Last month, Sen. Robert Byrd, the 87 year old West Virginia Democrat, began to publicly discuss a reelection bid. Byrd, the oldest current member of the Senate, will break Strom Thurmond's record of 48 years in the Senate next year, and is one of the wisest parliamentarians in the history of the chamber. About two weeks ago, leading Democrats called on supporters to begin to raise funds for Byrd should he decide on a bid for a 9th term. Now, as Paul J. Nyden reports for the Charleston Gazette, Democratic activists have done just that -- and more.

Early Tuesday afternoon, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., sent an appeal over the Internet urging people to contribute to the re-election campaign of Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va.

In less than 24 hours, more than 15,000 contributors gave $634,000 to Byrd’s campaign, according to the National Journal’s daily Internet publication “Hotline.” The average donation was about $42.25.

In Obama’s appeal, sent out by the MoveOn Political Action Committee, he wrote, “In 2006, Senator Byrd will be the target of Republicans because he stands up for what he believes. Will you join me in supporting Senator Byrd’s campaign for re-election, before a critical deadline this Thursday?”

Obama told The Charleston Gazette on Wednesday, “Sen. Byrd has spent his career in the Senate standing up for the Constitution and putting principle over politics. The people of West Virginia are lucky to have such a distinguished and powerful advocate fighting for them who consistently delivers results.”

Do you think $634,000 in one day might help sway Byrd's decision?