Conventional wisdom has it that the Internet helps candidates in national races but not at the state and local level. But this is the year that overthrows all conventional wisdom, and that generalization seems to be sinking fast.

Jamie has been raising huge amounts of money and countless volunteers over the Internet.

And now the early results in: the Raskin campaign is sweeping not only the grassroots activists and thinkers but the Netroots activists and thinkers. Local bloggers have been weighing in heavily for Raskin and bringing lots of web traffic to our site. And the endorsements are pouring in.

Check out the following:

"Ida Ruben has simply gone too far. First, beating up on high school kids who had the courage to participate in the political process. Then, beating up on community college kids for the same thing. Now, she's waging a divisive attack campaign against another Democrat. And Jamie Raskin... what can I say? The man is a hero. He not only believes strongly in progressive politics, but he fights hard for what he believes in. He will be a great voice for District 20, and one that finally matches the tenor of the district."

"Dear Senator Ruben: ...Last night my ambivalence over who to vote for disappeared and I have you to thank for that. You see, I got your nasty little mailing accusing Jamie Raskin of all kinds of awful things. You should be ashamed of yourself!...an energetic candidate with practical experience and a willingness to do something about the challenges facing our community and our state started running for Senate -- Jamie Raskin.... I've decided that we need a change. I'm voting for Jamie Raskin on September 12. So I ask my neighbors to join me in voting for a change and working for a change, for real leadership that we can be proud of. Vote Raskin!"

"It is a classic David v. Goliath battle, except here Goliath is a 77-year women. Jamie Raskin has earned the coveted Blue Pages endorsement for Maryland's 20th this year. He's an articulate, intelligent candidate who opposes the ICC and doesn't take any corporate campaign contributions (unlike Ruben, who supports the ICC and does take corporate contributions). He's the kind of rock-solid progressive you'd expect.... He's got an uphill battle against an entrenched machine Democrat like Ruben, but I know who I'll be casting my vote for on September 12th."

"You may have heard something about the bumper crop of energetic, thoughtful, progressive leaders running for office in Montgomery County this fall.... Nowhere is this more true than in the heavily Democratic 20th legislative district, encompassing the southeastern corner of Montgomery County (Silver Spring and Takoma Park), where in less than 80 days we’ll have the most exciting election in several cycles. In the most interesting race, long-time incumbent Ida Ruben is being challenged by public advocate and American University professor Jamie Raskin."