From The Guardian :

The Guardian’s campaign to target undecided voters in a key swing state in the US presidential elections has attracted more than 10,000 responses, as well earning the ire of the conservative media.

By 6pm yesterday, 11,658 people had contacted the newspaper from around the world, after it encouraged readers in Britain to write with their thoughts on the election to voters in Clark county, Ohio. In the 2000 election, George Bush lost the county by 1% - equivalent to 324 votes.

The Guardian promised to give emailers the names and addresses of unaffiliated voters, from a list purchased from electoral officials. In its launch article on Thursday, it urged: “Remember that it’s unusual to receive a lobbying letter from someone in another country.”

The paper will match voters with only one reader. No voter should get more than one letter.

Most of the requests for addresses came from Britain, but some arrived from elsewhere, including France, China, Brazil, Eritrea and the US.

Ian Katz, the Guardian’s features editor, said: “For millions of people around the world, this election will have far more of an impact on our lives than even elections in their own country, and this is a way for non-Americans to have some say.”

He said the article that launched the campaign was neutral: it provided contact details for the conservative Christian Coalition and the liberal National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. “But it is no secret we are a centre-left newspaper and that our readers are likely to be pro-Kerry.”

To gauge the neutrality of the campaign, some quotes from the example letters the Guardian has thoughtfully provided :

[1] While Bush was waging his father’s war at your expense, he was also ruining your country….Give us back the America we loved, and your friends will be waiting for you. And here in Britain, for as long as we have Tony Blair singing the same lies as George Bush, your nightmares will be ours.

[2] First of all, if you back Kerry, you will be voting against a savage militaristic foreign policy of pre-emptive killing which has stained the great name of the US so hideously in recent times. A policy that Bush and his gang are set to continue - if they get the opportunity.

[3] Before 9/11 gave him his big break - the neo-cons’ Pearl Harbor - Bush was written off as an amiable idiot, certain to serve only one term. An idiot he may be, but he is also sly, mendacious and vindictive; and the thuggish ideologues who surround him are dangerous.

TCP readers can provide feedback to the Guardian’s editors and reporters about their audacious idea. In accordance with the Guardian’s example, we ask you to remain courteous and respectful, and please, only send one message.

See also Operation Guardian, courtesy of Tim Blair.