Way, way back in the spring of 2006, a mere 40 members of Congress publicly supported Clean Elections. Now that the elections are over, just a half-year later, that number has climbed to 108.

What's especially exciting is that 20 new members of the House signed the Voters First Pledge during this campaign season--along with 69 incumbent House members who won reelection--meaning that the incoming class of House freshmen brings substantial support for full public funding of Congressional elections. Those folks are joined by the other 13 House members who already supported a Clean Elections bill in the House, plus six Senators.

That's a lot of supporters, up 170% from earlier this year. An idea that once seemed like a pipe dream is now one step closer to becoming the way we run elections for Congress in this country.

Picture this: Congressional candidates in 2010 turning down special interest dollars, receiving public funding from the U.S. government, and then spending every day until Election Day just talking to voters all day long.

It sounds great, but we'll have to fight to make it happen.