Of the three candidates in the running, only Cuccinelli has been in Richmond dealing with the vital issues of the state. That’s more important than it sounds. Ever since 1993, when Jim Gilmore radically changed the image of the job, people have focused on the crime-fighting aspects of the Attorney General’s office. However, an AG does far more than that; the AG represents the state on every constitutional and national policy issue that ends up before the courts. I particularly remember my shock at seeing Mark Earley, representing Virginia, favoring re-regulation of the airline industry less than a year into his term. That was never an issue during the 1997 campaign; had it been, the primary might have gone very differently.
That segues to my second reason for backing Cuccinelli; the odds are very good that whoever is elected Attorney General in 2009 will be our nominee for Governor in 2017. Earley’s record as State Senator (where he had weaknesses on economic issues) was repeated both as Attorney General and as a candidate for Governor in 2001. It was in the latter capacity that his penchant for deviating from limited-government views opened the door for Mark Warner. The rest is history.
Great job by McDonnell, Bolling and Brownlee. Cuccinelli did horrible. Cucc had to transfer 40k from his senate funds to break 100k. Brownlee raised over 100k in just 40 days -- beating Cuccinelli who had been raising (or not raising) money for months. For a sitting state senator to raise less than 100k in nearly 6 months of campaigning is terrible. Note that Steve Shannon raised 500k.
Posted by: Anon | July 16, 2008 at 01:54 AM
It seems that someone is sipping a certain someone's Kool Aid, if you know what I mean. Cuccinelli is a better candidate. First, he knows how to run a successful grassroots campaign by sticking to his conservative principles and is a team player. Brownlee is not an articulate speaker. He is not strong on cracking down on employers, who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, and he is just another example of a moderate pandering to the right to get votes.
Posted by: Crystal Clear Conservative | July 16, 2008 at 09:08 AM
Um, Chris? That's the text from the last post, not mine.
Just sayin'.
Posted by: D.J. McGuire | July 16, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Brownlee = squishy moderate lawyer.
Cuccinelli = conservative.
Posted by: The Northern Virginia Conservative | July 16, 2008 at 08:41 PM
ANON- I'm guessing you don't know this, but state officials (legislators, AG, LG, and Governor) aren't allowed to raise money for state races when the legislature is in session. That is irrelevant though, because Cuccinelli didn't enter the race until March 31 (which was three, not six months ago).
Also, you criticize Cuccinelli for transferring money and then give credit to Shannon for raising $500,000 when he actually only raised $285,206 so far in 2008 and began with a balance of $202,619 from 2007 when he had no race (Sorry Purves fans). In case you didn't follow that, it means Shannon has $449,173 cash on hand, not that he raised $500,000 this year. Cuccinelli started with a low balance in his senate account because he spent $1.1 million defending his seat against the $1.3 million Democratic campaign.
That said, Shannon is winning the AG money race, Cuccinelli is winning the GOP AG money race, and Brownlee fans are making pathetic attempts to spin.
For the sake of an exciting GOP race though, Brownlee will need to raise a lot more than Cuccinelli. Just ask Mike Thompson, Cathy Belter, Jim Mitchell, and Janet Oleszek how things turned out for them even when they out raised Cuccinelli. While you are at it, ask Mark Warner how his pro-tax referendum team's tremendous fund raising dominance of Cuccinelli's anti-tax referendum grass roots team in 2002 worked out.
Posted by: | July 16, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Sorry, its been a looooong few weeks and I had a few wires crossed last night. Its fixed
Posted by: Chris | July 16, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Did anyone notice how much of Brownlee's money came from John Warner donors? By my count, it's about 35% of his money. Given that Warner (JohnNotMark) got him his prosecutor job, will Warner (JohnNotMark) endorse Brownlee openly as opposed to merely funneling money to Brownlee?
Posted by: WhichWarner | July 17, 2008 at 01:05 AM
I have a feeling that among those who will be delegates, nobody will care what John Warner thinks. After all, in this year's convention to replace him there was not a single tribute to him nor was he there. Ken has nothing to worry about from a lame-duck senator.
Posted by: Chris | July 17, 2008 at 06:12 AM
I bet Cuccinelli's campaign would pay for the podium if John Warner would announce his endorsement of Brownlee in a GOP nomination fight.
Posted by: | July 17, 2008 at 10:03 AM
John Warner's retirement community called and they want his money for rent, so pay up! J-Warner is nothing but a squish, who has lost his marbles!
Posted by: Triscuit Lover | July 17, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Cuccinelli ended his career when he came out as part of the ron paul "revolution" in the 8th district primary. Brownlee 2009!
Posted by: Daniel | July 17, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Actually, most of Brownlee's money came from Bob McDonnell supporters. There is no doubt that McDonnell's core supporters are supporting Brownlee. (It is no coincident that Brownlee and McDonnell share the same campaign advisors.) No one wants McDonnell to spend the final months of the campaign explaining to law enforcement why Cuccinelli doesn't support the death penalty. Moreover, Cuccinelli does nothing for McDonnell in NOVA. Cuccinelli won his last election by less than 100 votes against a woman who was so bad that even The Washington Post wouldn't endorse her. Cuccinelli's poor showing in the money game is evidence that the party is moving away from him and looking for another candidate for AG. I think Brownlee's military record and experience as US Attorney will be too tempting to party officials who really want to win in 2009.
Posted by: anon | July 17, 2008 at 04:44 PM
Haha...Anon, good one! How do you know Ken's views on the death penalty? Geez, give me a break. If the party nominates a squish like Brownlee, you better believe I will not support him.
Posted by: Triscuit Lover | July 17, 2008 at 05:09 PM
Triscuit: Check out Cuccinellis' voting record. On the abolition of the dreaded triggerman rule, every single republican in the senate and house voted to override Kaine's veto of the bill -- except KC! Cuccinelli votes with kaine on the death penalty for goodness sakes! You may never vote for Brownlee. but law enforcement will never vote for Cuccinelli. As far as the squish comment, Brownlee is a former Army Ranger, paratrooper, and prosecutor who convicted tons of drug dealers and violent criminals. Cuccinelli is a patent lawyer.
Posted by: anon | July 17, 2008 at 05:54 PM
Cuccinelli was endorsed by the Fairfax Coalition of Police last year and has strong relationships with the State Police.
Posted by: | July 17, 2008 at 09:17 PM
Both Ken Cuccinelli and Ron Paul are more conservative on their worst days than Brownlee is on his best. Please, y'all, just admit he's the moderate establishment Potemkin candidate and move on.
Posted by: The Northern Virginia Conservative | July 17, 2008 at 09:21 PM