Knapp seeks funds for balance of power

Tom Knapp, the Missouri Libertarian Party‘s candidate for the 2nd Congressional District and a contributor to IPR, has written a post on his official campaign blog analyzing his electoral playing field. Entitled The myth of the “safe district”, the article highlights the possibility of unseating incumbent Todd Akin, and what role Knapp would hope to play in doing so:

I’ve been brutally honest with my supporters, and here’s my honest opinion:

No, Missouri’s 2nd District won’t elect a Libertarian to Congress this year. Nor will any other US House District in the nation do so.

However, a strong Libertarian campaign in my district can make a difference.

With your help, I can turn the district into a battleground.

With your support, I can force Todd Akin out for a fight. I can make him keep his money here instead of spreading it around to threatened fellow Republicans elsewhere.

Together, we can put pressure on the resurgent Democrats — not just the candidate in this district, but the incumbents in Washington — to live up to their rhetoric on issues like the war in Iraq and civil liberties at home. We can make them earn any seats they gain.

There’s even a real possibility that we can be the “balance of power” in this district and send an incumbent home. If the election result is DeLear or Pentland 46%, Akin 44%, Knapp 10%, the story won’t be that the Democrat won — it will be that Libertarian voters made the difference.

Knapp’s plan for achieving this goal starts with “at least doubling, and hopefully quadrupling” participation in the August 5th Libertarian primary. To do so, he has called for at least $500 in contributions within the next week to help fund yard signs following an initial postcard/doorhanger drive to take place in the time leading to the primary. Contributions can be made here.