Another poll confirms gap is closed, but McDonnell still leads

Chris Graham

Bob McDonnell’s lead over Creigh Deeds in the Virginia governor’s race in a new Public Policy Polling survey of Virginia voters is at five points, down from a peak of 14 points in the summer and seven points a month ago. The key factors in the McDonnell lead, according to PPP: his 53 percent-to-37 percent…

Holton endorses Deeds for governor

Chris Graham

Citing his transportation plan and his record of bringing people together to get results, Virginia’s first Republican governor of the modern era, Linwood Holton, today threw his support behind Sen. Creigh Deeds for Governor. After greeting commuters at the Clarendon Metro Station in Arlington this morning, Sen. Deeds and Gov. Holton spoke about the need…

Winners and Losers: Marrow, Deeds-McDonnell, Obama

Chris Graham

WINNER: Greg Marrow gets something of an even footing with Steve Landes It’s all a challenger can ask for – to have the incumbent bless you as viable. And when Steve Landes clumsily quoted Ronald Reagan, raised his voice and then breached debate etiquette by interrupting a fellow candidate’s answer and personal space, what he…

Uh, oh – McDonnell got Mark Warner mad

Chris Graham

I’d thought that we’d already litigated, so to speak, the 2004 budget reform back in the 2005 state elections, when Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore railed against what he termed the “largest tax increase in Virginia history” as the centerpiece of his message to Virginia voters, and snatched defeat from the jaws of electoral victory…

Wagner announces Republicans and Independents for Wagner committee

AFP

At an event Tuesday morning in Virginia Beach, Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor Jody Wagner announced the “Republicans and Independents for Wagner” steering committee. The committee, comprised of twenty-one Republicans and Independents from throughout the Commonwealth, is led by Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms, Fredericksburg Mayor Tom Tomzak, Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam, former State Sen….

David Cox | The thesis

David Cox

Twenty years ago a Regent University student named Robert F. McDonnell wrote a thesis for his master’s degree. Unearthed by the Washington Post, it’s become fodder for the political campaign this same Mr. McDonnell, now universally known as “Bob,” is waging as a Republican for governor. His conclusions have drawn plenty of fire. In the…

Webb: It’s ‘unfortunate’ administration didn’t set clear agenda on health care

Chris Graham

We’ve been hearing from more and more from the left and the center in the Democratic Party in terms of criticisms of the way the Obama administration has handled the health-care reform issue. Add U.S. Sen. Jim Webb to the list of Obama critics. “The most difficult thing for me as a senator has been…

House Dems to Speaker Howell: Get the fox away from the hen house

Chris Graham

As the House Appropriations Committee met Monday to discuss additional cuts to the state budget, embattled Del. Phil Hamilton continued to serve on a committee that oversees state spending while under the cloud of a federal investigation. House Democrats renewed their call, now echoed by statewide Republican candidate for attorney general Ken Cuccinelli, for Speaker…

David Reynolds | Anger

David Reynolds

We drove down Buena Vista’s Bradford Drive after our Labor Day breakfast with the Democrats. The Republicans, too, had just finished their breakfast at the American Legion hall. The parade on Magnolia Avenue was about to start. Just then a good Republican friend of mine spotted a big blue Dem sticker someone at breakfast had…

White House Report | Obama on missile defense, Obama on health reform, Biden in Iraq, press briefing

Chris Graham

Remarks by President Obama on strengthening missile defense in Europe THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. As Commander-in-Chief, I’m committed to doing everything in my power to advance our national security. And that includes strengthening our defenses against any and all threats to our people, our troops, and our friends and allies around the world. One of…