November 5, 2008

Shocker! Nader Out (Plus Senate News)

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Ralph Nader has withdrawn from the race. Writes the Free Press:

“The streets are going to be filled with revelry … both here and in Africa,” Nader predicted, followed by a 10-minute denunciation of most of the Democratic Party candidate’s policy and record.

Good times.

In Senate news, Democrat Kay Hagan will defeat Republican Libby Dole in North Carolina (Dem pickup), Democrat Jeanne Shaheen will defeat Republican John Sununu in New Hampshire (pickup), Democrat Mark Warner will defeat Republican Jim Gilmore in Virginia (pickup). Democrat Tom Udall will defeat Republican Steve Pearce in New Mexico (pickup). Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will retain his seat, defeating Democratic challenger Bruce Lunsford (no pickup).

All the safe seats are progressing as you would expect. Franken, Begich, Merkley, and the other Udall (other potential pickups) are still outstanding.

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WE CAME UP SHORT.

We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. The reality, for these next few months and next few years, is that we have to start finding ways to grow our online supporter base in a big way—and we're optimistic we can keep making real headway by being real with you about this.

Because the bottom line: Corporations and powerful people with deep pockets will never sustain the type of journalism Mother Jones exists to do. The only investors who won’t let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its future—you.

And we hope you might consider pitching in before moving on to whatever it is you're about to do next. We really need to see if we'll be able to raise more with this real estate on a daily basis than we have been, so we're hoping to see a promising start.

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