Last night, I attended a forum hosted by the Tioga County Development Corporation, at the beautiful Wellsboro High School auditorium. If you’ve never been to Wellsboro in the evening, you should plan a visit. It’s a slice of Norman Rockwell’s America.

Once again, I believe the evening went very well. I had a number of people come up to me afterwards and pledge their support. I answered questions for an hour following the forum. It was, in every way, a successful evening.

I can’t help but juxtapose the success of last evening with the media blitz that’s taking place now and will intensify in the last two weeks. Two weeks out, here’s the situation. By shining in every forum, by outworking others on the ground, by getting more miles per gallon for every contribution, we’ve run an effective grassroots campaign on a modest budget.

The same certainly can’t be said of others. Three candidates come from very wealthy families. They have money, and they’re not afraid to spend it. With money, you can always buy an image. The challenge for us is to crack through the image that they have bought for themselves before April 22.

I need help to do that. I am asking you to contribute now, so that I can buy strategic radio spots and one mailer. I want to reach beyond the hundreds who have seen the substance at the forums to the thousands who may otherwise vote based solely on media-created image and name-recognition.

You know me. You know how awkward it is for me to ask. You know I would not do so if I had any other recourse. Nor would I ask if this were a lost cause, if I could not win on April 22. But the truth is, I can win. I believe I will win, if I can finish well and not be lost in the crowd as the media wars rage in these closing days.

To speak plainly, I need to raise $80,000 immediately for a 3-day mail and radio blitz.  We’re confident that $80,000 is enough to give the voters a real choice during the time when media coverage is the most intense. I am asking you to help, because you know me best.

Because one candidate has already tripped the “millionaire’s amendment” to the federal election laws, other candidates can now receive up to $6,900 from a single donor. Whether you can contribute that $6,900 or just $69, please know that I will be forever grateful for your help, and that our campaign will use every penny with the same conservative spending discipline that I want to take to Washington.

Time is short. If you will “Invest in Courage,” the time is now.