http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/ en Copyright 2006 Thu, 17 Nov 2005 22:25:49 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Here it is. What you've all been waiting for. The new Richmond blog from the Washington Post. It's called the Richmond Report, and you can find it here. Feel free to keep Race to Richmond bookmarked so you can relive all those wonderful moments in Campaign 2005. But please direct your attention to the new blog for all the fun, lively commentary you've come to expect here. Thanks. Mike Shear http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/the_richmond_re.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/the_richmond_re.html Misc. Thu, 17 Nov 2005 22:25:49 -0500 Thanks to all the loyal readers of this blog. (Both of you). It's been a blast. But don't change this channel. We'll be launching another Richmond politics blog soon. Come back here for the link. Mike Shear & Chris Jenkins http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/stay_tuned.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/stay_tuned.html Misc. Tue, 15 Nov 2005 16:20:52 -0500 Post reporter Carol Morello was in Richmond this morning for the Democrats' press conference, and she filed this report about the situation in the attorney general's race: Creigh Deeds, the Democratic candidate for attorney general, said today that voting machines in the Roanoke area had malfunctioned and he had appointed a team to prepare for a state-paid recount. In separate remarks, Governor-elect Timothy M. Kaine said the margin in what is the closest race in Virginia history was within the percentage point required to request a recount. "I'm going to do everything I can to make sure every vote is counted," said Deeds after strolling into a meeting room at the Marriott Hotel in Richmond a few minutes before Kaine was about to give his first post-election news conference. Deeds stopped short of alleging fraud, and said he did not know what had happened. But he cited "anecdotal evidence" or http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/what_dems_say_o.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/what_dems_say_o.html Democrats Wed, 09 Nov 2005 12:41:33 -0500 What do the readers of Race to Richmond think? Why did Tim Kaine win? Was it his message? Were voters angry with Jerry Kilgore and his negative campaigning? Or did they want to send a message to George Bush? And what kind of governor will Kaine be? He's made a bunch of promises during the campaign -- what he would do and what he would not do. Will he keep those promises? And what do you think the 2006 General Assembly session will be like? Will there be a fight over transportation taxes? How will the Republican House and Senate treat Kaine? Also, what do you think about the other statewide races. Bill Bolling won a narrow victory over Leslie Byrne, and it looks like Bob McDonnell holds a tiny, tiny lead over Creigh Deeds. What were the voters saying with those choices? Here is your chance to weigh in. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/why_did_it_happ.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/why_did_it_happ.html Tim Kaine Wed, 09 Nov 2005 11:18:13 -0500 Check out our special report for final results in the Virginia governor's race and other state elections, post-election analysis, live discussions, photos and video excerpts from the Kaine and Kilgore camps in Richmond. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/election_result.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/election_result.html Tue, 08 Nov 2005 23:27:34 -0500 Reporter Rosalind S. Helderman files a new report: More voices from Seldens Landing Elementary School, precinct 813 in Loudoun, where voters continued to stream in all afternoon. Representatives from both Del. Richard H. Black (R)'s campaign and his opponent David Poisson (D) were on hand through the afternoon handing out sample ballots for their parties and chatting amiably with each other. Jorge Sanchez, 42, and his wife, Marleny Palacios, 38, said they used to vote pretty reliably Republican -- until this year. That's because Kilgore's strong stance on illegal immigration bothered them the couple, each of whom immigrated to the United States from El Salvador more than 20 years ago. "The way I see it, the Republicans were more business orientated and were more interested in the economy," Sanchez said. "But now they're trying to confuse people. They tried to use scare tactics. We have bigger problems than immigration. Right http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/report_from_lou.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/report_from_lou.html Misc. Tue, 08 Nov 2005 16:25:29 -0500 From reporter Nikita Stewart, in Herndon: At Herndon Elementary School at about 11:45 a.m., there was a steady stream of voters of all races and from diverse backgrounds. Taxes, immigration and negative campaigning shaped the voters' decisions in the community rocked recently by the town council's decision to fund a center for day laborers to ease loitering at a busy intersection. Voting generally went along party lines. Rosa Flores, 62, said she voted for Kaine because she is an immigrant. Although she moved to the United States from Peru 22 years ago, she said Kilgore's stance on immigrants and the center would hurt Hispanic immigrants' ability to work and thrive. "I want more opportunities for my immigrant people," said Flores, who works on a hotel service staff. "Maybe government can help them find jobs." On the other side, Graham and Renee Inge took the day off and brought along their http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/report_from_her.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/report_from_her.html Misc. Tue, 08 Nov 2005 16:18:24 -0500 From reporter Michael Alison Chandler in Alexandria: At Douglas MacArthur Elementary School in a leafy Alexandria neighborhood, volunteers decorated in stickers staffed card tables piled high with fliers and tipped over Dunkin Donuts coffee cups. Democratic precinct captain Dick Hobson reviewed the results from past elections. Mark Warner won by 62 percent four years ago and John Kerry won 63 percent last fall, he said. The Democrats are hoping to increase the margin of victory for Kaine today. "I'm an independent voter. That's important to me," said Elena Velasco, 34, an actor and director and mother of 5, including two young daughters hanging on hand. She said she and her son researched the candidates together as he was working on a homework assignment for his 8th grade civics class. "I was really appalled and disheartened to hear Kilgore's views on illegal immigration," she said, in particular his opposition to building http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/report_from_ale.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/report_from_ale.html Misc. Tue, 08 Nov 2005 15:56:28 -0500 From reporter Leef Smith in the 37th House District, a swath of Northern Virginia that includes Fairfax City: At 2 p.m., it seemed like there were more campaign volunteers than voters at Woodson High School in Fairfax County. Several voters exiting the polls said it was the annoying but persistent leaflet and advertising campaigns that got them out to cast their ballots. One man, a 47-year-old naturalized citizen who has been living in the United States since his family moved from Iran 31 years ago, said he is unhappy with Kaine's stand supporting benefits for illegal immigrants and came out to vote for Kilgore. He criticized Kaine's position, which he said advocates the use of public dollars to help immigrants, effectively helping big corporations by giving them cheap labor. "We're getting ripped off as taxpayers," said the man, who spoke only on condition of anonymity. "We had to go through http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/from_northern_v.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/from_northern_v.html Misc. Tue, 08 Nov 2005 15:50:57 -0500 Post reporter Michelle Boorstein went to the polling place in Glen Allen where Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore voted this morning. Here's her report: All the way until Election Day, until he cast his vote in a little elementary school gym, Jerry Kilgore was still trying to clarify one message above all others: I am very, very different from Tim Kaine. "We are the two most different candidates to ever run," for governor in Virginia, he said, repeating words he uses regularly. Kaine, he said, is "an instinctive liberal." http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/kilgore_votes.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/kilgore_votes.html Misc. Tue, 08 Nov 2005 15:41:00 -0500 Post reporter Rosalind S. Helderman spent the morning at a polling place in Loudoun County. Here's a report from her: Voters who live in fast-growing Loudoun County's Precinct 813 arrived steadily through the morning at their polling place in the Seldens Landing Elementary School, in the Lansdowne on the Potomac development. They were greeted by both Republican and Democratic party volunteers who stood ready to hand out sample ballots. As they emerged from the polling place, they were also met by representatives of the slow-growth group Campaign for Loudoun's Future, who stood next to a large map showing approved developments in the county and asking each voter, "Are you interested in growth issues in Loudoun?" before taking names and e-mail addresses. Voters could also take bumper stickers with the message: "Don't supersize Loudoun." Inside the school, Republican volunteer Jocelyn Tchakounte, 50, sat quietly with a massive listing of the http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/a_report_from_v_2.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/a_report_from_v_2.html Misc. Tue, 08 Nov 2005 15:36:00 -0500 Post reporter Michael Alison Chandler visited another polling place in Fairfax County. This is her report: Voters streaming into Rocky Run Middle School in Chantilly were greeted by family members of their House of Delegates candidates in the 67th District this morning. "I hope you'll vote for my dad, Chuck Caputo" said Chris Caputo, who flew in from Seattle to help in the last hours of the Democratic campaign. Across the way, Republican candidate Chris S. Craddock's father-in-law, Bill Jeschke, offered pink sample ballots to anyone who walked by. "It was my first time voting. I got my citizenship last year," said Richard Torrente, 37, who was born in Vietnam and spent his childhood in the Philippines. On his first ballot, he opted for Craddock for the House of Delegates and Republcan Jerry Kilgore for governor, the candidates who most closely align with his conservative views and religious beliefs http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/a_report_from_v_1.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/a_report_from_v_1.html Misc. Tue, 08 Nov 2005 15:33:00 -0500 Here's a dispatch from Post reporter Leef Smith, who visited a polling place in Fairfax County this morning: At 9: 15 a.m. voters were slowly but steadily trickling in to vote at Cardinal Forest Elementary School in West Springfield. Connie Greathouse, 60, an elementary school teacher in Prince William County, paused outside the polling station to report she rewarded each of the Democrats on her ballot with a vote. While Greathouse said she's always considered herself an independent, this time was different. "There are things going on in the White House I don't agree with," Greathouse said. "The war. The secrecy. The prisons. The hurricanes. The whole business is a big debacle ... The events of the day have been a little too much for comfort lately." A half dozen volunteers working for Gregory A. Werkheiser, a business lawyer and moderate Democrat in his bid to unseat longtime incumbent http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/a_report_from_v.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/a_report_from_v.html Misc. Tue, 08 Nov 2005 14:35:33 -0500 Post reporters have been visiting polling places today, talking to voters. It's not an exit poll, but as you while away the hours until the polls close at 7 p.m., you might enjoy a sampling of opinions from Virginians who took the time to vote today in the statewide elections. We're presenting them in the form of dispatches from the various reporters. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/reports_from_th.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/reports_from_th.html Misc. Tue, 08 Nov 2005 14:25:00 -0500 Here's a report from Post reporter Michelle Boorstein, who was in the crowd at tonight's Republican rally in Richmond, with President Bush: At Richmond International Airport on Monday evening, hundreds of people, bright lights and cranked-up rock music turned a small private hangar into something more like a movie set. Cars backed up for a mile waiting to get into the Dominion Hangar, where state workers with hanging ID tags, teenagers lying on the tarmac looking up at the landing planes and Secret Service agents gathered to see Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry W. Kilgore and President Bush. Many people wore stickers showing their support for Kilgore, or Sen. Bill Bolling, the GOP's candidate for lieutenant governor, or simply the Republican Party. Campaign officials said that the hangar holds 2,000 people. Before Bush arrived, the hangar was filling up and more than 100 people were spilling outside. Mary Bria, 58, a http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/from_the_bushki.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/racetorichmond/2005/11/from_the_bushki.html Jerry Kilgore Mon, 07 Nov 2005 21:01:49 -0500