The Blue America PAC was formed on August 24, 2006 to raise money to put "Have You Had Enough" on the radio in the form of 60 second advertising spots for various Blue America candidates. We did low-dough radio advertising campaigns for Charlie Brown (CA-04), John Laesch (IL-14), Angie Paccione (CO-04), Victoria Wulsin (OH-02), Robert Rodriguez (CA-25) and Chris Murphy (CT-05) and a cable TV campaign for Tony Trupiano (MI-11). For the 2008 elections we are aiming to go beyond "dollah a hollah" media markets and apply the lessons we learned in 2006 to make ourselves more effective and more helpful to the candidates our community backs. Please watch Firedoglake, Crooks and Liars, and Down With Tyranny for updates.

Steve Cohen was a Tennessee state senator for 24 years and he did such a great job that when Congressman Harold Ford decided not to run again, Steve won a 15-way primary and then a 3-way general election-- by a landslide. Since then he's been busy doing something I wish more congressmen would do-- keeping his campaign promises. He's already co-sponsored 4 bills and 2 resolutions-- the binding kind-- that would end the war in Iraq.

Donna was one of the most exciting and refreshing candidates Blue America backed last year. Her race is a primary against corrupt and reactionary Al Wynn on FEBRUARY 12. Think about how soon that date is and dig deep. There are few contrasts as clear between Democrats as the one between Donna and Wynn. Donna Edwards is the grassroots candidate who represents forward-looking ideas and solid progressive values. Al Wynn represents the corruption and reactionary politics of Harold Ford.

As a no-nonsense attorney prosecuting war profiteers in Iraq, Alan Grayson has already accomplished more outside of DC than the hapless and corrupt incumbent could ever imagine. Alan would be the worst nightmare Insider criminals could ever imagine. He literally knows where all the bodies are buried. And he's not shy about discussing impeachment. With Alan Grayson in Congress, no one will be sweeping the crime of the century under the rug. Be sure to check out his live FDL debut (Jan. 26) if you want to see why we're so enthusiastic about him.

Are you wondering why we decided to help John Hall raise campaign funds again? Easy! He's a stellar progressive who ran on a platform of great ideas and promises-- and since he's been in office he's been working with intelligence and energy to fulfill them.

As a member of the Albuquerque City Council Martin was elected President by his fellow council members because he is a unifier who can reach out and work with people who have disparate positions. At the same time, his own enlightened and progressive views are well-grounded and effectively advanced. He's been an outspoken advocate for the rule of law and recently did a guest post at DWT about why retroactive immunity is a fatally flawed approach. Recently he won an overwhelming victory at the Democratic convention among the crowded field of candidates seeking to replace Bush rubber stamp Heather Wilson.

Last year Dan came closer to beating a Republican rubber stamp incumbent than anyone else in NY State who didn't actually do it. In 2008, Dan looks like a good bet for accomplishing just that. Listen to Dan on this video making a case for ending the occupation of Iraq.

Eric Massa was great candidate in 2006 and he came close to beating rubber stamp reactionary Randy Kuhl. He's learned a great deal since then and we're hoping that he'll join many of our freshmen congressmen who won on their second tries. The DCCC has a great TV ad running on Randy Kuhl's misplaced priorities.

Jeff Merkley has a long and distinguished record as someone who fights effectively for working families. His record in Oregon is as long as that of Senator Gordon Smith's but otherwise the two have little in common. Smith, a typical rubber stamp Republican who tries voting like a moderate a few months before he has to face the voters, has been as consistent a champion of special interests as Jeff has been of ordinary Oregonians. After Jeff won the Democratic primary in May, he stopped by FDL to introduce himself. Now we're proud to welcome him to our list of Blue America endorsed progressive.

These days it isn't that hard to find Democratic candidates who espouse the solidly progressive positions that are required to win a Blue America endorsement. It isn't even that hard to find men and women, like Gary Peters, whose own records show their dedication to those positions. But Jane, John, Digby and I are looking for something even beyond that in our candidates-- men and women who show signs of being selfless leaders of a progressive movement that will change the course of go-along-to-get-along politics. There is plenty of factual information about Gary on his website and we think we have found the leadership qualities we are looking for in Gary Peters. See if you agree at Gary's first live session at FDL. If you want to learn more about Joe Knollenberg and what he's been doing in Congress, there's a new site specifically dedicated to that called JoeKnollenbergDelivers.

Jared Polis won a hard-fought 3-way primary against two worthy Democratic opponents. Blue America has been enthusiastic about his potential as a progressive leader for a long time and we are excited to endorse him on the night of his victory. Jared will be the first openly gay man to ever win a seat in Congress as a freshman.

Mark is the progressive Democrat who represents the Battle Creek and Jackson area of south-central Michigan. He's also the state's Senate Democratic leader. He's been drafted to run for the congressional seat, which is now held by one of the most extreme right wingers in Washington, DC, Tim Walberg. There is a large coalition of bipartisan support coalescing around Mark, someone who has proven himself in tough, sometimes lonely, battles for the values and principles that motivate him. Take a look at his new TV ad about keeping jobs in Michigan.

Carol Shea-Porter is the quintessential grassroots congressmember, truly someone who represents her constituents, not special interests and not the Inside-the-Beltway political establishment. That alone makes her a treasure worth cherishing. From the first we heard about her race to replace rubber stamp incumbent Jeb Bradley, it was obvious she would be an independent voice in Congress. She's been a promise keeper and an indefatigable worker to right the wrongs created by the Bush Regime. She has also asked the DCCC to stay out of her race. It's an honor to assist this great woman, great and truly, one of us, to fight to keep her seat.

Margi Vanderhye has attracted the most contemptible Republican running for office anywhere in America, right-wing operative Barbara Comstock. Margi is clearly the better candidate but Comstock's campaign coffers are overflowing with donations from every far right extremist you ever heard of. We really need to pitch in and help make sure Margi can get her message out.