MoveOn.org, the progressive grassroots organization founded by screen-saver magnates Wes Boyd and Joan Blades, is planning to launch a virtual Democratic presidential primary

Washington Monthly, July-August, 2003 by Susan Threadgill

MoveOn.org, the progressive grassroots organization founded by screen-saver magnates Wes Boyd and Joan Blades, is planning to launch a virtual Democratic presidential primary. According to a June 11 email sent out by Boyd, if the group's 2 million members coalesce around a candidate, MoveOn.org will "endorse and immediately begin doing work to elect that candidate." That could provide the lucky candidate with a major advantage both during and after the primary: Political insiders tell Who's Who that MoveOn.org thinks it can raise as much as $50 million for the 2004 election, nearly as much as Al Gore's fundraising total in 2000.

Howard Dean's insurgent campaign is taking note, and has already launched an effort to win the group's endorsement.