FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jessica
Smith or Trevor FitzGibbon,
Friday, June 27, 2003 Fenton Communications
No Candidate Wins Majority in MoveOn.org Political Action First-Ever
Democratic Online “Primary”
No
endorsement now
Estimated
$1.75 million raised in pledges to Democratic contenders
Most votes to Dean, followed by Kucinich, Kerry
Friday, June 27,
The rest of the
field was in single digits: John Edwards, 3.19% (10,146 votes); Richard Gephardt, 2.44% (7,755 votes); Bob Graham, 2.24% (7,113
votes); Carol Moseley Braun, 2.21% (7,021 votes); Joe Lieberman, 1.92% (6,095
votes); and Al Sharpton, 0.53% (1,677 votes).
MoveOn.org Political Action
hailed the primary as a tremendous kick-off for the campaign to defeat George Bush
next year:
·
317,639
votes were cast in the “primary,” more than the 2000 New Hampshire
Democratic presidential primary, the Iowa and South Carolina Democratic
presidential caucuses, combined;
·
54,370
voters pledged to volunteer for their preferred Democratic contender;
·
77,192
voters authorized MoveOn.org Political Action to give their e-mail addresses to the candidate
of their choice; and
·
49,132
voters pledged to contribute money to their candidate, for a total estimated at
more than $1.75 million
($35
average contribution).
“And one of the most promising results for Democrats
in 2004, is that most MoveOn.org voters said they would ‘enthusiastically
support’ a broad array of candidates as the party’s nominee next year,”
said Wes Boyd, MoveOn.org Political Action treasurer.
“This is only the
beginning,” continued Boyd. “Our most important objectives have been met: early
Democratic grassroots involvement; increased contributions and volunteer
support for each campaign; and mobilization of the Democratic base to defeat
George Bush. We wanted people to have a
seat at the table, and they have taken it.”
####
