The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.60/No.23           June 10, 1996 
 
 
Socialists Appeal To Workers To Fund Election Campaign  

BY MEGAN ARNEY

NEWARK, New Jersey - In week five of the drive to raise $90,000 for the Socialist Workers 1996 Campaign of James Harris for U.S. president and Laura Garza for vice-president, nearly $20,000 has been collected. Supporters in Greensboro, Philadelphia, Twin Cities, and Detroit are at the top of the chart, and are ahead of schedule. But as the figures accompanying this article show, the collection and amounts pledged fall short of what is needed nationally to continue the campaign and take maximum advantage of the openings it presents.

Greg McCartan, the national Socialist Workers campaign director, is encouraging supporters to raise funds well over the original goal. He announced a two-week extension of the drive -

until July 1 - in order to raise additional money. More than $90,000 is needed, he explained, in light of opportunities to put forward a working-class voice in the elections and the stepped-up involvement of the Young Socialists (YS) in national campaign responsibilities. Supporters of the campaign can use the extra time to reach even more people interested in supporting the Socialist Workers in the election.

As part of the YS taking on more responsibility, Jack Willey, a member of the group's National Committee, will be traveling to California to help supporters there bring the campaign to a range of actions taking place in the state. Willey pointed to plans for protests and an immigrant rights march at the Republican convention in San Diego as examples of the fights campaign supporters are looking to link up with. "These demonstrations are being led by Latino workers and youth," he said.

At the Young Socialists national convention in April, the group decided to endorse the Socialist Workers 1996 campaign and seek out other youth who would also back the alternative to the parties of war, racism, and economic depression. YS members are helping to organize national tours of the candidates and produce a campaign T-shirt.

"We also want to go where we have the potential to recruit to the YS," Willey said, "like Denver. Some youth from there came to the YS convention this spring. By getting back to them we will not only support the Socialist Workers campaign, but recruit to the communist movement." Campaign supporters in Denver have already begun meeting to discuss how to reach the broadest number of people with information about the socialist alternative.

One of the main tasks of the YS in the next period, Willey said, is to build the international active workers and socialist educational conference that will be held in Oberlin, Ohio, in July (see ad on front page).

McCartan reported that the national campaign committee will be producing a new four-page handout at the beginning of June. This inexpensive flyer can be given out on plant-gates, at work, at school and on campaign tables. Copies can be ordered from the campaign office.

Contributions to the fund made it possible to hold a national press conference by Harris and Garza, which was televised on the C-SPAN program, "The Road to the White House." The show was aired nationally three times. An article also appeared in the English- language Tehran Times, in Iran.

Over the next couple weeks, Harris will continue his campaign tour, heading to Boston, Newark, and then traveling to the Midwest. Garza will visit Miami, Atlanta, Seattle, and stop in Vancouver, Canada.

"An important part of the campaign is the drive for ballot status," said McCartan. "Supporters are organizing to get Harris and Garza on the ballot in at least 12 states."

In Newark, supporters have reached their goal of collecting 1,600 signatures to put the socialist ticket on the ballot in New Jersey. They petitioned at campaign tables in working-class neighborhoods, on college campuses, and on the job. New Jersey will be the first state where Harris and Garza will be on the ballot. Volunteers are needed now to collect 7,500 signatures to put the candidates on the ballot in Alabama. Supporters are also needed in early July for drives in New York and the District of Columbia.  
 
 
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