Annette Taddeo, Sam Bennett and Alan Grayson-- Red To Blue

It was probably just a fortuitous coincidence but at the end of our Blue America contest last week-- which featured the generous offer of a $5,000 matching check from DCCC chair Chris Van Hollen for our winner-- checks started coming in from some previously... reticent Democratic leaders including Rahm Emanuel and Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Good for them! DWS is now officially on the Annette Taddeo train and, no doubt, was key in getting her into the Red to Blue program.

Like Annette, another Blue America candidate, Sam Bennett, moved from "Emerging Races" to... fully emerged. She's also in the DCCC's Red to Blue program now. Tomorrow afternoon the DCCC will announce that three Blue America candidates, Annette Taddeo (FL-18), Sam Bennett (PA-15) and Alan Grayson (FL-08) have been added to the Red to Blue program. Six other Democratic candidates have as well, including Michael Skelly (TX-07), Dan Johnson (NC-10), Sharen Neuhardt (OH-07), Alice Kryzan (NY-26), Jim Esch (NE-02) and David Boswell (KY-02).

Meanwhile, the DCCC has recognized the tremendous grassroots support Russ Warner has managed to mobilize and has put him into the Emerging Races category, apparently the preliminary step before the big enchilada. I have a feeling there will be more Emerging Races announced tomorrow. I'm hearing Larry Joe Doherty (TX-10).

Like we've explained before, the reason this is a big deal is because institutional Democratic donors,  wealthy insiders and, especially other members of Congress, feel a comfort level in giving when they give to candidates sanctioned by "the party." The definition of that-- for better or for worse-- is the DCCC and its Red to Blue program. That Van Hollen's DCCC seems to be paying some attention to the efforts of grassroots and netroots activists-- inconceivable under Emanuel-- is a great step in the right direction. Let's thank them today. May I suggest contributions to Annette Taddeo, Alan Grayson, Sam Bennett and Russ Warner in honor of a smart move by the DCCC?

A few more like this and we'll be looking at 70 new Democratic freshmen:



And YouTube already has an even cooler version up, so... if you want a cooler version...