Less than two days ago, we began the DRAFT LESSIG Challenge: for 1,000+ people to donate money, pledge to donate if a campaign materials, and/or promise to volunteer their time.

As of tonight, nearly 350 people have made contributions via ActBlue or pledged to give and hundreds more have pledged to volunteer their time and effort. The groundswell — from the Netroots, in no small part — is testimony to the power of Lawrence Lessig’s message.

Tomorrow: let’s pass the other candidates in total amount raised on ActBlue (we’re way ahead in terms of total number of contributions already, after basically a day).

We are more than on track to make the DRAFT LESSIG Challenge. Keep up the constant efforts. Each original DRAFT LESSIG supporter: get 10 more people to contribute on ActBlue and sign up for the doubled-down, 1000 Strong to Draft Lessig in Facebook (the original DRAFT LESSIG group is great, and still growing, at about 3,500) to show that this race matters to you, to the people of the 12th cd in California, to America.

Every Monday at 9pm Pacific, from now until the special election, join longtime digital divide and online culture advocate Shava Nerad and her fiance Matthew “Fish” Fishman in the virtual world of Second Life for an evening of experimental music and music and graphic mashups.

We will be devoting our regular “Odd Ball” dance parties to Lessig awareness, education, organizing and (gosh) even fundraising for the next few weeks.

If you are already in Second Life, join the Lessig08 group for notices, and just come to our stage at 9pm SLT/Pacific on Mondays to join like-minded folks to talk politics, law, emerging/online/free culture, fair use, and the Joy of Lessig while we throw it down to tunes in a 3D immersive psychedelic light show.

IM Shava Suntzu or Tuna Oddfellow in Second Life for more information on how to get involved.

If you are not yet in Second Life, throw yourself into the deep end, and we’ll help teach you to swim. Go to the Second Life site, download the free client (warning: not digital divide friendly — check the recommended platform requirements!), and give yourself a few hours to a few days to get your virtual land legs. The Lessig Odd Balls are probably the most intense introduction anyone could get to the culture of Second Life!

Draft Lessig started fundraising about 48 hours ago. We’ve just passed $20,000 raised, from nearly 300 individual donors.

Thank you. Thank you for your enthusiasm. We can change Congress.

Help us meet the Draft Lessig Challenge: 1,000 donors or volunteers this week. Donate now via ActBlue.

On Monday night, Draft Lessig started raising funds via ActBlue.

On Tuesday night, Lessig’s own announcement encouraged us to show our support.

By Wednesday afternoon, that resounding support is plainly visible: In two days, we’ve had more donors via ActBlue than any other Democrat in the race — by more than double.

Incredible. Keep it up!

We’ll have a DRAFT LESSIG update conference call today, Wednesday, 2:00 p.m. West Coast time / 5:00 p.m. East Coast time. Send mail to info@draftlessig.org if you wish to join. Thanks.