There is a strong new face in the Democratic Party, and his name is Ashwin Madia.  Running with a massive grassroots campaign he came out of no where to become the Democratic nominee in the open race for Minnesota's 3rd District.  He is a first generation American, an Iraq War veteran, and for more information about him, check out Populista's great bio of him from May.

We are lucky in that this election year, we had a whole slew of presidential candidates to be excited about.  Even still, it's rare to find palpable excitement around politicians.  But just look at this video from the Third District Convention.  When the speaker announces Ashwin Madia as a candidate for US Representative, the crowd goes nuts.

This energy channels into votes, people.

There isn't much left to announce for our agenda in Austin, but we've at last been able to finalize this, and it's big.  Because when you think about Netroots victories, and "more and better Democrats," they get no better than this:

An integral part of the our movement's growth and sustainability is encouraging activists to take the next step and run for office. We at Netroots Nation aim to recognize Netroots candidates at all levels and shine a spotlight on those who organize and mobilize progressives locally.

So we welcome one of the Netroots' very own success stories, Congresswoman Donna Edwards, who will join us in Austin for a Saturday evening keynote.

With strong Netroots support, the lawyer and longtime community activist defeated 15-year incumbent Albert Wynn in the 2008 Democratic primary, and, following his resignation, won a special election to fill the remainder of his term.

As the first African-American woman to represent Maryland in Congress, she's led the way in pushing progressive values on key issues like net neutrality and the Iraq war, condemning it before it even started. So we're especially proud to recognize her tenacity and leadership during the past year.

And she's equally happy to talk with you -- the Netroots community that was so instrumental in helping to spread her message of change.

Oh, can I add telecom immunity to the list of issues on which Donna Edwards is awesome?

Registration will be closing soon.  So if you want to see Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean, Paul Krugman, Harold Ford, Van Jones, Larry Lessig, Digby, John Dean, Richard Clarke, Darcy Burner, Mark Begich, Rick Noriega, Dahlia Lithwick, Ashwin Madia and Donna Edwards, and so many more ... if you want the opportunity to listen to these leaders and thinkers and have them listen to you, then you need to be in Austin next week.  It will be an unforgettable four days.

Register now, and join us at Netroots Nation 2008.

Given what happened yesterday, I feel it's important I repost my earlier diary on who are the GOOD Democratic challengers when it comes to FISA.  I'll try to corral all their statements into this diary, so you can see who the "good guys" are.

First, let's start off with the current House and Senate members who voted against this bill.  (For the Senate, I'm only including those who voted against cloture yesterday for the bill.)  They do deserve credit, as it's their jobs on the line.

Follow me below the fold to see the dozens of Democratic challengers who are standing up for the Constitution, and are against this FISA bill and retroactive immunity.

What better way to laugh at the RNC Convention this fall than to have all of the MN Democratic challengers poised to turn the state solid blue.  MN bloggers are doing their part to make this a reality with http://www.actblue.com/....

In the last couple days, there have been several posts across the blogosphere citing what various candidates running for Congress have said on FISA and retroactive immunity for the telecoms.  But so far, it's been all over the map.  I'll try to corral all their statements into this diary, so you can see who the "good guys" are.

First, let's start off with the current House and Senate members who voted against this bill.  They do deserve credit, as it's their jobs on the line.

Follow me below the fold to see the dozens of Democratic challengers who are standing up for the Constitution, and are against this FISA bill and retroactive immunity.

Give and get involved in Ashwin's campaign.

I've just received through email Ashwin Madia's statement on the FISA Amendments:

I am troubled by the House passage of HR 6304, the FISA Amendments Act of 2008. There is much we can do to prevent terrorism, but such measures do not require the sacrifice of fundamental constitutional freedoms which our country was founded upon. This legislation demonstrates the need for leaders in Congress who have experience in the military and in Iraq, and who value the rule of law as we fight the War on Terror.

The traditionally red seat he's running for (western Twin Cities suburbs) is being left vacant by a retiring Republican who voted for the FISA amendments. Cook lists it as a toss-up. He's been sponsored by the DCCC Red to Blue program.

This is one we can take back, and here's a challenger willing to put out a statement opposing the bill (I don't know any other who has so far).

Ashwin Madia's parents came to America from India with $19 in cash and a dream that America would provide opportunities for their children. Now their child, Ashwin Madia is running for Congress in Minnesota's third congressional district as the Democratic Nominee to replace retiring Republican Jim Ramstad.

He is a Iraq War Vet who ran a grassroots campaign and defeated a better funded establishment candidate for the Democratic nomination. Now he is facing Erik Paulsen a state representative and extreme conservative (for example, he even voted against raising the minimum wage). This will be one of the most contested races in the country. It is targeted by both parties but it is a fantastic opportunity to send a great representative to Washington who will shake things up. That's why I'm proud to announce that Ashwin Madia is the latest Obamajority canidate and that he is joining us shortly (About 1 ET/ 12 CT) for a conversation about his campaign and the future of this country.

Follow me below the fold to learn more about Ashwin.

I am proud to report that I have seen the future of Minnesota and his name is Ashwin Madia. Last weekend I was invited by my friend Chris to come down to Plymouth and watch the convention. I wasn't quite sure what to except; I certainly liked what I had heard about Ashwin, but I still had no experience with him.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is getting behind Ashwin Madia.  This is great news.  It's not just that the demographics of MN-03 is trending Democratic.  It's not just that the Republicans are trashing the Republican brand on an almost daily basis.  It means that we have an added edge in the MN-03 race.   Our dynamic, charismatic candidate who will have no problems raising money. The DCCC is kicking the RNC's butt in fundraising. Any fundraising deficit Ashwin has to Erik Paulsen will quickly be eliminated.

Chairman Chris Van Hollen announced today that Iraq war veteran, Ashwin Madia (MN-03) will immediately be added to the DCCC's Red to Blue program for open seats following his  endorsement by the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party last Saturday. Democratic congressional candidates running in open seats earned a spot in the competitive program by surpassing demanding fundraising goals and by skillfully showing voters that they stand for change and will represent new priorities when elected to Congress.  Madia is one of only 11 candidates in the Red to Blue program for open seats.
(DCCC Press release email)

Back in December, I interviewed all three candidates vying for the MN-03 DFL endorsement and hoping to replace the retiring Jim Ramstad.  I was prepared to cut Edina Mayor Jim Hovland some slack because he had just abandoned the Republican Party for the DFL.  I was surprised to find him remarkably progressive and very well positioned for the district.  I was impressed with Terri Bonoff's endorsements and the staff she'd put together.  I'd only heard good things about what she'd done in her short time in the Minnesota Senate.  She sounded very confident and assured when I met her at her campaign headquarters.  Ashwin Madia came across as smart and bold.  A former Marine lawyer and Iraq Vet would play well in the third.  He promised me that his campaign was going to surprise some people.  On the afternoon of December 14th, I was planning on posting a comparison piece, complete with issue charts, giving Terri a clear lead and talking about her chances of beating the then rumored Republican candidate Erik Paulsen.

The MN-03 DFL Convention took place yesterday.  Delegates gathered at the Wayzata High School to choose between Ashwin Madia and Terri Bonoff.  Going in Ashwin had 84.5 delegates and Terri had 52.  The sole reason that Terri is still in the race is because of the superdelegates.  Terri has 15 superdelegates while Ashwin only has two.

While Ashwin's campaign is close to gaining the endorsement (59% without the supers, 53% with them), Terri's campaign must be hoping for a no endorsement result.  She can only become the candidate to face Erik Paulsen if the race goes to the primary.

As I pulled into the parking lot, the Teamsters Local 120's tractor trailer was honking and supporters of both sides were chanting at the entrance.

State Senator Terri Bonoff has withdrawn her name from consideration after the eighth ballot at today's MN-3 district convention.  That means newly endorsed DFL 3rd district congressional candidate Ashwin Madia will need your support!!!  Visit his website at www.madiaforcongress.com and get the green flowing for our newest Dem hero!

Ashwin Madia has responded to Terri Bonoff's attack letter by restating the facts and reiterating that he believes in positive issue-driven politics.  He won all those delegates by talking about the issues and he brings it right back to why he's winning -- he communicates what he believes so much better and so much more convincingly than the other candidates.

Since Ashwin Madia leads Terri Bonoff by a healthy but technically not insurmountable margin, Terri has two possible strategies.  One is to hold out for a no endorsement at the April 12th MN-03 Convention.  The other is to go negative.  So far she has chosen one of these paths and I think she will attempt the other as well.

It was the penultimate Saturday in the Minnesota DFL endorsement race.  The next big event is the endorsing convention on April 12th.  Ashwin Madia increased his lead and now has 52% of the delegates.  12 delegates are still undecided and if they swing to Ashwin, he's the candidate.  

Terri Bonoff has 51 delegates or 32%.  The parrallels between this race and the Presidential are intriguing.  Terri is relying on 15 of the 19 superdelegates to remain competitive.

I attended the largest of the 6 conventions and you can read all about it:

MN-03: SD41 DFL convention

After the break I'll analyze in more detail where things stand and what the campaigning will look like.

Former Edina mayor (and former Republican) Jim Hovland has suspended his campaign for the MN-03 seat being vacated by moderate Republican Jim Ramstad. Hovland has left the door open to enter the primary if there is no endorsement at the DFL state convention.

That leaves state Sen. Terri Bonoff and surprise first-timer Ashwin Madia still in the running.

One of the common questions/criticisms from the mainstream media when discussing Iraq and Afghanistan veterans running for Congress is can they prove they're more than just an idealist with a nice resume?  The conventional wisdom is that when facing professional politicians, they'll show how green they are, and just fade away.

Conventional wisdom, meet Ashwin Madia.

Yesterday the delegates across MN-03 sent a resounding statement that they prefer Ashwin Madia.  He garnered 41.5 of 62.5 delegates available.  If it weren't for the superdelegates,  mostly made up of Sen. Terri Bonoff's colleagues at the state legislature, this race wouldn't even be close.  Ashwin even made it close in Terri's home district (SD43) garnering 8 delegates to Terri's 10.  Remarkably, this was the only district that was close -- Ashwin ran away with every other district.

Why?