MoneyBomb for Maine: Help us hit $1.1 million on ActBlue by Oct. 15th

The big gay weekend in D.C. is over. Now, we need help to win the marriage campaign in Maine.
A big part of the strategy in the Maine campaign has been to avoid the mistakes of the Prop. 8 battle in California. One thing that happened last year was the money on our side came in late, meaning the No campaign never knew what it had to spend at the end.

That's why in Maine, we're making one last major pitch before 11: 59 PM on October 15th. That date has special significance for two reasons: 1) It's the last day of the financial reporting period (the last one to be made public before election day); and 2) It's the first day of in-person absent voting. We want the No on 1 campaign to have all the resources it needs -- and to know that in advance.

The netroots and online community have been extremely generous. And, it's been noticed. Last week, the Washington Post reported:

[No on 1 Campaign Manager Jesse] Connolly is determined not to screw it up. With the Democratic establishment reluctant to dive in wholeheartedly and fundraisers failing to collect big checks, Connolly has sought to activate bloggers through his friend Joe Sudbay, a Portland native and the deputy editor of the influential and progressive AmericaBlog. And they have joined the battle, helping raise nearly $1 million in online contributions, according to the Internet-based fundraising hub ActBlue. Plus, another native Mainer, Eli Pariser, president of MoveOn.org, has solicited Web donations from his cyber-flock.

"Sometimes," said Sudbay, who is gay and writes often about Maine. "I think we are driving the agenda."

We are driving the agenda. Let's wrap this one up big. The Courage Campaign, OpenLeft, Pam's House Blend and others are setting a goal to reach $1.1 million in online donations by October 15th. AMERICAblog readers have been very generous already. We beat our first goal of $25,000 and are heading to $50,000 now. Help us get there. And, help us win in Maine.

I keep writing that Maine is a cheap date state. After the break, there's an outline of what our money buy. You can click on the image above or click here to reach our ActBlue page. And, thanks again.

Check this list out. Your contributions really make a difference:

$10,000 1 day statewide television buy

$8,800 25,000 pieces of literature to ensure our supporters vote the correct way

$7,500 1,000 2’x4’ road signs to put in high traffic areas for visibility

$6,000 will pay for needed turn out calls to 12,000 supporters

$5,250 1/2 day statewide television buy

$4,000 will pay for needed turn out calls to 8,000 supporters

$3,300 we can blanket the state with radio ads for 3 days

$2,800 we could hire 1 full time field organizer

$2,300 gives supporters rides to polls around 4 key campuses

$2,000 we can blanket the state with radio ads for 2 days

$1,800 will pay for needed turn out calls to 3,600 supporters

$1,600 pays for 4 field organizers for 1 week

$1,200 will cover literature for one key precinct on Election Day

$1,000 we can blanket the state with radio ads for 1 day

$800 pays for one field organizer for a week

$720 would fund 20 canvasses in key counties around the state on a Saturday

$550 pays for one channel of cable for a day

$420 pays for one much needed field organizer for a week

$330 is 2 radio commercials to beat back their lies

$210 pays for 70 $3/day cell phones to talk to targeted voters

$186 about the cost of 1 radio commercial

$137 will buy supplies for 4 door-to-door canvasses

$108 buys about 100 yard signs for visibility

$72 will pay for signage for visibility for one weekend on a targeted campus

$66 pays for about 20 $3/day cell phones to talk to targeted voters

$54 buys 50 yard signs for visibility

$36 will fund supplies for one door-to-door canvass

$24 buys 20 yard signs for visibility

Again, click on the image above or click here to reach AMERICAblog's No on 1 ActBlue page. Thanks again.