The Dean Dozen

Democracy for America just endorsed its first 12 candidates it is endorsing. While the organization is picking out hundreds of races in the longer term, these first 12 are special and seem to be a special breed of grass roots activism.

The Illinois news is that Barack Obama got the nod. After an astonishing election that no one predicted the margin of victory, that shouldn’t be surprising. He is one of the most amazing politicians I’ve ever seen. Despite being from a state known for insider politics, he has run a campaign of grass roots excitement.

But I have a special reason to be excited.

In a strange twist, a woman down the block from me is one of the 12 and is running for my State Rep. I have yet to meet her, but everyone seems to think she is impressive.

Maria Chappelle-Nadal for Missouri State House. Maria has won the support of the grassroots in this race. Democracy for America is behind her in her campaign to take back the State House for Democrats. www.maria2004.com

But I’m still holding back on you about why I’m so excited. As I made impassioned pleas at the end of last quarter, several of you met the call to donate to Jeff Smith’s campaign. That helped him match fundraising with a longtime conservative state legislator, and Russ Carnahan–a man who has had millions spent on his name here in Missouri the last few years. I thank you for that. Jeff is positioned to be one of the three to come out of that race.

Jeff is a close personal friend and pretty much if I could build a Congressional Candidate from scratch, he would be it. Smart, principled, funny and dedicated to social justice while fiscally responsible all describe Jeff.

Jeff and I aren’t the typical political science grad students. First, Jeff can’t do hard math. But that is a different story. Second, we care passionately about the actual communities we live in and have stayed in grad school longer largely due to our concern and commitments. We sit around and talk about Congressional Districts while many of our colleagues talk about regressions. Okay, I’m a geek and do both.

At the American Political Science Association meetings in 2002, Jeff went while I was busy preparing for the twins. He met a Governor running for President we both had a great deal of respect for who was talking to academics. He seemed a bit of a wildcard–fiscally responsible and not too exciting he was definitely my kind of guy. My first reaction was why the hell would a serious candidate bother with academics. Apparently Governor Dean made the same joke to Jeff. Jeff and him talked over the 2002 and 2003 and we both marvelled at how he was the only one taking the fight to the Bush. Being in Gephardt territory, we were sort of lonely though Jeff had worked in Iowa before and was considering what to do next. Go back to Iowa and work for someone or finish his dissertation.

Then Gephardt announced he woudn’t seek reelection, but this wasn’t too big of a deal. Several established progressives were considering the race and Jeff went over the demographics with them. When none entered, he decided that the race was too important to pass up and got in himself.

Much like a Governor from a small state without a lot of press, everyone wondered what the hell this guy was doing. Now, everyone is wondering how he is doing it. While he has a ways to go before the primary, no one is dismissing him anymore. He has won grassroots endorsements over bigger names in trench warfare. Carnahan did everything he could to beat Jeff for the state’s largest township organization and still came up short.

Jeff isn’t likely to flame out–in fact, he can only improve at this point. This is the good fight and I’m happy to have a front row seat.

Thank you Democracy for America and thank you Governor Dean for continuing this fight. Dean isn’t going to be President, but his legacy can still lead to change. And I can think of no one better than Jeff.