Forward  Together's "Map Changers" contest, please VOTE NOW!

http://www.forwardtogetherpac.com/mapchangers

There are several candidates jockeying for a Top 5 spot in the final round -- Jerry is in third place and the deadline is TONIGHT (Thursday) at 11:59 p.m.!

Now the shockingly good news. Two days ago, we set a goal of raising $200,000 by this Friday's Federal Election Commission reporting deadline. At that point, we had raised about $148K and figured $200K was an ambitious goal, especially since we "only" raised $61K in the ENTIRE first quarter.

I know I shouldn't be surprised -- especially after what you have accomplished in the last few weeks -- but Marivic and Nicholas, our finance team leads, just showed me the latest numbers. And I'm floored.

You filled the boot! In less than 48 hours, you raised over $50,000 to meet our original second-quarter goal!

Please don't stop now. If we are going to defeat Richard Pombo, it's going to take every last nickel and dime to do it. 

http://www.jerrymcnerney.org/contribute

To those who have given, Jerry wanted me to let you know how grateful he is to have such enthusiastic and generous supporters. And I want you to know that in all of the campaigns that I have worked on, from Ohio to California, I have never seen such a deep commitment to a candidate. It's amazing.

If you have not contributed yet, you still have until midnight on Friday to send a strong and clear message to the pundits and power brokers that we, together, can put an end to Pombo Politics.

Before 11:59 p.m. on Friday night, please click here to contribute $50, $100, $250 or whatever you can afford up to the federal limit of $2,100!

http://www.jerrymcnerney.org/contribute

IMPORTANT NOTE: I've been getting this question from a number of supporters, so here's the answer: Yes, even if you contributed up to the $2,100 federal limit during the primary election, you can still contribute any amount up to the $2,100 federal limit for the general election. They are separate elections.

Thanks for all that you do!

A.J. Carrillo
Campaign Manager

p.s. please don't forget to vote for Jerry by 11:59 p.m. tonight in the second round of MapChangers competition at:

http://www.forwardtogetherpac.com/mapchangers

You are making a *real* difference

You e-mailed your friends. You called your family. You text-messaged everyone in your cell phone. You posted comments on blogs and Yahoo Groups, telling the world that “we ALL live in Richard Pombo’s district.”

Because of you, Democracy for America has announced that I have won the “DFA Grassroots All-Star” congressional campaign competition! I don’t know if I can express how much this means to me. I am truly humbled and honored by your support.

Now that our people-powered movement has won the DFA Grassroots All-Star competition, garnering more votes than 34 other excellent candidates, the stakes have been raised even higher. I know that you've spent a lot of time helping me recently, but now I need your support again. It is very crucial to our campaign.

The all-important Federal Election Commission second-quarter deadline is coming up on Friday (June 30) at 11:59 p.m. and we need to post strong financial numbers to show the pundits and power-brokers that we can defeat Richard Pombo.

Please keep our incredible momentum going by contributing any amount you can afford right now:

http://www.jerrymcnerney.org/contribute

From the ripple I caused when I decided to run against Richard Pombo -- when no one else would stand up to him -- to the grassroots tidal wave you created with your online and offline actions, WE are building a movement. Together.

The DFA competition may have literally been decided by your specific action. One e-mail. One phone call. One text message. Every single action counted because every single person who acted decided that they wanted to make a real difference and then told their friends that they could make a difference as well. That’s democracy in action.

Please act now and decide to make a real difference. Again.

http://www.jerrymcnerney.org/contribute

Dollars demonstrate our financial power -- the ability we'll have to efficiently and effectively contact thousands of voters with TV ads and a strong neighbor-to-neighbor field campaign. More importantly, however, the number of donors demonstrates our people power -- the grassroots excitement that translates directly into "feet on the street" and votes on Election Day.

To win, we'll need both -- lots of dollars and lots of donors. A strong fundraising quarter, both in dollars raised and in the sheer number of people who are standing together with us now, can make a big difference. So far, we’ve raised almost $150,000. If a little more than 1000 of our supporters donate $50 each between now and Friday at 11:59 p.m., we’ll meet our $200,000 second-quarter goal!

Please stand up now and be counted by Friday’s crucial campaign finance reporting deadline:

http://www.jerrymcnerney.org/contribute

You and I know how important it is that hard-working folks in the 11th Congressional District have honest and accountable leadership in Congress. You know how important it is that we stand up against the culture of corruption currently infesting Washington. You know how important it is that we send Richard Pombo back to his ranch in November. Permanently.

To do this, we need to show the media, Washington, and our voters that Team McNerney has the resources, strength, and momentum to put an end to Pombo Politics. And we need to do it by Friday.

Please contribute $50, $100, $250 or whatever you can afford today -- before the June 30 FEC campaign finance reporting deadline!

http://www.jerrymcnerney.org/contribute

After you contribute, please forward this request to your family, friends, and neighbors and let them know that, with their help, we’re ready to take down Pombo and take back Congress.

No matter what you can give today, you will make a very important difference in this election. By contributing now and telling your friends about our campaign, you will send a strong and clear message to the pundits and power brokers that we, together, can put an end to Pombo Politics.

Thank you so much for your support!

 

p.s. with a little more than 48 hours to go in the next crucial candidate competition, I am running second in Forward Together’s “Map Changers” contest. We need to place in the Top 5 to make it to the final round. If you haven’t already voted, please vote now and tell your friends!

Jerry Wins!

Democracy for America has just posted the official results and...

Jerry McNerney won DFA's Grassroots All-Star competition!

From DFA headquarters in Burlington:

It was a big weekend at DFA Headquarters, where Luigi and Chris spent the weekend auditing and verifying the votes. What a close race! Over 25,000 of you voted, and today we are proud to announce that Jerry McNerney is our newest Grassroots All-Star!

You cast your online ballots, you got the word out to your friends about Jerry McNerney, and you crossed your fingers after the Friday deadline. Thanks to you, we did it!

More to come...

50-State Strategy: California - Talking with Jerry McNerney

The Democratic Party Blog recently posted a great interview with Jerry McNerney.

Excerpt:

What made you decide to run for Congress?
After September 11, 2001 my son joined the Air Force to defend our country. He is now a commissioned officer, and in 2004 he called me and said there was no one running in the Democratic primary in 11th Congressional District, and said 'I want you to do your duty like I did and run for Congress'. After thinking about it for a while, I decided to run for Congress because I felt a duty to my son and a duty to my country.

What do you see happening in the CA-11th?
I have a positive vision for the District; I want to create thousands of jobs by transforming our District into the "Silicon Valley" of renewable energy - by fostering bio-fuel, solar and wind energy opportunities. This has really resonated with people I have talked to. They are interested in these technologies, on ending our nation's dependency on foreign oil, as well as concerned about pollution and asthma rates which are on the rise and some of the highest in the nation.

Moving into the General Election, what is your strategy for success?
Last Thursday I joined the two other Democratic Primary candidates for a unity breakfast and we will be working together in the future. We won the primary with a great campaign team, a good ground game, and outreach into the District, and we'll win in November the same way. The grassroots have been a very big help and an inspiration. I feel humbled by how dedicated my supporters are. If this is what it takes to move our country forward, this is what we are going to do. We are going to appeal to our grassroots and netroots supporters and make a change.

Read the full interview now.

You may not believe this

Before I get to the surprising news, I know you have all been waiting to hear about what happened on Friday.

On behalf of Jerry McNerney, our dedicated staff, and and our passionate volunteers, I want to say:

THANK YOU!

What you did over the last week is simply astonishing. We asked you to help Jerry win the DFA "Grassroots All-Star" competition and your response was beyond our wildest expectations.

 

You e-mailed, called, and text-messaged tens of thousands of people across America asking them to vote for Jerry. Meanwhile, your grassroots financial contributions made it possible for us to take our campaign to the netroots, where over 600,000 readers per day are viewing Jerry's new blogad on Daily Kos and other blogs (click here to see Jerry's blogad).

 

You got the vote out. Now you want to know the results, right? Well, as many of you know, the competition was neck-and-neck right up to the last minute. While the actual winner will not be announced until Monday, Jerry was in first place at the deadline on Friday.

 

It's NOT official, however. The vote is being audited by DFA. Needless to say, it would be a David vs. Goliath grassroots triumph if Jerry actually garnered more votes than our esteemed competitor, a very popular radio talk-show host with major media connections and a large network of supporters.

 

Cross your fingers, everyone, and hope the news is good on Monday.

 

OK. So what's the surprising info that you may not believe? It's about the other challenge we put to our supporters -- voting for Jerry in Gov. Mark Warner's Forward Together "MapChangers" competition.

Like the DFA "Grassroots All-Star" competition, Jerry is competing in the second round (of three rounds) against candidates running for the House of Representatives. But that's not all. Jerry is also competing against candidates running for Senate and Governor. Unlike our grassroots campaign, these are candidates who have vast resources at their disposal -- large staffs, e-mail lists, and budgets.

 

Jerry has done surprisingly well, actually placing third in the "West" regional standings for the last three days -- with the most votes of any House candidate -- but running behind two candidates running for Senate and Governor. This is quite an accomplishment, given how many excellent Democrats are competing.

 

So, I just logged on to the updated Map Changer standings.

 

Because of your phenomenal commitment to spreading the word, Jerry is now in second place -- ahead of Chris Bell, who is running for Governor of TEXAS! 

 

WEST

1. MT-Sen Jon Tester
***2. CA-11 Jerry McNerney***
3. TX-Gov Chris Bell
4. CO-06 Bill Winter
5. MN-02 Coleen Rowley

 

This is absolutely amazing.

 

Jerry McNerney, almost completely unknown to a national audience until just recently, is now getting more votes than a candidate running for Governor in Texas. Think about that for a moment.

 

Our campaign is reaching a tipping point. Like many of the incredible political internet stories of the last few years, Jerry McNerney is going viral, as the word spreads across every online nook and offline cranny of this country.

 

George W. Bush may be the "decider" but you are the influencers. Your passion and commitment is why we now have the power to turn this campaign into a national movement -- the McNerney Movement -- to take down Richard Pombo and take back Congress.

 

If you haven't done so already, please make Jerry a "Map Changer" now:

http://www.forwardtogetherpac.com/mapchangers

 

Don't stop there.

As you may know, the second-quarter Federal Election Commission deadline is coming up this Friday, June 30. We need your help to post strong numbers for the quarter and demonstrate that Jerry will have the resources necessary to win. Stay tuned for an important message from Jerry about this goal very, very soon.

 

For now, please contribute $35, $60, $125, $250, $500 or any amount up to the $2,100 federal maximum.   

If you have already voted to make Jerry a Progressive Patriot (we won!), a Grassroots All-Star (we'll see!), and now a Map Changer (we can do it!), please consider reinforcing your vote with a financial contribution to McNerney for Congress. To win on November 7, Jerry needs your generous support now.

http://www.jerrymcnerney.org/contribute

Thank you again for everything you are doing to help Jerry defeat Richard Pombo.

 

Eden James
Grassroots Director

McNerney for Congress

 

p.s. keep www.jerrymcnerney.org spreading www.jerrymcnerney.org the www.jerrymcnerney.org word!

Two Clicks to Take Back Congress

I may be leading Richard Pombo in the polls (46 to 42 percent, according to Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research) but I’ll need money – and lots of it – to send Pombo and his Big Oil buddies packing.

Democracy for America's “Grassroots All-Star” competition and Forward Together’s “MapChangers” competition are both tremendous opportunities to raise the profile of our campaign nationally – and raise the funds necessary to win in November.

These competitions are VERY IMPORTANT to our campaign. I am competing with several excellent candidates but I know we can win if you take just one minute right now to cast your online votes.

Please vote right now and then tell your friends that it only takes two clicks to take back Congress!

The final round of DFA’s competition started Monday and -- to win -- I need you to vote AGAIN before Friday at 2 p.m.:

http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote/

NOTE: Even if you voted in a previous round, you can still vote AGAIN!

IF WE WIN: DFA will send a national fundraising e-mail to over 500,000 people that could raise tens of thousands of dollars before the all-important quarterly FEC deadline on June 30.

DEADLINE: This FRIDAY, June 23, at 2 p.m. PST (5 p.m. EST)

Gov. Mark Warner’s Forward Together is also conducting a national vote to determine its next “MapChanger”. After you vote in the DFA competition, please vote at:

http://www.forwardtogetherpac.com/mapchangers

IF WE WIN: Forward Together will cut a $5,000 check to our campaign and advance us to the final round. Grand prize: A major fundraiser hosted by Gov. Mark Warner.

DEADLINE: Thursday, June 29

Burning up shoe leather and phone lines, you demonstrated to the pundits and power-brokers on Election Day that grassroots, on-the-ground, people-to-people politics works.

Now it’s time to open your address books to bring even more people into our movement. Remember to tell your friends that we all live in Richard Pombo’s district -- especially given Pombo’s impact on our environment.

Please vote right now and then tell all of your friends, family and neighbors!

http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote/

http://www.forwardtogetherpac.com/mapchangers

Thank you for all that you are doing to help me defeat Richard Pombo.

Feingold announces McNerney as Netroots favorite in "Pick a Progressive Patriot" YearlyKos competition

Wonderful news from Russ Feingold's Progressive Patriots Fund:

 The Progressive Patriots Fund announced Jerry McNerney as the winner of “Pick a Progressive Patriot: YearlyKos,” a special round of its popular online voting event. McNerney is challenging Rep. Richard Pombo in California’s 11 District.

“This round of the ‘Pick a Progressive Patriot’ was a huge success,” Feingold said. “Over 50 candidates were nominated from 24 states, but in the end McNerney received the most support from a very enthusiastic group of bloggers and online activists. We are happy to send $5000 to the McNerney campaign and we thank everyone who participated in this round of ‘Pick a Progressive Patriot.’”

"If we are going to change this country and return honesty, integrity and accountability to Congress, it will be from the bottom-up," said McNerney. "That's why I'm thrilled to receive the support of the grassroots and the netroots and I'm honored to be picked as a Progressive Patriot by Russ Feingold."

The netroots news just keeps getting better. Four hours after Jerry asked the McNerney Movement to support him in Democracy for America's "Grassroots All-Star" competition, Jerry shot from 6th to FIRST PLACE!

It's not over, of course. There are less than 48 hours to go in the competition and anything can happen. If you haven't voted yet or you haven't told your friends about the vote, please click here now:

http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote/

Deadline: 2 p.m. Friday

Eden James
McNerney for Congress

Please vote for Jerry now!

On Election Day, you put Jerry McNerney over the top. 

Your time, your energy, and yes -- your dollars -- produced 
an overwhelming Democratic primary victory, building 
significant momentum towards defeating Richard Pombo in 
November and taking back Congress. 

Even though Jerry's most formidable opponent spent 
nearly *twice as much money* in the primary, Jerry 
garnered nearly *twice as many votes*. This was a 
tremendous accomplishment for the grassroots -- for all 
the people who have worked so hard over the last two 
years to dial and door-knock Jerry's campaign to victory.

Now Jerry needs your help to put him over the top again. 
And all it takes is a couple of clicks.

Please take less than ONE minute of your time right 
now to vote for JERRY MCNERNEY in Democracy for 
America's "Grassroots All-Star" Congressional 
campaign competition.

http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote

This endorsement vote is very important to Jerry's 
campaign. As you may know, Democracy for America 
(DFA) is an influential national organization committed to 
supporting fiscally responsible, socially progressive 
candidates at all levels of government and building the
Democratic Party from the bottom-up. 

DFA is hosting an online vote, the "Grassroots All-Star" 
competition, to determine which Congressional candidate 
will receive their next coveted "DFA-List" endorsement. 
That endorsement will raise the profile or Jerry's campaign 
nationally -- and raise the funds necessary to defeat 
Richard Pombo in November.

Can you help Jerry become DFA's next "Grassroots 
All-Star"?

http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote

Voting for the first round will close on FRIDAY at 2:00 p.m. 
Pacific Standard Time (5 p.m. EST). The top five 
candidates will advance to an instant run-off round 
starting on June 19 to determine DFA's next DFA-List 
candidate.

According to DFA's Field Director, right now Jerry is in 
6th place -- just 50 votes behind!

Your vote counts! It only takes a couple of clicks to show 
DFA and Democrats from coast to coast that our campaign 
is fueled by the most incredible renewable energy resource 
around -- you!

http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote

There are 33 other excellent candidates who want 
this coveted endorsement. All of the candidates in the 
competition are running for either a Republican-held 
seat or an open seat. Here are the results for the top 
10 candidates so far, as of 11 a.m. PST today:

1. Nancy Skinner (MI-9)
2. Patrick Murphy (PA-8)
3. Lois Herr (PA-16)
4. Charles Brown (CA-4)
5. Stephanie Studebaker (OH-3)
--------------------------------------
6. Jerry McNerney (CA-11)
7. Dave Loebsack (IA-2)
8. Phil Avillo (PA-19)
9. Coleen Rowley (MN-2)
10. Patricia Madrid (NM-1)

Remember, only the Top 5 candidates will advance 
to the next round starting June 19! Jerry needs your 
vote *right now* (and no later than Friday at 2 p.m.)!

http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote 

Burning up shoe leather and mouse pads, you 
demonstrated to the pundits and power-brokers 
on Election Day that grassroots, on-the-ground, 
face- to-face politics works.

You are the real Grassroots All-Stars.

Thank you for all that you do.

Eden James
Grassroots Field Director
McNerney for Congress

p.s. once you have voted, please tell your friends, 
family and neighbors. With several other excellent 
candidates seeking DFA's endorsement, Jerry needs 
all the votes he can get. You are a trusted source. 
Please tell your friends right now that it only takes 
a couple of clicks!:

http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote