New email from Amy Klobuchar (running for Dayton's seat)

[Oreo]

It's been awhile since I've updated you on the campaign. Sometimes when so much is happening, it is hard to find a moment to reflect on how far we've come and the important journey that lies ahead. Our momentum builds every day. Our five-room office is bursting at the seams with volunteers, interns and dedicated staff. It was only eight months ago that we started with a single office and one phone line!

Now I'm not a big believer in polls (until now the only pollster I've ever had has been my dry cleaner in Robbinsdale who shares all her customers' views when I stop in with my dry cleaning). But thanks to your early support, the only independent poll in this race--the Zogby/Wall Street Journal poll--shows us 6 points ahead of Mark Kennedy! We now have 60 legislators on board, thousands of supporters across the state, and the endorsement of the United Steelworkers of America, UNITE-HERE (which includes the hotel/restaurant workers), EMILY's List, and the Minnesota Women's Campaign Fund. And don't forget the bowlers I met at Elsie's Bowling Center Sunday afternoon where my husband and I had the pleasure of supervising our daughter's Halloween bowling party of 21 sixth graders, costumes and all.

While all these endorsements, polls, and bowlers are critical to building a grassroots campaign, what's most important to me is you! I need you to join our campaign to bring Minnesota values of hard work, fair play and responsibility to the halls of Congress. Here are three things you can do to support our campaign today: 1) Tell-a-Friend about our campaign, 2) Volunteer, and 3) Make a Contribution.

Corruption

I was up in Crow Wing County this past weekend with an exhilarating crowd of Democrats (a number of whom used to be Republicans). Congressman Oberstar commented that evening that "the wheels are off" the Republican leadership in Washington D.C. The indictments and investigations in Washington have a common thread--they all involve people in power who believe they can change the laws, bend the laws, and break the laws without consequence. They think that the rules that apply to ordinary people no longer apply to them. I see this in my job with white collar cases. Maybe it starts with one minor ethical breach. They think "no one will notice if I take a little from the petty cash drawer," or they think "other people are doing it too." And from there, they don't stop. That's when my office must come in and mark the ethical line in the sand. But when these breaches occur at the highest level of government, when they take place in the context of a lead-up to a war, when they are part of an effort to expand and maintain power, when they influence what laws are passed and how the pie is divided, it is the people who must ultimately hold these officials accountable. That is what we must do in 2006.

Cronyism

When I won my first election to County Attorney, it was a hard-fought tough race. A couple of the prosecutors in our office had vocally supported my opponent. The day after I won the election I met with one, and spoke with the other. I told them that I knew they were excellent public servants, and with their consult, I offered them the opportunities they wanted. They have done their jobs without fear or favor, successfully leading teams and getting results for the people we represent. This worked because these public servants were loyal to the citizens, and I was loyal to the simple idea that merit matters. Putting a guy in charge of FEMA whose last job was supervising the judging of the Arabian Horse Association is not about merit. Giving no-bid contracts to your pals is not about merit. And giving tax breaks to your wealthiest friends, while class sizes expand, heating costs go through the roof, and pensions evaporate is not about merit. It's called cronyism, and it is our job to change it. That is what we must do in 2006.

Call to Action

Energy independence, health care reform, tax fairness, economic and international security...there is so much I want to get done in Washington. But to get there I will need your help. Please visit our website to tell your friends about our campaign or contribute. We are nearly even with the anointed Republican candidate for money in the bank, yet a third of his contributions have come from corporate PACs, pharmaceutical companies, and the like. Why are we beating the odds? Because people like you have been willing to stand up and say enough is enough to the cronyism and corruption in D.C. Because people like you have been willing to stand up against the cynical view that no one can get anything done in Washington. This is Minnesota, and we have always believed that one Senator from Minnesota CAN make a difference. With your help, we can, and I will.