For what it is worth, my personal advice in writing the letter is to include a personal touch (see example below), keep it mostly pro-Webb (there's a lot of it) and to keep it relatively short.
I have included the message Chap Petersen sent to his email list on the flip side to help everyone get started.
I'll post my letter in the comments after I write it. Please post yours there as well.
It all comes down to GOTV, every little bit will help. The campaign with the best GOTV effort will win. It all comes down to this, no pressure or anything.
Subject: Vote Tuesday (for Jim Webb)
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This post begins with a simple request: Please vote for Jim Webb in the Democratic primary on Tuesday. Each endorsement carries a story. Here's mine:
On December 9th, 2005, the Rasmussen Reports polling company issued the results of a statewide poll which began with the following words: "U.S. Senator George Allen holds a solid lead over four potential challengers for 2006."
Who were the potential Dems against Allen? Leslie Byrne, me, Jim Webb and (drum roll please) Ben Affleck. Leslie, having just finished the LG contest, was the closest contender. Webb and myself were tied for second. In possibly the low point of his flagging career, Ben was last.
It was the first time in a while that I'd heard the name of Jim Webb. You see Jim Webb had been the Secretary of the Navy nineteen years ago when I was in USMC officer candidate school. Back then, he was known as the butt-kicking Secretary who had been a boxer at Annapolis, a highly-decorated Marine in Viet Nam and a best-selling author. He was the maverick's maverick who spoke his mind even to the President. This man was going to run for U.S. Senate as a Virginia Democrat? A couple days later, I got his phone number and gave him a call.
I met him on a gray December afternoon at his office which overlooks Arlington Cemetery. I told him that I had run a statewide primary and learned a lot from it. We talked about the Democratic Party, what it represented historically and where it was headed. We also talked about Virginia's unique history. He struck me as being a straight-shooter. A non-politician. I liked that and I liked him. He was something different.
Over the next few weeks, a strange thing happened. A small band of Virginia bloggers (largely but not exclusively Democratic) began to float Webb's name and bio around the blogosphere. It was if someone had lit a match by an oil drum. Because the demand was there for a different kind of Democrat to take down George Allen.
In February, I got a call from Jim Webb. I'm going forward, he said. I hope I can count on your support. Since then, it's been a whirlwind four months. Straw polls, fundraisers and community festivals. I've seen the campaign struggle in some areas and succeed beyond belief in others. But the bottom-line message has been the same: Jim Webb has what it takes to beat George Allen and represent Virginia in the U.S. Senate. And no one else can realistically claim that.
Last Thursday, I cast an absentee ballot for Jim Webb. (For you statistic gurus, I was #14 in Fairfax City). This turnout will be very small. Every vote will count. Therefore, if you are a Democrat, independent or Republican looking for awesome new leadership, please vote Tuesday for Jim Webb.
-Chap
Add this to your post:
http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Voter_Information/Where_Do_I_Vote/Polling_Place_Lookup_request.asp
I also sent to a smaller list the colum I blogged in my RK diary today.
I am proud to endorse Jim in this primary. He is a decorated Marine and former Secretary of the Navy, a leader of strength and character who can fight and win tough campaigns against challenging odds. I know that he will serve in the Senate with the same kind of character and leadership he has shown throughout his career, and I know he has what it takes to beat George Allen.
I'll be joining Jim this afternoon in Virginia for a final rally before tomorrow's election. I hope you will do everything you can to get out the vote for Jim in your community.
Jim Webb will help the Democrats bring change to Washington, and he will make you proud as your next Senator. But he needs your vote on Tuesday to make that happen.
Here are three easy ways you can help Jim Webb win tomorrow's primary:
Make time tomorrow to go to the polls and cast a vote for Jim Webb. Polls open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. To find your polling place, call 804-864-8901 or visit this page.
Remind your friends about the importance of this election and get them out to the polls too. Give them a ride or arrange a car pool.
Forward this email to ten friends, neighbors, and co-workers and follow up with a phone call reminding them to vote on Tuesday.
Every vote counts. Please help Jim Webb by coming out to the polls for him tomorrow, Tuesday June 13th.
Thank you,
John Kerry
P.S. Turnout is critical in this election. Jim Webb can beat George Allen this fall but he needs your vote. Cast your vote for Jim Webb tomorrow!
I write this as a personal email and ask a special request, please go vote for Jim Webb in tomorrow's Democratic Senate Primary.
My Jim Webb story: I have had the honor and privilege of working with Jim Webb and the yet to be formed campaign since late December when myself and a handful of other Virginia Democrats started the “Draft James Webb†effort. I remember spending every waking minute of New Year’s weekend helping plan the effort and finishing the “Draft†website late New Year’s Day in time to launch it the following morning.
Our goal was simple: We believed Jim Webb embodied the Democratic values we hold true and was the right man at the right time to defeat George Allen in November. Two months earlier Jim had expressed interest in running and we wanted to prove to him that if he chose to run there was a groundswell of support waiting for him.
By the end of January we had collected over 1200 online pledges to encourage Jim to run and to help the campaign if there was to be one. These pledges were presented to Jim in by early February. With some encouragement and assurances from his other friends and associates Jim soon decided that he was going to run. Since that day we have amassed a record 2500 enthusiastic volunteers and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars online. We now stand 24 hours before the Democratic Senate primary.
For those that do not know Jim, in brief, he is a decorated Marine, former Secretary of the Navy and Assistant Secretary of Defense, an award-winning author and widely respected journalist. Webb was awarded, among other decorations, the Navy Cross and Silver Star for valor as a Marine. You can read more on his website here: http://www.webbforsenate.com .
With Jim on the ballot in November we have our best opportunity to take down George Allen. Last week’s Time magazine piece called Jim Webb “George Allen’s worst nightmare†and National, State and Local Democrats such as John Kerry, John Murtha, Chap Petersen and Leslie Byrne have endorsed his campaign. Political pundits say this will be a top tier race in November if Jim is on the ballot. Jim on the ballot would make six competitive Senate seat this election season; the exact number needed for Democrats to regain control of the Senate.
I encourage you to vote for Jim Webb tommorrow.
Best,
Corey
You can find your voting location by visiting the State Board of Elections website:
http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Voter_Information/Where_Do_I_Vote/Polling_Place_Lookup_request.asp
Tomorrow is the primary. If you're a registered voter, please cast your vote for Jim Webb. Thanks for your time and support, and please forward this to any other Democrats you think might like to beat George Allen in November.
Best,
Josh
P.S. If you're in the 11th Congressional district, please consider pulling the lever for Andy Hurst. I think he can actually make the race competitive against Tom Davis, the man who accused all of us who questioned the Iraq war of being traitors to America.
If you email and call people who trust you, you don't have to work as hard at convincing.