I lost, but I was one of only two Texas challenger Dems to break into the 40's, and held my opponent to the lowest victory margin in Texas. But, I'm still happy.
I said from the beginning that I didn't want to go to Congress to make a career of it, but to accomplish some important things. When I began a year and a half, ago; I had no idea how the country as a whole would go, so I offered myself. The country turned control over to the Dems, and we are already seeing the needed changes. So, the country is changing, and I am happy.
We ran a shoestring campaign, eventually spending about $60,000. I had probably the lowest cost per vote as anyone. There were thousands of small $5 and $10 contributors, some up to $200, and six $2,000 contributors. Very little came from my Kos posts. I laid out my campaign strategy to try to capture the attention of the netroots, but it didn't work. I wouldn't do that again, because my competitors read these posts, also.
The biggest impediment was Rahm Emmanuel's "Red to Blue" effort. If you didn't make his list, and no challenger in Texas did, it killed you for the sources that usually fund campaigns. I think the results show that Mr. Emmanuel's ability as a "winner picker" is no better than that of a random numbers generator. The Dems won, but I think that it would have happened without his intercession, and there would have been a different mix if we had been able to present our cases without the static of "approved candidates".
My only regret is that the Congress didn't get another combat veteran to participate in the important "going to war" questions that may come up in the next few years. But, all in all, we have a good outcome. I will now return you to your regularly scheduled programming. Ted Ankrum