OPM security breach hits Va Congresswoman Barbara Comstock

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Virginia Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-10th) revealed Wednesday that her personal information had been compromised in the security hack, thought to be perpetrated by China, that affected the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

As noted by reporter Tal Kopan in Politico, Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) was also affected. Both had worked on the Hill before elected office.

Comstock, whose northern Virginia district includes a large number of federal employees, wrote a letter to the director of OPM that that all are justifiably alarmed. The White House, meanwhile, stood behind the OPM director amid calls for her removal.

Comstock’s letter:

Ted Cruz alienates his colleagues with latest government shutdown effort

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Ted Cruz did it again. He tried to shut down the government just like the disastrous shutdown he orchestrated in October of 2013 (see Ted Cruz does it again by Manu Raju in Politico). Right here at Christmas! Think how well that would have gone over with the American people. Not only that, Cruz blindsided his colleagues while on his self-absorbed mission, demanding on Friday that senators stay in Washington over the weekend, just 10 days before Christmas, causing cancellations of family plans.

Gillespie: ‘It would be wrong to put my fellow Virginians through a recount when we can’t make up the difference’

By Lynn R. Mitchell

From Ed Gillespie:

My thoughts: Gillespie concedes but close race damaged Warner during Va. U.S. Senate race

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.

McConnell and Boehner: A pledge to Americans

By Senator Mitch McConnell and Rep. John Boehner

Americans have entrusted Republicans with control of both the House and Senate. We are humbled by this opportunity to help struggling middle-class Americans who are clearly frustrated by an increasing lack of opportunity, the stagnation of wages, and a government that seems incapable of performing even basic tasks.

Looking ahead to the next Congress, we will honor the voters’ trust by focusing, first, on jobs and the economy. Among other things, that means a renewed effort to debate and vote on the many bills that passed the Republican-led House in recent years with bipartisan support, but were never even brought to a vote by the Democratic Senate majority. It also means renewing our commitment to repeal ObamaCare, which is hurting the job market along with Americans’ health care.

Mitch McConnell: The face of leadership

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Senator Mitch McConnell talked with the press on Wednesday, the day after a Republican wave swept the country and put a GOP majority in the U.S. Senate to work with the GOP majority in the House. Video and transcript here.

VPAP update on certifying results of U.S. Senate race

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.

Cross-posted

Gillespie’s statement on canvassing process

By Lynn R. Mitchell

On Wednesday, Ed Gillespie issued the following statement on the canvassing process in Virginia:

“It’s a testament to our volunteers and their incredible efforts that we were outspent two-to-one and yet the most recent unofficial tally has us separated by less than a percentage point out of more than two million votes cast. Now we owe it to the voters of Virginia to respect the canvassing process that is underway to get an official result. We will be watching the results closely so that we can ensure Virginians have confidence in the accuracy of the results. It was an honor to run, and I will respect the decision reached by Virginia’s voters.”

Gillespie exit poll was spot on

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….

Cross-posted

Dana Perino, Bob Beckell predict big upset win for Gillespie

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Former Bush White House press secretary Dana Perino has been saying for months that Ed Gillespie would be the upset winner in Virginia’s U.S. Senate race. Gillespie has enjoyed support from the Bush alumni as well as their former boss President George W. Bush, and Dana has predicted Gillespie would be the come-from-behind tortoise.

On Monday’s “The Five,” Dana was joined by Democratic strategist Bob Beckell in their belief that Virginia could provide an upset win for national Republicans (see video).

Election Day is Tuesday. Please exercise the freedom we enjoy and vote.

An Independent political perspective: Vote your conscience … but vote

By Daniel P. Cortez

Tomorrow brings the dawn of another election day. Another opportunity to send a message to candidates “the people choose so they may be better served.”

After the concession calls and victory speeches, political drama continues, hopefully, with new players. These men and women regardless of voter turnout become the people’s representatives. And the term is “representative” … not dictators. Granted many won’t get the message. But we can say later we knew them before they became omnipotent.

George H.W. Bush #41 endorses Ed Gillespie

By Lynn R. Mitchell

From President George H.W. Bush:

Valley Republicans are needed to up the vote margin

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.

Washington Times: ‘Mark Warner’s Halloween mask of moderation’

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.

 

Lacey Putney endorses Ed Gillespie, not impressed when Warner was governor

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: