The Stakeholder
Ashwin Madia (MN-03) Named to DCCC’s Red to Blue Program for Open Seats
DCCC Press:Chairman Chris Van Hollen announced today that Iraq war veteran, Ashwin Madia (MN-03) will immediately be added to the DCCC's Red to Blue program for open seats following his endorsement by the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party last Saturday. Democratic congressional candidates running in open seats earned a spot in the competitive program by surpassing demanding fundraising goals and by skillfully showing voters that they stand for change and will represent new priorities when elected to Congress. Madia is one of only 11 candidates in the Red to Blue program for open seats.
"Ashwin Madia's experience as a U.S. Marine serving in Iraq, commitment to protecting the middle class and his solution oriented approach to government makes him an ideal candidate to move our country in a new direction," said Chairman Chris Van Hollen. "The Red to Blue Program will give Ashwin the financial and structural edge to be even more competitive this year. Congressman Ramstad's retirement and Ashwin Madia's ability to unite Democrats behind his candidacy makes this suburban district a good pick up opportunity for Democrats."
The Red to Blue program highlights top Democratic campaigns across the country, and offers them financial, communications, and strategic support. The program introduces Democratic supporters to new, competitive candidates in order to help expand the fundraising base for these campaigns.
Red to Blue was a proven success in the 2004 and 2006 cycles. In 2004, the Red to Blue program raised nearly $7.5 million for 27 campaigns across the country with an average of more than $250,000 per campaign. In 2006, the Red to Blue program raised nearly $22.6 million for 56 campaigns. Red to Blue was also responsible for solidifying the structure of dozens of campaigns and making a real difference for Democrats across America.
Madia on Minnesota Public Radio
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/polinaut/archive/2008/04/madias_misstate.shtml
POSTED AT 2:59 PM ON APRIL 16, 2008 BY MIKE MULCAHY (2 COMMENTS)
From MPR’s Curtis Gilbert:
DFL 3rd District congressional candidate Ashwin Madia says he misspoke when he told Minnesota Public Radio that he voted for Al Gore in 2000. Madia now says he voted for George W. Bush that year.
“He flubbed it with you,” Madia spokesman Chris Truscott said.
Madia won the DFL endorsement Saturday after a close race race with Sen. Terri Bonoff, DFL-Minnetonka. Bonoff had made an issue out of Madia’s past support for Republicans, and some delegates said they were concerned about his DFL bona fides.
Madia has been open about supporting John McCain’s failed presidential bid in 2000. But Minnesota Public Radio’s Curtis Gilbert asked Madia two days before he was endorsed whether he had supported Bush that year after McCain fizzled. Here’s a transcript of part of the interview :
MPR: 2000 election, of course, McCain wasn’t the nominee. Did you actually vote for Bush in 2000?
Madia: No.
MPR: You didn’t? You voted for Al Gore?
Madia: Yes.
Based on that exchange Minnesota Public Radio reported Friday that Madia never voted for Bush
Truscott said Madia wasn’t trying to mislead DFL delegates about voting for Bush, and that he simply “botched” his answer. Madia says he became a Democrat around 2003, after becoming disenchanted with Bush. He says he voted for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004.
This is a good DCCC move for an outstanding candidate in Minnesota’s suburban third Congressional District.
Ashwin Madia is young and bright and extremely hard working.
He worked very hard to earn endorsements before he was endorsed at the party convention this month, and he is likely to continue working hard to earn the support of the voters in the general election.
As the Zogby polls have shown, the approval rating of our current occupant of the White House has changed from 43 percent in June 2005 to 26 percent in March 2008, so many independent voters will be strongly motivated to vote for candidates that represent change in November 2008.