Recently, the Supreme Court upheld all the major provisions of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance legislation.

I can't tell you how pleased I was to finally rid our campaigns of the million-dollar unregulated party soft money contributions that have corrupted our system. With your support, we proved once and for all that we can have reasonable reform while protecting our Constitutional right to free speech.

But this is just the beginning. We still have significant problems with the way campaign finance laws are enforced. And there is still much to do to ensure that average people have a political voice in this country.

Some people say that because of my work on campaign finance, it's inappropriate for me to ask you to contribute to my campaign. I disagree. The Supreme Court's decision was about eliminating huge, unlimited campaign contributions of $250,000, even $1 million, the type of contributions that the Supreme Court said have a corrupting influence on our democracy. I'm proud that my campaigns have been financed by small contributions from supporters like you - the very type of contributions that the Court upheld. And while I am working so that campaigns will be publicly funded some day, we cannot forget that I was outspent last time nearly 3 to 1. Now I'm facing big money attacks from Republican millionaires in Wisconsin. I need to raise as much money as I can before the end of the FEC reporting period on March 31 to show that millionaires' money will not keep me from reelection. Please click here to donate now.

The average contribution to my campaign is just over $50. In comparison, one of my three potential opponents, millionaire car dealer Russ Darrow, has an average contribution of over $2,800. That doesn.t even include the $455,000 of his own money he already contributed to his campaign, with a promise of more to come. Asked why he was entering the Senate race, Darrow said, because he "can afford to."

In fact, two of the three Republicans planning to run against me next November are millionaires who have already put their own big money into the race. Tim Michels, a pipeline construction company executive, has also donated more than $250,000 to his campaign.

I'm used to being outspent in my campaigns. With the 2004 election less than a year away, I need your help. Your contribution of $35, $50, $100, $500, or $1,000 will help me get my positive message of protecting Wisconsin jobs, expanding access to health care, and fighting terrorism while balancing civil liberties, across to the people of Wisconsin. Your contribution today will enable me to combat the millionaires who are determined to spend their personal wealth to blanket the state with misleading messages. Please click here to donate: http://www.russfeingold.org/contribute.php

Thank you for your continuing support.

Sincerely,

Russ Feingold
United States Senator

P.S. All three of my potential opponents expressed their disappointment when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the McCain-Feingold law. Your contribution today will help send the message that democracy will not be overpowered by big money.

Contribute: http://www.russfeingold.org/contribute.php
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Please note: Individuals may contribute a maximum of $2,000 for the primary and $2,000 for the general elections. That's a total limit of $4,000 ($8,000 per couple) for the 2004 election cycle. Your contribution is not tax deductible. Corporate contributions are prohibited. You must be at least 18 years old to contribute.