Jennifer Brunner for United States Senate

We Need Elaine and the WCF

by Jennifer on 06.09.2010

I'd like to tell you about one of my national colleagues, another Secretary of State and U.S. Senate candidate, Elaine Marshall, a Democrat from North Carolina.  Like me, she was told to stay out of her state's U.S. Senate race. Like me, she didn't look back.

On May 4th, she was the top vote-getter in a five-way Democratic primary in North Carolina. She now faces a runoff election on June 22nd (she needed 40% and she won 36%).  Her prospects look promising to win the runoff, and the latest Public Policy Poll shows the Republican incumbent, Senator Richard Burr, vulnerable when pitted against Secretary Marshall (Burr 43%, Marshall 42%).

Here are some of the things I really like about Elaine Marshall:

• She's a fighter and doesn't back down.
• She's running a strong, grassroots campaign for the Senate.
• She wants to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
• She supports bringing our troops home from Afghanistan quickly.
• She will stand firm on protecting Social Security.
• She has a record of protecting consumers.
• She is not afraid to stand up for issues specific to moving women ahead.
• She respects and will protect the rights of all people.

Secretary Marshall, like me, is benefiting from direct help on the ground from the Women's Campaign Forum.  One of my key Senate race supporters contacted me Monday when she received a WCF email supporting Elaine Marshall.  My supporter forwarded the email to her adult daughter, saying:

"This is the group of the future; one that truly supports women who run for office. Sign up on their website and support them. Only by standing  and working together will we make the necessary advances. Thank you Sam Bennett & WCF!"

So here's what I'm asking you to do: 

Sign up on Elaine Marshall's website to get updates and be part of her campaign.

Sign up with the Women's Campaign Forum to stay in touch with a longstanding national organization that "gets it" that women don't move ahead by trying to fit into the way that it's always been done. WCF understands that, especially in primaries, when fund raising is tough and times are unpredictable, party machinery often characterizes diversity and a fresh approach as "inexperienced" and not worth the risk. (Elaine Marshall is the first woman elected to statewide executive office in North Carolina; she defeated legendary NASCAR driver Richard Petty, who, less than a year earlier, had been considered virtually unbeatable.) 

WCF is helping Secretary Marshall.  I can't say enough about the difference the Women's Campaign Forum meant to my campaign.  When funds were being shut down, WCF didn't walk away from me because I couldn't meet a moving-target-money-threshold test.  Sam Bennett at WCF said to stay tough, and WCF would be there for me. They were.  WCF donors contributed to my campaign as our silver bus criss-crossed the state. Now they're fighting for Elaine.  And we need to, too.

A U.S. Senate race in North Carolina is important to more than the people of North Carolina.  Elaine will be there for you and me.  Let's help her get elected in North Carolina.  Please offer her your financial support  and help WCF help others like her, because progressive grassroots campaigns and a tough fight on the ground need our money.

Thanks for all you do.

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