I have been excited to see the internet left get behind Paul Hackett in OH-2. It shows the power of grassroots support to help a strong progressive candidate in ways that were not really possible even 5 years ago.
Although his election is not for federal office, I am supporter of a State Senate Candidate here in Oklahoma who has a similarly fascinating personal journey to politics to that of Hackett.
Andrew Rice lost his brother on Sept. 11th and has been very active in national, progressive advocacy issues around 9/11 issues for 3 years. He won the ACLU of Oklahoma civil libertarian of the Year award last year for fighting the U.S.A. Patriot Act and the local ballot initiative to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage. He is running for an open State Senate seat in what is probably the most progressive district in a very conservative state.
I encourage you to check his website out:
http://www.andrewforoklahoma.com
and you’ll be hearing more about him in the months to come, I’m sure.
Here is also an interesting article in Salon which I found, that covers his work against the political exploitation of 9/11.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/03/05/bush_ads/index_np.html
Thanks,
Nolan in OK