By Lynn R. Mitchell
Virginia Public Access Project, more commonly known as VPAP, polled their subscribers and 475 participated (including me) with their responses about the top news stories for 2014 (see Top News Stories for 2014):
More than 475 VaNews subscribers participated in our annual top stories survey. Here is the result:
Story that will have most asting impact on Virginia:
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By Lynn R. Mitchell
The Virginia Congressional delegation’s votes on the $1.1 trillion spending bill:
In Favor (Yes): U.S. Reps. Scott Rigell (R-2nd), Randy Forbes (R-4th), Bob Goodlatte (R-6th), Frank Wolf (R-10th), Jim Moran (D-8th), Gerry Connolly (D-11th) and U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D) and Tim Kaine (D).
Opposed (No): U.S. Reps. Rob Wittman (R-1st), Bobby Scott (D-3rd), Robert Hurt (R-5th), Dave Brat (R-7th), and Morgan Griffith (R-9th).
From Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s office….
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10TH
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. First votes expected: 2:00-3:00 p.m. Last votes expected: 4:00-5:00 p.m.
One Minute Speeches
S. 2244 – Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2014 (Closed Rule, One Hour of Debate) (Sponsored by Sen. Charles Schumer / Financial Services Committee)
From Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s office….
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9TH
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. First votes expected: 1:00-2:00 p.m. Last votes expected: 3:15-4:15 p.m.
One Minute Speeches
By Lynn R. Mitchell
In a race that had been too close to call for three days, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ed Gillespie conceded Friday afternoon to Senator Mark Warner who will serve his second six-year term in Washington.
Gillespie came out of nowhere to surprise political pundits nationwide in a Virginia race that most thought would be a cake walk for Warner. However, Gillespie hit the ground running and never let up as he crisscrossed Virginia reaching out to voters who were dissatisfied with Warner’s lack of representation, his lie about voting only for a health care plan that allowed those covered by insurance to keep their plans, and rubber-stamping President Barack Obama’s policies. Throughout it all, Gillespie kept his positive outlook and sense of humor even as Warner began to melt down when he realized this opponent pushed back, and when Puckettgate oozed into the media.
By Lynn R. Mitchell
VPAP has the latest information about certifying the results from Virginia’s U.S. Senate race:
Step 1: Electoral boards in every county and city have until 5 p.m. today to meet and begin to ascertain yesterday’s results. They have until next Tuesday to certify the results and submit their final numbers to the State Board of Elections
Step 2: Voters who cast provisional ballots have until noon on Friday to deliver a copy of their photo identification to their local electoral board in order for their vote to be counted.
Step 3: The State Board of Elections will meet on Monday, November 24 to certify the results, at which point an official winner will be declared.Step 4: Virginia has no automatic recounts. But if the race is within 1%, Gillespie has 10 days to request a recount. If the margin is less than 0.5%, then the localities are responsible for paying for the recount. Otherwise, Gillespie’s campaign must pay $10 per precinct — about $25,000.
By Lynn R. Mitchell
Tuesday evening at 6:30 the Gillespie campaign posted on Facebook:
Early exit poll shows the race within in one point. You have 30 minutes to get to the poll — if you are IN LINE at 7 pm. you will be able to vote. Share to show your support and get your friends to VOTE.
This was one exit poll that was spot on. With an election too close to call, here are the results as of Tuesday morning (from VPAP.org):
Precincts Reporting: 2,548 of 2,557 (99.65%)
Mark Warner (D) 1,067,342 49.11%
Ed Gillespie (R) 1,050,534 48.34%
Robert Sarvis (L) 53,463 2.46%
Write In 1,971 0.09%
Even though Warner claimed victory, it’s still too close to call and within recount territory. Ed Gillespie did not concede Monday night but cautioned patience while it’s sorted out. Stay tuned….
By Lynn R. Mitchell
The polls in Virginia close in 50 minutes and some election news will begin trickling in as votes are counted. With other states’ polls closing at later time, it could be a long night and, indeed, some results may not be known before January. Run-offs are entirely possible.
By Lynn R. Mitchell
One longtime Valley Republican said the region could become pivotal in a close Warner-Gillespie race. “This will be a close election and the Valley may be important,” said Kurt Michael, the former chairman of the Augusta County Republican Committee. “If Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta voters want to see Gillespie in there, they have to turn out.”
Michael recalls the 2005 state attorney general’s race between Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds. “The turnout in the Valley put him (McDonnell) over,” Michael said.
Michael said divisions within the Republican Party locally may be contributing to a less effective ground game for Gillespie. “I’m not seeing the yard signs, the door knocking and I’m not seeing the literature dropped,” he said. “It’s a reflection of the party. We’re in a civil war now between the tea party and the mainstream party. They are so busy infighting they are not getting people elected.”
Political reporter Bob Stuart with the News-Virginian talked with political leaders in the central Shenandoah Valley about Tuesday’s election that has Republican Ed Gillespie and Democrat Mark Warner running for the U.S. Senate seat (see Senate race has meant for scant Valley visits). Turnout turnout turnout is the key.
Ed Gillespie (Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell)
By Lynn R. Mitchell
Mark R. Warner is going door to door on Halloween with a nifty disguise. The freshman Democratic senator is wearing the mask of a moderate. It’s a trick to get his liberal voting record past Virginians amid the wave of anti-Democratic sentiment sweeping the nation.
So began the Halloween Day editorial in the Washington Times, very appropriate wording on this fall holiday. They continued by noting:
Mr. Warner is leading Ed Gillespie, his Republican challenger, but not so comfortably as he once did. He remains below the 50 percent mark in the polls, and that’s a place no incumbent wants to be only four or five days out.
Now two polls show that Mr. Gillespie has closed the gap to single digits. Once down by 30 points, the momentum is clearly on the side of the Gillespie Team as they roll into the final four days of the campaign, crisscrossing Virginia as they are greeted by enthusiastic supporters. Working with a financial disadvantage, Mr. Gillespie is leaving nothing on the table as he sprints toward the finish line, doing everything he can to get his message to the Commonwealth’s citizens to expose Senator Warner’s 97 percent voting record with Democratic President Barack Obama and Warner’s infamous broken promise that he would not vote for a health care plan that would not allow Virginians to keep their own. He voted for Obamacare.
This is not the reelection race Mark Warner expected. Ed Gillespie is lined up to provide Republicans in Virginia and nationwide with an upset victory on Election Day.
Delegate Lacey Putney
By Lynn R. Mitchell
Delegate Lacey Putney has endorsed Republican Ed Gillespie for U.S. Senate, an impressive endorsement from the longest-serving member of the Virginia House of Delegates who retired earlier this year after 52 years.
Delegate Putney’s statement about Mark Warner during his years as governor is very telling: “The most charitable thing I can say of Mark Warner as governor is that I was not impressed. But Warner’s service as governor is ancient history. We have before us his six years in the U.S. Senate. While Warner has talked a good game, he has been mainly a rubber-stamp for President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. … By his willingness to place party above country Mark Warner does not deserve re-election.”
He continued, “… this year, in the strongest and most emphatic terms, I endorse Ed Gillespie.”
The Teflon veneer continues to fall away from Mark Warner who has voted 97 percent of the time with Democratic President Barack Obama, and who broke his promise to Virginians when he voted for Obamacare.
Here is Delegate Putney’s full endorsement:
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LynnRMitchell.com Editorial
LynnRMitchell.com enthusiastically endorses Republican candidate Ed Gillespie for U.S. Senate 2014. His vision for the Commonwealth has re-energized Virginia’s citizens who have felt unrepresented by incumbent Mark Warner and, in the gridlock that is Washington politics, Mr. Gillespie brings fresh ideas with his proposed EG2 economic plan for Virginia. He is positive and optimistic, and has carried that upbeat attitude on the campaign trail with his belief that “the old normal is the new mediocre. We can do better.”
Ed Gillespie doesn’t just talk the talk. He has spent more than 30 years in Republican politics with skin in the game, “paying his dues,” so to speak. With a work ethic and goal-oriented passion passed on by his Irish immigrant parents, he watched first-hand what hard work could do toward building the American dream. They are lessons he still practices.
By Lynn R. Mitchell
Boom. The Gillespie for U.S. Senate campaign ran a great ad during Monday night’s football game between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys.
In a smack-down to Senator Mark Warner’s rubber-stamping of almost 100% of the Democratic agenda, it pointed out Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s bill to force the Redskins to change the name of their team, and Senator Warner’s refusal when twice asked to say whether he supports the bill or not.
Ed Gillespie (Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell)
By Lynn R. Mitchell
In a show of support for Ed Gillespie‘s vision for Virginia, the Richmond Times-Dispatch endorsed the Republican for U.S. Senate (see Gillespie for Senate).
Noting the many reasons, they wrote:
We endorse Gillespie because his philosophy embraces free markets and free people, the ultimate American solutions, and because we are confident he will serve as an able and honest senator.
…
It’s time to thank Mark Warner for his efforts and send him back to the private sector, where he will no doubt flourish. Virginia needs a senator who does more than propose. We need one who will help formulate, stimulate and legislate effective solutions. That’s Ed Gillespie.
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