Why I Am Optimistic We Will Win This November - We had a great turnout at our annual monthly gathering of the Hopium community last night. It was a spirited affair, with lots of chat, questions and good cheer. You can watch or listen to a recording of our discussion above. It starts with me laying out where I think we are now in the 2024 election, and then I take questions from the audience. If you find the discussion helpful, please share it with your networks.
My bottom line take - we have a better candidate, better arguments and a far better political machine underneath us. Polling has improved for us in recent weeks, and we have momentum now. Polling in the Senate and House remains encouraging. We’ve had weeks of good news here in the US - inflation was zero last month, prices on many things are falling, the economy is booming, flows to the border and crime rates are way down. It all reminds us that Joe Biden is a good and successful President. In an Ohio special election for the US House last week, as we’ve done in elections all across the country since Dobbs, we dramatically overperformed expectations - our party is strong, fighting, determined, resolute. The President has stood up for our values and interests abroad with grace, dignity and power, and keeps fighting for us every day, with extraordinary vigor for a man of any age, here at home.
We’ve also had weeks of news reminding us that the other guy is ugliest political thing any of us has ever seen - a rapist, fraudster, traitor, felon - his dangerous plans will do even more harm to our country, and his party is far more a raging dumpster fire than a well oiled political machine. The far fight had a disappointing election in Europe, and MAGA continues to exhibit electoral weakness and struggle here in the US (Trump endorsed candidates had a bad night last night).
The Biden-Harris campaign Chair, Jen O’Malley Dillon, just did an interview with long time political journalist, John Heileman. Here are a few excerpts (bold added for emphasis):
At the end of the day, Joe Biden is fighting for the American people and Donald Trump is only in it for himself. Joe Biden’s lowering costs, he’s protecting us and our freedoms, and he is focused on protecting democracy. He is creating opportunity for people in this country. And there is a lot more work to do, and his vision for 2024 is one that’s going to help the American people and build on what he’s been doing. In contrast to Donald Trump—who is only out for himself and out for people like him—who is not going to let anything stand in the way of taking care of himself…..
we are building an operation in every single battleground state. We have thousands of staff, we have hundreds of offices for people in communities all across these states for people to come together and volunteer and gather and be with each other and talk about what they’re worried about and then channel that into action. That didn’t really happen in any way, shape, or form in 2020 [because of Covid]. But also, we’ve spent a lot of time really trying to better figure out how to organize and how to think through how to bring people into our campaign.
By trade, by every fiber of my being, I’m an organizer. That’s how I started. That’s how I will end. I believe in that being so fundamental to how we’re successful. But I also think that you have to really re-look at how people in their lives are engaging, and you’ve got to find a way to tap into that so it feels in stride with everything else they’re doing. So that doesn’t mean you’re reinventing the wheel. It doesn’t mean this is all about new fucking widgets. It means it’s about a blended approach that reaches a person like my mom, who might want to come into an office and be with her friends and do postcards, and people who are young, who matter a great deal, but who don’t see themselves [getting involved in that way]…..
Can I just add one thing? We are going to win. But it is because the people of this country take action and take action now. For every single person who is worried, go do something about it. Get a yard sign. Go on Facebook and say you support Joe Biden. Go do your own TikToks. That is what we need now. This debate is going to help put into clarity that there is one choice. And every single person that’s bed-wetting—hate to use that phrase, thanks for putting it back in my head—take action. Do something. You have power. Take it.
Jen’s message to us?
If we do the work we will win
Do more, worry less, make June count - let’s put our heads down now and go win this thing, together!
My Debate Advice for Joe Biden - Semafor asked me to offer some advice to Joe Biden as he approaches the debate tomorrow night. Here’s what I gave them:
Be a patriot, powered by love of country. We Democrats fly the flag right-side up, not upside down.
Go on offense. Despite inheriting deeply challenging circumstances, you’ve been a very successful President. The country is far better off today. Our economy is the “envy of the world.” You will make it and our lives even better in the next four years.
Be unsparing in your description of him – rapist, fraudster, traitor, felon – and the extremism and threat of MAGA. Americans need to understand what MAGA has become. We owe that to them.
Be strong, have fun and good luck! Simon
Simon and Tom Bonier Back Together This Saturday in Tyson’s Corner, With The Great Jessica Craven Too! - I’ll be speaking in person at Network NOVA’s 8th Annual Women’s Summit this weekend in Tyson’s Corner, VA with my buddy Tom Bonier and the inspiring Jessica Craven. Hope to see DC area Hopium folks there. Use promo code “Hopium” to get a 15% discount. More info, register today!
This will be the first time Tom and I have been together in person in quite a while - come join us!
Let’s Keep Making June Count Everyone!!!!! - The new polls suggest June is turning out as we hoped, and we need to keep making June count! Remember that June 30th is a critical filing for all Federal candidates. It is a critical test of our strength as a party and off the grassroots. So if you are planning on giving this summer please give before June 30th. Your contribution before June 30th matters more, goes further than later this summer.
Learn more about the “Check and Checkmate” strategy driving our June campaign and recommendations. Watch our new interviews with Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb, Janelle Bynum (OR-5), George Whitesides (CA-27) and Kirsten Engel (AZ-06). Donate and volunteer below. Together, in the last five weeks we’ve raised more than $675,000 for our candidates/state parties and have already blown past our original Winning The House goal of $300,000. Thank you all - it’s amazing stuff!!!!
Here’s where we are today, and here’s how you can help:
Biden-Harris - $432,000 today, $450,000 goal - Donate | Volunteer | Learn More
Watch my favorite Biden-Harris Ad “Flag.” Yes, we’ve blown past our ambitious $400,000 goal - thank you all!
Winning The House - $361,000 today, $400,000 goal - yes!!!!! - Donate | Volunteer | Learn More. We’ve blown past our $300,000 goal and are now shooting for $400,000 - great work everyone!
Arizona/Ruben Gallego - $216,000 today, $300,000 goal - Donate | Volunteer | Learn More - Watch my interview with Ruben Gallego
North Carolina - $264,000 today, $300,000 goal - Donate | Volunteer | Learn More - Watch my interview with NC Dem Chair Anderson Clayton
Nebraska/Blue Dot -$72,000 today, $100,000 goal- Donate | Volunteer | Learn More - Watch my interview with NE Dem Chair Jane Kleeb
Thank you all! Our community of proud patriots and information warriors just keeps bringing it day after day after day. So inspired by your passion, grit, determination and willingness to leave it all out there on the playing field for this great country. As we discuss in the new With Dems presentation, when democracy calls Democrats answer, and that is what all of you are doing now - answering democracy’s call, powerfully!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10% Off Annual Hopium Membership in June - As a token of my gratitude for all that you are doing, I’m now offering a 10% discount on annual paid subscriptions for new subscribers through the end of the month. Click on this link to subscribe today. On that link you can also purchase gift or group subscriptions for others you’d like bring into the Hopium community. If you signed up as a paid subscriber in the first half of last year and want to make sure your paid subscription is current and up to date check be sure to visit here.
My stretch goal is to get to 10,000 paid subscribers by June 30th. We are within range of hitting that target as we are now over 9,700. These funds will put Hopium in a financial place to close out this election strong.
Thanks to all of you who have stepped up and become a paid subscriber in recent days - you are making June count!
Keep working hard all. Proud to be in this fight with all of you - Simon
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