Matt Stoller

On Winning, Life Inside Congress & Lessons From Bill Clinton

U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington)

On Saturday, July 19, U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) traveled to Austin, Texas to finally speak in person with those who were among the first to listen to her and a message that would oust an entrenched incumbent less than two years later.

Edwards was the keynote speaker at ‘Netroots Nation,’ a gathering formerly known as YearlyKos, based off the popular progressive blog, DailyKos.com. Netroots Nation is an annual gathering of the left-of-center online political community and attracts a ‘who’s who’ of Democratic politics. Former Vice President Al Gore and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also addressed the gathering in person, while U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) addressed the conference by a taped message.

But few Party leaders have the stature Edwards maintains in that community. Like 2004 presidential candidate Howard Dean and 2006 U.S. Senate candidate Ned Lamont before her, she became an online icon for her ability to channel the power of the Internet into boots-on-the-ground action.

Open Left blogger Matt Stoller uses the results of the Fourth District primary to make a point about the existence of Democratic 'Party Elders' and their ability to put a kibosh on the presidential nominating race this June.

A victorious Donna Edwards’ message to the netroots, via Matt Stoller.

LARGO - In her victory speech tonight, Donna Edwards returned to what has been the central focus of her campaign: changing the ways of Washington.

“Today voters went to the polls and they voted for change,” Edwards said to jubilant supporters at the Radisson Largo.

LARGO - With returns showing Donna Edwards leading Al Wynn significantly, the mood here at the Edwards party is, to put it mildly, boisterous.

In the ballroom, where Edwards is set to speak, the music is beginning to blare and shouts of laughter and celebration are erupting.

Open Left’s Matt Stoller notes another corporate fundraiser for Rep. Al Wynn, taking place this afternoon.

Edwards supporters protest Wynn fundraiser“Follow The Money,” Says Edwards While Wynn Ties Her To Halliburton

WASHINGTON D.C. - With the Democratic Fourth Congressional District primary five weeks away, the campaigns for challenger Donna Edwards and incumbent Al Wynn came head to head today just a block from the United States Capitol.

Wynn, scheduled to speak at a morning fundraiser in the offices of Entergy, a prominent energy lobbying firm, collided with protesters from the Edwards campaign as he stepped out of his car to enter the building on the corner of Constitution and Louisiana Avenues.

Wynn, escorted by office security, passed by signs reading, “Al Wynn has got to go,” “PACs over people,” and “Dirty money, dirty congress.” Once inside the building, protesters began chanting to passing cars, “Hey hey, ho ho, Al Wynn has got to go!”