Gravel is still in it to win it!

You will all be shocked to hear that despite Gravel's consistent losses, he continues his campaign with optimism. And as always, Gravel campaigns quite differently than his opponents. Rather than stand upon a pedestal above thousands of jeering supporters, Gravel holds less formal rallies, in the form of town hall meetings at his hotel or by visiting Stenson University to address young voters, or to show his support for African Americans at the Black Cacaus in Florida. And like his opponents, such meetings are tightly packed-up to 5 per day! Furthermore, Gravel is trying to gain more attention by making controversial statements such as insisting that Vice President Cheney be impeached immediately.

However, are Gravel's extensive efforts enough to actually gain a first, second, or even third place in the upcoming election? Probably not, because not only does Gravel hardly ever gain media attention (except when anchors mistakenly announce his candidacy withdrawal), but according to the Washington post's online site, Gravel has only raised $144,225 and of those funds, he has spent $130,598. And with, only $17, 527 left, it is doubtful that Gravel can gain any more ground. However, he has gotten himself on the South Carolina ballot, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

Washington post online: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/mike-gravel/
Mike Gravel online: http://www.gravel2008.us/

Let the People Decide

Although you would not recognize it by looking through political news, Gravel is still in the running for the Democratic presidential nomination. However, Alaskans remember the vivacious senator - the year Mike Gravel lost his Senate seat to Republican Frank Murkowski was the year Alaska fell from political importance. Thus, Alaskans remember Gravel even as they look for their newest democratic senator, in hopes of capitalizing on their current national spotlight.

Gravel has a "zero chance of getting the Democratic nomination," being given little attention throughout the primaries. He and Kucinich are the two variants - they are the unique candidates, who (if they could muster up more popularity) would be voted into office based on their platform and beliefs. However, the big three (Clinton, Obama and Edwards) are said to have "policy differences among the candidates are so slight, voters appear to be left to choose on the basis of a candidate's personality and life story." Immigration? All would leave 12 million illegals to earn citizenship. Iraq? Troops for Obama and Clinton would be left only to protect the U.S. embassies/citizens, while Edwards' looks to leave a residual force in Kuwait...basically the same concept. Gay rights and abortion? All three say yes. Thus, for the frantic voter trying to compromise his/her own beliefs with these candidates..maybe a look to the outsiders would be worthwhile, where Gravel and Kucinich dare to be different.

Senator Gravel is invited to the Sundance Film Festival, where he and a panel of entertainment moguls, will invite discussion about the intersections of entertainment and politics. This shows that while the news and media may not find the time for this man's opinions, people outside the political world are interested in his voice. Also, Noam Chomsky released a statement lauding Senator Gravel's efforts in politics. "Alone among...Congress, Senator Mike Gravel had the courage to...[help end] the atrocious Indochina wars...[and] also made a great contribution to breaking the wall of secrecy that governments erect...referring to his release of the Pentagon Papers, properly called "the Gravel edition...Gravel has continued to show the same moral integrity and courage, particularly with regard to war and aggression, the severe threat of nuclear war, the destructive impact of the military-industrial complex on American democracy, and the programs of aggressive militarism... It may be that these consistent and honorable commitments are responsible for his being largely excluded from the media, even from presidential debates. And the same integrity and courage should be an inspiration for people who care about their country, the fate of its people, and its role in the world."

Mike Gravel is still in it!

Despite getting a mere 402 votes in New Hampshire, and thus receiving no delegates or percentage in the polls, Gravel remains in the race, and he was outraged when MSNBC anchor, Keith Olbermann falsely announced that he had dropped out. On his website, Gravel responded to the journalist's words, saying, "At this point, I have become accustomed to many trying to silence my message to the American people -- the plain, simple, uncompromising truth. Nor does it come as any great surprise that the mainstream media is now putting words in my mouth. Not kind words, but bold-faced lies. Thursday evening at New Hampshire headquarters, on the most frigid night yet this winter, my campaign staff was dumbfounded to watch MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann announce I had dropped out of the race."(Mike Gravel for 2008)

In addition, Gravel was able to appear on the ballot in every state primary whose deadline has already passed, including the nearby Michigan primary. It is apparent that Gravel's resolve has not been weakened by his New Hampshire defeat!

Sources used: ABC News, http://abcnews.go.com/politics/elections/state?state=NH
and Mike Gravel's official website, http://www.gravel2008.us/

Trip Out on Pot - not Alcohol

Gravel has consistently been a brave candidate, breaching topics other candidates avoid at all costs. Because his campaign is so small, he needs to draw attention to himself - which he does through controversy. This past week, Gravel lectured kids on alcohol and its dangers. "I'm sure a lot of you have tripped out on alcohol," Gravel said. "It's a lot safer to do it on marijuana...Go get yourself a fifth of Scotch or a fifth of gin and chug-a-lug it down and you'll find you lose your senses a lot faster than you would smoking some marijuana..."


AOL News has looked at the Alaskan senator's money on hand (at the time, $17,527) and given Gravel suggestions with how best to spend his money - suggestions include a Toyota Matrix (with no options/upgrades), 1 semester's tuition at Dartmouth, purchase of a near-mint original Spiderman #2 comic, 5 eye's worth of Lasic eye surgery, or a local cable commercial in Bakersfield, CA.

Also, Gravel is the "considerable threat" as the only candidate who acknowledges American imperialism. Someone allegedly phoned into CNN claiming to be part of Gravel's intimate political circle, and claimed the Senator had dropped out of the political race. Since that fraudulent call, some conspiracies have sprung up that such major political candidates find Gravel to be a threat - because he may not necessarily support the ultimate Democratic nominee, as Kucinich and Biden and Dodd will probably do. Gravel publicly challenges his major opponents time and again, hackling them more than his slightly-more successful cohorts (ex-cohorts, since they dropped their campaigns) in Dodd and Biden.

Mike Gravel is working hard in New Hampshire!

Not surprisingly, Mike Gravel did not place #1 in the Iowa caucus, nor did he place in the top 3. However, unlike Kucinich and Todd, Gravel remains in the race and is campaiging hard in New Hampshire. Yesterday, Gravel spoke at a town hall meeting at Exeter Academy, while he is scheduled to make many appearances today (Jan 7), inluding at New Hampshire television studio, WMUR, the "Every Child Matters" forum in Concord, NH, a coffee-chat with NH veterans in a living center, and one breakfast to thank his supporters. Such intimate appearances in the middle of a Presidential race is rare for any candidate, and it further emphasizes Gravel's differences with the other candidiates.

According to the website, Va Joe Candidate Calculator, Mike Gravel is actually the presidential whose positions are most aligned with those of their pollers. This site is used by veterans and thier families, and their "calculator" works by presenting a list of issues to their pollers in which the pollers declare their position on each issue. The "calculator" then matches up their opinions with the Presidential Candidate that has the most view points as them. Currently, Mike Gravel is in the lead, proving that he might have a much larger "fan base" than one would presume. It is clear from his perserverance, that Mike Gravel believes in his presidential potential, and I look forward to witnessing his battle in New Hampshire!