Writing for Wired Magazine, John Gartner profiles Charlie Crystle in Software Exec Eyes Senate Seat. Here's a few sections of the article, with Crystle describing his motivation for running:

While Crystle, 36, has never held public office, the self-described bulldog is determined to unseat powerful Republican Sen. Arlen Specter, who has been helping pass legislation since before Crystle had to worry about passing algebra.

Crystle said the reason he's running for office is simple: He can't sleep watching people around him lose their jobs, their health care and then their homes.

America's trade and economic policies are "killing the middle class, and I won't sit for it," said Crystle, who wants to put the 73-year-old Specter out to pasture.

"Arlen and this administration gave tax cuts to the wealthy," he said, "when they should have been investing in education and training grants for laid-off workers."

After describing Crystle's idealism at work in the real word with human rights organizations, and his goal of bringing the issue of fair trade to the US Senate's immediate agenda, there's an assesment of the campaign's pragmatic dreaming:

Crystle wants to bring his "pragmatic dreaming" to a Washington where "there are 33 lobbyists for every member of Congress." He said the administration doesn't ask for sacrifices and lures voters with "free money" from tax cuts while creating only "Wal-Mart" service jobs selling products made overseas.

If another transformational technology such as the Internet comes along, he said, the United States is unprepared to capitalize on it. "This administration is actively engaged in destroying the social fabric, to the detriment of our futures."

Stuart Rothenberg, editor and publisher of the Rothenberg Political Report, said that having no political track record both helps and hurts Crystle. While he doesn't have a voting record or public stance on issues to criticize, he's also far behind the other candidates in name recognition.

"He's not tilting at windmills, but he's got a long way to go," Rothenberg said.

Crystle will also be able to tout his tech savvy and private-sector credentials, such as running a company and meeting a budget, to show financial responsibility, according to Rothenberg. Crystle isn't the first tech exec to campaign for the Senate. Former RealNetworks executive Maria Cantwell used some of her stock profits to win a U.S. Senate seat in 2000 in Washington state.

Crystle said his campaign is largely relying on volunteers to build community, and that the Internet will play an important role in getting out the word. His website uses the Meetup service to help organize volunteers, who are at the heart of his campaign.

We are going to add the link to the sidebar here of this profile, along with filling out this weblog with other ways for you to get involved. You can get involved in the campaign by taking action right now: please send a link (or full text) of this article to some political friends,and tell them about Crystle's weblog.