GOP Geographical Dream Team?
Sean Connaughton, the chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors who finds himself in a bruising GOP primary battle for lieutenant governor, stopped in Richmond today to chat with reporters on his way to Williamsburg.
Connaughton, who faces Sen. Bill Bolling (Hanover) in Tuesday's primary, addressed this question: Assuming former GOP attorney general Jerry Kilgore wins on Tuesday, which of these two giants would be better for the party's ticket in November?
"It is critical to the Republican ticket to have a Northern Virginian on it," he said in an interview at the state Capitol. "When you look at the fact that Northern Virginia is now a third of the electorate for the general election ... the party has to make more inroads up there. We've got to make up ground that we've lost up there ... if we don't, it's going to have long term ramifications."
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry won Fairfax County in November, and some Republicans fear the state's largest jurisdiction may be turning a big blue. Connaughton said that Prince William, which went 53 percent for Bush in 2004, was hardly as Republican as nearby Stafford, Loudoun or Spotsylvania.
"It's not just me saying this ... I think it's people everywhere saying it," he said.
The talk in GOP circles is that a geographical dream team for the Nov. 8 election would include Kilgore, Connaughton and Del. Robert F. McDonnell, the Virginia Beach lawmaker who's running for attorney general. If that were the ticket, the GOP would have a candidate in each of the most populous--and wealthy--places in the state: Northern Virginia (Connaughton), Central Virginia (Kilgore) and Hampton Roads (McDonnell).
Of course one person who wasn't talking such talk was Randy Marcus, Bolling's campaign manager.
"The only ticket that Connaughton would be good for is Tim Kaine's, seeing that he agrees with Tim Kaine on taxing issues," Marcus said in a brief interview. He said he was referring specifically to Connaughton's support for the 2002 Northern Virginia sales tax referendum and Connaughton's failure to sign a "no tax" pledge. "Senator Bolling is a solid conservative...besides most people when they cast their votes they don't cast it on where people lay their head, they cast it based on what's in their heart. We believe Senator Bolling IS right on the issues and the right fit for Jerry Kilgore."
By Chris Jenkins |
June 8, 2005; 6:13 PM ET
| Category:
Republicans
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Posted by: Ian Little | June 8, 2005 09:26 PM
Bollings grassroots also stop in Richmond, I've traveled the Commonwealth extensivly over the last 3 months and the only signs I am seeing are for Sean Connaughton. Bolling's campaign looks tired and the only reason it looks as if he has support, it is because he has been campaigning and seeking endorsements for the last 3 years. Bill Bolling is a decient Senator who represents his constituents well, however all of Virginia is not as quaint as Henrico/Hanover. Virginia needs someone who will work for all Virginians, not just the hard lining right. Virginia needs Sean Connaughton.
Posted by: NOVA Mike | June 10, 2005 09:34 AM
Since when do yard-signs equal votes? Connaughton's support of the tax increase is a simple message that Primary voters understand. There is nothing going on up here in NOVA. Turnout will be low.
Connaughton is a squish Republican who has done nothing to address the traffic problems in his own county. Connaughton ran a great general election campaign in 2003 that ended up electing a slew of Republicans. However, nothing has changed in the county since the takeover.
Posted by: Taxed Out | June 13, 2005 09:50 AM
Sure, yard signs don't = votes, however they are a good indicator of whos been where and where support is dwelling. Is it something to bet the family farm on? No. But it's a decient indicator of how much momentum a campaign has.
in responce to your tax comment, Connaughton has never said that he would raise taxes, and opposes new taxes. Besides the Lt. Governor does not have a vote unless to break a tie, and Tim Kaine didn't participate in voting on the tax increase last year. Fun Fact, Connaughton lowered property tax $.45 on $100
And you are flat out wrong about addressing traffic problems in PW Co. Since serving as Chairman, Connaughton has built hundreds of miles of new roads, not to mention aquiring one of 40 county AAA bond raitings in the Nation.
Posted by: NOVA Mike | June 13, 2005 12:26 PM
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While it would be ideal for the GOP to have candidates from each of the three powerhouse regions, it is unlikely.
As Bob McDonnell pointed out in a recent assessment of his opponent in the Republican Primary, Baril may have money, but his grass roots support stops in Richmond. While Connaughton may be from an important geographic area, it is Bolling who has the grass roots support. He has spent the last four years dolling out money and proving his conservative merit through his votes in the Senate. If Bolling or McDonnell lose, it will imply that the Party has interfered and convinced hard-liners to play ball for the overall good of Virginia Republicans. It will indicate that the social conservative, anti-tax wing of the Republican Party have lost their voice at the GOP table, and can be bought. History tells us that it is not likely to happen and that supposed lessons learned from previous infighting and an inability to compromise are just that, supposed, and not realized.