Augusta, Staunton, Waynesboro Dems Paint the Valley Blue

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Creigh Deeds remembered being asked to save the date on his schedule. “David Bottenfield said we needed to mark off this date, the 16th of August, for Paint the Valley Blue, that we were going to have a little picnic at the Frontier Culture Museum,” Deeds said at last night’s…

Party hack

Chris Graham

Stop the Presses column by Chris Graham [email protected] Being a party chairman ain’t nearly as glamorous as you might think. I’m finding that out the hard way. “Yikes!” That’s the sanitized version of what came out of my mouth when I wrenched my back the other evening loading up stuff to take to our new…

Winners and Losers: Aug. 13, 2008

Chris Graham

Compiled by Chris Graham [email protected] BELATED NOD TO CITY COUNCIL: Helmet law passes without incident I remember thinking when I first heard that Waynesboro City Council was considering a new ordinance that would require moped drivers and riders to wear helmets something along the lines of, “No way in Hades this thing ever passes.” And…

Winners and Losers: Aug. 8, 2008

Chris Graham

Compiled by Chris Graham [email protected] FRIENDLY ADVICE: Don’t hitch yourself to the Gilmore wagon Word is getting back to me about Scott Sayre going out and stumping for Jim Gilmore pretty hot and heavy this summer. Scott, some friendly advice – you don’t want to go down with the Gilmore Titanic. Spend your time with…

Why Kaine is your go-to guy

Chris Graham

Special Commentary by Chris Graham [email protected] NBC News political director Chuck Todd broke it down for us last night on “Countdown with Keith Olbermann.” Assigning leaners in the Electoral College to the candidates that it appears that they will support, the 2008 presidential race comes down to four states – Colorado, New Mexico, Ohio and…

Does Kaine make sense on Obama ticket?

Chris Graham

Analysis by Chris Graham [email protected] The talk about Tim Kaine being on Barack Obama’s VP short list is no accident. Just look at the timing. That’s what has Christopher Newport University political-science professor Quentin Kidd thinking there’s more to the firestorm of coverage on this short-list news than maybe meets the eye. “There are two…

Bowerbank building ’09 team

Chris Graham

Item by Chris Graham [email protected] Democratic Party lieutenant-governor nomination candidate Jon Bowerbank is busy assembling his staff for his ’09 run. Bowerbank announced yesterday that he has retained the Northern Virginia-based Maverick Strategies to serve in an advisory role to his campaign. Members of the Maverick firm include Jessica Vanden Berg, who managed Jim Webb’s…

Winners and Losers: July 29, 2008

Chris Graham

Compiled by Chris Graham [email protected] COULDN’T FIND ANYTHING A LITTLE MORE RECENT: Gilmore picks on Warner Version 1994.0 Um, hello, 1994 was 14 years ago! I was just graduating from college. People are expected to grow over time, and Mark Warner certainly has. Otherwise, the Gilmore folks wouldn’t have to dig so far back to…