Washington

Friday, February 1, 2008

The Virginia Scene: Warner On The Rise, The Davis Demise, Hot Races Shape Up In A Virginia Blue Shake Up. Warner Opponents Both Pieces Of Real Work!























The Virginia Scene:

Warner On The Rise,

The Davis Demise,

Hot Races Shape Up
In A Virginia Blue Shake Up.

Warner Opponents Both Pieces Of Real Work!

And Can We Get Andy Hurst To Run?

http://www.markwarner2008.com/

The Warner Financial Picture


Warner Adds to Campaign Coffers As He Readies for Senate Race ...Washington Post - United StatesBy Richmond Digest Former governor Mark R. Warner (D), a candidate for the US Senate, reported yesterday that he raised $2.7 million during the last quarter ...

Warner Adds to Campaign Coffers As He Readies for Senate Race ...Washington Post - United StatesBy Richmond Digest Former governor Mark R. Warner (D), a candidate for the US Senate, reported yesterday that he raised $2.7 million during the last quarter ...

Warner Adds to Campaign Coffers As He Readies for Senate Race ...Washington Post, United States - 6 hours agoBy Richmond Digest Former governor Mark R. Warner (D), a candidate for the US Senate, reported yesterday that he raised $2.7 million during the last quarter ...

Mark Warner Hauls In $2.7 millionWashington Post, United States - 17 hours agoFormer governor Mark R. Warner (D), a candidate for US Senate this year, will report today that he raised $2.7 million in the last quarter, ...

Warner raised $2.7 million in fourth quarterThe Hill, DC - 18 hours agoBy Aaron Blake Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D) raised $2.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2007 for his Senate campaign, a tremendous total that ...

Senate Candidates Show Strength Through Dollars
CQPolitics.com - Washington,DC,USA
By Emily Cadei and Alex Knott, CQ Staff Mark Warner is living up to his billing as a formidable Senate candidate by raising $2.7 million in the last three ...

GOP retirements could shift power in SenateWashington Blade - Washington,DC,USAMark Warner in John Warner’s vacant seat. Mark Warner can “encapsulate the values of Virginia and also talk about the progressive values of the Democratic ...

Republican House incumbents dropping like fliesBuzzFlash - Chicago,IL,USADavis is a Republican who is liked by some Democrats and would have given Mark Warner a serious run for the Senate seat. That retirement is huge, ...

Virginia’s Davis Adds His Name to Long List of Retiring House ...CQPolitics.com, DC - Jan 30, 2008By Alan K. Ota, CQ Staff Thomas M. Davis III ’s decision to retire at the end of this session continues a drain on House Republicans’ seniority and ...

Davis joins House GOP exodus
Washington Times, DC - Jan 30, 2008By SA Miller and Seth McLaughlin Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (right), with House Minority Whip Roy Blunt Monday, said he is confident that the Republicans will ...

Note to House Republicans: Last one out, turn off the lightsThe Carpetbagger Report - Jan 30, 2008A few months ago, there was a spate of retirement announcements among House Republicans, but it wasn’t too big a deal. The announcements were a little early ...

Virginia’s Davis Retiring, Leaving GOP With Tough Fight to Hold SeatCQPolitics.com - Washington,DC,USAMark Warner in a state that has seen something of a recent comeback by Democrats in statewide politics after years of retreat. In disclosing to reporters in ...

Rep. Tom Davis To RetireWashington Post, United States - Jan 30, 2008US Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.) said today he will retire from Congress at the end of the year, bringing to a close a 14-year stint in the House of ...

Pragmatic, Centrist Style Brought Davis Success and SuspicionWashington Post, United States - Jan 30, 2008By Bill Turque Tom Davis was just 30 when he ran his first race in 1979, for a seat on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors that Democrats had held for ...

Tom Davis and the 'Dying Breed' of ModeratesWashington Post, United States - Jan 30, 2008Last September, when centrist Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) announced his plans to retire, Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) was asked why so many of his fellow moderate ...

membership in the centrist Republican Main Street Partnership

Connolly-Byrne Primary Roil Expected as Davis Bows OutFalls Church News Press - Falls Church,VA,USAIt was originally expected that young entrepreneur Mark Warner would seek the seat, but he chose instead to become the chair of the State Democratic Party, ...MORE…

Gerald E. Connolly (D), chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, still hasn't moved past the "exploratory" phase of his bid for Congress. But his committee very proudly shared some early fundraising numbers to make the point that Connolly has the ability to run a well-financed campaign.

According to James Walkinshaw, who runs Connolly's exploratory committee, Connolly has raised $161,000 since the beginning of January, when he announced the formation of the committee to pursue a bid in the 11th Congressional District. By contrast, fellow Democrat Leslie L. Byrne will report at the end of the month that she raised $115,000 between the November elections and the New Year, she said in an interview yesterday.

(That Report did not materialize?)

"That's in just three and a half weeks," Walkinshaw said.

Connolly has said he will announce soon whether to move on to a full-fledged campaign, thus choosing to face down Byrne in what is sure to be a heated primary race. Not coincidentally, U.S. Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.), is expected to announce this week whether he will seek an eighth term or retire to pursue a career in the private sector.

Don't be shocked if Connolly says he's in right after Davis says he's out.

"Gerry will be making a decision and an announcement in the very near future," Walkinshaw said.

http://www.lesliebyrne.org/

http://www.dougforcongress.com/

Denneny Search

Statement of VA Attorney General on Decision of Congressman Tom ...All American Patriots (press release), Sweden - Jan 31, 2008By newsdesk - Posted on January 31st, 2008 January 30, 2008 -- Richmond - Attorney General Bob McDonnell issued the following statement today regarding ...

The decision leaves vacant a congressional seat in a district that has become increasingly competitive. Virginia's 11th District, which includes much of Fairfax and Prince William counties, is a cosmopolitan area where an estimated 25 percent of residents speak a language other than English at home.President Bush carried the district in 2004 with 50 percent of the vote, compared to 49 percent for Democrat John Kerry. In 2006, Democrat Jim Webb carried the district in his U.S. Senate race against Republican George Allen, by a margin of 55 percent to 44 percent.

Gov. Kaine: Sen. Webb Would Be Great Running Mate for ObamaFalls Church News Press - Falls Church,VA,USAWebb contrasted to the reaction of his predecessor, former Virginia Governor Mark Warner, a likely candidate to run for the US Senate this November to fill ...

O'Malley finding Warner's path roughWashington Times - Washington,DC,USAMark Warner passed in 2004, which elevated him to national political prominence. Mr. Warner was hailed in national Democratic circles for doing the ...

Warner Speaks On Immigration
Rocktown Weekly - Harrisonburg,VA,USA
By Jeff Mellott HARRISONBURG - Mark Warner, speaking in Harrisonburg on Friday, said that he would have supported the McCain-Kennedy immigration reform bill ...

Former Virginia Governor Mark Warner traveled throughout the Valley this week and also spoke on some issues that were addressed in the State of the Commonwealth Wednesday night.

Warner says the federal government needs to step up on enforcing illegal immigration. The U.S. Senate candidate says the federal government has been slacking for the last 15 years, but he also has some ideas that may be able to step up enforcement in the Valley.

With the General Assembly back in session and after Governor Tim Kaine's emphasis on continuing to enforce illegal immigration measures, it's a topic that won't go away in the Valley.

"And our Virginia Guard, our courageous Guard, helps patrol the border between Arizona and Mexico, to help federal enforcement agents. Virginia has done much to pick up the slack for broken federal immigration policy and will keep doing so," says Kaine.

And Warner says the federal government needs to do a better job of tightening our borders and enforcing the laws.

"At the same time we have to realize that we have an enormous value in legal immigration. I mean, you think here in the Valley in the agricultural industry depends, and we need to have a rational guest worker program, but also a program that allows an employer to check the person's legal status in the way that you can't have fake papers," says Warner.

Warner believes there needs to be sanctions if employers knowingly hire illegal immigrants. But he says it's important to remember that our nation is made up of millions of immigrants and we shouldn't single any one person out.

"We shouldn't change that most basic character of our country, but we also are a nation of a rule of laws," says Warner. "I think America is pro-immigrant. We're simply folks who are anti-break the law and the federal government needs to step up and do it's job in enforcing the laws."

In Thursday night's State of the Commonwealth Address, Kaine said that one in ten Virginians was born outside the US and most immigrants today are legal, but both Warner and Kaine agree that employers should be given the tools to find out whether they are hiring illegal immigrants or not. Kaine also mentioned that more proposals on immigration might be seen this year.


Marshall Campaigns for Senate SeatNBC 29 News - Charlottesville,VA,USAFormer Governor Jim Gilmore (R) is expected to run against Marshall for the Republican nomination. And another former governor, Mark Warner (D), ...

Warner addresses studentsJMU The Breeze - VA,USABy Caroline Cournoyer, staff writer So many people came out Thursday afternoon to see former Virginia Gov. and US Senate candidate Mark Warner, ...

Warner: Everything Depends On EnergyRocktown Weekly - Harrisonburg,VA,USAMark Warner visited the Valley Thursday as part of his still unofficial campaign for a seat in the US Senate, emphasizing that a change in the nation's ...

Warner in LurayWHSV - Harrisonburg,VA,USAAs former Governor Mark Warner runs for a seat in the US Senate, he is making his presence in the Commonwealth known. He kicked off his tour of the State in ...

Gilmore makes campaign stopJMU The Breeze - VA,USAGilmore playfully chided the College Democrats in the room, but avoided any serious discussion of his opponent, former Virginia Governor Mark Warner. ...

Gilmore Senate fight based on conservative ideologyNews Virginian, VA - Jan 30, 2008By Bob Stuart Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore is touting his conservative philosophy, fiscal management and national security experience in his uphill ...

Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore is touting his conservative philosophy, fiscal management and national security experience in his uphill battle to defeat fellow former Gov. Mark Warner in November’s U.S. Senate race.

“We must control government, including the earmarks and special interests,’’ said Gilmore during a morning stop Tuesday in Waynesboro.

Gilmore spoke Monday to college Republicans at James Madison University and met with a small group of longtime supporters in Staunton for breakfast Tuesday.

He is anxious to put forward his conservative principles to Virginia voters, and said electing Democrats to Congress means a body that would be “veto proof” and would have such names as Kennedy, Boxer and Clinton chairing Senate committees.

Gilmore, who served as Virginia’s governor from 1998 to 2002, talks about balancing the Virginia budget during his term and job creation.

But the Richmond native is offering more than just management of the economy.

The holder of a foreign policy degree from the University of Virginia, Gilmore formerly chaired a national commission on terrorism, and has visited several foreign countries.

“I’m best equipped to deal with these issues,’’ he said.

Gilmore said the United States cannot completely pull out of Iraq and the current troop surge is working, though he initially was skeptical.

The former governor said the United States cannot intervene in every foreign disturbance.

“We can’t be the policeman on every block,’’ he said.

Gilmore, who still must fend off the challenge of Northern Virginia Del. Bob Marshall in the June Republican Convention, made no mention of Mark Warner.

Warner spokesman Kevin Hall said Warner is busy meeting with Virginians “on the issues they are concerned about: the economy, our lack of energy strategy and Iraq.”

Hall said Warner will remind voters of his record of accomplishment and problem-solving.

Gilmore’s fight begins with the Republican nomination.

“He will have a convention fight with Marshall,’’ said Bob Roberts, a James Madison University political scientist.

("He is clearly, I think, at odds with the core Republican principles of limited government and personal freedom - no matter how he tries to spin his positions," he said.

Lampo said Marshall comes from the "theocrat wing of the party" to which the Log Cabin Republicans are opposed.

That pretty much sums it up about the man we like to call "Sideshow Bob" (for his repeated, outlandish comments and behavior). Yeah, this is the same guy who said that said that women who use contraception are "chemical love canals for frat house playboys." An "embarrassment" is right...except maybe in the "theocrat wing" of the Virginia Republican Party?

Marshall to run for U.S. Senate

By LILLIAN KAFKA
lkafka@manassasjm.com
Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Robert "Bob" G. Marshall, a state delegate since 1992, officially tossed his hat into the ring to run for U.S. Senate, he announced on Monday.

Marshall, a Republican representing the House of Delegate's 13th district, is a conservative politician on many issues -- including abortion - and his posture on those issues is critical for a Republican to win in Virginia, he said.

In 2007 Marshall introduced a bill, although unsuccessful, that would have banned abortions in Virginia if the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision. It's a tough stance like this - not one that is held by his opponent, former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore - that Marshall said would resonate in the minds of Republican voters. Gilmore's campaign staff told the Associated Press that Gilmore believes abortions should be allowed through the first eight weeks of pregnancy.

Marshall and Gilmore will face off in a May 31 Republican convention in Richmond. The winner of that convention will run against Democrat and former Gov. Mark Warner, who is so far unopposed for his party's nomination.

They are running for the seat that became vacant in August when Republican Sen. John W. Warner announced he would not seek a sixth term.

Marshall is already building an arsenal to attack Warner, who began his gubernatorial term in 2002, directly after Gilmore served his four years as governor.

Marshall said his six years as a staffer on Capitol Hill and his 16 years in the House of Delegates give him the legislative experience necessary to operate as a U.S. Senator.

"People know me for having led on things like the marriage amendment, the right to life and home schooling," he said in a telephone interview on Monday.

During his announcement speech in Richmond, Marshall said he would push for such issues as protecting life of all children from conception, "understanding that taxpaying citizens are not bottomless ATM machines for government," keeping jobs in the U.S. as opposed to shipping them overseas, attacking the federal debt, and "recognizing that American and Allied troops have won the war and Iraqis must now win the peace."

He also cited a need to aggressively fight for U.S. energy independence and for increasing private sector jobs instead of government bureaucracy.

"I know that our rights come from the hand of our Creator, that government derives its just powers from the people expressed through their elected representatives, that the purpose of government is to protect our rights, and that government leaders must be the people's servants, not their masters," Marshall said.)

Marshall is popular among Virginia Republicans, according to Roberts.

Meanwhile, Roberts said Warner will be busy readying for the fall election and raising money.

Either Marshall or Gilmore will have a difficult time defeating Warner, Roberts said.

The wild card in the race could come from Hillary Clinton’s Democratic nomination for president.

Roberts thinks a Clinton nomination could galvanize Virginia Republicans and that could benefit Gilmore.

“With Hillary on the ticket, that will drive up the turnout of people who don’t like her,’’ he said.

Gilmore also will need financial help if he is to mount a serious challenge.

“The real problem is money,” Roberts said. “Will the Republican National Committee or Republican donors put money in Gilmore’s campaign?”