OH-16: (UPDATED)John Boccieri - Embracing America's Middle Class

We're "LIVE-BLOGGING" from John Boccieri for U.S. Congress HQ's in Downtown Canton, Ohio, today!

First things first...

Tue Oct 21, 2008 at 10:15:00 AM EDT - Progressive Blue Blog has put "us" on the Front Page in a special "candidates final push week". I'll be back and forth between these two blogs throughout most of the day. I'll be working to bring updates as quickly as I can them posted.

11:18:00 AM EDT
Boccieri Wins Endorsement from Ohio Federation of Teachers

October 20, 2008
The Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT), representing 20,000 public education professionals, has endorsed John Boccieri in the race for Ohio's 16th Congressional District.

In the OFT's letter of endorsement, President Sue Taylor wrote that Boccieri was chosen for his

"support for public education, including higher education, and human services, and rights of public employees."

Taylor stated:

“We believe you can make a difference in funding for K-12 public education, holding charter schools accountable, stopping the spread of tax funded tuition vouchers, restoring higher education funding, and extending collective bargaining rights for part-time faculty and graduate employees.”

Boccieri thanked the OFT for its endorsement.

“As the son of two teachers, I am incredibly honored to have the support of Ohio’s public education professionals. High-quality education from pre-K to post-graduate is the key to keeping America's workforce competitive in the global economy. Education decisions should be driven by our local teachers and education professionals, and I will take their voices to Washington."

The OFT is one of the leading voices in the state for high-quality public education, representing public education employees, higher education faculty and support staff, and public employees across Ohio. The OFT is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers.

11:41:00 AM EDT
What I heard on the radio - October 20, 2008

Tomorrow, we will be exactly two weeks away from the biggest election of our lifetime and this critical Congressional race here in Ohio's 16th District.

I couldn't be more proud of my husband for the stands he has taken in this campaign, and I am so thankful to each one of you for standing with him every step of the way.

Thanks to your support, we are about to change the direction of our community and our country. But my husband's opponent, desperate and down in the polls, has resorted to personal attacks to try and bring John down.

John is a tested Air Force pilot, and he knows how to fight back:
Listen to this radio ad John just released to respond to Kirk Schuring's negative attacks.

Many of you have already written checks and volunteered your time to help John's campaign. Our family is humbled by this outpouring of support, and it's difficult for me to ask you to give once more. However, we need your help to ensure that John has the resources to run this ad, set the record straight, and stay focused on the issues that really matter to middle class families like ours.

With people across the 16th District seeking change on the economy, health care, energy and Iraq, please consider making a contribution to John's campaign so that John can win on Election Day, take these priorities to Congress and put our interests first again.

Thank you so much for your support of John's campaign. We could have never come this far without you.

Sincerely,
Stacey Boccieri

1:50:00 PM EDT - Last Update

Saturday, October 18, 2008 9:00 AM
Team,

With only 17 days until the election, our momentum just keeps building. CNN reported this week that the 16th Congressional District is one of the 10 most likely House seats in the entire country to switch parties this year!

Your commitment to John's campaign has brought us to this point; now it's time to sprint for the finish. There are just 13 days until we start our Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts, and we need all hands on deck!

If every supporter commits just four hours in the last four days of this campaign, we can run the GOTV operation we need to win. To sign up now, email Chris at cccupples@yahoo.com or call our headquarters at (330) 754-0534 and ask for Matt.

John had two more strong debate performances in Canton and Medina this week, and he was endorsed by the Medina Sun!

We also want to thank Randy and Julie Gonzalez for hosting over 150 people at their home for a Boccieri house party last Saturday.

This weekʼs ʽVolunteer of the Weekʼ is Alene Helling. A Stark County resident, Alene loves to travel all over the world, but she always manages to squeeze in some serious volunteer hours right before she goes on vacation. We wish her the best vacation of all on November 5!

With just two weeks to go, here's what's coming up this week...

What: GOTV Meeting with Chris Van Hollen, Democratic House Campaign Chair
Where: Canton
When: Wednesday, October 22nd, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Notes: For details and to RSVP, please contact Matt at 330-754-0534 or matt@johnforcongress.com

What: Backyard Economic Discussion
Where: Alliance
When:Wednesday, October 22, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Notes: Come join John and campaign supporters as friends and families discuss the current economic crisis and other issues affecting the 16th Congressional District. For details, please email Chris at cccupples@yahoo.com

What: Orrville at Wooster High School Football Game
Where: Wooster High School
When: Friday, October 24, 7:00 p.m.
Notes: It's the final week of regular season high school football. Come join us in Wooster or attend your local high school football. For details on distributing campaign materials, please email Chris at cccupples@yahoo.com

What: McKinley vs. Massillon Tailgate Parties
Where: Paul Brown Massillon Stadium
When: Saturday, October 25, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Notes: Show your support for John and your local football team (whoever it might be!) as we enjoy the tailgate festivities before the 2 p.m. kick off. For details, email Chris at cccupples@yahoo.com

What: Ashland County Ox Roast Dinner Party
Where: Ashland
When: Saturday, October 25, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Notes: Join John for a fall cookout and and BBQ in Ashland County. For more details, please email Chris at cccupples@yahoo.com

We appreciate all of your hard work and support. Please feel free to contact us about anything in this email or any other ideas you may have for the campaign.

Thanks,
Ian Walton
Campaign Manager, John Boccieri for Congress
ianrwalton@johnforcongress.com
(330) 754-0534

Thanks for hanging out with us today! Get your "Boots on the Ground!"

OH-16: Once Again, Grassroots Donors Break Records for Boccieri

Schuring rakes in another $8,000 from oil industry

Thousands of small contributions have helped position John Boccieri to drive home his message of change for the middle class in the final weeks of this hard-fought race for Ohio's 16th Congressional District.

Boccieri enters the last 20 days of the campaign with $464,474.66 on hand, having raised $415,738.74 in the third quarter. The majority of Boccieri's contributions, both for this quarter and the whole of the campaign, have come in amounts of $100 or less.

Boccieri said today:

"Middle class families who have been ignored by Washington for too long are uniting behind our campaign for change. Working people are out knocking on doors, talking to their neighbors, and contributing whatever they can afford because they want a Congressman who will put their interests first."

Boccieri holds a strong cash-on-hand advantage over his opponent, Kirk Schuring. While Boccieri enters the final quarter with over $464,000 in immediately-available financial resources, Schuring has only $127,000 on hand.

As Schuring's support dwindles, he has become even more dependent on corporate special interests to bankroll his campaign. Schuring brought in more than $8,000 from the oil industry this quarter alone, raising his total from this interest group to roughly $30,000.

The Political Action Committee of ConocoPhillips, one of the world's six largest oil companies, donated $3,000 to Schuring in the third quarter after combined "big six" profits this past summer rolled in at a rate of $400,000 per minute. [Bloomberg, 8/1/08] Meanwhile, Americans are still struggling to afford record high prices at the pump.

But, that's not all...

Medina Sun Endorses Boccieri

"...has more detailed and well-thought-out plans to help the district"

On the eve of a major debate at the University of Akron's Medina Campus, the Medina Sun has endorsed Democrat John Boccieri in the race for Ohio's 16th Congressional District."A state senator, Boccieri has the intelligence and the background to make a fine U. S. representative, " the Sun wrote in an editorial today. "With the dissatisfaction with GOP leadership in Washington, we think voters are looking to make a change."

According to the Sun, the deciding factor in the endorsement was Boccieri's clear vision for the future of the 16th District, Ohio, and the nation. The editorial praised Boccieri's focus on creating local jobs, fixing unfair trade agreements, concluding America's massive military and financial commitment to Iraq, and reforming education.

After a comparison of the two contenders for the 16th District seat, Boccieri "has more detailed and well-thought-out plans to help the district," the editorial concluded. (Click here to read the full editorial.)

And, it gets even better...

The Cook Political Report has announced a change in the status of Ohio's 16th Congressional race on Thursday. The Report has changed Ohio's 16th Congressional District from "Toss-up" to "Lean Democratic."

Remember, we still need volunteers to work through election day to finish this race strong! If you would like to give some time to John, contact Chris at cccupples@yahoo.com or call Camp Boccieri at (330) 754-0534.

OH-16: Vote for John Boccieri Online!

Team,

Thanks again to everyone who helped us out at the Stark County Fair. John and his family had a great time connecting with voters there!

The Wayne County Fair starts tomorrow and the Ashland County fair begins September 14. Our campaign will be teaming up with the county Democratic Parties for both fairs. To volunteer, please email Chris at cccupples@yahoo.com.

A few quick announcements...

Be our eyes and ears!

Pay attention to your mailboxes, TVs, radio and newspapers for ads or election materials about either candidate in the race to represent the 16th Congressional District.

If you catch anything, please let us know immediately - and try to record the ad or transcribe the call. These efforts will help our ‘Rapid Response' Team by providing real-time information
(Any information may also be left on this blog in the comment box.)

Vote for John Boccieri in our online contest!

Go to www.21stdems.org/vote08 right now, vote for John, and our campaign could receive a new staff member to help us win in the 16th District!

John is competing with 11 other campaigns across the country in an online contest sponsored by the group 21st Century Democrats(an endorser for John Boccieri for U.S. Congress...see the link to the right!). The candidates who receive the most votes between now and September 20th could win an extra field organizer for their campaigns.

If there was ever a time to show your grassroots support, this is it. Please vote at www.21stdems.org/vote08 today!

Congratulations Justin Chenevey!

This week's ‘Volunteer of the Week' is Justin Chenevey. Justin has been with the campaign since just after the primary in March. He came seeking school credit, but even after his official internship was over, he stayed to fight for change with John!

Justin is a master at everything from poring through the morning newspapers for important news stories to rallying volunteers for parades and events. Today, we honor Justin's service and dedication to building a brighter future for the people of the 16th District.

Justin Chenevey

The Rest of the Week...
What: Your Local High School Football Game
Where: Your Hometown in the 16th District
When: Friday, September 5 and Beyond
Notes: We have new football game oriented materials for you to take with you to your local football game. For details on participating, please email Chris at cccupples@yahoo.com

What: Labor Rally for Local Candidates
Where: Golden Lodge No. 1123 Steelworkers of America AFL-CIO, 1234 Harrison Ave., SW, Canton
When: Saturday, September 6, 10AM
Notes: Come out and join John as we support organized labor right here in the 16th Congressional District. For more details, please email Chris at cccupples@yahoo.com

What: House Party with Special Guest Ohio First Lady Frances Strickland
Where: A private home of John Boccieri supporters in Canton
When: Saturday, September 6, 12PM-2PM
Notes: RSVP to Ian at ianrwalton@johnforcongress.com

What: John Boccieri Campaign Cookout and Final Push Toward Victory
Where: Campaign Headquarters ( 601 Cleveland Ave., NW, Canton)
When: Wednesday, September 10, 5:30PM-7:30PM
Notes: Join John, campaign staff, local leaders, and volunteers as the campaign kicks off the final two months of this election cycle. We will have food, drinks, and an opportunity for everyone to spend some time with John. For more details, please email Chris at cccupples@yahoo.com

We appreciate all of your hard work and support. Please feel free to contact us about anything in this email or any other questions or concerns you may have about the campaign.

Thanks,
Ian Walton
Campaign Manager, John Boccieri for Congress
ian@johnforcongress.com
(330) 754-0534