Breaking down the race for the 20th GOP nomination

Chris Graham

The 20th District Republican Party nomination is Dickie Bell’s to lose, just as it appeared this time last week in the hours after Chris Saxman’s stunning announcement that he was dropping out of the race. Bell is an ideal candidate in more ways than one. The 62-year-old moderate is in his fourth term on Staunton…

Fellow Democrat raises issue with Curren’s faith

Chris Graham

“Do Augusta County Democrats have a death wish?” That was what greeted me to the desk this morning, an e-mail note from a friend and Democratic Party strategist with a link to a story in today’s News Leader discussing 20th District House candidate Erik Curren’s religious beliefs and criticisms from fellow Democrat Tracy Pyles to…

The stakes on clean-energy legislation

Contributors

A study from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy puts the lie to the wild predictions from partisans that the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act will end up costing you hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year in extra energy costs.  “This revised analysis directly underscores the important contribution energy efficiency…

News from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Chris Graham

Friday, July 17 – Press briefing by Tony Blinken, national security advisor to Vice President Joe Biden, on the vice president’s upcoming trip to Ukraine and Georgia Thursday, July 16 – Press gaggle with Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton – Vice President Biden highlights Recovery Act progress in Virginia – Statement from the president on…

From the Campaign Trail

Chris Graham

Friday, July 17 – McDonnell takes $100K from Swift Boaters – Shannon asks Cuccinelli to clarify incendiary remarks by ticketmate Wednesday, July 15 – Wagner to visit Valley on Thursday Tuesday, July 14 – AG Race: Shannon asks Cuccinelli question on votes on drunk-driving bills Monday, July 13 – Governor’s Race: Deeds to report $3.4M…

Chris Graham | Do the right thing, Tim

Chris Graham

I get that the flap over Gov. Tim Kaine’s travel schedules got going because Republicans didn’t have anything better to do with their time this summer. But the wild swing by GOP chair Pat Mullins has connected solidly and sent the political baseball uncomfortably toward the cheap seats in deep left-center, uncomfortably, that is, for…

Updates from the Campaign Trail

Chris Graham

Friday, July 10 – AG Race: Cuccinelli calls for special session – 20th House: Saxman statement on anti-gang committee Thursday, July 9 – Dems respond to McDonnell-Bolling jobs agenda Wednesday, July 8 – LG Race: Wagner calls Bolling out on Palin visit – Governor’s Race: Statement from Creigh Deeds on expansion of stem-cell research

McDonnell leads Deeds in poll

Chris Graham

Bob McDonnell is on the air in early summer, Creigh Deeds is where he’s supposed to be in the silent phase of the general-election campaign. So that McDonnell has a lead in the first July poll of the 2009 campaign season should be no surprise. “The race for governor right now is in a very…