Sorry for the delay, coverage of the inaugural isn't done yet! So far, I already covered the swearing in, the parade, the press center and the chance interview I had with Don Beyer on the way back to Colonial Williamsburg.
After all that, I headed up to Richmond. It was only an ninety minutes until the Redskins playoff game with the Seahawks. As I told you before, Chap Petersen, Scott Surovell and Troy Farlow were throwing a party for the game called "Redskins vs. Republicans" to raise money for John Montgomery and Mark Herring.
I got there just a little before the game. First, I was really excited to meet blogger James Walkinshaw. James hasn't updated his blog since he was hired as campaign manager for Andy Hurst, some of you may remember James worked last year for Bruce Roemmelt. More important, James had some serious eye candy on his arm, who also turned out to be brilliant and great conversation.
I was a little skeptical about Hurst, but he showed up a few minutes into the game, and I was pleasantly surprised. He was a hundred times better than I expected. His campaign against Tom Davis is very uphill, but I see Andy as fulfilling the two things Democrats need in a candidate. 1- Being willing to put himself on the ballot, and 2- Having the skills to avoid embarrassing the Dems. He's a credible guy, and that's a first for the 11th district since 1996.
Also attending was Troy Farlow. Rumors are circulating that Troy, a former aide to Lynwood Lewis, is going to challenge Nick Rerras for the State Senate. This may turn into a hot race in 2007, the Rerras district has always been competitive, and now is mainly represented by Democrats Paula Miller and Lynwood Lewis in the House of Delegates.
Troy considered running for Congress in the 2nd district before dropping out this year. One thing I noticed immediately was his biggest campaign mistake. On his arm was his wife, who might have been the best looking woman in Richmond all weekend. Yet his old website has no pictures of her! Maybe this is planned, could she be the October Surprise against Rerras?
Towards halftime, Creigh Deeds showed up. I learned something new from Creigh- he is an avid blog reader. Creigh told me he reads here for "the entertaining comments", he reads Commonwealth Conservative because Chad "needs to be set straight on his Cincinnati Reds history" and other blogs.
Creigh was still annoyed over some of the stories about him leaving his Senate seat and forcing a special election. I've also been shocked about how the Charlottesville rumor mill and candidates didn't shut down after Creigh's close loss for Attorney General. That city's political wanabees should take a look at the Senate- over half of the members have had failed statewide campaigns at one time or another. Creigh is still a young man, he can run again statewide, or stay in the Senate retirement home for decades to come. Those planning a Senate run might want to look at 2031.
Both Creigh and Troy agreed on one thing- they don't like blogger Not-Gretchen Bulova! Creigh pointed out NGB's post on Lynchburg being in the Valley was wrong, and Troy didn't like her post where she told him to drop out.
I want to thank Not Gretchen for finding a way to take the title away from me of "Virginia's Most Unpopular Blogger!". By the way, Creigh and Troy were both right. But NGB is getting better, and I still appreciate their insight.
Other then that, the game sucked, and the Redskins trip to the Super Bowl was delayed a year.
Next Up: Coverage of the Inaugural Ball!
yea yea, Lynchburg, I was wrong, but I told Troy to drop out one day and the next day he did, so I wasn't but so wrong!
Posted by: not gretchen bulova | January 31, 2006 at 07:52 AM
Today on Mike&Mike they were contemplating T.O. and Brett Favre going to Miami next year and winning a Super Bowl. My immediate thought was, what would they do for the Redskins?
Posted by: Rtwng Extrmst | January 31, 2006 at 10:00 AM
"over half of the members have had failed statewide campaigns at one time or another" ???
Creigh Deeds
John Edwards
Ken Stolle
Emmett Hanger (argueably)
Russ Potts
Phil Puckett
Who are the other 15+?
Posted by: ZB | January 31, 2006 at 10:12 AM
Saslaw, Davis, Chichester, come to mind.. not at home so I can't go through the list.
Posted by: Not Larry Sabato | January 31, 2006 at 10:23 AM
Devolites-Davis ran statewide? Saslaw? I'd love to see the list and what they ran for.
If you expanded it to include Congressional races too, we could add Lucas.
Posted by: ZB | January 31, 2006 at 10:25 AM
Hey Ben you wimp. I guess you don't have the cajones to make a prediction on today's special on Staton-Herring.
I guess we'll have to wait for after the election and laught at your crappy analysis.
Posted by: | January 31, 2006 at 10:45 AM
Raising Kaine has live coverage with pictures -- you're slipping Ben!
Posted by: | January 31, 2006 at 10:48 AM
Ben, you need a date so you'll quit ogling at everyone's wife. :)
NJH
Posted by: Not Jack Herrity | January 31, 2006 at 11:20 AM
Ben doesn't need dates when he has a groupie(s?).
Posted by: NLSgroupie | January 31, 2006 at 02:05 PM
I hardly think Gretchen is Virginia's most unpopular blogger!
Posted by: Doug in Mount Vernon | January 31, 2006 at 02:10 PM
NOT Gretchen Doug.
Posted by: Not Larry Sabato | January 31, 2006 at 02:15 PM
Thanks Doug!
Posted by: not gretchen bulova | January 31, 2006 at 02:18 PM
You'd think the Asses of Evil would be in a dogfight for most unpopular blogger.
Posted by: gonzo | January 31, 2006 at 02:33 PM