Sam Rasoul Still Active

The campaign of Sam Rasoul in Virginia's 6th District this year generated some interesting opinions, including my own. There were many observers who thought that Sam was too young, or not Democratic enough, to take on Bob Goodlatte. However, Sam got the nomination, and ran an energetic campaign in a part of Virginia not known for Democratic energy.

What impresses us most is Sam’s commitment to a grassroots campaign that as actively promoted and worked for the election of Democrats throughout the region. Yes, we tried to get him to let loose a little snark about his opponent Drew Richardson, a late entry in the race for the nomination. Committed to running a positive campaign focused on the issues, Sam wouldn’t bite. - The Star City Harbinger

On election day, Sam lost, but in losing he built an organization and reached out to hundreds of thousands of voters in the 6th District. That is how you start building a change from the ground up. The key to success with this strategy, however, is not letting the organization wither after the election is lost. And Sam Rasoul appears to have taken that lesson to heart. Like the Obama organization, he is encouraging his supporters to stay active after the election by emailing about important issues.

Dear Friend,

As you know, health care reform was a central feature of my campaign. I support a single-payer system, like the one set forth in House Resolution 676, based on private delivery and public funding. In the first 100 days of the Obama administration, we can expect health care to become a major focus in a way that could not have happened during the past eight years.

We have a chance to make our voices heard in that discussion. A citizen movement called "Ideas for Change in America" is asking for our input on the top 10 ideas they will submit to the Obama Administration on Inauguration Day. This movement is responding to the campaign call for change and for citizen participation in that change. They will follow the presentation of the top ideas with a national lobbying movement.

I ask you to join me in voting for an idea called Free Single Payer Health Care by using the following link:

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/free_single_payer_health_care

You can find other areas of political reform at the change.org site as well. And if you want to become better informed or improve your advocacy skills concerning single-payer health insurance, visit the non-profit organization www.healthcare-now.org. The link to "How the Economic Crisis Presents Opportunities to Advance Single-Payer Healthcare" on the Healthcare-Now page provides a sound "yes we can" argument to anyone who tells us we will have to put our most cherished ideals on the back burner while we pull ourselves out of our economic meltdown.

Please, visit Change.org today and add your vote to a single-payer plan for America. - Sam Rasoul

Sam's efforts to sustain his organization after the election are beneficial in three ways.

• First, Sam and his campaign are a known voice for progressive ideas in a region where such a voice might otherwise go unheard. Sam can focus attention on issues like healthcare as an advocate who is known to the local media.


• Second, encouraging such engagement keeps 6th District Democrats engaged and active going into 2009 and beyond, and increasing Democratic votes in the 6th District could have a major impact on who becomes our next Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General.


• Third, and finally, Sam is setting himself up to run again in the 6th. Say what you will about Sam as a candidate, name recognition is the first, necessary element of a successful campaign, and Sam has higher name recognition today than he did eight months ago. Having run once, he is in a stronger position to take on Bob Goodlatte again, or even run for a different office (Supervisor? Delegate?) should that be an attractive option.

In the model of Mark Warner, who lost before he won, but in losing greatly increased his stature as a candidate, Sam Rasoul is committed to turning his corner of Virginia blue through his own campaign and candidacy, even beyond this year's election.