This is going to be a quick diary because I have another event to run to in less than an hour. However, I will be back tomorrow morning to answer any questions or comments you may have.
First, I am proud to announce that I have been endorsed by Democracy for America. As one of 11 New Jersey candidates chosen, and just 1 of 2 not running for the State Legislature, I am honored and humbled to have received the endorsement of an awesome, forthright progressive organization. I have a picture of myself and Howard Dean from 2004 on my refrigerator; it is my hope that, when I am elected to the Berkeley Heights Township Council on November 8th, I can emulate his tell-it-like-it-is demeanor and open dialogue with his constituents.
Five years ago tonight was maybe the best night I ever had in politics. Best victory party ever. Best crashing of the gate. But it didn't happen in New Jersey.
Five years ago, I was in a crowded print shop hastily slapped into a campaign HQ for Ned Lamont's upstart primary challenge to Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman, who functioned - along with others like Rob Andrews of NJ - as a chief propagandist for George Bush's big lie of WMD's in Iraq. This was Bridgeport, Connecticut. I got pulled in by Jim Dean, DFA Chair and brother of founder Howard Dean. The Deans were a study in brotherly self-control. Howard, then-Chair at DNC, couldn't get near endorsing one Dem over another, but he had just run for President on the same anti-War platform 2 years earlier. Jim was all-in. So was DFA.
Bridgeport Lamont HQ was an undulating mosaic of open laptops, pizza boxes and water bottles, TV cameramen stepping over canvassers on 10-minute break, and people speaking in half-sentence shorthand. DFA signs everywhere, SEIU's purple bus parked outside. A woman came over to yell me back onto the phone bank. But one of the CT bloggers told her that every time I got on my computer, New Jerseyans piled into cars pointed at the Nutmeg State (one of those was future NJ Senate candidate, and my DFA compatriot Jeff Gardner).
Summertime, and the livin' is, well, it could be easier. But, whether you're down about the debt-deal, wilting from the heat, or feeling the mid-summer blues, I've got a great pick-me-up fix for you. DFA at the Beach.
What started as a chance to blow off steam on the waterfront for the DFA folks and assorted progressive friends in Monmouth and Ocean counties during the Bush years has become an annual statewide gathering of the democratic wing of the democratic party. It's totally informal, fun, FREE (you pay for your own food/drink), and families/children are more than welcome!
Do you have to be a member of DFA to come? No, come hang out anyway. If you hang out here at Blue Jersey, you'll definitely see people you know at DFA at the Beach. It's no secret that there's a lot of cross-over between DFA and Blue Jersey. The homeblog was founded by Juan Melli (now spokesman for public transport-friendly Hoboken), and both Rosi and I have been involved with DFA for ... omigod, it's going on 8 years.
So, bring your people - friends, spouses, and kids of all ages for some fun and sorely-needed progressive comraderie. Moby's Deck has a good (but not expensive) bar and soft drinks, and decent seashore deck bar food. There are big picnic tables there for easy conversation, and part of the deck is in full shade. Sandy Hook beach, part of the National Seashore, is within sight of Moby's Deck.
Allow me to headline it for you: Purely social. No fundraiser. Free admission. Families & friends welcome. Great waterfront deck bar - order off the menu: drinks, sodas, seafood, burgers, kids menu. Good hang-out time with fellow progressives. See you there?:
7th Annual DFA at the Beach When: Sat. August 6th at 3-6pm (or later)
Where: Moby's Deck
2 Bay Avenue, Highlands, NJ 07732
(off Rt. 36, last exit before Sandy Hook)
Menu/Directions for Moby's Deck RSVP for Saturday's DFA at the Beach.
Democracy for America, which has long tracked Michele Bachmann and got behind her opponent Tarryl Clark in the last election (to see Bachmann raise money on the spectre of DFA founder Howard Dean) is reaching out to supporters across the country to ask whether they should get behind an effort to pressure the Minnesota congresswoman with the shiny, righty future to debate Cherry Hill, NJ teen Amy Myers on the Constitution.
You've heard about this. Myers, a 16-year-old Cherry Hill High School sophomore, was troubled by inaccuracies in Bachmann's claims - about the Constitution, public school education, women and the kind of basic civics questions most intelligent school kids know by heart. Her letter to Bachmann, with its invitation to debate her on these issues, a hot feature story, went national.
For her initiative, Amy, a very smart cookie, got called a whore and worse by the stupid cookie's Tea Party supporters. There were threats of rape, and threats to publish Amy's home address, the better to harm her. But Amy Myers is one brave citizen.
Today, we kick off a 10-day Countdown to March 24th, the day we join progressives in New Jersey and across the nation to raise money for Jeff Gardner's campaign for the New Jersey Senate. March 24th is Money Bomb Day.
We've heard from all corners of NJ that Jeff's campaign is a statewide progressive priority. Here at Blue Jersey, we're proud Jeff's one of our own. Everyone here knows about Jeff Gardner. Rock solid progressive. A fighter. A leader.
Campaigns cost money. If Jeff's going to unseat a 30-year incumbent, he'll need our support. March 24th Money Bomb.
So - What's a Money Bomb?: A grassroots fundraising effort concentrated in a short time period. We're going to use it to support Jeff by dramatically ramping up, concentrating & publicizing his fundraising.
What you can do right now: Click "I'm Attending" on Jeff's Money Bomb page. Then come back March 24th and donate!
Every contribution counts - $5, $10, or $25 donations add up. If the progressive community shows our real strength - by making Jeff the next Senator from the 35th District - maybe Democrats in Trenton will think twice before they betray fundamental policies the Democratic Party stands for.
On Twitter: Tweet your support for Jeff! Use hash tag #GardnerMoneyBomb.
Until we step up and start electing better Democrats, we'll never get the representation we've been longing for. We'll never get the type of leadership a blue state like NJ deserves. We are going all-in for Jeff's campaign. And we need you. Money Bomb March 24th!
This was a weekend of a lot of year-end meetings and parties. Today, some of the Democracy for America folks met up in Morristown (big thanks to the Morris Dems for letting us use the clubhouse) for DFA at the Holidays, where the meeting always spills over into the bar across the street. The talk there was on Gov. Christie's brittle persona, and whether New Jerseyans are in fact getting tired of his routine, on redistricting and on party infrastructure issues.
Some of the Hunterdon Democrats were partying later today in Flemington, unfortunately at the same time Rush Holt's supporters were celebrating together, so I missed seeing Holt today. But it was great to see Ed Potosnak, who came to hang out with the Hunterdon Dems, and he brought homemade sugar cookies shaped like the State of New Jersey. Most of them were green, but I couldn't resist snapping a picture of Ed with a Blue Jersey cookie.
We now have both debates available on video, both below.
A few observations: Lance goes - many times - to the dusty GOP tactic of mentioning Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as though she's some kind of demi-witch, just in time for Halloween, with evil intentions that well-meaning Republicans must protect America from. It's quite overdone, and in the News 12 debate, Potosnak finally calls him on it, and reminds him of who he's actually running against and who he's not. The DADT conversation is interesting; Lance voted against the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell (he rates only 38% Human Rights Campaign's scorecard). On the War question, Potosnak is unequivocal, a very clear position. Lance uses the opportunity to claim bi-partisanship with Obama, and try and trump Potosnak by showing off an incumbent congressman's access to classified briefings. Not too subtle. Also interesting is how assertive, aggressive even, he is toward Lance's record on several issues, particularly on economic issues. More than a few times, particularly in the News12 debate where the candidates are sitting 2 feet apart, Potosnak stared him down. Lance is good on his feet, a consummate speaker, but several times he appeared rattled and angry.
For the rest of this, frankly, I feel too close to this race (it's my District, and I helped bring Democracy for America (DFA) into the race, full disclosure) to be objective. So, Blue Jersey, I'd be interested in what you think. Of both debates.
NJ-7 Debate, sponsored by News 12 New Jersey 10/20/10
The only other debate (just 2 days earlier) is very different, and you can watch it after the jump. So, jump:
Things happen fast when your race heats up. Monday, Democracy for America Chair Jim Dean campaigned with NJ-7 challenger Ed Potosnak. Today, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) endorsed. And tonight, DFA & PCCC together are designating a shift of their national Call Out the Vote project to turning NJ-7 blue. (Political comedy's also tonight for Ed - in Fanwood - woo hoo!).
What it means is that voter-contact calls will be flooding into NJ-7 from all over the country, from progressives who not only intend to hold the House but to hold it with top-notch solid progressives.
I said it was a hot race. Tonight, there's also a political comedy show for Ed - Punchlines & Pizza for Potosnak (a comedy show for smart liberals) in Fanwood. Progressive comedians Scott Blakeman and (Princeton alum) Jeff Kreisler headline, with Joey Novick hosting.
Full disclosure blah blah blah: I live with Novick, and help run DFA-NJ alongside Jeff Gardner, my pal. Also, my pals: Blakeman & Kreisler. Funny guys. Oh, and more pix from Monday's DFA Action Day after the flip ...
A few days ago, Democracy for America (DFA), with more than 1 million members, endorsed Ed Potosnak for Congress in NJ's 7th congressional district. I just want to talk about that for a sec, before anything else. Full disclosure: No secret that there's crossover here between DFA and Blue Jersey. Jeff Gardner & I are two of the 5 who run the state DFA group. We helped get this endorsement. And both of us will be in central NJ Monday when DFA Chair Jim Dean joins Loretta Weinberg (a 2007 national DFA candidate), and me & Jeff, and a lot of our friends, to campaign with Ed Potosnak. Want to come? Monday's Columbus Day - a day off for a lot of folks:
11am - Woodbridge: Join us at Ed's Campaign HQ for canvass kick off followed by Door-to-Door and Phone Banking voter contact. Address is 115 Main St., Woodbridge. 3pm - Flemington: At the Hunterdon County Democratic HQ for a rally followed by Door-to-Door and Phone Banking voter contact. Hunterdon Dem HQ is 200 Main St., Flemington. Parking & entrance in back of Law Office.
4pm - Hunterdon County: Right now, if you make a contribution of $25 you will be entered to win a seat at the table for a high dollar afternoon supper with Ed, Jim and Senator Loretta Weinberg. Location TBA in Hunterdon County.
Bonus! The runner up will receive a signed copy of Senator Weinberg's book, What's Love Got to Do With it? The Case for Same-Sex Marriage (co-authored by Sen. Ray Lesniak). So, contribute $25 to our campaign right now. Whoa ... is that Jay Lassiter in that picture?
I'll be there. Jeff Gardner will be there. People you know will probably be there. You don't need to be a DFA member to join us - did you know Ed's endorsed not only by DFA but also MoveOn? And Stonewall Democrats. And American Federation of Teachers. Have you seen this PSA Ed made for young people like Tyler Clementi?
This is a good guy challenging a first-term incumbent - Leonard Lance - who had 3 Tea Party challengers in the Primary. Voted against the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Terrible record on financial reform and on jobs. We can do better with Ed, high school chemistry teacher who won an Einstein Fellowship that sent him to Washington to work on education policy. Now we want to send him back to Washington. And make it stick.
Sometimes I resist talking here at Blue Jersey about Democracy for America, because it carries the biggest of my full disclosures and I'm mindful of not overusing this site to promote the other part of what I do, and what Jeff Gardner does. So, full disclosure: Jeff and I are 2/5ths of the DFA-NJ executive board. We help run DFA here in NJ and that means sometimes we get to preside over unbelievable resources pouring into this state from DFA (newbies, DFA was founded by Howard Dean; its first electoral win got him elected DNC Chair to launch 50-State Strategy - yeah, proud).
After DFA Campaign Training, comes DFA Night School: a national conversation & online training program anybody can do from home. It's free. Tonight's the last session, and it's not too late to jump on the call & follow on line:
This will be a totally casual coffee-and-donuts kind of thing. The training's pretty high-energy, so Bloggers Breakfast will be a low-key start to Day 2. Anybody attending the Training who blogs anywhere - including you lurkers - is invited. Jeff Gardner and I will play host, for Blue Jersey & DFA-NJ.
Bloggers Breakfast is one of two extras you won't find on next weekend's DFA Training Agenda. The other's Candidates Roundtable on Saturday, just for people running for office. Rep. Frank Pallone, Newark Councilman Ron C. Rice and DFA national chair Jim Dean will co-host as mentors.
Shoot me an email if you're interested in more info on either. And let us know if you're registered for the Training, but we don't know you're a candidate.
There's still time to grab a spot for yourself at the Training, 2 full days of comprehensive skills-building that will muscle-up anybody running for office, powering a campaign or forwarding an issue. And muscles are what we need.
Jeff Gardner is the new Democratic Municipal Chair in his hometown of Hawthorne, winning Monday over long-time Chair Sen. John Girgenti. How did that happen? It happened because Jeff & his team - key players from Passaic DFA and DFA-supported candidates - reached out to voters with better ideas and stronger progressive platform. And they won. Jeff is a graduate of Democracy for America (DFA) Campaign Training.
Ed Zipprich is the new Democratic Municipal Chair in his hometown of Red Bank. How? Ed's been a valuable asset to every progressive step forward in Monmouth County for years. And when it was time for the long-time Muni Chair to step down, he wanted to hand that job ... right to Ed. Ed's a graduate of DFA Campaign Training.
Chris & Jack & team
Chris Leitner & Jack McHugh won an election nobody expected them to win, the first straight-up Dems elected in Point Pleasant Boro in 30 years, restarting a defunct Democratic Club with Chris as Municipal Chair. How? Chris & Jack are graduates of DFA Campaign Training.
People, this is the new age of Gov. Chris Christie. Uphill battles. Deeply screwed-up priorities, sometimes in both parties. So DFA Campaign Training - intensive, fun-filled progressive action boot camp - is going where Christie slammed it: Ocean County. Are you running for office? Thinking about it? New, or just defeated county committee member? Working an important issue? Come train with the best allies you'll ever meet. Seriously, you'll grow muscle you never knew you had in you. I'm just sayin.
One month from today, we'll be in the 2nd day of a big, buzzy campaign training, in a place most people won't expect it to be. DFA's bringing its national Campaign Training to Ocean County, where Chris Christie decimated Jon Corzine. 21-County Strategy, baby.
DFA's founder is Howard Dean, whose 50-State Strategy helped vault President Barack Obama to the White House, by changing the dominant paradigm of whose vote - in what part of the country - was worth fighting for. It feels right, in 2010, to plunk this down in Ocean County.
More info/RSVP to join us at the DFA Campaign Academy, June 26-27, in beautiful Brick, NJ. A rollicking weekend of intense and fun study with some of the country's best political experts & mentors awaits, in a room of allies and local opinion leaders like everyone reading this post. Plus, a big party. Candidates, their teams, people there just to learn how to organize more effectively. Running for office? We've got special sessions just for you. But there will also be plenty of people there just to sharpen organizing skills and effectiveness. And the models we'll use will be the campaigns, issues, and organizations that walk through the door.
Ocean's the farthest south - in the reddest county - we've ever brought DFA Campaign Training to, in NJ. We're pretty stoked. Some of the organizing already going on in South Jersey is extraordinary. There are remarkable advocates & candidates.
What you can expect to be covered: writing a field plan, developing message, making the "ask" in fundraising, voter contact, event planning, running canvass and phone bank teams, media outreach, working with volunteers, and using social media. Low-cost (special rate for low income/student).
Full disclosure, Jeff Gardner & I help run DFA-NJ and we'll host the trainers flying in from all over the country, along with Will Rosenthal (Essex), Deb Magin (Monmouth) and Sabastian Belfon (Bergen).Intrigued?
Zerlina blogs as Lady Z at The Urban Politico, a blog I like a lot. She's a founder, and the manager. And she just started blogging in September.
The Urban Politico's a 4-person team, in NJ, Philly & D.C. - one a lawyer, one in state government and the other working in D.C. Zerlina's works as a paralegal by day, and attends Rutgers Law School, Newark as a night student. She's "the most liberal" of the four, says they talk all day long, and often collaborate on diaries. And they weigh in on each other's posts with "2 cents" reactions that broaden the conversation. Some of those conversations go on for a days, like the question, Is Gay the New Black?
Zerlina's a fellow at New Leaders Council, and was an organizer posted in Virginia for the Obama campaign, but says her blog chops come from heavy on-line reading after college (Tufts, she's 28). Before she found blogging, she shipped op-eds she found to friends via facebook. She's always been the person "everybody goes to for news."
Best way to describe Netroots Nation is blogger heaven. A couple thousand extraordinarily smart and opinionated people under one roof all at the same time to confab and, uh, seriously party. Speakers lineup isn't out year, but Senator Al Franken (damn, that still sounds awesome) is closing, and last year's speakers included Bill Clinton, Howard Dean, and Valerie Jarrett. Anybody can go, but the DFA NN10 scholars get most of their expenses paid (want to help contribute to that?), an extraordinary thing DFA does. Want to see what a winning application looks like? Here are the Round One winners. May 23's the deadline for Round Two.
I'll be at Netroots Nation. So will Adam. And Lady Z. You coming?
Thursday night I'm going to be in Newark, watching some great comedians - political & otherwise - help send my friend Ron C. Rice back to work for a 2nd term at the Newark Council, where he reps the West Ward. The last comedian, Baratunde Thurston, just clicked into place, and some amazing people are giving their time to power Ron's campaign.
This is all very inside for me. See, I help run Democracy for America - NJ, and Ron was the very first NJ candidate nationally endorsed by DFA. Ron's a founding member of Essex DFA; he was their candidate. He's solid grassroots. And Ron's a member of the Blue Jersey community.
It's also inside for me because a lot of this show was put together at my house. Joey Novick put it together with Vin Gopal, for Ron. And Joey's hosting. Show's almost sold out, and it's a wallet-friendly $25 for Ron's campaign, so in case you can still score a ticket, here's who's coming:
Leighann Lord was named Most Thought-Provoking Black Female Comic and got an NYC Black Comedy Award for that. Like the rest of this show, she's scary-smart and has performed in clubs around the world, and for our troops in the Middle East.
Scott Blakeman is a political comedian who founded Standup for Peace: the 2 Comedian Solution to Middle East Peace, with Palestinian-American comedian Dean Obeidallah, and he gets people thinking as hard as they're laughing. He's also a regular on NPR.
Listen, Ron is a progressive. A class act. Pro-equality, including marriage equality. Community activist before he ever wore a suit. Used his Newark Council seat to organize the pro-active West Ward Collective. Veteran of night patrols & efforts helping residents take control of their neighborhoods.
DFA-NJ is the Jersey homebase of Democracy for America, the nation's largest progressive political action community. With local groups meeting monthly all over the state, DFA is a grassroots engine to change the Democratic Party from the bottom up. We provide campaign training, organizing resources, and media exposure so our members have the power to support progressive issues and candidates, up and down ballot. We're proud of every one of these candidates, they're our progressive standard-bearers. And some of them might be local to you. Full disclosure: Jeff Gardner & I both serve on the DFA-NJ executive board.
Jon Corzine & Loretta Weinberg It's enough that Jon Corzine's running against a candidate as unacceptable Chris Christie. But above that, we find Corzine an admirable governor struggling uphill against a national economic downturn (read: George Bush). Expanding health coverage for NJ kids. Paid family leave. First-in-the-nation economic recovery program, ditto return-to-work. Ready to sign Marriage Equality. Expanded early childhood education. Choice. Ends the death penalty. Corzine stands with Obama, and that's the future. Christie's a product of Bush, and we don't want to go back. But for us, when Corzine chose that corruption-busting, pro-transparency, no-nonsense progressive hot chick Loretta Weinberg, this race took off. She's our ally. There's nothing tempered, or guarded about the way we admire her. Website.
Doug Singleterry & Cecilia X. Birge for Somerset Freeholders Cecilia was born in China and spent part of her childhood in Chinese labor camps where her Western-educated parents were sent. As a student, she was in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, then came to America for college. She put her Wall Street background to work on Montgomery Twp council. And in 2007, she became the only Asian-American woman mayor in NJ history. Cecilia & North Plainfield Councilman Doug Singleterry focus on DFA core issues: transparency, accountability, fiscal responsibility, pay-to-play. Website.
Marianne Rampulla & Chan K. Leung for Raritan Twp Committee Raritan Twp's the center of one of the toughest GOP strongholds in the state. Every race is uphill. But this year, the Dems already have one of their own on committee, so if Marianne & Chan both win, the population center of red Hunterdon swings to Dem majority. Running for the 2nd time, they started early, came on strong. They're both very well-known in the community, both professionally and in high-level municipal and volunteer capacities. Website.
Naomi B. Collier for Hawthorne Mayor First woman ever to run in the general election for that position. An attorney, Naomi is sensitive to issues that face families, both young and old. Serves on the Executive Board of Woman Lawyers in Bergen County, & Trustee/Treasurer for the Jean Robertson Foundation. Volunteers for Alternatives to Domestic Violence. Instrumental in bringing the hugely successful farmers market to the borough. Priorities include developing a sustainable economic plan, revitalizing downtown & improving services to seniors and families. Website.
Dan Benson for Mercer Freeholder Dan Benson was appointed March 2008 as a Mercer Freeholder to an unexpired term and won a special election later that year for a 1-yr term. Dan's priorities are to expand on his progressive record of fiscal responsibility, open space preservation and job creation through infrastructure investment, and ensure Mercer County has a progressive voice in government. He is running for a full 3 year term. Website.
Tammeisha Smith for NJ-23 Assembly First time Hunterdon DFA members heard Tammy speak, it was on the need for health care reform, with a strong personal story and concern for her elders. It was a surprise that she works in the insurance industry. But there, she manages outreach programs to bring access to affordable medical/prescription coverage to the community. Health care reform is her passion. Website
Randy Bishop for NJ-11 Assembly Randy is a Neptune Township Committeeman and the 3rd openly gay Mayor in NJ history. Randy believes that service to your community is one of the highest callings. His community background includes time serving on boards. He's been the local Chamber of Commerce President. In his professional background, Randy has both corporate experience, and is a small business owner. His priorities: job creation, meeting resident's health care needs and stemming the flight of families and businesses spurred on by our tax and regulatory structure. Website.
Jeff Grayzel for Morris Twp Committee Elected in 2007 with the help of many DFA members, he was the first Dem elected to Morris Twp. Committee in 34 years. Since Watergate. Jeff works hard for open & participatory government and citizen involvement, against pay to play & for improved land use. His grassroots efforts have won him the support of many Independents. Seeking a second three-year term. Website.
Not too long ago, there was a conversation between some of us political bloggers; it went on across the country and across state lines. We talked about this: How long do you think it will be before somebody on the right takes Ted Kennedy's memorial service, and what will inevitably be said there, and trashes it like they did Paul Wellstone's?
That struck me. I count two things as the engines behind everything I'm doing in politics right now. Howard Dean's What I want to know ...speech. And the massive arena celebration of the lives of Paul & Sheila Wellstone. Sen. Wellstone was not perfect; he was not angelic. But what he was, was brave. An ordinary, everyday guy with a Minnesota Senate seat.
Ted Kennedy was a very different guy. Tried most of his life to connect with the ordinary. And you bet there's going to be an effort to remind grieving congressional Democrats that health care was the cause of Kennedy's life. They'd better damn well pass it. And there's no way the right will not challenge that.
The answer to that question - How long? - is now. Today, Rush Limbaugh ridiculed Wellstone's memorial, that arena brimming with people who knew early that change was coming, and there was work to be done. Forward-thinkers, progressives, and fearless local organizers. There was more loss, and backlash, before there was winning. But that memorial - those people, those speeches - meant everything to me. And I can't just sit and listen to what was just said on the radio, without saying this:
Paul Wellstone didn't die. Not like they wanted him to.
UPDATE: Are you tweeting the Training? The hashtag today is #njdfatrain. Want to read people's tweets? Click here.- - Rosi
So here we are at Day 2 of DFA training. Matt and Rosi kicked it off with a few announcements - including one by Rosi regarding our humble liveblog today.
And with that, welcome to all new Blue Jersey users and DFA participants!!!
Today is a bit different from yesterday in that there are breakout sessions instead of everyone taking the same sessions. While it is tough to choose between fundraising, issue advocating, canvassing/phonebanking, media, stump speeches and volunteer management - but it looks like there are more than enough sessions to play to each participants' strengths.
For me personally, I am looking forward to the online organizing and new media sessions (and not just because "obi Juan" Melli, who is the New Media Director for the Jon Corzine09 campaign, will be teaching it).
So......what are you looking forward to learning today?
It's official - Jon Corzine's the nominee. And all over the state some very good people are running with him. And some of them need to go zero-to-sixty almost immediately, because they're running in uphill districts, or for the first time, or against an entrenched incumbent. There are people we're going to be watching to see whose campaign we believe in, even as we're still getting used to the privilege of calling Barack Obama President.
But it's time to get tough. This weekend people are coming from all over NJ - and trainers are flying in from all over the country - to train on new media, messaging, advocacy, fundraising - all the skills we need to drive new victories. The DFA Campaign Training is intense work, and great fun. And this year for the first time it's in the busy City of Newark, at Rutgers Law School. It's not too late to join us. Jump to the next page and meet four who did, and see how they changed everything:
The DFA Training Academy is coming to New Jersey - next weekend, Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7 - and you're invited! This exciting 2-day campaign training is taking place at Rutgers Law School in Newark.
DFA Chair Jim Dean will be here, along with top campaign consultants with decades of experience to give you the skills to run a winning campaign. Topics include: field planning, voter contact, fundraising, communications, volunteer recruitment and more.
It's a tremendous opportunity for candidates, campaign staff, volunteers, activists and anyone who wants to learn from the best at one of the most fun, inspiring and informative trainings you will ever attend.
As the saying goes: "You have the power, now learn the skills!"
