StartChange PAC was launched in early 2004 under the name Running for Change. In 2004, StartChange PAC launched 3 separate campaigns -- StopSinclair, Run Against Bush, and Concerts for Change -- that sought to engage progressives, elect Democrats, and defeat George Bush. Moving forward, StartChange PAC continues to create fast-paced, participatory, online campaigns that engage the energies of people across the country and help elect candidates committed to change.

StopSinclair
The StopSinclair campaign was a successful online effort to prevent the Sinclair Broadcast Group from running an hour-long attack on John Kerry on TV stations across the country in October 2004. During the 12-day StopSinclair campaign, 152,407 people signed our online petition, 3595 people contributed $165,603 to pay for targeted print and TV ads in Ohio and Nevada, and hundreds more came to our rallies.

The StopSinclair campaign began on October 10 when the LA Times reported that Sinclair Broadcast Group planned preempt regular programming and force the 62 television stations it owns and operates to air the anti-John Kerry program Stolen Honor. Within 36 hours we had registered and launched www.StopSinclair.org. In ten days, more than 150,000 people joined our campaign -- and we organized successful rallies at Sinclair corporate headquarters Maryland and in front of the White House. A week after launching the site, we asked our petition signers to help pay for full-page newspaper ads and 30-second television ads in Ohio and Nevada markets where Sinclair has stations.

View Our Ads
click to watch	click to view

Our petition, rallies, and advertisements were featured in more than 415 news stories and covered by major media including CNN, Fox, MSNBC, The Washington Post, Time Magazine, and The Associated Press.

Ultimately, Sinclair backed down and ran a far less biased program than news reports indicated Sinclair had originally planned. The show was widely panned as boring and uninformative. The informal coalition of groups working independently had Stopped Sinclair.

Concerts for Change
Launched in March 2004 by Nikki Columbus, Tim Cullen, Arkadi Gerney, and Nancy Meakem, the Concerts for Change effort raised more than $370,000 to support John Kerry from 16,000 concertgoers at 99 events around the country. Participating artists included Jack Black, David Cross, Sarah Silverman, Fred Armisen, Moby, DJ Spooky, Savion Glover, Joshua Redman, Saves the Day, OK Go, Ted Leo, Grant Lee Phillips, Michelle Shocked, John Legend, Duncan Sheik, and many more.

Run Against Bush
Launched late 2003, the Run Against Bush campaign raised over $450,000 in small donations from over 11,000 runners across the country. Spreading to more than 120 cities across the county, Run Against Bush motivated legions of joggers get out their blue t-shirts and start running to change in America.