He has really hit the panic button. As polls show a tightening race, and as news for Democrats elsewhere in the state (hello Representative Barbara Comstock) suggests low enthusiasm among Democrats, he’s now attacking Ed Gillespie like he’s running behind. Maybe he knows something we don’t? [read_more]
Obama and His Virginia Handmaiden
But here’s how you know Warner is really desperate: the invocation of the third rail in American politics, social security. The ad shamelessly plays to fears among older voters that politicians will do something to steal the social security benefits they worked a lifetime to accrue. What’s worse is that it cites to a policy of George W. Bush from 10 years ago, and not to anything Gillespie is talking about on his own, or any of the policies he’s proposing.
This is not the tactic of a man with a comfortable lead. It is not the tactic of someone who knows he’s going to win (because there will always be a substantial portion of the electorate turned off by this kind of transparent negativity). No, this is the tactic of a cornered beast who knows he’s about to lose unless he lashes out with everything he’s got.
Gillespie has the champ on the ropes, and has caught him off guard with a couple of good body blows. We’ve got two weeks left now for Gillespie and his allies to knock Warner out with with a few strong right hooks: the Warner #BRIBESTORM, the 97% sycophancy, and “We can’t afford six more years of the last six years.” Turn this into a turnout race, with low Democrat enthusiasm, and we have a real chance to pull off a stunning upset.
16 comments
Who the hell is this “republican” Sheriff Shannon Zeman in Floyd County who endorsed democrat Mark Warner? Anyone know if he is a member of his local Republican committee?
If anyone wants to share some comments with this “republican”, you can find him here:
http://www.floydcova.org/departments/sheriff.shtml
Why not do something different, and actually Write In Shak Hill for the US Senate? And since I’m a recovering democrat…and not exactly trusting of either party, please don’t load me up with the “I’ll be kicked out of the republican party” talk. I, like many others in this state, don’t consider either party as our home. Check out the link and some of the video’s in there. If you agree…think about it, and definitely share!!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8bpe4ivkicmja0q/Write%20In%20Shak%20Hill.pdf?dl=0
You know Steve, if it wasn’t for 4 years of reckless Liberal Republican spending in Virginia, you could have written a truthful, meaningful article.
The title could have been, “McAulliffe lays off 565 middle-class state workers just as the holiday season begins”. Only middle-class affected, affluent state workers untouched.
However, during the previous four years under Liberal Republican rule, VDOT was raided, the Rainy Day Fund nuked, VRS flipped into the states private banker, and HB 2313, the largest tax increase in Virginia’s history, made that a headline the Republicans could not use.
The Liberal Republicans had already taxed, spent, and borrowed all there was in Virginia.
Just as Bush 43′ left a financial disaster for Obama to clean up, McDonnell left one for McAullife to clean up. Only difference is Bush headed back to his ranch, McDonnell is headed to the State Penn.
How would you like to be laid off from your job with a mouth full of turkey and the band about to strike up “jingle bells”?
You’re wrong.
McDonnell is not headed to a state penitentiary.
He’s going to a Federal prison. His wife too 🙂
Corrected my mistake ! Thanks
A) Your #bribestorm hashtag has been used less than 75 times. Nobody Cares. B) The 97% line is misleading crap and it’s never caught on. C) The race is still heading for a 44-56 blowout. D) Mark Warner can hide all he wants and simply run out the clock. E) My neighbors I talked to today had no idea who Ed Gillespie was.
I tried to catch Gillespie for a few questions at the Danville forum. He was out the door in 45 seconds after speaking. Sigh. Who ran this campaign?
Bruce — just out of curiosity, what would you have done differently if you’d run the Gillespie campaign?
As a low-level county committee member and grunt, the camp rumor I hear is that the Gillespie forces are purposely running a quiet campaign, relying on the intensity and angst of the Republican base to bring more voters to the polls than the disillusioned “meh” base of the Democrats. My anecdotal two cents — the intensity and angst isn’t being transformed into votes for Ed because he’s not showing passion and speaking loudly on important issues — yet, hopefully.
As for who’s running the campaign:
Katherine Harris, Director of Scheduling and Operations
Katherine Harris most recently worked at the Republican State
Leadership Committee in Washington, DC. Previously, she served as Director of Scheduling in the administration of Governor Bob McDonnell from 2011 – 2013 and as Special Assistant for Appointments in the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office prior to that. Harris also worked
as Finance Assistant on McDonnell’s 2009 campaign for governor as well as on his Inaugural planning committee. Harris has a degree in Mass Communications from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is from Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Chris Leavitt, Campaign Manager
Chris Leavitt recently managed Senator Mark Obenshain’s campaign for Attorney General during the 2013 election cycle. Chris Leavitt also managed Congressman Bob Goodlatte’s reelection campaign in 2012. Leavitt during the 2011 election cycle managed Senator Bryce Reeves’ run for
State Senate, which ousted twenty eight year incumbent Senator Edd Houck of Spotsylvania. In 2010 Leavitt served as a Regional Director for the Michigan Republican party during the general election and as Political Director for Gubernatorial candidate Sheriff Mike Bouchard. During the
2009 campaign cycle in Virginia he served as a Regional Director for the Republican Party of Virginia in Albemarle County. Leavitt graduated from the University of Maine in 2008 with a degree in Political Science.
Paul Logan, Communications Director
Paul Logan most recently worked as Director of Communications for Mark Obenshain during his 2013 campaign for Virginia Attorney General and the recount. Paul Logan served in the administration of Governor Bob
McDonnell from January, 2011 to June, 2013 as Deputy Press Secretary then Deputy Communications Director. Logan formerly served as Deputy Director of Political Communications for the Republican Governors
Association, overseeing their national tracking efforts in the 2010 mid-term elections. During McDonnell’s 2009 campaign for governor he served as Research Coordinator. During the 2008 Presidential election Logan worked on Senator John McCain’s campaign as Press Assistant to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Communications Director. Logan graduated from
Tulane University in 2008 with a degree in English and Economics and a minor in Political Science. He is a native of Arlington, Virginia.
Eric Wilson, Digital Director
Eric Wilson joins the campaign from the American Action Forum, the American Action Network, and the Congressional Leadership Fund where he served as Digital Director. From November 2009 – February 2013 Wilson worked at Engage as a Client Strategist where he managed the firm’s
congressional clients and digital advertising. Prior to joining Engage, he worked on Capitol Hill at the House Republican Policy Committee and in the office of Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. Wilson graduated from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee in 2007 with a degree in
Mathematics. He is a proud native of Wichita Falls, Texas.
I would not have used that stupid “97%” line because it’s intellectually dishonest.
You’ve hit the other part with the “passion”. I’d have also strongly attacked Warner on his anti-coal policy to win Southwest Virginia. Also how about doing events and talks aimed at the undecided voters? Try to work on a minority outreach?
Sadly, ANY Republican candidate was going to be dead in the water against Warner. That’s why whatever “big names” quickly passed on picking up their first political whammy on the inevitable loss. George Allen has whammied out of the game. Ken Cuccinelli is politically dead. That’s why you had Shak Hill (who?) and some Tony DeTiger guy (who?) in the convention. Your Pete Snyder types were smart enough to pass.
“Also how about doing events and talks aimed at the undecided voters? Try to work on a minority outreach?”
FWIW, I’m on Ed’s Facebook feed, and during this campaign it’s been constantly updated with Ed’s appearances at ethnic and minority picnics, festivals, and forums.
I haven’t seen that in Southside.
The Gillespie Enron connection was the reason why I supported Shak Hill. We could see this coming a mile away, and all the low information voters need to know is that Gillespie worked for Enron. I slugged with a female driver yesterday and she said, “How can Gillespie accuse Warner of corruption when he (Gillespie) worked for Enron?” This is the reality of the lake in which we are canoeing.
Can someone explain why a lobbyist for any company and from any party deserved anyone’s vote? I see lobbyists as peddling influence and trading financial support for legislative decisions that favor one group over the other. Where is the dedication to the public in this profession?
What polls show a tightening race?
The only thing tightening are the lawmakers burtholes. They pucker up tight when ever asked to do something for the common man.
The polls that are tightening are the ones people create in their own minds.
It’s a well-known fact that Republicans like to pick and choose their data points. Now they just make them up?
“A poll of six old biddies gathered at the Martin household point to a landslide victory for Gillespie”