Warner bows out of ’08 nomination field

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham   Former Virginia governor Mark Warner was being talked about as a top contender for the 2008 Democratic Party presidential nomination. To say that his announcement in Richmond today that he will not seek the nomination was a surprise, then, is a pretty good understatement. “It was definitely a…

Good ol’ boy Allen facing new Virginia electorate

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham Jim Webb has closed the gap on George Allen – and has even, according to one newspaper poll, surged into the lead in the United States Senate race between the two. The conventional wisdom attributes the momentum that the Democratic Party nominee has been enjoying in recent weeks to an incident…

Hate is such a strong word

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham The term Bush-hater today doesn’t carry with it the stigma that it used to. One piece of evidence suggesting that is that more and more people on the left – and even in the amorphous center – are for whatever reason embracing the label. You would think from listening…

Will scandal impact ’06 elections in Virginia?

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham   Democrats are salivating at the prospect of being able to ride the wave of the political scandals involving Jack Abramoff and Duke Cunningham long enough that they can take back control of the United States Congress in the November midterm elections. Don’t expect the wave to crash down…

Warner pushing Dems to center: But is that the right move for national party?

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham   Virginia Gov. Mark Warner wants to take the national Democratic Party back to the political center where it enjoyed success in the 1990s. A Shenandoah Valley political analyst, for his part, isn’t so sure that is the right course of action for the party’s future.

A Kerry (Vanessa) stumps the Valley

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham The presidential campaign trail is a long, winding, unforgiving road. Indeed, if it weren’t for the letters DQ, Vanessa Kerry might have a hard time staying in between the white lines. “When I think of the words campaign trail, my mind immediately goes to little sleep, lots of coffee and cravings…