Who has a future in VA (PART 2 of 3)

Column by Not Gretchen Bulova:

Here are some more names from the Hotline "rising stars" list with my commentary in ().

Del. Dick Black (R): Lost bid for re-election in '05, "a pretty bruising defeat." (I'd say this is an understatement.  On top of his loss, Staton loses in a landslide.  Where's my fork, I need to see if he's done....)

Del. Chris Jones (R): After voting for tax increases, he lost his appointment to the state health care commission in retaliation. "He's done." (He's not done as a delegate, but the '04 budget should kill any hope he has of running statewide.  He is still imensely popular in his district.)

Del. Chris Saxman (R): Still in the House. "One of the younger, more conservative members." "Others consider him an up-and-comer in the party." (Now we come to real potential.  A young conservative in the house, a friend of the blogosphere, his name could appear somewhere on the '09 statewide ballot.)

Del. Brian Moran (D): "Brian is awesome." He's the caucus leader. "He's definitely going to run statewide or for Congress." (Moran definitely has potential, whether he's "awesome" I can't really say.  He seems to run the caucus well, and the Dem fortunes in the House have turned around recently.  He's rumored for both Gov and AG in '09).

State Sen. Mark Herring (D): Just won special election in Loudon Co., a traditional GOP area. "He will move up somewhere." (I haven't heard many rumors with his name in them, but he's only been in the Senate for 2 months.  I think it's a bit early to predict his future.  The 10th CD would be tough to win, especially against Wolf.)

PS:  Where is Chad Dotson on this list?

Comments

Black is a joke. I'm glad he's gone.

Jones is a turncoat RINO, hope someone takes him out in a primary

[Billy Packer]

Chad Dotson is the George Mason of the list as they appeared way back on Selection Sunday ....

Chad is underrated and underappreciated, but he could go all the way.

[Not Larry Sabato]

NGB, is your policy that you say nice things about people you think are reading, and trash everyone else?

[Virginia Centrist]

NGB:

I don't think anybody sees Herring beating Wolf. But if Wolf retires - badabing, badaboom.

[not gretchen bulova]

NLS, no, I know JMDD reads this site and I had no problem trashing her!

What is this hotlist and how do you access it?

[not gretchen bulova]

Hotline. It is a daily online paper that national journal publishes with clippings, polls, and other info for races and people around the country.

It's expensive to sign up for, something like 2K+ for a year.

[Adam Sharp]

Saxman said he only supports abortion when the mother's life is at risk, not even in cases of rape or incest.

Little extreme to win statewide.

[GOPHokie]

I dont understand their logic here.
If they admit Jones cant run statewide and Black is probably done, why are they "rising stars"?
Isnt the definition of rising star the fact you will run statewide?

[not gretchen bulova]

Jones was a rising star in '03, but they did a follow-up this year. I guess I shouldn't title them rising stars since some of them are updates on previous rising stars.

[republitarian550]

Well, great for Chris Saxman.

Adam, I may not take shots at Mark, but I will take shots at you, if you take shots at Chris.

The God you say you serve doesn't like abortion. By your support of those that defend the slaughter of the innocent, you are not serving your God....

Where is Rob Bell on this list?

[not staige blackford]

where is jeff frederick in all of this?

[Dan]

What about Adam Ebbin? He should be on this list. He's effective and ambitious and seems like somebody who's going places.

[novamiddleman]

Jeez folks its part 2 of 3 remember :)

[vavoter]

Republitarian, sounds like Adam's just a little bitter. I mean he did run the campaign for the guy who ran against Saxman last year, and managed to lose ground on Saxman in a down Republican year. Let's see, Saxman increased his win margin by 4 points from 2001 (his last contested election). Got anything nice to say, Adam, rather than tossing around the extreme label?

[Adam Sharp]

Delegate Saxman is a great blogger and gets the blogosphere.

See? I can be positive.

Agree or disagree with him, but his position is to the right of Kilgore. I'm just stating facts. If Kaine sent negative mail pieces highlighting Kilgore's stance on abortion, I can only imagine what a potential Saxman opponent would do.

I would say Delegates Saxman and Ebbin are similar in that they can't win statewide, but they'll probably rise in the House.

Myron, I don't call that "taking shots." I stated a fact. That's his position. If you think merely stating someone's position is attacking them, can I ask what it was you were doing in the last election concerning Delegate Lohr?

[NoVA Democrat/James Martin]

Where is Creigh "Born to be a great Govenor" Deeds?

[saywhat??]

I think Saxman is extreme on abortion, and I don't think pointing that out is a bad thing. (Republitarian just likes to pick on Adam.) But I also don't think it matters a whole lot.

If Saxman has something to offer overall, something wise and thoughtful, then I would hope that his extreme abortion views wouldn't keep him from consideration. I'm not saying he does or doesn't -- I'm just saying his abortion stance alone shouldn't keep him from being considered.

Both Republicans and Democrats need to get beyond single-issue politics and concentrate on governing.

[not gretchen bulova]

He didn't make the cut James.

[vavoter]

Adam,
How do you know Saxman's position on abortion? Can you point out where he stated that?

Perhaps his position is a "deeply held religious conviction..." Wasn't that what Kaine said about his position on the death penalty??

[vavoter]

Agree with saywhat, we should be focused on governing, not just single-issue politics.

Found this on Saxman's website...Doesn't sound so extreme to me. Sounds like someone who wants to bring people together and actually create solutions.

http://www.vagopnetwork.com/ubasicpage.jsp?siteid=32324&pageid=329674