John, when I started my M.B.A. at the University of Delaware as a young man, I realized something: I'm a numbers guy. (I promise that this is related to the midterm elections – just bear with me for a moment here.)

There's certainty, solutions, and clarity in numbers. I loved that there was always a right answer if you could balance a sheet or figure out how to apply the right formula. And when I graduated, I was determined to find a way to use this love of numbers to serve my state.

So, at just 29, I ran for State Treasurer – and I won. When I took the oath of office for the first time, Delaware had the worst credit rating of any state in America, and families were dealing with the effects. So from day one on the job, I dove into the numbers to fix things. Six years later, we restored that credit rating to a respectable “AA" – but there was more work to be done.

So I ran for governor and led our state to create eight balanced budgets – with tax cuts for families in seven of those eight years. By listening to the data, we saw record growth in employment and a reduction in state debt, all of which led to Delaware earning AAA credit ratings for the first time in our state’s history. 

And now, as a U.S. Senator, I am still following the numbers. In Congress, I curb waste in government spending; I make sure big corporations pay their fair share; I dig into the data so that we're ready to combat climate change; and I fight to win hardworking Americans the stimulus they need.

But the numbers I am most concerned about right now are 50 – the number of Democratic seats in the U.S. Senate – and 22 – how many days we have left until the election.

That's why tonight, I need your help with the numbers. I need your help turning out the vote in these final few days. I need your help expanding our Democratic majority so we're not hanging onto Senate control by a thread and can pass the legislation families are counting on. I need your help making sure that Democrats can compete with GOP megadonors. And I need your help meeting our grassroots fundraising goal before midnight tonight so that we can make all of this happen.

That's why I have to ask: Will you chip in $5 – or whatever you can spare – before tonight's deadline to help me defend our Senate majority, defeat GOP extremism, and follow the numbers to victory in 22 days? With Senate control so tight, every dollar to support Democrats matters immensely.

If you stand with us, I know that the numbers will be on our side come Election Day.

The fight continues,

Tom