McLaughlintag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/mclaughlin//402008-04-24T20:13:25ZMovable Type 3.33washingtontimes/mclaughlinhttp://feedburner.google.comFact or Fudge?tag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/mclaughlin//40.57942008-04-24T19:27:31Z2008-04-24T20:13:25ZDelegate Robert G. Marshall, a candidate for U.S. Senate, today accused one of his Republicans rivals of "peddling fudge." Countering a claim Monday from former Gov. Jim Gilmore's camp that Gilmore had "a clear majority of the convention delegates" in...
Delegate Robert G. Marshall, a candidate for U.S. Senate, today accused one of his Republicans rivals of "peddling fudge."
Countering a claim Monday from former Gov. Jim Gilmore's camp that Gilmore had "a clear majority of the convention delegates" in the nomination contest for the Senate seat that will be decided May 30-21 at the party's convention in Richmond, Marshall's spokesman Bill Kling dubbed it "more fudge than fact."
Kling says a lot of delegates will not be selected until this weekend, the race is "too close to call," and even "' President Dewey learned in 1948 that voters decide elections, not Republican pollsters peddling fudge."
Here is the remainder of the release:
"Finally, there's a troubling bit of history involving a political campaign trick.
The Gilmore campaign is directed by long-time Gilmore confidante Dick Leggitt, who testified in a Colorado court in 2006 that he fabricated polling data for a gubernatorial campaign he was managing there and gave it to a Denver Post reporter, a violation of state law. Leggitt resigned from that campaign 'one week after [he] admitted under oath that he sent false polling numbers to a reporter,' according to a May 6, 2006, article in the Rocky Mountain News.
'Leggitt said he sent bogus numbers to the Denver Post but called it ‘spin,’ ” the newspaper reported, 'and implied that it's a common practice among political operatives.'
No, Mr. Leggitt, not 'spin.' Fudge.
Webster's dictionary defines the non-sweet term as 'put together dishonestly or carelessly; fake.' We agree. Fudge. Completely baloney."
Marshall, Gilmore, and political newcomer Bob Berry will fight for the Republican nomination next month at a convention.
The winner will face popular former Gov. Mark R. Warner, a Democrat.
Kaine Stumping in Pennsylvaniatag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/mclaughlin//40.56722008-04-18T20:19:48Z2008-04-18T20:23:56ZGov. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, will make two campaign stops tomorrow in Pennsylvania for presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama. The 'get-out-the-vote' events, in advance of the state's Democratic primary next week, will be in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, according to the...
campaigned for or with Obama in Iowa, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas. Kaine also helped the Obama easily win Virginia's Feb. 12 primary .
Here Kaine cranks up the crowd at the annual Jefferson Jackson dinner. ]]>
Obenshain Outtag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/mclaughlin//40.55672008-04-15T16:42:31Z2008-04-15T16:45:59ZState Sen. Mark Obenshain today made it official that he will not run for attorney general next year, clearing a potential obstacle in front of state Sen. Ken Cuccinelli's pursuit of the Republican nomination. "Over the past several months I...
announcing his bid late last month, Cuccinelli, Fairfax Republican, said Obenshain would endorse his candidacy.
Other Republicans interested in the job include Delegate Rob Bell, of Albermarle County, and Paul Harris, a constituent of Cuccinelli and the first black Republican elected to the Virginia legislature since reconstruction.
Obenshain said he is "well suited" for the job, but it was too much to ask of his family.
"My family is the abiding consideration for me in deciding to forego a run at this time," he said. "I have two children in high school, and I am very proud of them. I understand the sacrifices my family would have to make in order for me to seek statewide office at this time, and they are too great."]]>
Hager Counters Frederick's Criticismtag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/mclaughlin//40.54832008-04-10T16:39:48Z2008-04-10T16:42:21ZIn the testy race for state party chairman, incumbent John Hager today said his opponent, Delegate Jeffrey M. Frederick, has a "warped sense of reality." Hager, who routinely criticized by Frederick for being on watch while Republicans lost seats in...
testy race for state party chairman, incumbent John Hager today said his opponent, Delegate Jeffrey M. Frederick, has a "warped sense of reality."
Hager, who routinely criticized by Frederick for being on watch while Republicans lost seats in the state House and control of the state Senate, tried to set the record straight by releasing a letter from Lee Anne Washington, the Republican who lost in the February special election for the 99th House Seat against Democrat Albert Pollard.
"Rather than put words in her mouth as the opposition does, I would like to share a letter Lee Anne sent me regarding our efforts," he said in an e-mail blast to supporters.
In the April 3 letter, Washington states she: "greatly appreciate all the support you and [the Republican Party of Virginia] gave me during the extremely short campaign period" and thanked him for sharing "precious nuggets of campaign wisdom.
"I especially appreciate the personal telephone calls you made to prominent Republicans in the area who had not yet made up their minds about the election. Even though we did not win this time, the campaign was a success— taking a relatively unknown candidate to 42 percent of the vote in just five weeks. I look forward to working with RPV in the '09 race for the House of Delegates seat in my district."
Here is more from Hager's e-mail:
"Let me be clear: No matter what my opponent wants to say, he just does not get his facts straight. He is more concerned with tearing down our party — and me personally — than he is with building our party.
"This is a critical year for Republicans in Virginia. John McCain needs to be able to count on Virginia, our Senate nominee must beat Mark Warner, and we must defend our eight Congressional seats. This will only happen with all of us working together to grow our party, deliver our message, energize and get our people to the polls. Rewriting history and tearing down Republicans is not the way for us to succeed."
The race for party chairman will be decided at the Republican convention in May.
]]>
Denneny Touts War Credstag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/mclaughlin//40.54162008-04-07T19:46:41Z2008-04-07T19:48:31ZDoug Denneny, a Democrat running for Congress in Virginia's 11th Congressional District, today released some uncut flight footage of his March 2003 involvement in the "first non-stealth strike" of Baghdad during the "Shock and Awe" phase of the Iraq war....
video includes refueling footage, the flash from cruise missile strikes, and commentary from Denneny.
Denneny, a retired commander, said he won the Distinguished Flying Cross with a 'V' for valor because of his role in leading the strike.
"Overall it was a heck of a night," he says.
Denneny is considered a long shot in his bid to secure his party's nomination in the 11th district against Democratic heavyweights Gerry Connolly, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and former Congresswoman Leslie Byrne.]]>
Goode Receives an Oinkertag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/mclaughlin//40.53522008-04-03T23:28:47Z2008-04-03T23:33:10ZThe Citizens for Government Waste this week released the "Pig Book," an annual compilation of pork-barrel projects in the federal budget. "When Congress adopted earmark reforms last year, there was hope that the number and cost of earmarks would be...
group President Tom Schatz
The 2008 Pig Book identified 11,610 projects (the second highest total ever) at a cost of $17.2 billion in the 12 Appropriations Acts for fiscal 2008.
It awarded Rep. Virgil Goode, 5th District Republican, with one of the group's "Oinker" awards for $98,000 that was earmarked to develop a walking tour of Boydton.
"The town has a population of 474, and covers .82 square miles," the report states. "That's a lot of money for a short walk."
The trophy title
was pretty self explanatory: "This Pork Was Made for Walking Award."
Under the seven criteria the group uses to pinpoint waste, Virginia's $326 million in pork projects ranked 23rd out of the 50 states and the District in pork projects. The District ranked No. 10. Maryland ranked 22nd.
Here is a breakdown of projects for Virginia lawmakers, which included no money for Rep. Eric Cantor, 7th District Republican, who apparently made no earmarks requests for the second year in a row
Sen. Jim Webb (D) 121 projects: $254 million
Sen. John Warner (R) 122 projects: $251.2 million
Jo Ann Davis (R-1st) 12 projects: $18.7 million
Thelma Drake (R-2nd) 23 projects: $30.4 million
Bobby Scott (D-3rd) 31 projects: $69.1 million
Randy Forbes (R-4th) 18 projects: $18.5 million
Virgil Goode (R-5th) 41 projects: $21.7 million
Bob Goodlatte (R-6th) 11 projects: $2.3 million
Eric Cantor (R-7th) zero
Jim Moran (D-8th) 66 projects: $64.5 million
Rick Boucher (D-9th) 19 projects: $14.6 million
Frank Wolf (R-10) 17 projects: $47.6 million
Tom Davis (R-11) 29 projects: $54.9 million
]]>
Poll: Warner Leads Gilmoretag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/mclaughlin//40.53082008-04-02T18:04:34Z2008-04-02T18:55:24ZA new Rasmussen Reports poll shows Mark R. Warner still holds a solid lead over former Gov. Jim Gilmore in their expected U.S. Senate showdown. The telephone survey found Warner, a Democrat, with a 55 to 39 percent lead against...
poll shows Mark R. Warner still holds a solid lead over former Gov. Jim Gilmore in their expected U.S. Senate showdown.
The telephone survey found Warner, a Democrat, with a 55 to 39 percent lead against Gilmore, down slightly from February when he led 57 percent to 37 percent.
The poll summary states: "The economy is the most important issue for 38 percent of Virginia voters. Just 17 percent give the economy a good or excellent rating, while 37 percent give it a poor rating. Seventy-percent percent think the economy is getting worse, while just 9 percent say it's getting better.
The War in Iraq is the most important issue for 21 percent of voters. Forty-percent percent of Virginia voters say the situation in Iraq will improve in the next six months, while 31 percent believe it will worsen."
Another recent Rasmussen Reports survey also found that Sen. John McCain, the Republican candidate for president, "holds significant leads over both potential democratic candidates in general election match-ups in the Old Dominion."
The poll can be found here — Seth McLaughlin, Virginia politics reporter, The Washington Times ]]>
HARRIS WELCOMES COMPETITION, CUCCINELLItag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/mclaughlin//40.52772008-04-01T19:50:02Z2008-04-01T20:34:50ZPaul C. Harris, the first black Republican elected to the Virginia legislature since reconstruction, told me today that Sen. Ken Cuccinelli's decision to run for attorney general next year influences his potential bid only "in a sense that I tend...
story today, Cuccinelli became the first Republican to enter the race next year, announcing his intentions at a news conference yesterday at the Fairfax government center.
Harris, a lawyer raised by a single mother in a Charlottesville housing project, became the first black Republican elected to the Virginia legislature in more than a century when he won the seat once held by Thomas Jefferson in 1997.
He is a graduate of Hampton University, where he was president of the student body and an Army ROTC member, and graduated from George Washington University's law school in 1995. Mr. Harris served in the Albemarle County seat from 1998 to 2001.
Lately, as chairman of the Virginia chapter of Americans for Prosperity, Harris has been traveling the state to promote entrepreneurship and free enterprise.
Though he considers Cuccinelli "a strong candidate," Harris said he still has the "itch" to work in public service that started when he was 12.
"The inch is really to be a servant leader," he said.
"I am carefully weighing the possibility of running for attorney general and continue to receive strong encouragement from party leaders and activists around the state," he said.
Asked which party leaders, he answered, "The names would be instantly recognized."
It is debatable whether they are as recognizable as his middle name: Clinton.
]]>
Bob Berry's Preemptive Striketag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/mclaughlin//40.51912008-03-27T23:12:41Z2008-03-27T23:53:55ZI just came across this interesting post -- perhaps a foreshadowing of things to come -- on political newcomer Bob Berry's campaign website for U.S. Senate. "This page will keep you up to date on what Bob is thinking about...
political newcomer Bob Berry's campaign website for U.S. Senate.
"This page will keep you up to date on what Bob is thinking about the U.S. Senate and Virginia's role in it," it reads.
Then there is a list titled: "Press Releases from Bob Berry that are soon to come"
Critisizing Congress for delaying FISA provisions
Condeming the Senate consideration of the Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST)
Announcing Bob Berry's Candidacy for the U.S. Senate
Bob Berry's plan to create Mid Atlantic Transportation Commission (MATC) -- a visionary body to make actionable plans for the region's long term transportation needs.
Berry, a self-described conservative, is fighting against former Gov. Jim Gilmore and state Delegate Robert G. Marshall for the Republican nomination, which will be decided at the party convention in late May.
The winner will face Mark R. Warner -- the popular former Democratic governor with deep pockets.]]>
BOLLING REACTIONtag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/mclaughlin//40.51222008-03-25T17:36:55Z2008-03-25T17:40:43ZThe reaction to Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling's announcement yesterday he would seek re-election next year, rather than the governorship came as a shock to some, and great news to others -- including the Virginia division of the Sons of Confederate...
announcement yesterday he would seek re-election next year, rather than the governorship came as a shock to some, and great news to others -- including the Virginia division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Brag Bowling, former post commander of the heritage group, said the idea of Bolling running for re-election and Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell running for governor in 2009 "is the dream team for SCV."
"Confederate History and Heritage Month among other Confederate history related items are championed by both candidates," Bowling said. "And, they have done so publicly. We plan on approaching every candidate but I would be amazed if Moran or Deeds are on board."
(House Democratic Caucus Leader Brian J. Moran and Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, of Bath County, are expected to fight for the Democratic nomination for governor.)
Bowling said the ticket provides hope that Confederate History Month will return to Virginia.
"I feel we might be close this coming election," he said. "It would take a complete turnaround by them to deny us."
]]>
VIRGINA IN KOS MIXtag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/mclaughlin//40.51182008-03-25T16:32:46Z2008-03-25T17:39:45ZSen. Jim Webb and Gov. Tim Kaine -- Virginia Democrats -- are more than holding their own in Daily Kos' tournament to see who the blogosphere believes would be the best vice president for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. The latest...
tournament to see who the blogosphere believes would be the best vice president for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.
The latest post I came across shows Kaine, national co-chairman of Obama's presidential bid, steamrolling through Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, 318 to 66 votes. That race can be found here.
Webb embarrassed DNC chair Howard Dean, knocking him out of the tournament easily, winning by a wide margin of 320 votes to 80 votes. That can be found here.
Meanwhile, another poll from today has Webb duking it out with some political heavyweights, including former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, and holding his own.]]>
VP tournament includes top Virginia Demstag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/mclaughlin//40.50642008-03-21T22:28:15Z2008-03-21T22:53:50ZForget the NCAA basketball tournament -- especially now that George Mason is toast. The Daily Kos is holding a Vice Presidential tournament for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, and the field of 45 candidates includes Sen. Jim Webb, and Gov. Tim...
Vice Presidential tournament for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, and the field of 45 candidates includes Sen. Jim Webb, and Gov. Tim Kaine.
Mr. Webb and Mr. Kaine, Mr. Obama's national co-chair, are consistently named as possible running mates for the Democratic frontrunner.
The poll does not include Mark R. Warner, the popular former governor running for U.S. Senate, despite lingering speculation along these lines that Mr. Warner would be a good pick.
Mr. Webb, heading into round two, faces DNC chairman Howard Dean.
He stomped Sen. Patty Murray of Washington in round one by a 312 to 73 vote, and Mr. Kaine defeated former Sen. Max Cleland by a 162 to 66 vote margin.
The poll speaks to the lingering belief that Mr. Webb and Mr. Kaine could be major players on the national scene by the time the Democratic national convention rolls around in August.
-- Seth McLaughlin, Virginia politics reporter, The Washington Times]]>
Marshall on the attacktag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/mclaughlin//40.50492008-03-21T14:40:38Z2008-03-21T19:44:54ZIn my story today, I write about Delegate Robert G. Marshall attacking fellow Prince William County Republicans for supporting former Gov. Jim Gilmore, despite his belief, on the issue of abortion, that government should not intrude during the first eight...
my story today, I write about Delegate Robert G. Marshall attacking fellow Prince William County Republicans for supporting former Gov. Jim Gilmore, despite his belief, on the issue of abortion, that government should not intrude during the first eight weeks of pregnancy.
Since he jumped into the race, Marshall has hammered Gilmore on abortion, and now his maverick tendencies have him criticizing friends.
Still, as Donald Lawson, chairman of the Henry County Republican committee told me yesterday, Marshall remains and unknown commodity in many parts of the state, where committees are deciding who will go to the statewide convention in late May.
"He would be considered an unknown in this part of Virginia," Lawson said.
That leaves most to speculate Marshall's strategy largely involves wooing conservative voters in Northern Virginia, his neck of the woods.
Here is the e-mail Marshall sent to Delegates Jeff Frederick, who is running for state party chairman, Scott Lingamfelter and also the press:
Jeff and Scott,
YOU two ARE LISTED as a SUPPORTERS of Jim Gilmore in this Gilmore email to Prince WIlliam Republicans.
You are Publically endorsing Jim GIlmore who supports LEGAL Abortion for 8 weeks, 700,000 abortions to fellow PRince WIlliam Republicans.
Why did you omit this fact which is important to Prince WIlliam REpublicans who OPPOSE legal abortion when you urged Prince WIlliam Republicans to support Jim GIlmore? Why the lack of candor?
Jim GIlmore also told Human Events he wanted situations of extremes (unspecified) for legal abortion.
He told a major Republican donor and former supporter THIS YEAR he wanted rape and incest abortions legal, and also health abortions to be legal.
Is their any legal abortion left Jim Gilmore won't support?
— Bob Marshall
— Seth McLaughlin, Virginia politics reporter, The Washington Times
]]>
Connolly scores support from firefighterstag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/mclaughlin//40.50482008-03-21T14:24:27Z2008-03-21T19:12:23ZGerry Connolly's bid to replace outgoing Republican Tom Davis in Virginia's 11th congressional district got a bump today after the Fairfax, Prince William, International Firefighters endorsed his candidacy. Connolly is running against Leslie Bryne, a former state lawmaker and the...
"The Gerry Connolly for Congress campaign announced today that Connolly has received the endorsement of the Fairfax County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics (Local 2068), the Prince William Professional Fire Fighters (Local 2598) and the International Association of Fire Fighters.
"I'm so proud to have the support of the firefighters in this race," said Connolly. "I've had their endorsement in all five of my previous elections and, with their help, won each time. I'm looking forward to working with them to win this campaign as well."
"This is about a relationship," said John Niemiec, President of the Fairfax County Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics. "Gerry has stood with us for thirteen years and we're proud to stand with him now."
Niemiec cited Connolly's work to establish a wellness center for firefighters in Fairfax County as just one example of Connolly's leadership.
"Our wellness center has saved lives and improved our ability to protect the citizens of this county," he said. "Gerry was a leader in that effort."
— Seth McLaughlin, Virginia politics reporter, The Washington Times ]]>
Moran Cementing Team for Gubernatorial Runtag:video1.washingtontimes.com,2008:/mclaughlin//40.49532008-03-18T18:11:36Z2008-03-18T18:58:21ZHouse Democratic Caucus Leader Brian J. Moran continues to fill out a campaign team for a 2009 run for governor. "We are proud of the strong team we have assembled to work for our committee," said Virginians for Brian Moran...
House Democratic Caucus Leader Brian J. Moran continues to fill out a campaign team for a 2009 run for governor.
"We are proud of the strong team we have assembled to work for our committee," said Virginians for Brian Moran Committee Director Mame Reiley. "Many of these people are veterans of the Warner and Kaine campaigns. These are people who understand how to help Virginia Democrats be successful."
Reiley also said Delegate Lionell Spruill, Sr., Chesapeake Democrat, was named an outreach consultant.
He worked on Mark Warner's successful gubernatorial campaign in 2001 and in is also a member of the Democratic National Committee and vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.
Jean Jensen, former Secretary of the State Board of Elections, was named senior adviser.
She previously served as executive director of the Democratic Party of Virginia and as the Northern Virginia director and for Mr. Warner.
Jesse Furgeson will continue to work as Mr. Moran's director of communications. He is a 2004 graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership.
Other additions named in the release include:
Dave Mills. Mills will serve as state director of finance. He will serve as a senior member of the fundraising team. He recently completed work as finance director of the Democratic Party of Virginia where he had served since January of 2006.
Prior to that, Mills was Western Regional finance director of [Tim] Kaine for Governor, and he has managed campaigns for the Virginia House and Senate and Congress.
Dominic Gabello. Gabello joins the committee as political director, having recently left the Kaine administration’s Liaison Office.
He previously served as deputy political director for Mark Warner’s Forward Together Political Action Committee (PAC) and field director of Warner’s One Virginia PAC. Gabello was president of the Virginia Young Democrats from 2005 to 2007.
Noble Ackerson. Ackerson will serve the committee as technology consultant. He is the principal of Anobleworld S3 Inc. and previously served as director of technology for Warner's Forward Together PAC.
He will be joined by Darrell Raymond, chief technology officer at Anobleworld S3 and former network administrator for the Governor’s Office of Virginia.
Jerome Armstrong. Armstrong joins as Netroots Consultant. He is a principle in the Webstrong Group and will coordinate internet and technology strategy. Armstrong coordinates Netroots outreach for Warner along with Sens. John Kerry and Tom Harkin.
He will be joined by Nate Wilcox, also formerly of Forward Together PAC. Armstrong is also the principle of the blog mydd.com and is co-author of the book "Crashing the Gates" with Markos Moulitsas.