BY MARTÍN KOPPEL
"The socialist candidates, James Harris for president and Laura Garza for vice president, are presenting a working-class alternative to the spectrum of pro-capitalist politicians and parties," said Greg McCartan, the national director of the 1996 Socialist Workers election campaign. "To organize speaking tours and produce literature that campaign supporters can use in political discussions and debates, we need money," he told the Militant.
McCartan recently sent out an appeal to socialist campaign supporters in more than 20 cities to help raise $90,000 by June 15. Socialist workers and others in each local area were asked to take a goal by April 30. "Our campaign is financed by workers and young fighters, not the wealthy who back the parties that accept capitalism," said McCartan.
The goals can be based on lining up pledges now from other campaign supporters, including co-workers, friends, and political activists. Fund-raising events and appeals to everyone the socialist campaign reaches can also help the effort, McCartan suggested. People who have met socialist campaign supporters at actions protesting the Israeli invasion of Lebanon should be among the first to be asked for a contribution. A chart in an upcoming issue of the Militant will track progress on the goal.
Harris is currently attending the convention of the Central Organization of Cuban Workers and will be available for speaking engagements beginning May 18. Garza will be available for tours to different cities beginning May 11, the campaign director said. Requests for the candidates to speak, and proposals for events from plant-gate visits, to house meetings, to public forums can be sent in to the national campaign committee at: P.O. Box 2652, New York, NY 10009. Telephone or fax: (212) 388-1659. To order a four-page campaign brochure, at a charge of 15 cents per copy, send your order to the same address.