How To Beat Mark Warner

I can't put it any better than D.J. McGuire does:

Finally, throw the GOP legislature under the bus: Luckily for the GOP, either candidate (Gilmore, who as Governor ruffled a lot of feathers, and Marshall, the gadfly of the House caucus) is in prime position to do just that.  The voters made abundantly clear last year what they thought of Messrs. Howell and Stosch.  They’re likely hoping no one even mentions them during this campaign, but they are an easy - and deserving - target.  Odds are the party base will be more energized, not less, by a nominee willing to criticize them when necessary.

In short, Mark Warner won in 2001, and succeeded afterwards, because he refused to be defined by his party.  However, there is a down side to that, in that other Democrats won’t feel as obligated to defend him 24/7.  The opportunity is there for the GOP nominee to out-Warner Warner, reach out to limited government Democrats (there aren’t many, but just about all of them are here in VA), and use them to build credibility as a right-of-center alternative - even if said Dems just agree with the nominee on the issues without endorsing him.

There is one more thing I would add.  Republicans need to get over Mark Warner, mentally.  We have to realize that we can win.  Look, the one thing I do have great respect for our friends on the left is their absolute belief that they can, and will, win every election.  It doesn't matter if your George Allen with huge approval ratings and two nobody opponents.  Republicans need to wake up again and realize, with John McCain on the ticket a national Democrat Party quickly tearing itself apart, we can win this.  Virginia has a history of taking candidates of inevitability and taking them down:  Andrew Miller, Wyatt Durrette, Mary Sue Terry, Marshall Coleman, Steve Agee, George Allen, and it goes on and on.  Virginia has a historical streak of independence that doesn't like being told who will win before the voters decide.

 

Comments

[D.J. McGuire]

I would add Jerry Kilgore to that list.

This is a great article. I just cannot get excited about either Gilmore or Marshall. Lets face it half the GOP does not like either candidate.
I don't think most Republicans will be able to put their personal distaste for Gilmore's style aside to help him once he squeaks out the nomination. I feel bad for the man but he probably has brought it all on himself.

Its so bad, I get the feeling McDonnell, Bolling, Allen, or any of our GOP Congressman or women could walk straight into the convention and easily get the nomination. No amount of busting on Mark Warner is getting the entire base excited about Gilmore or Marshall. I get the idea the grassroots is going to sit this particular race out. Hopefully I am wrong because with all his faults Gilmore is still much better than M. Warner.