Today Blue America is launching an effort on behalf of prairie populist Rick Weiland, who is running for the open blue Senate seat in South Dakota. With two Republicans running against the GOP Establishment pick in the general election, this should be a great opportunity to elect a dedicated tribune for working families in what the DC pundits see as a tough race.

This week, Rick released his first television ad. You can you watch it here. Digby, John and Howie are asking Blue America supporters to chip in getting the ad seen more widely-- and you can do that on the same page you watch the ad on.

There are basically two big media markets in South Dakota. One covers the Democratic-leaning half the state (East River)-- Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Watertown, Brookings, Huron, Mitchell and Yankton-- and the other covers the more conservative half of the state (West River)-- Rapid City, Spearfish, Sturgis, Custer, Wall, Lead, Deadwood and Hot Springs.

This is a sample of what a typical contribution can buy in the eastern part of the state:

• $28- All In With Chris Hayes
• $35- Southern Charm
• $125- Good Morning America
• $165- Face The Nation
• $225- Wheel of Fortune
• $400- 48 Hours

And this is what we can get in the western part of the state:

• $34- The Rachel Maddow Show
• $50- Inside Edition
• $75- Big Bang Theory
• $120- The Today Show
• $150- 60 Minutes
• $300- The Blacklist

So what's all this got to do with Frank Sinatra? Well, Howie was the president of the record label Sinatra started, Reprise Records. Sinatra started it-- and Howie continued it-- as a haven for artists who didn't want to be pushed around by corporate dictators, an ethos that epitomizes Rick's "Take It Back" campaign.

Howie was awarded an RIAA-certified plaque when Sinatra's greatest hits album, The Very Good Years went double platinum… two million records sold in the U.S. alone. He's donating this gorgeous, historical collector's item to one randomly selected donor to this Rick Weiland effort this week.

The "contest" ends next Monday, April 28, at noon. It doesn't matter how much you give, just that you do give on this page.

And, for the Sinatra fans, some of the songs that are on The Very Good Years: "Fly Me To The Moon," Cole Porter's "I Get A Kick Out of You," "Luck Be A Lady," "Love and Mariiage," "Send In The Clowns," "The Lady Is A Tramp," "Strangers In The Night," "I've Got You Under My Skin," and the song Howie says is the perfect theme for Rick's campaign for South Dakota, "The Best Is Yet To Come." And some of the musicians who played on this record-- Nelson Riddle, Woody Herman, Count Basie and Quincy Jones.

You want to know Rick stands for policy wise? He's a bold progressive and he sums up his political beliefs in that :30 second TV spot we want you to look at.

Remember, a little bit of money goes a long way in South Dakota, so don't be shy about making even a modest contribution.

Thanks, we are all in this together,

Jacquie for Blue America