One Partisan Post

I've stayed away from any kind of partisanship on here, but now that I have shared my identity with you, I would like to share with you my thoughts on one campaign.

The first campaign I ever got involved with was Leslie Byrne's Congressional campaign when I was in middle school.  From the first time I met her, as an obnoxious 14 year old telling her how to run her Congressional campaign, she always gave me the time of day.  When I worked with the Young Democrats and had to beg elected officials to go to high schools and visit their local clubs, Leslie was the only elected official who never had to be asked, and was willing to go anywhere, even outside of where she was running to go thank students for getting involved. 

I don't know Leslie's opponent very well, and I'm not going to attack him on here.  I'm supporting Leslie Byrne because she is the best person I have met at any level of being active in politics here.   Leslie's word is golden, and so is her integrity.

I loved this piece by Conaway as well.  That sums it up great, and it's even better hearing it from a potential Kilgore/Byrne/McDonnell voter.

Comments

[Freddie]

I think that most Kilgore/Byrne/McDonnell voters will be people who accidentally pressed a wrong button.

[GOPHokie]

I agree Freddie. I cant imagine what thought process would lead to that kind of voting pattern (unless a personal friend of Byrne or someone who admires her like Ben does).

[notvirgilgoode]

Leslie Byrne is going to lose because people are scared of her...she will rock the boat until it capsizes

[LoganFerree]

Strange. As a Young Democrat at the College of William and Mary Leslie Byrne was the only Democrat running for the LG nomination that turned down our invitation to speak at the State YD Convention in the Spring. She's seem like a rather arrogant candidate the few times I've met her. But I hope she wins nevertheless.

[Dan]

Ben,

That is a nice piece about Leslie Byrne. But I get the feeling on election night you are going to be a very unhappy guy.

[Not Larry Sabato]

Logan, that's a great example of Leslie. I'm sure she felt bad having something else scheduled- but she would show up election or not if she was available.

[Not Larry Sabato]

What I mean by great example is that Leslie would be just as likely to show up if she was on the ballot then if she wasn't.

[Anonymous]

Ben -
Have the rest of the NLS contributors agreed to permit this sort of post?
Before offering a partisan 'endorsement', perhaps it would be worthwhile to see whether they find it acceptable?

[Not Larry Sabato (Ben)]

Anon- That message was paid for and authorized by me, I don't think anyone else involved in this site was shocked by it.

You're right -- she was just the sweetest lady in 1992 as she gutted my high school classmate Henry Butler like a trout and nailed him to a tree to stink in the sun. Agreed, he gave her some ammo, and she didn't shy away from the same kind or purely negative, scorched earth campaign that inspired her one televsion ad this year. If she's passing out lemonade, don't drink!

I think what Ben means and what I've also experienced with Leslie is that she is always true to her beliefs. In a world where both parties have candidates who lie and bend like willows, Leslie has stayed real through the years. As a result lots of people don't like her and she has lost a few battles, but there is no one I'd rather have fighting for me in Richmond or Washington. Frankly I wish the ticket was reversed, the main reason I voted for the Dem ticket was Leslie. Yeah, I voted early already. Another week and I might have gone with Potts as a protest.

[Not Jack Herrity]

I'm beginning to think there is only one Not Larry Sabato, not four. If there are four, the other three have been VERY quiet since Ben came out of the closet.....

[TLM]

Stop implying that Ben is gay...we do have our standards you know!

[Not Larry Sabato (Ben)]

NJH, the compiling sources are always me. The specific stories are more of a mix.

[Not Larry Sabato (Ben)]

Terry- *humph*

[Not Karl Rove]

I've been toying with the idea of becoming a Kilgore/byrne/McDonnell voter since the primary, but I just don't think I can bring myself to do it. I doubt it would help anyway... I think she'll lose handily. The rationale would be she can't do much harm as LG and it would make the next Gov's race in '09 an easy one. Maybe I'll write in Dick Fisher for the position.

[GOPHokie]

NKR, I must disagree with you. We need someone to preside over the senate that is a conservative. The place is overrun by liberals as it is. The last thing we need is another one at the podium.

[saywhat??]

GOPHokie,

You need to expand your horizons and look outside Virginia to find a place overrun by liberals. As I recently read, left of far right ain't liberal.

[Dan]

I am surprised there is nothing about the article in the Metro section of today's Post. It looks like Fisher wrote his column after checking out this blog.

As an aside, in the article Gary Reese comes off sounding pretty good.

[Not Larry Sabato]

I agree Dan, just posted an update.

[1]

Ben Tribbett: im doing a mail piece, letter to the editor, robo call and neighborhood lit drop for Golden

[Shaula Evans]

Ben, I couldn't agree with you more on this one. I have a profound respect and admiration for Leslie Byrne (and for Larry, for that matter). I'm also impressed with how she's handling the campaign. My hopes are high for her in November.

If we had more candidates like Leslie your job and mine would be a lot easier.

[Not Larry Sabato (Ben)]

Agreed Shaula. God Bless.

[Conaway Haskins]

Ben,
You've done a scarily good job is getting inside my head on being a potential Kilgore/Byrne/McDonnell voter. This is the one state where the 3 offices are so independent of each other that they can actually foster vigorous debate if the people in the offices are up to it. Each has a unique role in governing the state, and as an unaffiliated centrist, I prefer divided government to one-party rule - any party.

I do have policy differences with Leslie, but I've always admired her for not shying away from a fight and for playing the game like the boys do. I volunteered for her primary race against Warner when I was a college YD, and I met her several times. I saw how she was treated by the party elites, and though I eventually became a Warner volunteer, I never forgot what I saw from her and her husband. Also, I'm a big proponent of pro-choice women candidates regardless of party. If I have to choose between a mainstream liberal VA Dem like Leslie or a far-right, hardcore conservative firebrand like Bolling, the choice is actually easy.

As for Kilgore/McDonnell, I've met several Kilgore staffers and know plenty of his local supporters. None of these folks are rabid right-wingers. He's been hit on the right flank by Fitch & VCG and on the left by Potts, thus he's a classic Virginia conservative. Plus, there's more complexity to him than he lets on. I have less knowledge of McD, but your analysis is right on from what I've seen. Deeds sat back and waited for the GOP infighting to finish, but he did come of the gate in June with a plan. No plan + weak lead running mate = 8 points behind 2 weeks out.

-- Conaway

[dave s]

My own plan is to vote for Kaine and Deeds, and leave LG blank. Can't imagine Byrne winning for gov., if she wins she'll think she's the dauphin, the Dems need to look somewhere else for their nominee in four years.