Southwest Virginia Blogs

Brian Patton has an interesting post up discussing Bill Carrico’s run next year for re-election to the House of Delegates. Apparently the Dems are looking for someone big (or have someone) that they are going to try and run against him.

My prediction is Carrico wins easily again—-provided he is not in Congress then

I suspect the Dems will try and run Tom Graham again who Carrico defeated back in 2003. Graham is now the 9th District Democrat Chair from what I hear.

Brian Patton has an interesting post up discussing Bill Carrico’s run next year for re-election to the House of Delegates. Apparently the Dems are looking for someone big (or have someone) that they are going to try and run against him.

My prediction is Carrico wins easily again—-provided he is not in Congress then

I suspect the Dems will try and run Tom Graham again who Carrico defeated back in 2003. Graham is now the 9th District Democrat Chair from what I hear.

I caught Congressman Boucher’s new TV ad during the Today show yesterday.

The Congressman will certainly be re-elected and I am glad he is taking this opportunity to remind Southwest Virginians how hard he works for us every day.

Ben has this post up in which he suggests we should keep an eye on Delegate Bill Carrico’s district. He says:

When Delegate Bill Carrico loses his race for Congress- look at the precincts in his House of Delegates district. If he doesn’t carry that district, watch out for a strong Democrat to come forward.

I have not heard who will challenge Carrico in 2007, but it will certainly be great seeing Congressman Boucher carry Carrico’s district.

As if anyone in Southwest Virginia (i.e., Tri-cities media market) ever wanted to know anything else about Bob Corker or Congressman Harold Ford, here is the latest flip-flop from Corker:

Looks like Mr. Corker is just not cut out to be in the U.S. Senate.

Vote for Harold Ford, Jr.

And don’t forget Jim Webb, as if you could!

The BDT has this:

So far, only 61 absentee ballots have been cast in Buchanan County, and only 115 applications have been requested in Tazewell County.

. . .

“It’s real slow,” Buchanan County Registrar Vickie Clevinger said. “We’ve only had 68 so far. I think it’s going to be real slow this year. Unless they show up at the polls, they aren’t voting absentee like they normally do. We normally average at least 200 — even on a slow year.”

I have to believe that Allen will be helped by a low turn-out. These numbers are not doing anything to help Webb. Only 61 have been cast in Buchanan County with a special election for a Supervisor seat on the ballot? That is not a good sign.

Prior to the Senate debate on October 9, 2006, hosted by the League of Women Voters of Virginia, both candidates executed no-use agreements.

Jim Webb has honored his agreement to the LWVVA and not used any of the debate footage for campaign purposes.

George Allen, on the other hand, within five days of the debate, began running a television ad that included footage from the debate. Allen’s improper use of the footage not only violated the agreement he had entered into, but by using the footage he broke his promise to the LWVVA.

Will George Allen cease using the footage and apologize? I doubt it, but I do hope voters in Virginia will show him that we want a senator who can keep a promise.

More here.

Another day, another new poll.

The new Washington Post poll has Allen at 49% and Webb with 47%, within the 3% margin of error.

This race is really going to come down to who can get the voters out better on Election Day.

The article includes some interesting info too.

On Allen:

But there are serious doubts about Allen in the poll. The percentage of voters who say they don’t like Allen has increased dramatically from a year ago, and 43 percent now say they have an unfavorable opinion of him.

. . .

And nearly one in five polled say they feel Allen was being intentionally racist when he called an Indian American supporter of Webb “macaca.”

Could this race be closer than Deeds v. McDonnell in 2005? Are we ready for more recounts?

Mark Warner announced today that he will not seek the Democratic nomination for President in 2008.

It looks like it will be at least 2012 before we get to see a Virginian on the ballot for president. I guess the good news is that this will free Warner up to run for the Senate in 2008, assuming Sen. John Warner does indeed retire.

This could also shake things up for 2009. Warner could run for Governor again, leaving Creigh Deeds and Brian Moran to challenge for the Attorney General’s office.

Southwest Virginia is very fortunate to have a forward-looking Congressman like Rick Boucher.

Here is another example of that.

[Congressman] Boucher and U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., introduced federal legislation last week to promote the use of coal-to-liquids, a technology that enables the production of transportation fuels from coal — a process that could potentially reap rich benefits to the coal-producing counties of Southwest Virginia, as well as southern West Virginia.

The Bluefield Daily Telegraph sums it up best.

This technology is not only another step forward in weaning our dependence on foreign oil and making our country more secure, but it also represents a potential boon to the coal-producing counties of Southwest Virginia and southern West Virginia.

I say bring on the boon. We need it.

If you read about the Webb for Senate house parties last month and wished you would have hosted one - good news. You have one more chance to host a house party for Webb before Election Day.

Here are the details:

On Sunday, October 22nd, supporters from across the state will be hosting house parties with their friends, family, and neighbors to help raise money and enthusiasm for Jim Webb. Join the effort, and host a house party of your own.

We are here to help you. If you’re interested in hosting a party, please [contact the campaign], so that [they] may arrange the particulars, including a conference call with Jim.

Jason Korta
Webb for Senate
1916 Wilson Blvd., Rm. 304
Arlington, VA 22201
Tel.: 703-778-4080 (x 213) // Fx.: 703-778-4085
JKorta@WebbforSenate.com

What are you waiting for? It’s time to step up and do something to help elect Jim Webb.

Here are the two latest TV ads in the Webb v. Allen race:

The first is from the Webb campaign. The second is from the DSCC. It sounds like we will be seeing a lot of ads over the next 27 days.

All sorts of poll numbers have recently been floating around in the Webb v. Allen race. Some have the candidates tied, others have one or the other pulling away.

Here is the latest from Gallup.

It has Webb at 45% compared to Allen leading with 48%.

The margin in this poll (3%) I suspect is about right. This is still Allen’s race to lose, but the good news is that he is trying hard to do just that.

Even more interesting than the margin is that Allen remains under 50% in most polls, even ones showing him way ahead. I think that proves that Webb can win and makes this race much more interesting.

This just keeps getting better and better.

You will not hear a demand from me for NBC to give Webb equal time.

The General Assembly’s Special Session, which was dedicated to transportation, has adjourned without an agreement.

The AP reported:

[T]he Senate Finance Committee rejected the bulk of a $2.4 billion House transportation plan that relied heavily on debt and existing revenues that otherwise would go to schools, health care and other services.

The House previously had rejected the Senate’s proposals, including a gasoline tax increase. With nothing left on the table after the demise of the House plan, the assembly adjourned.

Governor Kaine offered a statement, which included:

The House leadership chose instead to offer bills that were politically expedient–relying on double-counting money, running up the state’s credit card and diverting existing revenue designated for education, public safety and health care[.]

Kaine is correct, why run up the “state’s credit card” (more debt) when other solutions are readily available? The Senate, fortunately, rejected the House Republican plan which, by borrowing, would not have produced a reliable revenue source to fix the transportation problems.

Here is the latest Jim Webb for Senate ad:

This ad illustrates one of Sen. Allen’s biggest problems, in my opinion. Without a doubt, I am bias, but I have to question why someone like Sen. Allen has not done anything that he can point to as a reason why Virginians should re-elect him.

When people advocate for him, they are forced to point to his work as Governor years ago.

The Allen campaign got a nice slap in the face today.

FactCheck.org, the “nonpartisan, nonprofit, ‘consumer advocate’ for voters” group recently reviewed George Allen’s negative attack ad and found it to be seriously lacking. 

FactCheck.org said, among other things, that “[t]he Allen ad is wrong about Webb’s service in the Reagan administration” and that the ad “misstates Webb’s service.”

The full report can be read here.

Check out this great video from the Webb Campaign:

Today in Clintwood, approximately 150 local Democrats from Dickenson County braved rainstorms and gathered for the Annual Fish Fry.

Several people commented this was one of the largest crowds we have ever had for a Fish Fry.  The reason for that is clear: change is in the air. 

I was worried that the weather might depress turnout.  To the contrary, folks came out in large numbers, came early and stayed late. 

Those in attendance included Congressman Rick Boucher, Delegate Bud Phillips, and other local elected officials.

Congressman Boucher delivered one of the most rousing speeches I had ever seen from him.  The Congressman, after asking we re-elect him, discussed just how close the Democrats are to regaining the majority in the Congress. 

The Congressman also asked that we support Jim Webb and discussed his favorable prospects for beating George Allen.

Democrats in Dickenson County are fired up and are going to be working hard to keep Congressman Boucher in the House of Representatives and do everything we can to send Jim Webb to the Senate. 

P.S.  The food was Great!

It’s about 46 days until Election Day. So far things I think have been fairly quiet (except for a few major news items).

Boucher v. Carrico
Unfortunately, I have little hope now that Bill Carrico can defeat Rick Boucher. I’ve seen very little effort from the campaign on a large scale so far. I don’t know if I have seen more than 4 Carrico signs everywhere I’ve been. I cover a lot of ground in SWVA each week and have seen tons of Boucher signs. I still wish Carrico the best and will be voting for him. Carrico is a great candidate and I think that he will be successful in any future endeavors he may have. Had Carrico made a huge push before June, things may have been different.

Allen v. Webb
I do not believe the comment scandal will hurt Allen too much. It may take away a percentage of votes, but I don’t think he is tarnished. I haven’t seen that much effort by the Webb folks in SWVA. Allen remains to be a hugely popular political figure in Virginia (SWVA included). Allen may be the most popular Virginia politician. People also realize he has a great chance of capturing the GOP nomination for President in 2008. I think all the polls so far are misleading and Allen will pull this one out comfortably.