Big money NOT required for Congressional race: Challenger spreads her message creatively

Oct. 27, 2010 - PRLog -- (Apple Valley, Minn.) – With less than $100,000 to spend on an endeavor commonly thought to require seven to ten times that much, Minnesota Second Congressional district candidate Shelley Madore is running a creative, grassroots campaign against a well-financed four-term incumbent.

Campaign ads were conceived, directed and produced by the candidate, staff and volunteers and aired only on the campaign website through YouTube. Mailings were replaced with hundreds of volunteers, from students to seniors, distributing campaign literature door-to-door for weeks. Some individuals and couples are distributing hundreds of pieces a day.

“Shelley is the strongest candidate we've had in this race in a long time.  Her message is strong and her commitment to serve is apparent in every conversation she has with voters” said chief fundraiser Adam Barrett. “We are working on changing the common belief that the candidate with the most money wins. We believe that the one with the strongest grassroots support wins.”

In fact, Madore has already proven that money is not necessarily the key to victory. In August she upset the party-endorsed candidate in a hard-fought Primary election, winning by 10 points despite spending less than half as much money as he did.

The struggling economy has caused most campaigns and Political Action Committees to fall far short of their usual fundraising goals this year. Donors who previously gave the maximum of $2,400 to candidates are now sending only $100, $500 or $1,000.  

"Every race is struggling with fundraising and for a candidate to outraise a four-term incumbent with a million dollar war chest is not realistic this year. We remind voters with every call and contact that their vote is worth just as much as a billionaire's vote. Why would we allow billionaires to determine the election?" Madore said.

Madore, a single mother of two children with disabilities, knows how to stretch a dollar. As a former state representative, Madore has run several campaigns and is often heard saying, "This is someone's grocery money," when deciding how to spend campaign donations. More than 80 percent of her contributions were made by individuals in amounts of $10 to $100.

“I have a strong staff and incredibly dedicated volunteers and donors,” said Madore. “We’re receiving hundreds of phone calls, messages and small donations from average people in response to my strong message of bringing jobs and prosperity to our district. I've been endorsed by dozens of organizations and community leaders. My supporters know I will represent average households in Washington, not Wall Street banks. I am the little guy in this race and I'm fighting for the little guy who lives and works on Main Street.”

To see Shelley Madore’s video and audio campaign commercials, listen to her radio debate against the incumbent, and learn more about her 35 Cent Tour, please visit www.35CentTour.com

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Minnesota's Second Congressional District Democratic Candidate Shelley Madore is running against incumbent Republican John Kline.