Was anybody watching the Olympics?

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham If you believe the hype, the Olympics are dead and buried as a valuable entertainment property. “The press has been a little hyperbolic about this. To read the headlines during the Olympics, it seemed like they were less covering the Games and more covering the ratings. ‘NBC: On a downhill slide.’…

Mother of Presidents with child? Assessing Warner’s, Allen’s chances at White House in ’08

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham The big winner in last week’s Virginia gubernatorial election was Democrat Tim Kaine. Or was it Democrat Mark Warner? “Mark Warner created the conditions for a Democratic victory in this state for Tim Kaine, no doubt about it,” George Mason University political-science professor Mark Rozell said.

How did Kilgore lose in red-state Virginia?

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham The numbers at the top of the page on Election Night in Virginia were nothing if not surprising. Republicans Bill Bolling and Bob McDonnell swept to apparent victories in the lieutenant-governor and attorney-general races, respectively. Meanwhile, GOP candidates were holding on to a solid majority in the House of Delegates –…

Kaine soaks in victory at polls

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham   The theme music from “Rocky” played in the background as Tim Kaine and Mark Warner made their way to the stage. It was appropriate – because Kaine, like the mythical boxer Rocky Balboa, and Warner, like his trainer, Mickey, had just pulled off the political upset of the year.

Twin peak: Terry Kilgore stumps for his brother in Valley

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham Terry Kilgore thought his brother had a future in politics – as the next great GOP campaign strategist. “Jerry actually ran my first House campaign 12 years ago,” said Terry Kilgore, the twin brother of Jerry Kilgore, the Republican Party gubernatorial nominee. “He was so good at it, so organized. He…

Potts files suit to get into debate

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham Russ Potts has filed suit against the University of Virginia Center for Politics seeking a spot in the televised gubernatorial-candidates debate being sponsored by the center and WWBT-NBC12 in Richmond this weekend. A hearing on Potts’ suit has been scheduled for noon today in a federal court in Charlottesville. Potts, an…

Potts down to last strike: Candidate running out of polls, time

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham Independent Russ Potts may have only one chance left to qualify for an Oct. 9 televised gubernatorial-candidate debate. Three organizations – Mason-Dixon, Rasmussen Reports and The Washington Post – have been regularly polling Virginia voters as to their preferences for governor in the 2005 elections. Only one of those three, the…

Where all is bright and gay: Virginia at forefront of gay-rights debate

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham   There was an unspoken tension in the room – beneath the surface, but very much palpable. The Valley Family Forum hosted an event last week in Bridgewater titled “Gay Activism: Its Impact on America.” The idea was to get Shenandoah Valley residents together to hear from a group…

Being Russ Potts

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham Russ Potts is running for governor as an independent – to the consternation of Republican Party officials in Richmond and elsewhere in the Old Dominion. The state party asked Potts to resign his Virginia Senate seat – and declared that Potts is no longer a member of the GOP. Potts, for…