Part 1: Jim Gilmore's Big/Close Win
The US Senate election was a story of contrast in style, rather than substance. Make no mistake about it, Bob Marshall showed up in force, and his supporters were just ravenous and in every district. Gilmore's name was the first placed into nomination and it was Eric Cantor who placed it, followed by a plethora of names from the party all over the state and of diverse background. Gilmore came out to a very good reception and gave an excellent speech, speaking about his own conservative values and expanding on his Declaration of Energy Independence. He vowed to stop pork barrel spending and talk a lot about Mark Warner supporting the liberal Democrat platform of the US Senate and Harry Reid. Gilmore made an interesting point that he wasn't running against the Democrats, per say, but against the liberal agenda of Congressional Democrats that Mark Warner will most certainly support.
Bob Marshall was next. Pat McSweeney gave a dreadful nomination speech that was rambling and slashing against Gilmore - not the kind of speech for someone nominating a candidate. Ken Cuccinelli came out to second the nomination and gave what might have been the best speech of the night talking about Marshall's personal courage in the General Assembly. His sons also spoke. Marshall came out and his ovation was ravenous and a lot of the Gilmore supporters were looking around thinking "are you serious?" Marshall gave a long and fiery speech attacking Mark Warner and Jim Gilmore. As usual, Marshall went too long and the mic was cut (Convention Chairman Bill Bolling explained that every candidate had only 20 minutes, and Marshall went over).
The voting commenced in earnest and went off well. The shocking news was big Marshall won the 10th and 11th. What cost Marshall was his poor showing in the more rural counties. The drama was heightened when the 7th district (Gilmore's home) deferred and waited to go last. When the 11th returns came in I thought it was over and Marshall had pulled off the amazing upset. But the 7th came in at the end, Gilmore's home, and put him over the top. Barely.
Marshall's concession speech could hardly be called that, as he talked about the need to unite behind principle and beat Mark Warner. Perhaps realizing he had said nothing about Gilmore, he turned back around and said he was going to shake Jim Gilmore's hand in the back. Gilmore came out to a big ovation and gave a great speech blurring the lines between policy and political - he attacked Mark Warner, supported John McCain, and made the case that he was the conservative candidate who can win. A video was shown that outlined Gilmore's life with the theme that every race he ran he was the underdog, and his two statewide victories where over rich "glib" Northern Virginia Democrats.
Gilmore has some work to do to keep the Marshall supporters active, and it is my hope that many of them will understand that Jim Gilmore and Bob Marshall agreed with each other probably about 90% of the time on the issues and the cost of staying home and allowing Mark Warner to win is not with the damage it will cost the country as the Democrats grip on Congress would strengthen. I ask Bob Marshall's noble conservative army, STAY WITH US, and that Jim Gilmore IS a conservative and WILL run on the issues that you, and all of us, hold dear. Jim Gilmore needs you, Mark Warner is afraid of you, and together we can win.
PART 2: Jeff Frederick's Stunning Victory
While the US Senate race was a game of inches, the Chairman's race was a stunning game of miles. John Hager's name was placed into nomination by Susan Allen (and I don't remember who seconded it) and Hager came out and gave a short and odd speech. He talked about the AG-LG-RPV Challenge, asked us if we were ready to win, and declared that Jeff Frederick was a liar and bi stated that Frederick did not want Bob McDonnell to win the governorship (which implied and endorsement that wasn't there).
Jeff's name was put into nomination by former Del. Jack Reid and seconded by House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, which in my opinion was a huge endorsement because Griffith is part of the House leadership and helped with Frederick's narrative that all is not well in the kingdom. Frederick was then introduced next by his wife, and a future delegate, Amy. When Jeff came out, I was stunned. The blue "Frederick" signs where everywhere! The ovation for him was thunderous, as if Frederick was the unifying force in the convention because I saw plenty of Gilmore supporters supporting Jeff. He gave a great speech about the need for new leadership, effective leadership, and a return to power of the grassroots in a bottom-up party rather than a Richmond dictated top-down.
To say that Jeff Frederick destroyed John Hager can only be seen by what happened next. While the votes where being counted, George Allen came out and gave the keynote address. Things then got interesting. Soon after, John Hager came out and made a motion to wave reading of the votes and have the Convention vote Jeff Frederick chairman by acclimation. It was a classy move by Hager, and spoke to the depth of Frederick's support. While some may think that Frederick is divisive or whatever, he proved today that he can bring this party together because he brought together Gilmore and Marshall voters behind his candidacy at the Convention and won in such a stunning fashion that the previously divided convention really came together.
The US Senate election was a story of contrast in style, rather than substance. Make no mistake about it, Bob Marshall showed up in force, and his supporters were just ravenous and in every district. Gilmore's name was the first placed into nomination and it was Eric Cantor who placed it, followed by a plethora of names from the party all over the state and of diverse background. Gilmore came out to a very good reception and gave an excellent speech, speaking about his own conservative values and expanding on his Declaration of Energy Independence. He vowed to stop pork barrel spending and talk a lot about Mark Warner supporting the liberal Democrat platform of the US Senate and Harry Reid. Gilmore made an interesting point that he wasn't running against the Democrats, per say, but against the liberal agenda of Congressional Democrats that Mark Warner will most certainly support.
Bob Marshall was next. Pat McSweeney gave a dreadful nomination speech that was rambling and slashing against Gilmore - not the kind of speech for someone nominating a candidate. Ken Cuccinelli came out to second the nomination and gave what might have been the best speech of the night talking about Marshall's personal courage in the General Assembly. His sons also spoke. Marshall came out and his ovation was ravenous and a lot of the Gilmore supporters were looking around thinking "are you serious?" Marshall gave a long and fiery speech attacking Mark Warner and Jim Gilmore. As usual, Marshall went too long and the mic was cut (Convention Chairman Bill Bolling explained that every candidate had only 20 minutes, and Marshall went over).
The voting commenced in earnest and went off well. The shocking news was big Marshall won the 10th and 11th. What cost Marshall was his poor showing in the more rural counties. The drama was heightened when the 7th district (Gilmore's home) deferred and waited to go last. When the 11th returns came in I thought it was over and Marshall had pulled off the amazing upset. But the 7th came in at the end, Gilmore's home, and put him over the top. Barely.
Marshall's concession speech could hardly be called that, as he talked about the need to unite behind principle and beat Mark Warner. Perhaps realizing he had said nothing about Gilmore, he turned back around and said he was going to shake Jim Gilmore's hand in the back. Gilmore came out to a big ovation and gave a great speech blurring the lines between policy and political - he attacked Mark Warner, supported John McCain, and made the case that he was the conservative candidate who can win. A video was shown that outlined Gilmore's life with the theme that every race he ran he was the underdog, and his two statewide victories where over rich "glib" Northern Virginia Democrats.
Gilmore has some work to do to keep the Marshall supporters active, and it is my hope that many of them will understand that Jim Gilmore and Bob Marshall agreed with each other probably about 90% of the time on the issues and the cost of staying home and allowing Mark Warner to win is not with the damage it will cost the country as the Democrats grip on Congress would strengthen. I ask Bob Marshall's noble conservative army, STAY WITH US, and that Jim Gilmore IS a conservative and WILL run on the issues that you, and all of us, hold dear. Jim Gilmore needs you, Mark Warner is afraid of you, and together we can win.
PART 2: Jeff Frederick's Stunning Victory
While the US Senate race was a game of inches, the Chairman's race was a stunning game of miles. John Hager's name was placed into nomination by Susan Allen (and I don't remember who seconded it) and Hager came out and gave a short and odd speech. He talked about the AG-LG-RPV Challenge, asked us if we were ready to win, and declared that Jeff Frederick was a liar and bi stated that Frederick did not want Bob McDonnell to win the governorship (which implied and endorsement that wasn't there).
Jeff's name was put into nomination by former Del. Jack Reid and seconded by House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, which in my opinion was a huge endorsement because Griffith is part of the House leadership and helped with Frederick's narrative that all is not well in the kingdom. Frederick was then introduced next by his wife, and a future delegate, Amy. When Jeff came out, I was stunned. The blue "Frederick" signs where everywhere! The ovation for him was thunderous, as if Frederick was the unifying force in the convention because I saw plenty of Gilmore supporters supporting Jeff. He gave a great speech about the need for new leadership, effective leadership, and a return to power of the grassroots in a bottom-up party rather than a Richmond dictated top-down.
To say that Jeff Frederick destroyed John Hager can only be seen by what happened next. While the votes where being counted, George Allen came out and gave the keynote address. Things then got interesting. Soon after, John Hager came out and made a motion to wave reading of the votes and have the Convention vote Jeff Frederick chairman by acclimation. It was a classy move by Hager, and spoke to the depth of Frederick's support. While some may think that Frederick is divisive or whatever, he proved today that he can bring this party together because he brought together Gilmore and Marshall voters behind his candidacy at the Convention and won in such a stunning fashion that the previously divided convention really came together.
You say "classy move," I say "face-saving move." The dude lost by a landslide.
Posted by: Linda B | May 31, 2008 at 09:40 PM
I'm still up in the air about Gilmore. I did not like the dirty campaign literature that he came out with over the last week. Maybe they agree 90% ,but Marshall has more integrity in his left pinky fingernail than Gilmore in his whole body.
When Gilmore resigns from his $50K board post with a company that provides Planned Parenthood with morning-after pills, then I'll consider him prolife and vote.
Posted by: pro life virginian | May 31, 2008 at 10:16 PM
I'm with pro-life Virginian (and I'm not even pro-life.) Gilmore leaves a sour taste in my mouth, but we can't let Mark Warner win.
Posted by: The Northern Virginia Conservative | May 31, 2008 at 10:36 PM
I think the closeness of this race made both sides leave in a sour mood. As a former Gov, Gilmore should have won in a landslide. He completely failed to ignite his past base and almost lost after having everything going for him. This is a bad omen for this fall. NO one left excited about a Gilmore candidacy, not even most of the Gilmore supporters.
As for Frederick, its put up or shut up time. Promises are nice but results better be delivered. When you bash everyone including volunteers in the past for not delivering you had better deliver or you will be gone quickly. Its that simple.
Posted by: | May 31, 2008 at 11:25 PM
Lets not act like the dirty campaigning wasn't two-way. Marshall and his supporters constantly distorte and lied about Gilmore - calling him a "liberal" on abortion and declared he was pro-amnesty. All ridiculous, and in the end that "zero-sum conservatism" turned off a lot of good conservatives who like Bob but were put off by the ideological litmus tests imposed on you if you didn't agree.
So don't stand there and say "oh, wo is me, Gilmore won." It was an election.
Posted by: Chris | June 01, 2008 at 06:20 AM
The zero sum conservatism went both ways as well. Gilmore put out stuff bascially saying Marshall was not a conservative as well. This whole thing was very nasty. The fact no one really won convincingly is just terrible for the party. A win is a win but Gilmore just showed what a terrible campaigner he was by completely ignoring Marshall until it was almost too late and this will cost him dearly against M. Warner because of all the hard feelings it generated. Gilmore had better do something different in a hurry if he is to compete.
I think both Marshall and Gilmore are good conservatives and worthy of the nomination but both are zero sum conservatives (Gilmore did the same to Tom Davis so I do not feel bad whatsoever for him and kind of laughed yesterday) and that is why we essentially ended up with a political death match yesterday with Gilmore winning a battle but possibly losing the war by permanently alientating an entire segment of grassroots supporters.
Posted by: | June 01, 2008 at 08:01 AM
Well you know what, some of those grassroots who feel alientated need to grow up and get over it. The consequences of doing nothing is too severe to think about. A veto-proof majority in the US Senate for Harry Reid and an Obama victory in Virginia?
Posted by: Chris | June 01, 2008 at 09:26 AM
Maybe I'm the exception, but I'm a Marshall voter who --- while sorry my guy lost --- has no problem with Gilmore, and who doesn't have "a sour taste" in my mouth. My dissatisfaction is with RPV professional staff, who ran perhaps the most amateurish, disorganized operation I have ever witnessed in my 20-odd years of attending these events.
Posted by: James Young | June 01, 2008 at 02:34 PM
Unfortunately you probably are the exception. Much of the sour grapes is the FACT the convention was run very unprofessionally. Some Marshall people think the election was potentially tainted. I certainly don't buy this theory but poor way this convention was handled can lead people to these conclusions.
My problems with Gilmore unlike many Marshall people are NOT ideological. I just think he is perhaps the most unelectable candidate the RPV has put forth in modern times based on his current negatives. This was evident at the convention with a group of moderates who banded togther with Marshall supporters to take out Gilmore.
While I am solidy in favor of Gilmore over Warner he must do something immediately to shake up his entire campaign operation. What can he do?
1. He must first work to immediately shore up the split Republican base. No way a former gov. should only beat a local state delgate by less than 1 percent. If he cannot shore up the base his campaign is over before it starts.
2. He must do something to energize the base and grassroots. Comparing Warner to Barak Obama will not get the job done because most Virginians won't buy it. It did not work in the recent special Congressional elections and it certainly won't work in Virginia this Nov. He must make the case for Jim Gilmore NOT against Warner or Obama. Let McCain take care of Obama. The same old tired conservative lines Gilmore used Saturday at the convention just will not work. He needs to sit down with those who have actually won recently, especially in NOVA districts and find out what works.
Posted by: | June 01, 2008 at 08:16 PM
You know, anon 8:16, Gilmore did offer one interesting thought in his acceptance speech. He talked about not running against "Democrats," but rather their congressional agenda. I think that is a smart distinction. His strategy is to win over independents through kitchen table issues like gas prices . . . as for conservatives? He has to reach out, but it has to be reciprocated. The base of the base that supported Marshall have to be willing to accept Gilmore's overtures. I hope they will, Marshall's backers are savy enough to understand what their silence would cause.
To Obama, surpisingly Gilmore did not mention him a lot, and your analysis is right. The special elections in LA, MS, and IL proved that we can't just throw around Obama's name.
Posted by: Chris | June 01, 2008 at 08:29 PM
We have our work cut out for us. I am one of those Gilmore delegates that supported Frederick. I did so because I believed that Gilmore was best positioned to give us a chance to beat Warner and supported Frederick because he knows how to win tough elections. Now he has to put that to work on a statewide level.
I challenge every Virginia conservative to pull out the check book and send Gilmore a check for as much as they can afford today. I am.
Posted by: David Adams | June 02, 2008 at 02:28 PM