In the finance reports due next week, Aneesh Chopra is going to set a new record for a Democratic Lt. Governor candidate in their first finance period- with over $500,000 raised.
Aneesh was a member of Tim Kaine's cabinet before going into the Obama administration to work as the national CTO.
Other Democrats currently out talking about running for Lt. Governor- Paula Miller and Jon Bowerbank have not yet set up campaigns and won't be filing reports. There are others being talked about to run as well, but no movement yet.
It's one thing to talk about running- it's another level to do the work, and it looks like Aneesh is the early frontrunner for Democrats until and unless someone else steps up and starts to compete.
As Jon Bowerbank and TMac proved in 09 these intra party contests aren't exacty about money. That said those on the sidelines need to decide soon.
Posted by: Eddie Money | July 11, 2012 at 06:30 PM
God help us if Chorpa is the candidate. How many votes do we actually expect for him to get south of the Rappahannock in the rest of Virginia?
Posted by: Minnie | July 11, 2012 at 08:31 PM
It seems too advanced and very general for me to understand.
Posted by: cheap nike shoes | July 11, 2012 at 09:07 PM
Ben, where did you get this info?
Aneesh is an old friend, and while we're not close, I would've expected to have heard of him filing, but have heard no such thing.
And there's nothing online or in VPAP indicating any filing of candidacy for him. When did he file and start raising money?
I'm also curious how many donors and how much, although I realize we'll learn this in due time. If it's really $500K so quickly, I have to assume it's a handful of deep-pocketed supporters, since Virginia has no contribution limits.
Posted by: DCCyclone | July 11, 2012 at 10:02 PM
Minnie,
the implied racism of "the rest of Virginia" was pretty much blown up when the President, hardly a white man, won this state.
Posted by: Chris | July 11, 2012 at 10:12 PM
DPVA never has won and never will win with 3 candidates from No Va leading the ticket state-wide!
Who does Terry Mac want on the ticket with him?
Stop screwing around, Terry, lest us know you preference.
Unless that person is found to have two heads or there are photos of the candidate with a dead girl or live boy, I'll support whomever Terry prefers and get ready to win in November '13.
Along those lines, Chopra's support for a corporate take-over of public education is disqualifying in the Democratic Party.
Posted by: martinlomasney | July 12, 2012 at 02:59 AM
martinlomasney -
I'm all for Terry, but why do you have so much confidence in the political/campaign judgement of a guy who was crushed by, of all people, Creigh Deeds?
Posted by: just wondering | July 12, 2012 at 08:51 AM
Speaking of balancing the ticket, many are saying former Delegate Shannon Valentine of Lynchburg would help there. With her moderate views she would have very strong appeal statewide and she could help capitalize on the recently energized women voters. She is also an excellent fundraiser.
Posted by: Southside Balance | July 12, 2012 at 11:41 AM
Why are you folks for Terry? Voters don't like him. He lost badly in 09 and nothing has changed since then.
Yes, he's gone around the state going to Democratic events. But regular voters don't care and don't like him.
Look at the PPP poll numbers
Posted by: Virginians Against A Coronation | July 12, 2012 at 11:47 AM
PPP Favorable/Unfavorable #s:
McAuliffe -5
Cooch -8
Bolling -1
So, "Virginian's Against a Coronation", what's the big deal?
Posted by: just wondering | July 12, 2012 at 01:37 PM
Wondering - it's not about trusting his judgment. It's about accepting that he's the nominee at the top of the ticket and needs to have running mates who enhance his chances of winning since it is less likely that a Democrat at the bottom of ticket (including Delegate challengers) will win if Terry loses.
Gov., Lt. Gov. & AG need to run as a team if the chances of the Gov. winning are to be maximized.
Southside - no, Creigh Deeds finished the prospects for non-crescent residents getting a statewide Democratic nomination for a very, very long time.
Posted by: martinlomasney | July 12, 2012 at 10:09 PM
So who are these 'other possible candidates'? Of the three listed candidates I'm all for Paula Miller. She's a former member of the House of Delegates from a swing area. She's a moderate and a mom. She's the perfect candidate for 2013!
Posted by: SloopJB3 | July 12, 2012 at 10:31 PM
Sloop- oh great, another milk-toast "moderate" middle of the road sap who the moronic VADems thinks is going to get the party motivated and won't.
(See: Loser Creigh Deeds)
F*** that! I would even vote for McT over THAT!
Posted by: Spock | July 13, 2012 at 03:13 AM
Regarding whether a ticket needs someone from outside of Virginia's own "urban crescent," i.e., NoVA, greater Richmond, Hampton Roads, Creigh Deeds indeed killed the idea of a Democrat running for state-wide office from less populated areas (Bowerbank, for example). Deeds simply reinforced the poor showing of such politicians, following in the footsteps of GOP Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, who lost to Tim Kaine 52%-46%, with Russ Potts taking the remainder.
Factored into the mix, however, should be that Deeds did what should have been impossible - running a campaign that was worse than that of Mary Sue Terry. Plus, to give the Devil his due, Bob McDonnell ran a masterful campaign, actually convincing many voters that he was a "moderate" and that he had a transportation plan. Now, three years later, we know that was a lie.
Posted by: Elaine in Roanoke | July 13, 2012 at 09:52 AM
There should be a Yawn Meter like PolitiFact's Pants On Fire meter, or the Washington Post's Fact Checker Pinnochios for stories about an election beyond the current one.
I give this item a FULL Yawn.
Wake me after the November 6th results are certified.
Posted by: 115 Days Until 11/06/12 | July 13, 2012 at 12:23 PM
Ummm, Southside Balance, would that be the Shannon Valentine that was beaten in her own house district for re-election? The Shannon Valentine who's main priority in Richmond was trying to figure out how early she could leave each Friday? The Shannon Valentine with one of the lowest effectiveness scores while in the House from Virginia FREE? The Shannon Valentine who basically accomplished nothing while she was in the House of Delegates?
Sounds like she has oodles of statewide appeal. Oh and "many people are saying" she should run? Would those many people be Shannon, her husband, and you--if you are, in fact, not Shannon? Not winning re-election to your house seat is not exactly great positioning for a statewide run.
Posted by: Larry Sabato's Hairpiece | July 13, 2012 at 01:59 PM
Mr Hairpeice, she won two elections for the House of Delegates, then barely lost the 3rd by 209 votes. That time she was wiped out by the "McDonnell wave" and an influx of a couple thousand newly registered Liberty University students that were bused to the polls straight from their mandatory convocation. You would not be able to name a Democrat in the House of Delegates who would have been able to win in that district that day.
Virginia Free? Only the GOP trots out those confusing numbers. I did notice she had a better vote percentage than Lacey Putney and she had a higher effectiveness score than several longer serving Republicans in a Republican controlled House.
Ms. Valentine was key in establishing the hugely successful Lynchburg to DC commuter train - it is surprising an accomplishment of that scale would escape your notice.
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