Republican Wins Special Election For Virginia Safe Seat
In today's Virginia special election, state Delegate Rob Wittman has been elected to the remainder of the late Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis' (R) term.
With 96.66% of precincts reporting, Wittman has 62.96% of the vote against Democratic nominee Philip Forgit, an Iraq War veteran. The district is solidly Republican, giving President Bush 60% of the vote in 2006.
Advertisement
While this wasn't in any way unexpected, it's still a little disappointing that the Republican candidate got more votes than did Bush in '04.
December 11, 2007 8:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Solid Republican district or not this could be a precursor for Dems next year. Seth H. noted that the republican candidate scored better than Bush. People are saying do something, anything, democrats. Show us you stand for something. Govern or get the hell out of the way.
December 11, 2007 9:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think folks are beginning to figure out that they do not want to re-live the 1993 to 1995 era that morphed into the 1995-2006 as a result of Bill & Hillary's governing 'skills'.
Unfortunately, the election that Democrats thought they had won in November of last year was hijacked along the way by the crowd (Pelosi, Reid, Hoyer, Emmanuel, Leahy, Feinstein, Schumer) who have no stomach to make a fight for their true Democratic base...and, as a result, we can probably expect even greater disappointments in November, 2008.
The group named should tell us whom they really represent in our Congress.
Sad!, Sad!...
December 11, 2007 9:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
The VA race is absolutely no surprise. Can't speak to the other. I would caution some of the groups who have been bombarding VA-02 (current incumbent, JoAnne Drake (R)) with robocalls about how bad she is. If this also happened in VA-01, it doesn't surprise me that Wittman picked up a couple of points on Bush.
I'm a solid Dem voter (since '01) and I find the calls counterproductive. I don't think they're doing anyone any favors, and in fact are a bit of a turn off - especially this far out. I can only imagine what my solid-majority Republican-voter-neighbors think of them.
Just sayin'.
December 11, 2007 11:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
There was also an independent in this race, Lucky Narain (self-billed conservative independent). I think he snagged about 2% - not too shabby for a unknown newcomer in such a huge district.
* disclaimer, i know Lucky and worked with him a few years back. Nice guy, i hope this marks his entrance and not exit from politics.
December 12, 2007 12:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Given the 8 years of Bush rule that we continue to endure, and given the massive Republican corruption, and given the incompetence exhibited by the GOP on every issue they touch, it is a wonder that anyone votes Republican for any race, no matter how insignificant.
I hate to say this, but we are a people that does not deserve good government. How in the world is democracy supposed to work if we don't pay attention to current events and vote accordingly?
December 12, 2007 12:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is actually not good news for the Dems and not just from the point of view that they failed to capitalize on an early pick-up opportunity. Jo Ann Davis, a popular incumbent, was re-elected 63%-35% in 2006 and for the Republican to scoop 61% in an open district doesn't offer much consolation for the Dems in 2008. I can't help but wonder if the GOP is actually making a bit of a comeback lately and that the extraordinarily low ratings for the Dems in Congress are starting to catch up with them.
December 12, 2007 3:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
"global yokel wrote on December 12, 2007 12:52 AM:
Given the 8 years of Bush rule that we continue to endure, and given the massive Republican corruption, and given the incompetence exhibited by the GOP on every issue they touch, it is a wonder that anyone votes Republican for any race, no matter how insignificant.
I hate to say this, but we are a people that does not deserve good government. How in the world is democracy supposed to work if we don't pay attention to current events and vote accordingly?"
The answer is simply that the Democrats aren't offering a better alternative and not just through to their laughably incompetent leadership of Congress since January. Sure, the GOP has more than its fair share of corrupt officeholders (although I don't agree with you that they're all corrupt) but how are the Democrats responding to this problem? By offering solid, moral leadership? Far from it. The leading Dem presidential candidate is the wife of one of the most sleazy and corrupt politicians in the history of the United States.
The Dems have also proven themselves unable to purge themselves of corrupt people like Bill Jefferson who make a mockery of them. And then you like at guys like New York's new Governor Eliot Spitzer who, thanks to his corruption, has fallen from grace like a meteor and could drag down much of his state's party in the 2008 election (marginal US House races, etc).
December 12, 2007 6:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Dem Congress has done a bad job of taking it to the White House. Lay the blame, state the case, define the issues, and stop being scared.
December 12, 2007 6:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
This was also the first race in which the GOP ran against Hillary. Think carefully Dems. She could bring us all down next year if she's the nominee.
December 12, 2007 9:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
It is my understanding there were ads running in the Ohio loss linking to Hillery also..
December 12, 2007 9:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Heh. I meant Thelma Drake up above, not JoAnn!
December 12, 2007 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
All politics are local, but it is a testimony to the utter incompetence of the Democratic Party that any Republican can win any election this year. The Republiocan Party should be on the verge of dissolving. Instead, it's the Democrats who are in danger.
If the Democrats don't win the White House next year, they will be, and probably should be, finished as a party. 2008 should be a Perfect Storm for the Democrats. If they can't win in 2008, it's hard to imagine a set of circumstances in which they COULD win.
December 12, 2007 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
2008 Presidential Election Weekly Poll
http://www.votenic.com
The Only Poll That Matters
Results Posted Weekly Tuesday Evening At Midnight.
December 12, 2007 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink