Olympic Spirit

We often use sporting analogies when talking about politics, and if you are like me, your heart quickens a little bit and swells with patriotic pride when that Olympic theme music plays. Here's my surprising connection to this year's Olympics.



Mike Lumpkin's field director, Jessica Hayes, opened her home to Olympic rowers who where training in San Diego. As you'll see from the picture, these world class athletes are big fans and supporters of Mike's campaign.

Olympians Wyatt Allen and Dan Walsh are members of the US Men's 8 crew, Patrick Todd rows on the Lightweight Men's 4 crew, and Rachel Jeffers is an alternate to the Olympic team and three-time senior national women's team member. This is Patrick's second visit to the Olympics, and he is a six time national team member. Wyatt Allen is the 2007 USRowing's Male Athlete of the Year and a 7-time senior national team member. His team set a world record in 2007 at the Olympics on their way to winning the gold medal. You might catch Dan on a commercial as this first-time Olympian and 8-time senior national team member is a part of Home Depot's Olympic Job Opportunity Program. Watch on Sunday as Wyatt and Dan row in the finals!

Although Mike and Jessica will be cheering loudly for the rowing team, there is a local team that will be the key to the election in November. The San Diego County Democratic Party has been working for 18 months to put together their Grassroots Organizing Team for this cycle. Called the "GO Team" these dedicated Party members are working on the precinct level to engage voters and deliver the message that we need their votes for Democrats all the way down the ticket. These local heroes will be the heart and soul of the get-out-the-vote effort.

Mike's race is the local race that leads the ticket, and turning out voters for Mike will be the key to success in the competitive state legislative and local races in the county. Countywide there are currently 700 GO Team members, and the Lumpkin campaign is reaching out to these leaders to recruit more precinct captains for targeted precincts in the 52nd Congressional District.

Should have gone right to sleep after my day of travel back from San Diego (two times through the special security screening and missed flight made for quite an exciting day), but I just couldn't resist watching the Women's All Around gymnastics competition last night. You may be too young to remember Olga Korbett who was my idol in 1972, but I bet you smile a little when you think of Mary Lou Retton winning in 1984. Well, last night's gold and silver victories for the USA by Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson will be the tear-in-the-corner-of-the-eye memory for a new generation of young women.

About to head back to the airport to travel to Kansas City for our next training; hopefully my flights on Sunday will allow me a few minutes to watch some rowing. Keep an eye out as these athletes go for the gold. Mike Lumpkin shares their determination, work ethic and patriotism. Let's keep working to achieve victory for Mike and more importantly for the people of the 52nd CD.