Over a month ago, Dan Grant released his first ad, "A Fresh Start in a New Direction". Since then it has been on CNN, News 8 Austin, and other cable channels, and it appears Grant's message is striking a chord with Democrats.
In a recent Hill article Democrats give the ad high marks.
Another ad from Texas Democratic congressional candidate Dan Grant features flag-draped coffins and calls for an end to the Iraq war. Despite its generally taboo imagery, the ad scored well among Democrats, garnering a 6.7.
The scale is from zero to 10, and while Democrats are responding to the hard-hitting ad, Republicans don't appear to like being confronted by the truth.
Republicans gave it shoddy marks, including a 2.4 for its appeal.
To see the ad, click here. To learn more about Dan Grant click here.
Dan Grant continues to attract national attention. This story was posted on The Hill last night...
Another ad from Texas Democratic congressional candidate Dan Grant features flag-draped coffins and calls for an end to the Iraq war. Despite its generally taboo imagery, the ad scored well among Democrats, garnering a 6.7.
Republicans gave it shoddy marks, including a 2.4 for its appeal.
Grant is running for Rep. Michael McCaul's (R-Texas) seat.
For those of you who haven't seen his ad, it is hard-hitting, but addresses a critical issue. As a veteran, I understand the uneasiness an image of a flag-draped coffin can inspire...however, I also think that ignoring the fact that there are far too many Americans coming home this way is unconscionable.
I have spent the last few months volunteering for Dan. Having depended upon U.S. Service members for his personal safety in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo, Dan is now dedicating himself to fighting for their safe return. This veteran would much rather have someone representing him who is willing to talk about hard-hitting issues and work for solutions, than an empty suit who says it is unpatriotic to disagree with the War in Iraq. Dan is fighting to bring my friends home, and I'll do everything I can to make sure he is elected.
The Federal Communications Commission is moving ahead with plans to help big media get bigger. A rally happening right now in front of FCC headquarters in Washington, D.C., is designed to slow the rush toward even more consolidation.
My opponent should break his silence on this important issue and explain whether he is working for the Texas taxpayers who own the public airwaves or Clear Channel, his family's mega-media company.
Call McCaul at 202-225-2401 and remind him who owns the public airwaves.
It’s World Series week, and Congressman Mike McCaul is about to get another chance to improve his batting average when a measure providing uninsured Texas kids the kind of health insurance program he enjoys comes up again for debate.
So far, he’s batting 0-2.
First, he voted against the bi-partisan SCHIP bill that would have extended coverage to nearly 1.4 million Texas children whose parents work hard and earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford private insurance. Then, he remained in lockstep with the Bush-Cheney administration and voted against overriding the President’s veto.
Forty-four Republicans joined the Democratic majority in voting to override last week and guarantee access to affordable health care for the children of parents who are working hard and playing by the rules. They ignored the misinformation spread by the White House and did the right thing.
My opponent once more failed to do the right thing today.
He again put his loyalty to the Bush-Cheney administration ahead of his obligation to the families who pay for his own health care with their taxes but can't afford the same rights for their own children.
Central Texans were looking for more leadership and less followership in Washington, D.C. today, because with more uninsured children than any other state, we had more to lose. We didn't get that leadership today.
(Vote to override is today -- dial those phones! - promoted by Phillip Martin)
The U.S. House Thursday is scheduled to vote on whether to override the President's controversial veto of the bi-partisan State Children's Health Insurance Program. Rep. Mike McCaul should vote to provide more than 1.4 million uninsured Texas children the health care they need.
Unfortunately, McCaul voted against uninsured kids and for insurance industry special interests the first round. Will he find the moral courage to do the right thing today? Will he finally make Texas priorities his priorities?
Michael McCaul is showing his fiscal responsible side. Looking at Congressman Clear Channel's third quarter report, it appears Mr. McCaul owes nearly $50,000.
Raised for quarter: $77,145
Money Raised from Individuals: $38,895
PACs: 38250
Raised to date: $364,642
Quarterly expenses: $85,659
Cash on hand 9-30-07: $124,874
DEBTS OWED: $170,857
The other surprise is the fact that McCaul is operating at a ten thousand dollar loss. Not a good sign for an incumbent Congressman.
The general math use to be that a Congressman needs to raise $5,000 a week to even be competitive. That is roughly $60,000 a quarter, and that is old math. Another problem is, that arithmetic doesn't factor in a $170,000 debt. This is staggering and shows how competitive the 10th congressional district is this cycle.
This race keeps getting more and more interesting.
The junior Congressman From Clear Channel has been notably silent during the uproar over rightwing talk show host Rush Limbaugh's attack on U.S. troops who oppose the White House's misadventure in Iraq as "phony soldiers."
Now Rep. McCaul's brother-in-law, the CEO of the company that broadcast Limbaugh's diatribe, is defending the indefensible.
The 10th Congressional District is a winnable seat. Kuff has said so, thus, it must be true. In the final hours of the quarter, the TX-10 is getting more national attention, and the number one way to prove a race can be won is sadly proving you can raise money early. That's why two national bloggers are pushing their candidate in the TX-10.
As Matthew Yglesias mentioned today this race to defeat captain clear channel, Mike McCaul, is an important race in what could be another wave election.
It's not a CQ-certified competitive district and probably shouldn't be. But these are the kind of races you can win if there's a wave, and they're also the kind of races of which a wave of victories is made.
Markos wrote a fantastic write up on Wednesday showing the importance of early money and infrastructure development, and the TX-10 is an important example of how early money could change the dynamic for this race.
Why the national attention? It appears Dan Grant is on the road talking about his plan to defeat Mike McCaul and he has seemingly won over Ezra Klein.
I've met Grant a couple of times now and have come away continually impressed. His background is in the foreign service, and he's spent time reconstructing civil society in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. It's a background which would not only be good for his votes, but good for the Democratic Caucus, which desperately needs credible foreign policy voices whose personal expertise will enable them to stiffen spines in Congress and convince their colleagues that all national defense thinking needn't be outsourced to DC's permanent foreign policy establishment.
Grant's race, in an oddly gerrymandered district that includes Austin, Texas, is a longshot, but a winnable one. And Grant's a more interesting -- and useful -- candidate than most. If his race picks up buzz, it will focus national attention on a credible Democrat just back from Iraq whose able to loudly argue that Republicans have been deeply incompetent in conducting American foreign policy. So if you're looking for a race to pump some early cash into, Grant's a good choice.
Yglesias, Kos, and Klein all show how this is a race on the bubble and early financial support for Dan Grant or Larry Joe Doherty will make a huge difference by next November.
