The guy has now called me, live and in person, twice during this campaign. I mean, come on. Dude is running for Congress in a highly competitive race. How is it possible that he is personally calling people like me, a guy who doesn't even live in his district? Something's fishy...
More below the fold, some of it even snarkless....
I came home last night to a message on my answering machine from Ashwin Madia, Democratic candidate for Congress in Minnesota's 3rd district. It was not a recording, and it was not a volunteer. It was Ashwin himself, telling me that the campaign is going well, that he believes he's going to win, and that he wants to give me an update on the campaign. He asks me to CALL HIM BACK, on his personal cell phone.
Now, full disclosure: while I don't live in Mr. Madia's district, I have given him some money. Not a lot-- maybe 200 bucks (I can't recall exactly). I gave him this money a few months ago when, again, the guy called me to ask for it. I don't know about all of you, but I am a sucker for the personal sales pitch. If a real live candidate for Congress asks me, one to one, for some dough, I have a hard time refusing.
So presumably when I call him back, he's going to ask me for some more money. And you know what? He's going to get it. If you're wondering how Mr. Madia has raised more money than just about any other candidate for Congress this year, here's the answer: he is working harder than any other candidate. If he's calling small fries like me, personally asking for money, then my god, how much time must he spend each day on the phone? It boggles the mind.
But I think it's clear that his fundraising prowess is not due to luck. Let this be a lesson for all of our future candidates. I'm sure there are lots of people like me out there, people who simply cannot resist being sweet-talked by a future member of Congress. I give candidates money for lots of reasons: because their house burned down and they're a great progressive leader (Darcy Burner), because they're a courageous unabashed liberal running a campaign of truth in a tough district (Barry Welsh), because they're not Joe Lieberman.... I don't give a whole lot, but apparently I've given enough to various candidates (I've broken the bank for Obama, starting very early on) to get on some lists.
I do sometimes respond to solicitations via e-mail, or to appeals made on behalf of a candidate on Daily Kos. But a personal phone call? That's just too hard to resist.
Congratulations, Ashwin Madia, on running perhaps the finest campaign this cycle. I wish I could vote for you (I live in a very safe D district, Betty McCollum's). But instead, I'll be opening my wallet once again to help you on your way.