Gilmore vs. Marshall

The DCPost has a great write-up this today.  I'm still nominally a Gilmore, but I'll make up my mind after Gilmore comes to Fairfax City next week to talk to our mass meeting.  Marshall came in Feb and was quite impressive, and I think he is the type of candidate that could just unexpectedly catch fire - a la Jim Webb.  Trust me, the ambivalence towards Gilmore here in Northern Virginia, and its a weird breakdown.  The Post deals with it here:

Marshall also stands to broaden his base of support by reaching out to supporters of Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va). Davis, a moderate, spent years preparing to run for the Senate, but abandoned those plans when he was unable to get the state party to hold a primary instead of a convention.

But James E. Hyland, chairman of the Fairfax County Republican Committee, said he has "not seen a big wave" of Davis loyalists coming out for Marshall.

"There are supporters of his who have signed up, but I think it is more to support the party than to try to influence the convention," he said. Hyland added: "I've got to assume [Gilmore] is ahead of the game, but Bob Marshall is doing everything he can."

Hyland is right that Davis supporters are banging down the doors for Marshall, but there is quiet fist-pumping among many Davis supporters when you talk about Marshall's candidacy.  Marshall is also universally respected among those who know him.  He's doctrinaire, but he won't stab you in the back.  Let me tell you, among Davis supporters, there is real anger at the way Tom has been treated by the state party after all the work and all the money he spread around to help elect Republicans all across the commonwealth in the last few years.  Whether its fair or not, Gilmore gets hit with that anger.  There is also genuine resignation that Gilmore will get blown out by many up here and he has shown no reason yet how he won't.   For Marshall, many up here just throw their hands up and say "what the hell, why not?"

I don't know.  I'll be a delegate in Richmond next month and I while I'm supporting Gilmore now, I was also ready to support anyone else.  I was at the state central meeting where Tom got slapped in the face, and I haven't forgotten about that either.  It wasn't just a slap in Tom's face, for many of us from Northern Virginia it felt like a slap on all our faces.  And the irony is that the convention was suppose to guarantee Gilmore the nomination, and now its being used to prevent it.  And Jim Gilmore should know all about this.  In 1993 he waged this exact same campaign against Delegate Steve Agee, the consensus-party pick for the AG nomination.

All I know is that Richmond is going to be a fun weekend.

Comments

[26-PT-TWO]

I'll decide Gilmore v. Marshall when I have to!!!

One thing I wanted to report: I was at the FCRC Convention this morning. Since someone at some point had expressed interest in one of these threads, I will report that Jim Hyland was re-elected as Chairman. Both he and Kamal Nawash were gracious in victory and defeat, respectively. Several candidates for various offices gave speeches. It was useful to me to find out who was running for what in other districts, because I tend to pay little attention outside my own political backyard. All in all, worth attending.

I think Gilmore is in huge trouble and I believe he and his staff know it.
Apparently, many of the "Davis people" are strongly backing Marshall in Fairfax and I think they will show up at the convention partly because they are still angry.

I have been to a few events and seen polite applause for Gilmore out of respect to the former governor but Marshall's supporters and grassroots conservatives cheer loudly and seem to outnumber him everywhere. These people are loyal and dedicated like the Farris supporters. If the rumors that Marshall has 1/2 the delegates in Chesterfield County this race could go to Marshall.

Gilmore's biggest mistake was discounting his pro-choice or pro-life problems.

The convention does seem to get more exciting every day!

[John]

I'll bet my next year's salary that Gilmore beats Marshall for the nomination.

[Springfield Interchange Scout]

Kamal Nawash was gracious in getting up after the votes were counted and moving that we vote for Jim Hyland as Chairman by acclamation. All in all, the convention was well run and attended. Many said it was good to hear the candidates and see fellow Republicans they had not seen in awhile.

Attorney General Bob McDonnell also addressed the convention and was well represented with an army of volunteers handing out McDonnell for Virginia stickers and McDonnell Message newsletters.

I don't think Gilmore was the most wonderful governor ever. I'm backing Marshall. Realistically, I expect to get M. Warner.