New York Times stunner

Republicans are trying to steal control of the U.S. Senate by making it harder to vote. Pitch in to help defend the right to vote and stop Republicans from stealing the 2014 election.  Chip in $5

Dear MoveOn member,

This is stunning: The New York Times' data wizard Nate Silver—who predicted the 2012 election results state-by-state with uncanny accuracy—is now projecting that, "Republicans [are] close to even-money to win control of the [Senate] after next year's elections."¹

It's the worst-case scenario: Republicans win a majority in the Senate, and we can kiss the rest of President Obama's agenda goodbye.

To make things worse, they have a plan to steal the 2014 election starting right now by making it harder for seniors, students, poor people, and African-Americans to vote.

Back in May, the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act. Since then, Republicans in key states have been racing to purge voter rolls, eliminate early voting, and require new photo IDs to vote—anything they can do to make it harder to vote. 

And in an election as close as this one will be, even 1-2 percentage points could turn the tide.

You think the fights over the budget, Obamacare, and immigration are bad now? Imagine Mitch McConnell in control of the U.S. Senate. Try getting any pro-choice judge confirmed for the Supreme Court against a GOP majority. Or stopping cuts to Social Security. Forget it.

The 2014 election is hugely important—and we can't let Republicans steal it now. So if you think you'll want to get involved sometime next year, I ask you: Please get engaged right now.  

We're raising $250,000 this week to launch a 'Let Us Vote' Campaign to fight back right now—while it can make the greatest difference. Will you help?

Yes, I'll contribute $5 so we can fight back. 

How blatant are the GOP's efforts? North Carolina just passed what's widely being called the most extreme voter suppression law in the country. It requires Voter ID, reduces early voting, and ends same-day registration.² 

Why there? Sen. Kay Hagan of North Carolina is just one of four Democrats up for re-election next year in a state won by Mitt Romney. If Republicans can reduce turnout in North Carolina and defeat her, it'll drastically improve their odds of taking the Senate. 

To reverse the effects of this effort, we have a 3-pronged plan of attack: 

1. We'll launch state-by-state campaigns to roll back discriminatory voter suppression laws, rules and regulations when state legislatures are back in session.

2. We'll prepare a traditional and online media blitz, highlighting both the actions of extreme politicians like North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and the stories of heroic individual voters whose rights are being trampled.

3. We'll organize an aggressive counter-intimidation campaign to mobilize the very same voters who are being disenfranchised. This tactic was proven to work last election, when showing voters what Republicans are really up to actually motivated unlikely voters to overcome barriers to get to the polls.⁴

We helped beat back the GOP voter suppression machine in 2012—and we can do it again—but all of us need to help. And we can't afford to wait until next year. Are you in to support our "Let Us Vote" campaign?

Yes, I'll contribute $5.

Thanks for all you do.

–Anna, Alex, Jessica, Nick, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Senate Control in 2014 Increasingly Looks Like a Tossup", The New York Times, July 15, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=292665&id=73265-10220574-qVesIKx&t=6

2. "Hagan demands review of NC voter law," The Hill, August 13, 2013
 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=292652&id=73265-10220574-qVesIKx&t=7

3. "How Voter Backlash Against Voter Suppression Is Changing Our Politics," The Nation, April 29, 2013 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=292696&id=73265-10220574-qVesIKx&t=8

4. "How Voter Backlash Against Voter Suppression Is Changing Our Politics," The Nation, April 29, 2013
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=292698&id=73265-10220574-qVesIKx&t=9

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