‘Rogue’: TMI
Column by Chris Graham
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I didn’t expect that the one thing that would stick out the most from my read of Sarah Palin’s Going Rogue would be the bit about an unnamed former state legislative director in Alaska, what with all the innuendo about the inner workings of the John McCain presidential campaign, the hack job she did on McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt, the breathless retelling of the moment when she asked Joe Biden if she could call him Joe – there was just so much to look forward to.
But no, sitting here thinking about the book, about Palin, the state legislative director stories are the ones that will linger with me. Continue reading “‘Rogue’: TMI” »
The Pulse | McDonnell the centrist?
Column by Chris Graham
That’s the idea that I’ve had – focused as I’ve been on the stunning 2-1 margin that Bob McDonnell ran up among independent voters in last week’s gubernatorial-election win over Democrat Creigh Deeds.
But another data point to consider is the impact of so-called values voters – usually right-leaning evangelical Christians – on the election. According to exit polls, around a third of all voters in last week’s elections were values voters, and they split 83-17 for McDonnell.
Doing some quick math, you’re talking about 45 percent of McDonnell’s vote base coming from the religious right. Continue reading “The Pulse | McDonnell the centrist?” »
The spin stops here
Column by David Lampo
The headline from the Washington Times the morning after that state’s historic election said it all: “Independents fuel GOP victories.” Because the campaign of Bob McDonnell methodically ran an inclusive campaign that discussed almost exclusively the economic issues that most people care about instead of focusing on divisive hot button social issues, independent and moderate voters came back to the GOP in a big way. The populous counties of Fairfax, Prince William, and Loudoun, for example, all flipped back to the Republicans after supporting Democrats in the past two statewide elections. Continue reading “The spin stops here” »
Focus | Kaine offers advice to McDonnell on health care
Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell doesn’t think health-care reform with a public option is going to be “something that is going to help us in Virginia.” His predecessor recommends that he wait until Congress makes its final call on reform before painting himself into a corner.
“What I would say – he’s going to make his own decisions – I think he should see the final bill before he makes his decision,” Gov. Tim Kaine told reporters after an event in Harrisonburg Monday afternoon. “Because to say in advance, I’m going to opt out regardless – nobody would say that Medicare, for example, nobody would opt out of Medicare, which is a public option, a public product that serves our seniors, nobody would choose to opt out of the VA system, a public service that serves our veterans. Continue reading “Focus | Kaine offers advice to McDonnell on health care” »
The Pulse | One reason Deeds lost
And it’s a small thing, because Waynesboro isn’t going to turn an election one way or the other all by itself.
But my experience as the Democratic Party chair in Waynesboro the past couple of election seasons can be instructive nonetheless.
It strikes me that I hadn’t even bothered to look at how Creigh Deeds did in Waynesboro in last week’s state elections until this morning. That’s probably a sign of, one, how bad the beatdown was overall, and two, how little I felt I had invested in the effort at the local level. Continue reading “The Pulse | One reason Deeds lost” »
The Rant | Bob’s Lesson to the GOP
Keep calling it “socialism” and referring to the Obama administration as “Nazis” and “Communists.” That strategy will lead Republicans back to familiar territory – losses on Election Night.
Virginia Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell is showing the national GOP another approach, AFP editor Chris Graham says in today’s installment of The Rant. Not that Capitol Hill is listening, anyway.
AFP Video. Length: 2:45. Continue reading “The Rant | Bob’s Lesson to the GOP” »
Kaine takes part-time teaching job at UR
Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine will return to the University of Richmond to resume his teaching career in law and leadership studies after his term in office ends in January.
Kaine, a Harvard law graduate who also has served as mayor of Richmond and lieutenant governor, has accepted a joint appointment in the university’s School of Law and Jepson School of Leadership Studies. He will also have additional responsibilities in advancing the university’s strategic plan, The Richmond Promise.
Before his election to public office, Kaine taught law at Richmond, including courses in professional responsibility. Continue reading “Kaine takes part-time teaching job at UR” »
InDepth | What happened to Blue Virginia?
Remember when Virginia was trending Democratic? Like, as recently as late spring, when Creigh Deeds surged to the Democratic Party gubernatorial nomination, and had the lead in the early post-primary polls, and Virginia Democrats not only seemed headed for another return trip to the Governor’s Mansion, but had a good shot at winning back a majority in the House of Delegates?
Ah, what a few months and the changing of the leaves can bring. As in, a changing of the guard, and a dramatic one at that. From that early, albeit brief, post-nomination lead, Deeds went on to lose to Republican Bob McDonnell in the governor’s race, and lose historically, paving the way for a GOP statewide sweep. Continue reading “InDepth | What happened to Blue Virginia?” »
David Reynolds | Why Deeds lost
Winning in life involves good timing, having the right friends and not forgetting to dance with those you came with. The same is true in politics. Creigh Deeds lost his lifetime dream yesterday, as well as an 18-point landslide election, because he forgot these three simple rules.
First the matter of good timing and bad luck.
It was cool inside Bud Foster’s Restaurant in Blacksburg that hot August day. The Hokies’ defensive coordinator was not there. The small group of loyal supporters who gathered at Bud’s were more interested in seeing someone else. They expected that that someone would be the next governor of Virginia come one cold day in January. Continue reading “David Reynolds | Why Deeds lost” »
Tim Kaine | Build on successes
Virginia has come a long way in the past eight years. Last night’s results may have been a disappointment but we can continue to expand upon the successes of Democratic leaders in Virginia.
As we begin to rebuild we start with a remarkable advantage that we did not have eight years ago. Virginians have elected two successive Democratic Governors, two Democratic U.S. senators, a majority in the Virginia Senate, won a majority of our U.S. House of Representatives delegation and turned Virginia blue for President Barack Obama. Elected officials who share a vision of pragmatic, commonsense solutions will always be in demand across the Commonwealth. Continue reading “Tim Kaine | Build on successes” »
GOP three sweep state races
The last pre-election polls had the Republican ticket of Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli winning by 11-14 points.
Bad news for Virginia Democrats – it was worse than expected.
McDonnell bested Democrat Creigh Deeds in the marquee race for governor Tuesday, piling up over 1 million votes en route to garnering just shy of 60 percent of the votes cast overall.
Bolling won a second term as lieutenant governor, beating back the challenge of Democrat Jody Wagner by a 57 percent-to-43 percent margin.
Cuccinelli was elected attorney general with 57.9 percent of the vote to Steve Shannon’s 42 percent of the vote.
Cuccinelli and Shannon each, like McDonnell, received more than 1 million votes. Continue reading “GOP three sweep state races” »
The Rant | McDonnell’s Robertson Dilemma
Posted by afp on November 11, 2009 · 4 Comments
Bob McDonnell, fairly or unfairly, has to answer for his mentor when he spews his venom.
AFP editor Chris Graham pushes the question in today’s edition of The Rant.
AFP Video. Length: 2:54. Continue reading “The Rant | McDonnell’s Robertson Dilemma” »
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