John Rauh, Founder and President of Americans for Campaign Reform (ACR), a non-partisan grassroots organization advocating the public funding of federal elections, recently announced that Donald Petterson is representing ACR on a bicycle journey from Florida to New Hampshire this spring. The 73-year-old former Ambassador to Sudan is promoting the ACR message as he rides from Miami all the way up the East Coast to Concord, NH.

Petterson, the author of two books about U.S. diplomacy, now commits his energy and time to discussing real campaign reform with folks he meets along the way. He points out that for just $6 per American per year, the government can fund every qualified candidate running for office in the House, the Senate, and the White House. This would eliminate the influence of big money on our democracy.

"It is an honor to have Ambassador Petterson offer to take our message on the road," says Rauh. "He shares our vision of a new democracy, a democracy that gives all citizens an opportunity for their voices to be heard, a democracy where the public's interest replaces special interests, a democracy where leadership is based on who is best qualified to lead our country, not who is best able to finance a campaign."

Ambassador Petterson's international experience gives him unique insight and a global perspective. "In the eyes of many people around the world, the view that this country is a citadel of democracy has been badly tarnished," stated the retired career Foreign Service officer. He added, "The recent election campaigns in America made it especially clear that politics here is awash in money."

Donald Petterson will travel through New Jersey over the next several days spending time in the Princeton area where he will visit with the Bickford family. Ben Bickford, a local resident, and his sister Annie, Development Director of ACR, will greet Petterson as he wends his way through the region.

During the summer of 2003, Petterson completed a 3,677-mile bicycle ride across America that was interrupted by a road accident just 977 miles from his destination. Donald Petterson later finished his trek.

According to ACR President Rauh, "This demonstrates clearly that Don never swerves from challenges. He is a person of commitment, conviction, and endurance. ACR is delighted that he will help us complete our journey to publicly fund federal elections in America."