Dean’s Democracy for America endorses McCamley

Democracy for America, which calls itself the “largest progressive political action community” in the nation, has endorsed Democrat Bill McCamley in the 2nd Congressional District race.

“We have all seen what can happen when big oil men get sent to Washington: profits over people and $4 dollar gas – with no relief in sight. Big oil money can buy you a fancy car, a mansion and maybe even a private jet. But it shouldn’t be able to buy you a seat in the House of Representatives,” the group wrote today in an e-mail to its 675,000 members. “That’s why DFA is proud to endorse Bill McCamley for Congress in New Mexico’s second district. This is a Republican-held open seat that we can win with this election, but Bill has to face a self-funding oil man in the primary first.”

That “self-funding oil man” is Democrat Harry Teague, who has loaned his own campaign almost $700,000.

Howard Dean founded DFA in 2004 to manage the Internet aspect of his presidential campaign, and it has grown into a force that helps progressive candidates across the nation. Though McCamley isn’t yet listed on its endorsements page, the list of candidates the group backs is short. It includes only 14 House and Senate candidates.

The DFA e-mail asked members to contribute to McCamley’s campaign, and that has propelled McCamley to becoming the third hottest candidate on the liberal fundraising Web site ActBlue this week. As of Thursday evening, he had raised more than $4,700 through the page DFA set up for him.

“This is the beautiful thing about the Internet,” McCamley told the New Mexico Independent. “When a large amount of people give small amounts, it allows you to fight people who rely on big donations like my opponent.”

“Bill is running a true grassroots campaign and has the progressive record to back it up,” the DFA e-mail stated. “… We need a new generation of leaders who are dedicated to getting things done for the people they represent, not pandering to special interests. Bill McCamley is ready to lead the people of New Mexico to a brighter future.”

As I’ve disclosed in the past, I’m friends with McCamley. Click here to read more about that.