FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MONTANA GOV. BRIAN SCHWEITZER TO KICK OFF FIFTH ANNUAL NETROOTS NATION CONVENTION IN LAS VEGAS

MARCH 4, 2010 -- Netroots Nation organizers announced today that Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer will address attendees July 22 in Las Vegas. Gov. Schweitzer will speak as part of the fifth annual convention's opening keynote.

In 2008, Gov. Schweitzer jumped into the national spotlight with a rousing speech at the Democratic National Committee Convention in Denver. He fired up the crowd by calling for a new clean energy future, saying that four billion in tax breaks to Big Oil is "a lot of change, but not the change we need."

"Progressives are looking to their elected leaders to fiercely advocate for real change," said Raven Brooks, executive director of Netroots Nation. "Gov. Schweitzer is no stranger to taking on powerful interests for the sake of the public good. He is an unapologetic populist who fights for his constituents and connects with them."

Gov. Schweitzer, who in 2004 became Montana's first Democratic governor in decades, is hugely popular in his home state. The Los Angeles Times said of him: "A cattle rancher who strode into office wearing cowboy boots, Schweitzer has succeeded by connecting with the values of Western voters." Yet he also embraces key Democratic policies including abortion rights, clean and green energy development and natural resource conservation.

Netroots Nation will take place July 22–25 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The fifth annual gathering of the online progressive community will include more than 70 panels led by national and international experts; prominent political, issue and policy-oriented speakers; 30 cutting-edge training sessions; and a progressive film screening series.

Past conventions have featured President Bill Clinton, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Harry Reid, Vice President Al Gore, then Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, Gov. Howard Dean, Valerie Jarrett and Van Jones.

The keynote and convention are open to media coverage. For more information about Netroots Nation, visit www.netrootsnation.org. Contact Mary Rickles at mary@netrootsnation.org.

ABOUT NETROOTS NATION
Netroots Nation amplifies progressive voices by providing an online and in-person campus for exchanging ideas and learning how to be more effective in using technology to influence the public debate.

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