Roll Call Newspaper Discovers Blue Catapult PAC
Thursday, June 29, 2006

From Roll Call...

SHOP TALK
By Stephanie Woodrow and Nicole Duran
Roll Call Staff
June 29, 2006

Most young political activists in Washington, D.C., spend their spare time
reading, watching TV, hanging out with friends or going to happy hour.

But not Ian Fried. Fried, a political consultant by day, spends his
free time working on helping get the House back in Democratic hands this
fall.

Last summer, while trying to figure out how to help the Democrats take back
the House, Fried realized that to get the necessary 15 seats, they needed to
"expand the map" and put at least 50 seats in play.

That's when he and a friend, Campbell Tyler, decided to found the Blue
Catapult political action committee, with Fried serving as director and
Tyler as treasurer.

Fried said that a PAC seemed like the best way to help a group of targeted
candidates.

"[PACs] are very easy to set up and start," he said.

Since its founding last fall, Blue Catapult has donated to six Democratic
House candidates so far and it has held fundraisers for three of the
candidates recently in addition to a launch event earlier this year.

Blue Catapult is focusing on "not quite yet first tier candidates," Fried
said - those who have great potential but have not yet received enough help
or attention.

So far, the PAC has donated $450 to former Microsoft executive Darcy Burner,
who is challenging freshman Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.); $300 to college
professor Chris Carney, who is taking on embattled Rep. Don Sherwood
(R-Pa.); $450 to former Navy commander Eric Massa, who is challenging
freshman Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-N.Y.); $250 to marketing executive Dan Seals,
who won the Democratic primary to challenge Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.); $250 to
Colorado state Rep. Angie Paccione, who is taking on Rep. Marilyn Musgrave
(R-Colo.), and $500 to former Hillsborough County Commissioner Phyllis
Busansky, who is running for the open seat being vacated by Rep. Mike
Bilirakis (R-Fla.).

"We're not opposed to donating to Senate races," Fried said. "It's just
worked out that House seats need us more."

To gain a Senate majority, Democrats need to pick up six seats.

"Our hope is by the end of election cycle to be supporting 15-20
candidates," Fried said