Stop the Presses | Seriously, Jody, cut it out

Chris Graham

I just love getting caught up in the crosshairs of a political controversy. “We appreciate the Augusta Free Press setting the record straight,” an e-mail from the campaign of Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling offered up, after having explained that we had reported that Democratic Party lieutenant-governor nominee Jody Wagner had gotten it wrong when…

The issues, please

Contributors

People in Wise County prefer to be on welfare, to hear the chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia tell it. Mullins made a comment to that effect last month, according to a report in The Recorder, a weekly newspaper based in Highland County, in summing up a story about a Wise County insurance company…

What does Curren need to do?

Chris Graham

There were no polls, as one of the candidates for the Republican Party nomination in the 20th, Dickie Bell, famously tried to assert upon the departure of State Del. Chris Saxman from the 20th District race two weeks ago, but conventional wisdom would have had Saxman ahead of Democrat Erik Curren if there had been…

Dueling cross-party endorsements

Chris Graham

Republicans for Deeds. A prominent Democrat for McDonnell. The fight for the center is on. “Eighteen years ago, I came to Richmond as a freshman delegate with both Creigh Deeds and Bob McDonnell,” former Roanoke Republican State Sen. Brandon Bell said this week at the launch of what is formally known as Virginians for Deeds,…

Is the 20th a wide-open race now?

Chris Graham

So now that Chris Saxman is out in the 20th House District, what happens next? Republicans will meet this weekend to name a replacement on the ticket for Saxman, a four-term incumbent. Names that are being bandied about include Scott Sayre, whose rumored interest in the 20th was first mentioned to me last fall, when…

Team Coverage | Jody Wagner visits Downtown Waynesboro

Chris Graham

Democratic Party lieutenant-governor nominee Jody Wagner toured Downtown Waynesboro on Thursday with 25th House District Democratic Party nominee Greg Marrow. Our Team Coverage includes video from Wagner’s walking tour and her remarks to supporters at a downtown bakery, a photo essay by AFP publisher Crystal Graham and a column by AFP editor Chris Graham.

Poll: McDonnell leads Deeds by three

Chris Graham

Republican Bob McDonnell has a three-point lead on Democrat Creigh Deeds in the 2009 Virginia governor’s race, according to a poll out today from Rasmussen Reports. The poll has McDonnell at 44 percent and Deeds at 41 percent. Rasmussen had Deeds ahead by a 47 percent-to-41 percent margin after the June 9 Democratic Party primary.

AAA calls on state to reconsider rest-area closings

Chris Graham

AAA Mid-Atlantic is calling on Gov. Tim Kaine and the Commonwealth Transportation Board to rethink the scheduled closure of 19 interstate-highway rest areas. “A growing number of motorists have expressed alarm about the decision to close the rest areas and to cordon off their entrances. This decision could compromise the safety of all motorists and…