Aside from trying to recruit new candidates to run against Darrell Issa and Peter King, Blue America has been busy trying to help courageous progressives who have already tossed their hats into the ring.

This week, we have one of our fun little contests going.

So you remember a rockin' band called The Cult? Back together, and in July they'll embark on a long tour of the U.S. and U.K., culminating (at least so far) on Halloween at the legendary Roundhouse in London. The U.S. portion kicks off in San Diego on July 25 and circumnavigates America to end with two nights in L.A. on September 7 and 8. They'll be performing their entire 1987 smash album Electric. Ian Astbury came up with the brilliant idea of hiring Grateful Dead postermaker Rick Griffin (of Zap Comix reknown) to design the artwork for the "Wildflower" single and 12" from Electric. So 700 numbered prints were made and around 100 were signed by the four band members-- Ian Astbury, Billy Duffy, Jamie Stewart and Les Warner-- and Griffin, who was killed in a motorcycle accident three years later.

Blue America wants to offer one of the ultra-rare, fully signed, numbered, framed prints to a Nick Ruiz supporter. Nick told me he wore out his cassette copy of Electric; and he's eager to see them at the House of Blues in Orlando August 14.

Here's how you win; it's simple. Just contribute (any amount) to Nick's congressional campaign at the Blue America page and you get a chance to win the print. We'll pick one random donor.

And if you don't want to contribute just because Nick wore out his tape, how about because he's one of the only candidates running for Congress with the courageousness and independence of Members like Alan Grayson, Barbara Lee and Bernie Sanders?

"Politics doesn't have to be a humdrum affair," Nick told us. "Politics can be serious, meaningful, creative-- and fun, too. No one knows that better than Blue America, and I really enjoy being able to be part of this kind of work. We're raising awareness about the campaign, but we're also letting people know that politics is an art form, as much as anything else. I can't thank Blue America enough for the work they do."

Nick is running against a lockstep conservative Republican, John Mica, in the Orlando district next door to Alan Grayson's. It's a winnable seat, although the DCCC seems less than interested in taking on the reactionary Mica. Romney only won the seat with 52% last November and Nick feels that if he has the financial support to get out his progressive message, people in central Florida are ready for real change. So, whether you want the Cult print or just want to help elect a fighting progressive, please consider making a contribution to Nick's campaign.