Plouffe backs Fisher over Brunner

President Obama's campaign manager is the latest Democratic establishment figure to get behind Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher in Ohio's Democratic Senate primary.

David Plouffe on Wednesday sent a fundraising e-mail for Fisher. It is about the closest thing to a major national party or White House endorsement that Fisher has received in his primary with Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.

Plouffe set up the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) campaign arm, Organizing for America, and remains active with it.

Brunner isn't putting up much of a fight on the money front, so perhaps Democratic leaders feel emboldened to start backing Fisher and turn their attention toward the general election, which will likely be against well-funded former Rep. Rob Portman (R-Ohio).

Here is Plouffe's e-mail:

Dear XXXXX,

Support a champion for Ohio familiesI get asked quite a bit what I think the most important campaigns in 2010 will be. And the Ohio Senate race is always near the top of my list.

We all know how competitive statewide contests in Ohio can be. And with Senator Voinovich (R-OH) retiring, Republicans have to defend an open seat. It's a golden opportunity to send a true champion for the middle-class to Washington -- and for Democrats to help President Obama by adding to our Senate majority.

That's why I'm supporting Lee Fisher.

As the end-of-year fundraising deadline approaches -- and with the holidays almost upon us -- this week is an ideal time to help Lee Fisher make a strong showing. We need Lee Fisher in the Senate to move Ohio forward on jobs, health care, and energy -- and can't let Republicans bring back George Bush economics.

Join me and contribute $5 or more NOW to help Lee Fisher put this seat in the Democrat column.

I've had the privilege of working with leaders who understand how real people struggle; appreciate the dignity of work; and have committed themselves to protecting the American Dream -- from Congressman Dick Gephardt, to Governor Deval Patrick, to President Obama.

Here in Ohio, Lee Fisher's been fighting that fight his entire life.

From helping pass Ohio's first collective bargaining law; to protecting children and victims of crime as attorney general; to providing job training through the Center for Families and Children; to crisscrossing the state as lieutenant governor to save good jobs and help small business succeed -- Lee Fisher has ALWAYS fought for Ohio.

Now Lee is going to take that fight to Washington. But Republicans aren't going to go down easily -- and they've got a boatload of cash at their disposal.

We need a champion for Ohio workers in Washington -- and Lee Fisher needs your help. Contribute $5 or more right now.

Lee's likely opponent in this race is Republican Rob Portman. On the campaign trail, Portman talks a lot about his time in Congress -- he says he "knows where the bodies are buried" -- but you don't hear much about how he REALLY made his name in Washington.

Portman left Congress to become George W. Bush's top dog on trade and budget issues -- pushing trade policies that gave tax breaks to companies shipping Ohio jobs overseas, and crafting budgets that showered massive tax breaks on the wealthy, while sparking the worst economic recession in our lifetimes.

If Karl Rove was the "architect" of Bush's campaigns, then Portman was the "architect" of Bush's economic agenda. We can't go back to the same failed policies that got us where we are today. And that's why we need Lee Fisher.

As Ohio's Senator, Lee Fisher will take on the greed and irresponsibility on Wall Street, and fight to bring good jobs to Ohio instead. He'll take on the insurance giants to ensure that every Ohioan has access to quality, affordable care -- and doesn't go broke just because they get sick. He'll stand up for a clean energy economy that reduces our dependence on foreign oil and uses wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources to create good OHIO jobs that can never be outsourced to India or China.

Lee Fisher has stood up for Ohio all his life. But to win, he needs you to stand with him. Contribute $5 or more now.

With Lee Fisher joining Sherrod Brown in the Senate, Ohioans can be confident that they'll have two powerful voices doing everything in their power to protect the middle class, create jobs, and get our economy moving again.

I hope you'll join me in supporting Lee.

Thanks so much.

Sincerely,

David Plouffe