Tammy Baldwin's Senate Bid Gets Support From Howard Dean

Tammy Baldwin's campaign to become the first openly gay U.S. senator is getting a boost from Howard Dean's Democracy for America organization.

Baldwin and five other candidates will share $125,000 in donations and grassroots support from Democracy for America, the group announced today. Baldwin, a Democrat, has represented Wisconsin in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1999 and is now running for its vacant Senate seat.

The others endorsed today are Senate candidates Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and House hopefuls Annie Kuster of New Hampshire, Raul Ruiz of California, and Manan Trivedi of Pennsylvania. With six other endorsees announced earlier this month, they form the "Dean Dozen." The candidates endorsed previously are Senate candidate Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and House nominees Kathy Boockvar of Pennsylvania, Jose Hernandez of California, Joe Miklosi of Colorado, Carol Shea-Porter of New Hampshire, and Shelli Yoder of Indiana.

"Since 2004, DFA has worked to identify 12 strong progressive candidates who have what it takes to win and are committed to moving the progressive agenda forward," said Dean, a former Vermont governor, presidential candidate, and Democratic National Committee chairman. "The focus on candidates in these twelve races sends a clear signal that it is time to end the extreme right-wing stronghold that has blocked the progressive agenda at every turn."