We're seeing something happen these days that's a welcome change from cycles past: Democrats reaching out to our contenders for legislative seats and putting their muscle, and their name, behind the young blood.

For example, Hillary Clinton, not a woman with a particularly open schedule these days, has endorsed - and campaigned for Eric Massa, Dan Maffei, Brian Foley, Kristen McElroy, Don Barber, and others up and down the food chain. Similarly, Governor Paterson - the subject of much grumbling in the political class in the summer due to his attempts to play nice with Skelos - has raised money for Dollinger, Foley, Addabbo, and others. All of this is announced in a daily stream of email releases.

What could bring our normally fractious Democrats together like that? Bright red oozing billows of blood in the water, for one thing; the other side has never had a weaker bench or a worse environment. This is the endgame, the final battle for New York; and I think we're going to win.

Per an emailed press release, Senator Clinton is lending her megawatt star power to Don Barber's campaign in the 51st District.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) threw her support behind Don Barber (D-Caroline) in his run for a seat in the New York State Senate (51stD). Clinton praised Barber's campaign for taking on the special interests and battling for the middle class.

In her statement, Clinton said, "Don Barber is a farmer who knows how to protect our precious environment. He's a businessman who knows how to revitalize the upstate economy. He's running a vibrant, grassroots campaign and taking on the special interests that have blocked health care reform. I know Don Barber will put the interests of middle class, working families first. His voice is sorely needed in the New York State Senate. He has my full support."

Barber thanked Sen. Clinton."I deeply appreciate this support and recognition from Senator Clinton. I am honored to add her endorsement to our list of supporters. This shows the depth and breadth of the excitement our campaign is generating."

Last week Barber added The League of Conservation Voters' endorsement to a sheaf of endorsements that includes Citizen Action, Democracy for America, The Working Families Party, The United Auto Workers, The Sierra Club, The Communication Workers of America, as well as numerous office holders and unions.

On the web: Don Barber for Senate

Okay, I'm excited: the netroots buzz around Don Barber, a Democrat running in the 51st SD, has been building for a while. Last night, some of we bloggers decided to take a look at the man himself at an event.

Wait, this is him.

Very impressive, for several reasons. First of all, he's a nice guy, who I'm pretty confident isn't going to turn into an aloof elected aristocrat like some of the GOP senators one might care to mention.

Then, there's his platform: Don is running on a really simple idea that's gotten short shrift in New York for a while: that we're all in this together, that jobs matter, that the yawning gap between rich and poor in this state is scandalous, that we need to take better care of each other and the world we live in. As he says, he grew up on a farm, and it shows: the man is steeped in the values of a small, close-knit community that exercises stewardship of the land. Yes, that matters.

Here's what's really compelling: Don isn't the kind of person that's supposed to be running. He's doing this in a district that is tailored to make running more difficult; it stretches from roughly the geographic center of the state north to Saint Lawrence, west to Tompkins, and south to Dutchess. He also started out with no money, and has filled his coffers with a grassroots surge.  read more »