Last week I reported that Democracy For America,  a progressive PAC with 7,000 members in CA36 and over a million nationwide, announced they were endorsing Debra Bowen for Congress.

Today we get an idea of what kind of support that endorsement translates into with this personal appeal from DFA’s founder, Governor Howard Dean. Hoping to help boost Bowen’s fundraising totals before the March 31st end-of-quarter reporting deadline, Dean asks his DFA membership to contribute to the campaign’s Act Blue page.

Here’s the letter in it’s entirety:

I rarely endorse candidates in Congressional primaries. But Secretary of State Debra Bowen is a rare kind of leader, so when I heard that Debra was running for Congress, I pledged to do everything I could to help her.

I’m proud to endorse Debra Bowen – an intelligent, humble, and passionate public servant who has the courage to stand up to the special interests, and the record to back it up. We simply can’t afford to let this opportunity to send a leader like Debra to Washington pass us by.

All of Debra’s campaigns have truly been “people-powered” – and this time she needs even more grassroots action.

That’s why I’m asking you, right now, to make a donation toward Debra’s goal of 136 grassroots donations between now and March 31 – the first end-of-quarter reporting deadline. These fundraising reports will be scoured by the press, pundits, and her opponents to see if Debra’s got the support she needs to win this election.

I know you’ve chipped in before, and I can’t thank you enough for that – but making another contribution today will go so far toward ensuring that Debra’s campaign has the momentum needed to win.

Click here to contribute $25 or more toward Debra’s end-of-quarter fundraising goal!

Debra is the grassroots candidate in this race, and is a hero for working families, the environment, and better government. She won the John F. Kennedy “Profile in Courage Award” for her commitment to government transparency. And she will fight for jobs in ways that are pragmatic yet progressive, working from the bottom up to re-invest in our education system, protect our social safety nets, and trim our deficit while investing in our future.

Look, I’ve been part of a grassroots political campaign or two. I know what it’s like to come from outside the political establishment, taking on the entrenched politicians and special interests with ideas and values that work for regular working folks. Debra’s got a tough fight on her hands, but it’s such an important one for us to win.

Grassroots activists like you and me are the ones who need to lift Debra up. Can you do that today, by making a donation toward Debra’s campaign before Thursday’s first critical deadline?

Make a contribution today – and help Debra reach her goal of 136 grassroots donations by March 31!

I am so proud to join the thousands of citizens and leaders who’ve endorsed Debra’s campaign in the 36th Congressional District. We are all so lucky that we have the opportunity to elect a leader of such character and intellect.

Let’s make sure we do everything we can to seize it.

Sincerely,

Gov. Howard Dean

P.S. It’s hard to overstate the importance of the coming fundraising deadline. This is the first chance we have to make a major statement about Debra’s powerful grassroots support, so contribute now – and let’s make sure Debra’s March 31 fundraising report is a strong one