http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/ Daily news about Virginia politics and politicians. en-US Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:03:12 -0500 http://www.typepad.com/ shad_plankhttp://feedburner.google.com http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/73wmkG_eI2k/news-from-the-hill-the-south-has-won.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/news-from-the-hill-the-south-has-won.html I never got a chance to read it yesterday, but The Hill's Bernie Quigley has an interesting and entertaining election analysis that mentions Texas in passing but focuses on Virginia, with discussion of George Allen, Mark Warner, Jim Webb and Mudcat Saunders. It's called "The South Has Won." Democrats will not find it encouraging. You'll find it here. Dave Hendrickson Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:03:12 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/news-from-the-hill-the-south-has-won.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/6N4BaiB4sEs/a-challenger-for-bobby-scott.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/a-challenger-for-bobby-scott.html First the news, or at least the possibility of news, because the attribution is going to take a while: Coby Dillard, who worked on Bob McDonnell's gubernatorial campaign as the outreach person for veterans and African-Americans, may decide to challenge U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Newport News, next year. Dillard has a blog, The Dillard Doctrine, where he says he's not going to say anything about whether he's going to run or not "until a later time." But ... (here comes the attribution) ... I read a tweet from Vivian Paige that sent me to her blog, where she mentions an item on the Virginian Pilot's political blog that cites an item on United Conservatives that says Dillard is "forming an exploratory committee." (I, of course,... Dave Hendrickson Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:18:26 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/a-challenger-for-bobby-scott.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/iAzEszIKeqU/breaking-down-the-local-results.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/breaking-down-the-local-results.html Taking a quick peek at the morning results from the Virgina Board of Elections Web site, the unofficial results paint a clear picture of where Bob McDonnell picked up the most votes in Upper Hampton Roads en route to his decisive win in yesterday's election. McDonnell killed Deeds in suburban and rural Hampton Roads, racking up big numbers in York, James City and Isle of Wight. The conservative stronghold of Poquoson also went firmly to the Virginia Beach Republican. The urban voters went largely to Deeds, though the Bath County Democrat won Newport News by a mere 228 votes. Here's a look at the unofficial results from the Board of Elections: Results for Governor in Newport News: Robert F. "Bob" McDonnell 18,417 49.63% Precincts Reporting:... Peter Frost Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:34:32 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/breaking-down-the-local-results.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/_YWncUbH8LU/kaine-reacts-to-deeds-loss.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/kaine-reacts-to-deeds-loss.html Gov. Timothy M. Kaine released a statement last night reacting to the GOP sweep in Virginia and incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine's loss in the New Jersey gubernatorial race. Kaine, the Democratic National Committee chair who will turn over the commonwealth's reins to Republican Bob McDonnell in January, immediately downplayed both Corzine's and Creigh Deeds' losses. "It would have been historic if not unprecedented to win one or both of these races given historical trends," Kaine said, noting that in Virginia, the party in power in the White House hasn't won the Gov's race since 1977. Further, the Governor called the Democratic win in a special election for Congress in New York the "most consequential race of the night'' after the Republican-endorsed candidate dropped out and... Peter Frost Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:21:58 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/kaine-reacts-to-deeds-loss.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/jjCZpooLYro/wednesday-morning-quarterback-mcdonnells-winning-strategy-and-why-deeds-lost.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/wednesday-morning-quarterback-mcdonnells-winning-strategy-and-why-deeds-lost.html The analysis of why Republican Bob McDonnell convincingly defeated Democrat Creigh Deeds has begun. Chris Cillizza over at the Washington Post has a few interesting tidbits over on his blog, The Fix. Among the highlights: Suburban voters in Virginia moved to the GOP 55 percent to 44 percent. McDonnell killed Deeds on voters who said the economy was the top issue by 14 percentage points. Old folks (those over age 65) also went strongly for McDonnell (18 points). McDonnell's pollster, Glen Bolger, lays out exactly how McD pulled it off. Some key pullouts from his essay: "Our goal back in last winter/spring was to tie on the top issue of jobs/economy, stay close on transportation and education, and win on tax/spending." "Deeds never defined himself.... Peter Frost Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:53:44 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/wednesday-morning-quarterback-mcdonnells-winning-strategy-and-why-deeds-lost.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/7-egtEu72hU/hamilton-concedes-in-house-race-.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/hamilton-concedes-in-house-race-.html Republican Del. Phil Hamilton conceded the House race to Democrat Robin Abbott shortly before 9 p.m. according to Abbott's campaign. Arguably the most powerful lawmaker in Hampton Roads, Hamilton is a well known fundraiser who wielded significant clout in Richmond as a budget negotiator and the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee. Hamilton appeared re-election lock thanks to consistent local outreach and his connections to prominent Peninsula Democrats including Mayor Joe Frank and former Del. Alan Diamonstein. But in mid-July Hamilton was hit with scandal when it was discovered that he had a state-funded $40,000 a year job at an educational center that he helped create in Richmond. Initially defiant, in August Hamilton resigned the position and apologized when the Daily Press obtained e-mails... Kimball Payne Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:09:01 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/hamilton-concedes-in-house-race-.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/LloV5FVHYNY/ap-calls-oder-over-west.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/ap-calls-oder-over-west.html The Associated Press just declared Republican Del. Glenn Oder the winner over Democratic challenger Gary West in the 94th House of Delegates District. According to the State Board of Elections, with 80 percent of the vote counted, Oder had a lead of 68 percent to 32 percent. Dave Hendrickson Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:39:19 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/ap-calls-oder-over-west.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/7s-dKkO0K6k/mcdonnell-victory-speech-at-930-pm-.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/mcdonnell-victory-speech-at-930-pm-.html Republican Bob McDonnell will deliver his victory speech at 9:30 p.m. tonight from Richmond. Again the speech can be viewed by going to McDonnell's campaign website www.bobmcdonnell.com. Kimball Payne Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:29:21 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/mcdonnell-victory-speech-at-930-pm-.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/fZCKjIxW08E/republican-governors-association-welcomes-a-new-member.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/republican-governors-association-welcomes-a-new-member.html Here's the full statement from the RGA. “Bob McDonnell’s victory gives Republicans tremendous momentum heading into 2010,” said RGA Chairman Haley Barbour. “Virginia is an important swing state that had been trending blue for twelve years.” “Bob McDonnell proves that when Republicans campaign on solutions to the challenges on voters’ minds, we win,” Barbour continued. “His focus on ideas and pocketbook issues will serve as a model for Republicans running next year.” Virginians last elected a Republican governor in 1997. Since that time, the state has added one million new residents, nearly half of whom reside in Northern Virginia. Between 2006 and 2008, Democrats picked up both U.S. Senate seats and control of the state senate. Their gains culminated in President Obama winning the state... Kimball Payne Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:22:41 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/republican-governors-association-welcomes-a-new-member.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/shad_plank/~3/vcE2DsmVUcI/update-on-peninsula-house-races-.html http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/update-on-peninsula-house-races-.html 91st District -- 54 percent of the vote Republican Del. Tom Gear: 54 percent Independent Gordon Helsel: 23 percent Democrat Sam Eure: 23 percent 93rd District -- 33 percent of the vote Democrat Robin Abbott: 59 percent Republican Del. Phil Hamilton: 41 percent 94th District -- 55 percent of the vote Republican Del. G. Glenn Oder: 67 percent Democrat Gary West: 33 percent 64th District: 51 percent of the vote Democratic Del. William K. Barlow: 54 percent Republican Stan Clark: 44 percent Hugh Lessig Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:17:22 -0500 http://hrblogs.typepad.com/the_shad_plank/2009/11/update-on-peninsula-house-races-.html