Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009

Good morning everyone. Here's what's happening in politics around the state today.

This is it! Election Day has finally arrived. Check back frequently for all of our election coverage throughout the day and night.

In the meantime, here's some morning reading to start your day:

Republican Bob McDonnell will vote outside Richmond this morning, before greeting voters at his childhood precinct in Fairfax County and at a Virginia Beach precint he represented in the House of Delegates.

Democrat Creigh Deeds will vote in Bath County this morning before greeting voters in Charlottesville, which he represents in the state Senate.

Both men will spend election night in the capital city. McDonnell will be at the Marriott downtown with Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli, candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general. Deeds will be at the Westin Hotel in Richmond's West End with Gov. Tim Kaine and Jody Wagner and Steve Shannon, candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has recorded a phone message encouraging Virginians to get out and vote on Tuesday, Palin adviser Meg Stapleton told us tonight.

We are awaiting more details about the calls and will bring you the information as soon as we get it.

Tucker Martin, a spokesman for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell, said Palin's calls were not being made at the request of the campaign or the Republican Party of Virginia. He said the campaign had no firsthand knowledge of the calls.

Almost all of the Republicans considered top candidates for a 2012 presidential run have made stops in Virginia this year to help McDonnell. But McDonnell has made it pretty clear in recent months that he did not want Palin's help.

McDonnell epeatedly and personally asked Palin for help this summer, but by late August Palin learned that the McDonnell campaign no longer wanted her assistance, Stapleton told us a few weeks ago.

Palin drew enormous, enthusiastic crowds in Virginia while campaigning as Sen. John McCain's runningmate during the presidential election last year. But she is a polarizing figure that could turn off independent voters. In the summer, she drew criticism for abruptly resigning as governor and later insisting that the healthcare bill being considered by Congress would cause the creation of "death panels."

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009
Good Morning Virginia! Here's what's happening in politics across the Commonwealth today.

With just a week to go before Election Day, President Barack Obama sweeps into Norfolk for a brief but spirited rally for Democrat Creigh Deeds' bid for governor.

A presidential visit--with its Hail-to-the-Chiefiness and its Air Force One photo ops--is all-consuming to the news cycle of a state race, a fact obvious from a quick glance at this morning's Virginia media. Every outlet in the state carried news of the president, his exhortation "I don't believe in can't," and his plea for his supporters to ignore polls and pundits and work to get Deeds elected.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell repeatedly and personally asked former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for help this summer in his campaign for Virginia governor, a Palin spokeswoman said.

But by late August, Palin learned that the McDonnell campaign no longer wanted her assistance, Palin adviser Meg Stapleton said in an interview tonight.

Earlier this week, McDonnell reacted with a bit of sarcasm when asked whether Palin would be campaigning with him. "There was a time earlier on when she was governor when I thought she would come here,'' he said. "But I think she seems to be busy with books and other things like that. We've still got about 20 different events scheduled down the road and she's not one of them."

But Stapleton says Palin is not too busy to come. She says that her boss offered to help McDonnell numerous times both in conversations with him and his campaign and through the Republican Governors Association.

"The Governor, SarahPAC, and I have all communicated to the candidate, the campaign and to the RGA the Governor's continued willingness to assist in any way possible - even as recently as two weeks ago,'' Stapleton said.

Palin drew enormous, enthusiastic crowds in Virginia while campaigning as Sen. John McCain's runningmate during the presidential election last year. But she is a polarizing figure that could turn off independent voters. In the summer, she drew criticism for abruptly resigning as governor and later insisting that the healthcare bill being considered by Congress would cause the creation of "death panels."

McDonnell decision to back away from Palin is typical of his attempt to moderate himself. In his comments this week, he tried to communicate that he did not want to be seen with Palin without saying that it was his decision.

In recent months, he has welcomed a succession of other national GOP figures to Virginia including Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

After the election last year, Republican Bob McDonnell expected former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin to campaign with him.

In the summer, even after Palin's stunning announcement that she was resigning as governor of Alaska, McDonnell said he would welcome her to Virginia.

This week, McDonnell made it clear that would not happen.

"There was a time earlier on when she was governor when I thought she would come here,'' McDonnell said after a candidates' forum in Loudoun County earlier this week. "But I think she seems to be busy with books and other things like that. We've still got about 20 different events scheduled down the road and she's not one of them."

But Palin adviser Meg Stapleton told Politico that her boss offered to help McDonnell. Calls and e-mails to Palin's political action committee were not returned. Her PAC donated $2,500 to McDonnell this summer.

Palin's visits to the state drew enormous, enthusiastic crowds of Republicans last year, but Democrats would have a field day with Palin's arrival if she did come here.

Days after surprising just about everyone with her resignation, and just back from a salmon fishing trip with her family, the almost-former governor of Alaska Sarah Palin has been tweeting away.

Just this morning, Palin sent this message to her 87,083 followers: "Couple of thoughts for the day on beautiful bright AK morn: You have to sacrifice to win. That's my philosophy in 6 words. - George Allen."

That turned some heads in Virginia, where we all wondered which George Allen she was quoting: The former Republican governor and U.S. senator? Or his legendary Redskins football coach father?

All signs point to the quote belonging to dad -- but figuring it out is more difficult than it appears (though the quote can be found in the book "Knowledge in a Nutshell")

Gov. Sarah Palin's stunning annoucement that she would resign later this month in part because she wanted to be free to help other candidates made us wonder if she has plans to come to Virginia -- one of only two states with governor's races this year.

Bob McDonnell, Virginia's Republican gubernatorial nominee, attended a meeting of the Republican Governor's Association late last year. Many governors, including Palin, Rick Perry (Tex.) and Charlie Crist (Fla.), pledged to help him.

McDonnell's campaign has not heard from Palin's staff to set up a specific event, but it's been made pretty clear in recent days she plans to spend some time here this fall.

Even by Virginia Republican standards, the battle over whether Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick (Prince William) should be replaced as state party chairman is divisive and brutal, and the wounds it creates could have far-reaching consequences for the GOP in an election year.

Both sides in the dispute have crafted a strategy that revolves around the phrase "grass roots." Unfortunately for Virginia Republicans, there appears to be a huge disconnect over who makes up the grass roots.

And if a party doesn't know who its most loyal supporters are, can it really rebound from a string of election defeats? Or is this a case in which most party leaders know full well who their most loyal supporters are, but they don't like what they see?

A radio ad supporting Republican presidential nominee John McCain is airing on at least one station in Northern Virginia.

"More for big government, less for you. Just as you suspected, Barack Obama's wrong for you,'' a woman tells listeners.

"Your savings, your job and your financial security are under siege. Congressional liberals will make it worse. Congressional liberals plan nearly a trillion dollars in new government spending,'' a man continues. "To pay for it, congressional liberals promise higher taxes on American families making over $42,000 a year. Congressional liberals call it spreading the wealth. We call it higher taxes for you."

The ad is authorized by McCain's campaign and the Republican National Committee.

Gail Gitcho, a McCain spokeswoman in Virginia, said she did not have any information about the ads. The RNC did not return messages.

The vice presidential candidates are coming back.

U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D) will hold rallies Friday at the Danville Community Market and Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville and Saturday at Nansemond River High School in Suffolk. It's his fifth trip to the state.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) will campaign Monday at J.R.'s Festival Lakes in Leesburg, Hurkamp Park in Fredericksburg and the Salem Civic Center. It's her third trip to the state..

Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin were greeted by throngs of red-clad fans at the Virginia Beach Convention Center today.

Palin, who introduced McCain, received more cheers than any other speaker, even more than country music legend Hank Williams Jr. In her 10-minute speech, Palin talked about energy independence, among other issues, touting offshore oil drilling and coal mining.

The crowd started chanting "Drill, baby, drill." But she corrected them: "It's 'Mine, baby, mine.' "

Supporters didn't seem to mind that she mispronounced the word "Norfolk" and awkwardly used the term "the" Hampton Roads.

"It's going to come right down to the wire here and it's pretty clear that the road to victory in 2008 is going to run right through the Hampton Roads," Palin said.

Williams, wearing a Washington Redskins jersey, sang several of his classics, including "All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down" and "A Country Boy Can Survive."
After speeches by Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell, U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes and U.S. Thelma Drake and a brief concert, Williams introduced John and Cindy McCain and Sarah and Todd Palin.

The McCain campaign estimated the crowd at 25,000 people, but local police and fire marshal put it closer to 12,000. The convention center holds 20,000 people.

Read McCain's speech below:

Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign is expecting tens of thousands of people at a pair of rallies on Monday.

McCain (R) and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, will appear at 10 a.m. at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, which holds 20,000 people.

Palin will then travel to Richmond for a rally 2 p.m. The demand for tickets prompted the campaign to move the rally from the Arthur Ashe Center to the Richmond International Raceway.

"The demand for tickets to see Gov. Palin has been so overwhelming, we are changing locations so everyone who wants attend the rally has the opportunity to do so,'' said Trey Walker, a McCain spokesman said. "The energy and enthusiasm for the campaign in the Richmond area is very exciting."

Republican presidential nominee John McCain announced today that he and his running mate Sarah Palin will campaign in Virginia on Monday.

McCain and Palin will hold a rally at 10 a.m. in Virginia Beach at the convention center. Palin will then hold at 1 p.m. rally in Richmond at the Arthur Ashe Center.

"Voters statewide are excited to have the next president and vice president of the United States bring their message of reform back to Virginia,'' Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell, McCain's campaign co-chairman. "John McCain and Sarah Palin will bring some much needed straight talk to the voters in Virginia about strengthening our economy, finding innovative solutions to our energy crisis and keeping America safe. It is going to be a tough race in Virginia, but we are focused on winning Virginia so that John McCain and Sarah Palin can shake things up in Washington."

Several residents of Northern Virginia report they received an automated call last night that critcizes the Democratic Party and Sen. Barack Obama for wasteful spending. The caller asks voters to fill out an absentee ballot, which will be mailed in the coming days.

On one of the calls, a women named Kate accused Democrats in Congress of approving billions of dollars in unnecessary projects.

"I can't stand the billions of dollars wasted by corrupt politicians on pet projects," Kate says. "You should get an absentee ballot in the mail this week....If you are like me and ... think the 'Bridge to Nowhere is an outrageous waste of taxpayer money, you should fill out your absentee ballot."

The Republican Party of Virginia paid for and authorized the automated message.

"We are looking for some absentee ballot voters." said Gerry Scimeca, a spokesman for the Virginia Republican Party. "We are looking for people, especially in Northern Virginia where you have a lot of people who work really long hours, and don't make it the polls and are prime candidates to request an absentee ballot."