Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren is emerging as a national figure that one group of progressives says can rally the left-wing base next year.
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee rolled out a new round of endorsements Friday, aiming to drive national money and attention to three more House candidates they say will help push the Democratic caucus in Washington to the left. The PCCC is labeling the three “Warren’s Allies.”
Here’s the list of endorsements, sent over by the PCCC Thursday night (all candidates are Democrats):
⢠Chris Donovan (CT-05): The Speaker of the Connecticut state House, Donovan is running for the open seat being vacated by Rep. Chris Murphy (D), who’s running for Senate. The Hill characterized the district as having “a strong independent streak that Republicans have been eyeing for a possible pickup.” Donovan faces two opponents in the Democratic primary.
⢠Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02): In 2010, Kuster’s victory in the NH-02 Democratic primary was heralded by progressives. She lost to Rep. Charlie Bass (R) in the open-seat race, but Democrats have made Bass a top target in 2012 and progressives are bullish on Kuster’s chances.
⢠Ilya Sheyman (IL-10): Sheyman is a progressive activist and former staffer at MoveOn and Democracy For America. He’s already picked up some union support as well as fundraising help from Howard Dean as he fights for a win in the primary and a chance to face Rep. Robert Dold (R), whose district has been redrawn in a way that makes it much more favorable to Democrats.
The PCCC is fundraising for all three at once in an email to their national members that ties them directly to Warren — who of course, still has her own primary to run and win before she can face Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA). But the PCCC was an early and ardent backer of Warren’s Senate bid, and now it seems the group thinks it can rally more progressives to the cause by putting Warren’s face outfront.
Ironically, this is a role Republicans are probably happy to see Warren take, as their strategy to oppose her has focused mainly on calling her too liberal. Nevertheless, the PCCC sees a chance to build a movement in 2012 around Warren’s run.
“Today, we’re proud to endorse 3 bold progressives who vow to be strong allies of Elizabeth Warren in Congress,” the PCCC fundraising email reads.
