Campaign to Elect Malik Rahim Kicks in to High Gear : NOLA Indymedia

The campaign has done this all due to the generous assistance of supporters. In sharp contrast to the inaccurate figures printed in the Times-Picayune on Friday, November 28, campaign treasurer Shawn Christy says the campaign has raised more than $20,000 so far. And like the historic Obama campaign, Christy says that the vast majority of the money coming in has been small donations.

The Malik Rahim campaign has been organizing grassroots support throughout the District since August. Malik Rahim has a history of combining scant resources with vision and the hard work of dedicated volunteers. Mr. Rahim co-founded Common Ground with only $50 from his Algiers home. Will the help of more than 20,000 volunteers and from that modest beginning he coordinated delivery of relief supplies, gutted homes -- removing debris, and most significantly open a health clinic that would support residents so that they could return to New Orleans.

Early on, the Rahim campaign relied on its website and word of mouth organizing. After briefly turning his attention from campaigning so that he could focus on area Hurricane preparedness and support during Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, Rahim rededicated his energies in October putting the campaign back on track.

"Change is in the air. Voters of the United States and District 2 elected a Community Organizer to the White House, now we need to elect Malik to Congress. Malik is my hero. He will work diligently for everyone" said campaign volunteer Sylvia Ardis. Given the mandate for change, why would voters choose a Bush-McCain Republican?" asks supporter Jason Neville.

"This is a three-way race" said campaign manager Robert Caldwell. "It's time that the media treat it like such."

Caldwell says supporters will be holding signs at major intersections daily Monday through the election.

Malik Rahim says that the work being done reflects a lack of faith that many in New Orleans share about the abilities of the mainstream political establishment. "I've never had the confidence that things would take care of themselves," said Rahim. "I've always worked my hardest to effect change when necessary and this year is no different. If I felt that the established major party candidates had even a few of the answers I would join them and wait for the result. But the changes we need will never come from them. So I have done all that I can do: I have built a campaign to beat them. And the people of New Orleans and the Congress of the United States will be the vehicles for change."

In 2002, Rahim ran a low budget campaign for City Council at Large, receiving 3,654 votes. By contrast, Jefferson's other opponents have not done as well as Rahim. For instance, Cao ran in 2007 House District 103, running as an Independent (no party) 895 votes, finishing 6 of 7, and beaten by all Republicans in that race. Libertarian Candidate Gregory Kahn ran against Jefferson in the 2006 open primary garnering 404 votes.

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