DAY TWENTY-EIGHT - AL GROSS

Sep 26

Day Twenty-Eight | Al Gross | Alaska Senate
678 Sawbuck Patriots | $7173 pledged today | $228,037 donated overall

Dear Team:

First, a note that came in just seconds too late to be included in yesterday’s email:

Dear Sawbuck Patriots:

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude for your generous donations to my campaign yesterday. As we like to say here in Jackson, Mississippi is not an expensive state to run in -- your dollars will go further here and are, even now, having a meaningful impact in this race.

I have been greatly moved by the outpouring of support that I have received over the last several days and know, as we all do, that flipping the Senate is more important now than ever.

I’m running for Senate because I love Mississippi and because strong leadership dedicated to moving this state forward will make a real difference in the lives of the three million people that live here. We have got to get Cindy Hyde-Smith out of office and put this seat in the hands of a Democrat who will fight for Mississippians’ right to affordable healthcare, a quality education, and good jobs.

Your support in that effort is so appreciated.

Best wishes,

Mike Espy

THE SITUATION: Alaska. It is a state with a disproportionately high number of registered decline-to-state/no party preference voters, and as of late, it hasn’t sent a bunch of Democrats to federal or statewide office. (Yes, we all remember who the most famous Alaska federal candidate turned reality show participant was, you betcha!) Partially due to the 53% of Alaskans who feel the state is headed in the wrong direction, they’re expecting higher than usual turnout this year - and with that comes an opportunity to turn the tide.

In addition, the Permanent Fund Dividend (that’s the money from the Live In Alaska And Get Some Federal Money For Doing So Because Thank You fund, unofficially) creates an opportunity for everyone to easily request and receive an absentee ballot, and remarkably - rural ALASKANS, who are frequently Alaska Natives, historically vote for DEMOCRATS. Yay for Rural Democrats! There’s a seriously concerted effort underway to register unregistered rural Alaskans, and work with them on their plan to vote - lots of organizers are in the field.

THE OPPOSITION: Dan Sullivan is a first-term incumbent. He won by only 6000 votes in ‘14, which was a very strong R year. (He didn’t get to 50% of the votes - Dem plus Libertarian plus Independent votes totaled 52%.) You probably haven’t heard a ton about Sullivan, because he hasn’t introduced a bunch of stuff. He has, however, been clear about his stands: anti-choice, supportive of shredding the Iran nuclear deal, opposed to universal marriage, and appreciating his A rating from the NRA. And since bravely taking on Trump during the Access Hollywood tape scandal in '16, he, like nearly every other R in the Senate, has fallen in line behind the President.

(Narrator voice: “You can see Russia from his house!”)

And in recent days, Sullivan has become embroiled in a scandal. Executives at a mining company that seeks to get federal permits to operate a copper and gold mine near Bristol Bay were caught on videotape talking about their strategy to gain Senator Sullivan's support for mine permits; Sullivan is on the defensive, explaining that he reallyreallytruly is against the mine, but the veracity of his opposition is being disputed and debated. (The mine would affect the fishing industry.) It's a very Alaska issue!

OUR CANDIDATE: Dr. Al Gross is a commercial fisherman and orthopedic surgeon who was born and raised in Alaska. (Same resume as LOTS of people you know, right?) He started an orthopedic practice in Juneau, taught surgery in Thailand, and got his Masters in Public Health from UCLA. When Sen. Sullivan voted to eliminate Obamacare, Dr. Gross decided it was time to run for Senate, to bring some representational sanity back for Alaskans.

An important technicality that I don’t want to hide from anyone: Al is running as an Independent, but with the full support of the Democratic Party - there isn't a D in the race. Much like Senators Bernie Sanders and Angus King, he’ll caucus with the Dems if he wins. He’s got deep roots in the state - his dad was Alaska’s Attorney General, and worked to create the Permanent Fund and the Permanent Fund Dividend. Dr. Gross is a known quantity in Alaska.

The ads Gross is airing about his opponent and the mine scandal are getting attention. Our dollars go PLENTY far in Alaska; the largest state in size, it’s the third-smallest state in population, with about 730,000 people. And like our recent findings on the Mike Espy race, while the numbers haven't looked good for much of the race, a recent poll done by a pollster unaffiliated with either campaign found them tied 43%-43%.

Sawbuck Patriots, it’s go time: click HERE and send $10 (or more) to Mike's campaign. Our collective effort will invest $7173 today.

Thank you.

- Alex

Alex Clemens

DAY TWENTY-EIGHT - AL GROSS

Sawbuck Patriots, it’s go time: click HERE and send $10 (or more) to Mike's campaign. Our collective effort will invest $7173 today.

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