Via Political Wire and the AP, we today learn former Rep. Ken Lucas (D-KY) will indeed mount a challenge to freshman Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY).

Per Howard Dean, "What I want to know is..."

(a) How much money Davis took from Casino Jack over the years; and
(b) How Davis voted on the 'Delay Rule' (paging Josh Marshall); and
(c) How Davis intends to improve George Bush's prescription drug boondoggle.

...Speaker Pelosi.

DFA sent out the first national fundraising email on Paul Hackett's behalf, two weeks ago on July 19. Let's give credit where credit is due.

I ran in a special election to serve in the United States House of Representatives for the 2nd District of Ohio. I am a Marine recently returned from Iraq, a husband, a father, an attorney, and a Democrat.

When I won the Democratic primary for this contest, few people believed we had a shot at victory. But DFA put its faith in me--and went to work organizing on the ground and online. Your support helped build the greatest Democratic get-out-the-vote effort this district has ever known.

While we didn't pull out a victory yesterday--we came incredibly close. We got 48 percent of the vote. And in those results rests hope for the future.

It had been 15 years since a Democratic candidate for Congress received more than 30 percent of the vote in Ohio's 2nd District and 40 years since a Democrat held the seat. Your support helped me improve Democratic performance by nearly 20 percent. This is a victory for democracy. And if we can do this in Ohio--we can do it anywhere.

Join me, and help DFA elect Democrats in Ohio and across the country:

www.democracyforamerica.com/bat

We have the power to win back Congress. Yesterday proved it. And DFA is on the front lines of the fight--determined, hopeful and fearless.

I believe we can change this country. I believe we can win in every state--and I know that you do too. Please join me today:

www.democracyforamerica.com/bat

Thank you,

Paul Hackett

From the pro-Schmidt Cincinnati Enquirer in February of 2005.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is interviewing members of the Clermont County Board of Elections because of a Democratic Congressman's claim of vote-tampering during the presidential election.

The allegations stem from white oval-shaped stickers, about the size of an M&M, placed on fewer than 100 ballots.

Fool me once?

Stranger things have happened.

But, in all seriousness, why not? From, Reed and their DLC cronies are currently less than a two hour drive from Hackett's district. Rather than spend their days attacking Kos, shouldn't From and Reed lace 'em up and pound the pavement for a candidate who, when elected, will be the first Iraq war veteran to serve in Congress?

Who's with me?

I was impressed with Jerry Meek, Chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party, when he dropped by MyDD to welcome George Bush to the Tarheel State.

But I'm more impressed with Meek now that he thought outside the box and recruited a serious challenger to eight-term Republican incumbent Charles Taylor.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Former NFL quarterback Heath Shuler is mounting a challenge for the U.S. House seat held by Republican Charles Taylor of Brevard.

Shuler, a Democrat who lives in Waynesville, said in a statement Monday that he has filed papers with the Federal Election Commission that clear the way for him to run next year in the 11th Congressional District.

Taylor, an eight-term incumbent, has been targeted by the state Democratic Party in recent months. The party has released a series of statements attacking Taylor's ethics and under the leadership of new party chair Jerry Meek has created a task force aimed at shoring up Democratic prospects in the western mountains.

Think the Republicans will find it easy to tar a former NFL quarterback as soft on national security? Think again.

Checked out the UFCW website today and came across an interesting press release...To sign UFCW's petition calling on ABC News to Drop Wal-Mart as "Only In America" sponsor, click here.

The United Food and Commercial Worker's Union sent a letter to ABC News today demanding that Wal-Mart be immediately removed as a sponsor of their "Only in America" series, citing misleading and deceptive advertising.  Wal-Mart appears to be the primary paid sponsor of Good Morning America's "Only in America" series, which tells stories of common Americans and their love for the country and it's citizens.

"Wal-Mart's sponsorship of `Only in America' is hypocritical, as well as a cynical abuse of ABC News," stated UFCW President Joe Hansen in a letter to ABC News President David Westin.  "I call on you, Mr. Westin, to drop Wal-Mart immediately as a sponsor of this segment, and to take down the company's internet ads which further attempt to connect Wal-Mart with the `Only in America' slogan."

The advertising campaign seems to be part of an "unusual" public relations offensive by Wal-Mart to counter growing concerns about the corporate ethics of the retail giant.

Jerome & Kos:

How do you react to a non-story as it cycles through the Republican spin machine?

You go on the attack.

You attack John Thune and the RSCC for paying bloggers in South Dakota.

You attack the mainstream media and the conservative noise machine for not picking up the Thune story when it broke months ago.

On the pages of a major newspaper's op-ed column, you attack the Wall Street Journal's decision to publish a non-story that equates your actions with those of Armstrong Williams'. Then, in letters to the editor, you attack each and every media outlet that picks up the "story."

[Mike Evans http://www.evansforcongress.com/] just dropped out of the race to succeed Dick Gephardt and represent Missouri's third congressional district. Evans, the race's only openly gay candidate, subsequently endorsed [Jeff Smith http://www.JeffSmith2004.com], a young progressive who two weeks ago [surprised the establishment http://www.ourcongress.org/story/2004/7/16/144944/578] by besting his rivals in cash on hand. Although Evans wasn't among the favorites, his endorsement is worth numerous votes. On August 3rd Missouri votes both to nominate a Democratic candidate for the third district and on an anti-gay marriage amendment. LGBT turnout will therefore be substantial and the endorsement of an active, politically engaged former candidate who is connected to the greater St. Louis LGBT community a big help. As a columnist recently noted on the [Op-Ed page of the St. Louis Post Dispatch http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/Columnists.nsf/0/043318B61BAE301586256ED00038EBE3?OpenDocument &Headline=Jeff+Smith+hopes+to+use+hoop+moves+in+political+arena,+too], Jeff seems poised to pull off an upset and win one for progressives. But to beat the [pro-life http://www.joanbarryincongress.com], [anti-choice http://www.stevestoll.org] candidates against whom he's competing, Jeff needs your help. Please visit [his website http://www.JeffSmith2004.com] and [contribute to Jeff's grassroots campaign http://www.jeffsmith2004.com/ad_vote.php]. Vote with your pocketbook, selecting the ad you prefer ("[Fire Bush http://www.jeffsmith2004.com/ad_vote.php]" or "[High Energy http://www.jeffsmith2004.com/ad_vote.php]") and [donating http://www.jeffsmith2004.com/ad_vote.php] to put it on the air before the August 3rd primary. To learn more about Jeff and the race for Missouri's third district, click [here http://www.ourcongress.org/story/2004/7/22/182726/422].