Cranking Out the Endorsements in the 11th

Endorsements are a chronically overvalued commodity in politics. Remember a few weeks ago when Ted Kennedy's testimonial to Barack Obama at American University was heralded as a ground-changing event?
But that's never stopped campaigns from cranking them out--big names and little ones. Gerry Connolly announced 29 local officials on Wednesday in his campaign for the 11th District Democratic Congressional nomination. Today was House of Delegates day: Del. Kenneth R. Plum (D-Fairfax); Del. James M. Scott (D-Fairfax); Del. David L. Bulova (D-Fairfax); Del. Vivian E. Watts (D-Fairfax); Del. Dave W. Marsden (D-Fairfax); Del. C. Charles Caputo (D-Fairfax), and Del. Paul F. Nichols (D-Prince William).
Former Rep. Leslie L. Byrne has her own long state house list, including Del. Robert D. Hull (D-Fairfax); Del. Margi Vanderhye (D-Fairfax) and Del. Lionell Spruill Sr. (D-Chesapeake), DNC National Committeeman. Byrne has also brought home the marquee endorsement of the race to date, Sen. James Webb.
Kevin Franck, a spokesman for former Navy flight officer and Iraq war veteran Doug Denneny, said the long rosters of endorsements reflect the advantage enjoyed by career politicians, especially incumbents.
Denneny, a first time candidate, has been endorsed by fellow Iraq veterans Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) and Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.).
By Bill Turque |
March 27, 2008; 7:02 PM ET
| Category:
Bill Turque
,
Election 2008/Congress
,
Gerald E. Connolly
,
Leslie L. Byrne
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Posted by: in the 11th | March 28, 2008 7:00 AM
Is Lesie Byrne's blogger swiftboating Democrats again?
There is an amazing and apparently thoroughly researched indictment of Leslie Byrne's negative campaign tactics at:
http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/
And Not Larry is at it again:
http://notlarrysabato.typepad.com/
Or just grab the link to the negative campaigning from Byrne's website where it is prominently displayed.
Posted by: Byrne Swiftboating of Democrats through blogger? | March 28, 2008 9:28 AM
I've only gone to NotLarrySabato a few times, and only then recently.
It must display the only Delegate Count in the country which does not have Obama at least 150 delegates ahead of Clinton. It currently shows Clinton leading Obama by one.
After I stopped laughing at that, I looked at some recent and older postings. Many are kind of sad in a way, but can also a little unsettling.
Is unsubstantiated character assassination on the Internet Slander or Libel? Or is there a new Electronic Age name for it?
Posted by: Whistling Past the Graveyard | March 28, 2008 1:58 PM
Everyone knows that Leslie is a street fighter, but who thought she would target a decorated war hero like Denneny with such dirty, dirty allegations.
She'll do anything to get elected.
Posted by: Leslie Attacks | March 28, 2008 3:00 PM
drill holes in her head!
Posted by: Sasquatch | March 28, 2008 5:19 PM
Bill- how did you miss Leslie's huge endorsements from Senator Chuck Colgan (Prince William), Senator Chap Petersen (Fairfax) and Delegate Steve Shannon (Fairfax). Are you trying to be unfair?
Posted by: WTF | March 29, 2008 5:48 PM
Steve Shannon did NOT endorse Leslie. Just ask him.
Posted by: Leslie Lies | March 29, 2008 9:09 PM
Yeah- is that why Steve was at Leslie's fundraiser tonight?
Posted by: Not Larry Sabato | March 31, 2008 10:02 PM
Leslie endorsed Hillary, and even sent out a mailer barging about it!
But after the VA Primary once the tables had turned- she praises Saint Barack of Obama on her website!
Posted by: Richard Simmons | April 3, 2008 12:44 AM
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Looks like Connolly has the endorsement of every local and state elected official representing the 11th.