George RR Martin is trying to help Democrats keep the Senate

On Wednesday night, the reelection campaign of Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) announced that it would hold a fundraising dinner with a local celebrity — the author of Game of Thrones. "You could hang out with George RR Martin" in exchange for a donation, an image advertising the event reads. It adds below in smaller print that Senator Udall will be present as well.

It seems that Martin's political efforts will focus on the election in his home state of New Mexico for now. And Udall isn't facing a particularly tough reelection (though his cousin, Senator Mark Udall of Colorado, is). But Martin has long had strong views on politics, which he's posted on his Livejournal — for instance, criticizing what he said were GOP efforts at "voter suppression" in 2012, and calling President Obama's reelection "a great night for the USA."

As HBO's Game of Thrones show has become more and more successful, Martin has become far more famous — a development he's said he has mixed feelings about, as he's now recognized everywhere he goes. But with star power comes fundraising power, as he discovered when he asked for donations for a wolf sanctuary and Santa Fe food depot, and said a random donor would win a chance to spend a day with him. Half a million dollars poured in. If his political efforts are similarly successful, there might be more to come.

Correction: Senators Mark and Tom Udall are cousins, not brothers.

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