Holiday Poll - US Senate 2012 RESULTS!

So I was thrilled at the amount of people that voted in my little holiday poll for the US Senate in 2012 and I was somewhat surprised by the results.  The first day or so George Allen was winning pretty easily but since then Bob Marshall surged in the fore.  What I also noticed was the large amount of "others" that voted and in the comments the name of Rob Wittman came up.  I like Wittman a lott, too and if he got in with this race I might be inclined to vote for him.  But either way, what is clear as that conservatives is who the party wants while Davis and Brownlee lacked in the back.  Here are the results as of 5:40 pm on Jan 1, which is what I'm stopping it.

1. Bob Marshall - 74 votes, 47%
2. George Allen - 45 votes, 27%
3. Tom Davis - 19 votes, 12%
4. Other - 16 votes, 10%
5. John Brownlee - 10 votes, 6%

Comments

[Local GOP]

"But either way, what is clear as that conservatives is who the party wants..."

That kind of goes without saying. The question isn't whether we want a conservative or not, but to what degree of conservative do we want.

It's also important to note that what 20% of voters want (GOP base that read and vote here likely) isnt necessarily what the general consensus of the whole party is or that of 50%+1 of those who vote.

[John "The Boss" Hishta]

Tom Davis is the best candidate because he has conservative credentials (President of the Conservative Union at Amherst College) while being an excellent advocate of common sense, non-ideological solutions fitting the districts he's running in.

His wife, Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis is another excellent example of this.

The ideal GOP strategy is best described by one word: tristrangulate

[Gill Robb]

Bob is championing an "anti-buggery" bill in the next Assembly session.

Let's see Webb or Allen match that!

[doc]

Sorry Boss, Tom Davis says he's a conservative, but his actions reveal he is a statist. A true conservative is an ideologue who bases his political principles on the Constitution, not the whims of the district he's running in. Trying to be a so-called "moderate" to appeal to all voters is a vapid and failed strategy. The liberals just vote for the authentic liberal, the conservatives (who actually outnumber the liberals) stay home, the wishy-washy cafeteria style, "me-first" moderates are uninspired.

Besides, a conservative from Amherst College? A liberal arts college in Massachusetts? Give me a break.

[Steven Osborne]

doc,

Ken Cuccinelli showed us that you can be a full-spectrum conservative and still win in a moderate/liberal district.

At the end of the day, what many independents value most is honesty. A candidate may be more conservative than his district or state, however, if he is honest with the voters and puts his positions in a winning package then he or she can be successful.

[local gop]

Hate to break it to you guys, but I Cooch runs for a state-wide as either Senator of Governor, he loses. He kept his mouth shut during the 2009 campaign, except when he talked to the GOP base, and McDonnell did all the talking. Cooch was just there.

[local gop]

Doc,

What are you talking about? What did Davis do that's 'statist'?? No matter what he believes/acts on and how conservative he may or may not be, he wins, and you cannot dispute that. I'd rather see Senator Davis & former Senator Webb, than Senator Webb and former Senate candidate Marshall.

[Steven Osborne]

Local GOP,

Your conclusions are not based in logic. You have admitted on this website that most voters in this state are socially conservative, including minority voters whom we need to reach out to. Yet you suggest that we do away with the socially conservative aspects of our platform, by refusing to nominate such folks as Marshall or Cuccinelli.

If you remember, Cuccinelli received over a million votes statewide. You can argue that this was carry over from McDonnell, however, why did Bolling not get as many votes as Cuccinelli. The truth that some in our party want to ignore is the fact that when McDonnell was asked after the convention how he was going to square his "moderate" views with Cuccinelli's conservative views, he responded by saying "I'm a committed conservative."

[Local GOP]

I said most people are socially conservative, not most voters. There is a difference between what people believe and how they vote. There are plenty of democrats that are pro life, but would vote for a pro choice candidate because they are the democrat. people dont just vote on social issues, at all. there are dozens of factors that go into a decision to vote. in this economy, people didnt vote because of a social issue, they voted because of their bank accounts.

We should keep the socially conservative parts, but nominating a candidate SOLELY because they are 'more conservative' than everyone else is foolish. We have to pick nominees that actually have a chance at winning, and Webb is hard to beat, especially with Obama's coat tails. 2012 is a long way away and for all we know Obama could have 80% approval ratings by then.

McDonnell is conservative, but he didnt campaign on being a social conservative. He didnt go out and stump about abortion, gay marriage, etc. He stumped about jobs, transportation, and the economy, things that the majority of voters care about. Social issues take a back seat in a tough economy. We have to adapt campaigns to fit the mood of the districts. I dont think Bob Marshall is the best candidate we can throw against Webb. The worst thing he has against him frankly is his physical appearance. Hes an old white guy.

[Chris]

Local, you are falling for the same thinking that Democrats like Shannon and Oleszek did with regards to Cuccinelli. That somehow he doesn't present himself as what he really is. He did NOT keep his mouth shut in the campaign, in fact in many ways he lead the way especially with the call for the special session. He's much smarter and his legislative portfolio is much broader than many moderates and liberals want to admit. For all his social conservatism Ken has spent as much time trying to change the transportation formula where money isn't allocated by miles but by traffic, he was out front on eminent domain, has tenaciously fought every tax increase since he's been in the state senate, worked for school choice, and has been an expert in the mental health field.

He talked about all of this while moderates in our party who are scared to death of social issues chose to define him that way, as did Democrats. But he is better, smarter, and more accomplished than just one aspect of conservatism. And don't think for a minute that McDonnell's margin of victory didn't have anything to do with Cuccinelli being on the ticket. It was mutually beneficial, there were a lot of hardcore conservatives not wild about McDonnell especially after he cleared the field.

The mistaken conclusion of this election is that the GOP should stop talking about social issues. McDonnell had it easy and didn't have too. Why? Because Cuccinelli was on the ticket. Ken is able to use his reputation for himself and others, but also has a long track record across the spectrum of issues facing the legislature.

[Steven Osborne]

Chris,

The last part of your last comment was very true. There are some in this party who are throwing out this line that somehow McDonnell showed us that McCain redux was the way to victory in 2009.

Nothing could be farther from the truth, McDonnell showed us that bold conservative solutions put in a winsome package is the way to victory.

[Steve]

Thank you for posting this!

I really like your blog!!

Common Cents
http://www.commoncts.blogspot.com

ps. Link Exchange??

[Local GOP]

Chris,

I wouldnt use his victory over Janet O. as evidence that social conservatism is alive and well. He won by less than 1% against a wacko on the School Board (that no one likes). Not that impressive considering the election prior he had a 7% victory.

The VAST majority of voters in 2009 dont vote for lower ticket races, they vote for top of the ticket i.e. Governor. This is a simple political science principle. Ken is not immune from that. And you are wrong about McDonnell's huge margine being because of Cuccinelli, it was because of Fairfax County. And guess who lost Fairfax County, thats right, Ken.

And when I said he kept his mouth shut, i was referring to the campaign after the convention, not in the Senate.

[Clay Ramsay]

Bob Marshall could be a star of 2010. I love the fact that he is introducing a bill to nullify Federal intervention in health care in Virginia.

To the anonymous person who has no respect for Cuccinelli, get a clue. You have no idea what you are talking about. I was at a number of events where he was the speaker, such as the Charlottesville July 4th Tea Party. He has been excellent in his defense in Virginia of private property rights against abuses of eminent domain, and in defending against Federal abuse of states rights under the 10th amendment.

But my favorite rising star of 2010 is our new congressman from the 5th District, Mike McPadden. His campaign is based upon returning to Constitutional government in this country. There is a growing movement in the 5th district to hold a conservative convention to select one candidate to oppose Robert Hurt. There is overwhelming majority support in the district for a CONSERVATIVE candidate. We are not going to tolerate a situation in which our vote is divided six ways. See www.mcpaddenforcongress.com

[Local GOP]

"To the anonymous person who has no respect for Cuccinelli."--Why would I respect someone who preaches about doing the right thing, standing up for what you believe in, liberty, rights, etc and after he is elected refuses to even vote in the 37th Senate special primary election because he is too scared?

If he is so principled then he should have at least voted. I can understand not endorsing, but no even voting. That has fear written all over it. I lost respect for him after that.

If you dont believe look it up, its public record.

[200 Grande]

Could someone get "Local GOP" some tampons?

[Local GOP]

And here come the personal attacks....real mature. God forbid you dont agree with the base 100%.

[Chris]

He did not vote because he IS principled, that he wanted the local party to chose its nominee and not himself playing the kingmaker because, believe me, if Ken had made an endorsement that person would have won. He wanted the Republicans of the 37th to have the total and final say. Nothing wrong with that.

[Lauren Yoder]

Ken has proven that conservatives can win if they are clear about what they believe and if they run smart campaigns. He has laid out a proven game plan for other candidates to follow. Local GOP, I would love to hear you explain why Ken recieved more votes than Bolling. Keep in mind that Bolling outspent Wagner by $750,000 while Shannon outspent Ken by $1,100,000.

[George Templeton]

You know Local GOP you seem to think Ken Cuccinelli is some sort of one-note social conservative automaton. And frankly I don't get it. The notion that Ken Cuccinelli kept quiet and let Bob McDonnell carry him in is ludicrous. Cuccinelli proved both in the primary and general election that he is a well-rounded conservative with a grasp of many issues not just those that excite the social-conservative base. Cuccinelli is the ultimate proof that conservative substance wins everytime and what would make me happy is seeing him clean Sen. Webb's clock in 2012.

[local gop]

There is a difference between voting and endorsing. I can understand him not endorsing. But not even voting is unacceptable. It shows that he talks a big game about doing the right thing, standing up for principles, etc. Then when it comes to backing it up, the politician in him comes out and his concerns switches from the right thing to the politically correct thing. And the argument that by him voting he is some big boss is idiotic, he gets one vote like everyone else, that simple.

Sorry, I liked him then he decided to be politician and not a man of principle.

[Chris]

I don't know what to tell you. If THAT is what makes you turn on Cuccinelli, you were just looking for a reason to not support him.

[edm]

Obenshain for Senate?

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jan/06/two-weeks-ago-while-most-virginians-prepared-to-ce/

[Steven Osborne]

Mark Obenshain would make an excellent United States Senator.

He could also be competitive on a statewide level, and he is a full-spectrum conservative.

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