Republican Hung Cao is a chicken

Republican Senate candidate Hung Cao bailed out of the Virginia Bar Association debate with Senator Tim Kaine at The Homestead… an event with a long tradition in the Commonwealth’s politics. One wonders why since he should be desperate for name recognition. It appears Hung 🐓 Cao is terrified to answer questions from Virginians like:

Why does he support plans to sunset Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare? These are essential programs for millions of Americans. Yes, they need bipartisan “repairs” the assure future funding and reduce fraud… but you apparently want to end them entirely! 

Why does he support bills that would ban abortion, reduce access to contraception, and interfere with fertility treatments? Wow… the government intruding in women’s health and our bedrooms sounds like a dystopian future for Americans!

Does he support Project 2025 that is designed and promoted by a shadowy network of Christian nationalists and fascists. Project 2025 would take rights from Americans and many see it as a blueprint if Donald Trump is elected

Many speculate the Cao doesn’t want to leave NOVA to visit what he considers to be “podunk” parts of Virginia. He has made it pretty clear that talking face-to-face with Virginians in all parts of the state isn’t a priority for him. That stands in sharp contrast to Senator Kaine who relishes meeting and listening to constituents. Kaine visited Staunton last Saturday and met with an enthusiastic crowd.

Chopping the Chicken's Head Off

With Virginia turning presidential blue for the first time since 1964 and with the RPV chairman, Jeff Frederick embarrassing many with his hateful rants, some Republicans are questioning if he is the far right guy to head the party.

Influential (in some Republican circles) Kenny Klinge, a lobbyist and longtime GOP activist, has called on Frederick to resign. Saying all that matters are results, Klinge says Frederick lack judgement and maturity, failed to raise needed money, has a poor relationship with the Republican congressional delegation, and has been repudiated by Bob McConnell and others. Klinge concludes that he knows a bad chairman when he sees one and JEFF FREDERICK IS INCAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE LEADERSHIP THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NEEDS IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS IN 2009 [emphasis his]. Klinge's email was apparently received by many Republican activists and forwarded far and wide, we can imagine.

A couple of weeks ago, Republicans in the House of Delegates, met behind closed doors in Glen Allen to lick their wounds and plan for the upcoming state elections. Their pollster and others warned that moving farther to the right, as urged by Frederick and many others, could leave them as the minority party in the House of Delegates. Guess their big elephant ears were deaf to that message as a week later many were calling for cuts to public education and health care - programs that have broad public support. Hey guys, there are lots of Dems who have the GOP backs covered on this one!

Many of the younger generation of Republicans, in the House of Delegates and local committees, are kindred spirits of Frederick's. They love and believe in his in-your-face conservatism. They share generational bonds and don't trust an old bull elephant (Klinge was RPV executive director in the early 1970s!) rushing in and telling the herd what to do. Many of those Jeff Frederick acolytes are found grazing right here in the Shenandoah Valley. Where will their loyalties lie - is it true an elephant never forgets? Or remembers?

Stay tuned. Next month the Virginia GOP meets at The Homestead. Klinge and his allies may push a vote of no-confidence. If they win, Frederick may see resignation as a graceful way to exit stage right. Or, it could mean a formal vote to remove him. The rules give Frederick plenty of hope of avoiding the chopping block - such a vote requires a month notice and a 3/4 vote of the GOP governing body. The RPV could be running around like a chicken with its head chopped off well into 2009.

High priced corn

Mark Warner, who is making some stops in the Valley on Thursday, has far out raised and out spent his opponent. Warner has raised a total of about $9.3 million; Jim Gilmore $1.2. At the end of June, Warner has $5.1 million on-hand; Gilmore $111,000. Warner has already spent more than three times the amount Gilmore has raised in total. But, this is still chicken feed compared to what Senate races have cost in other states.

Many Republicans are wondering, as is Larry Sabato of UVA's Center for Politics, "How does he (Gilmore) get through the race?" He doesn't!

Warner released a new ad on energy yesterday which will air on several Virginia media markets, including Roanoke. If it is not in your area, you can see the ad here. Gilmore has jumped on the ad as being vague and that it "muddies" Warner's position on domestic oil drilling. Hey Jim, it is a 30-second ad!

Warner and Gilmore face off in a Virginia Bar Association debate this Sunday at The Homestead in Bath County. A Warner spokesperson said Warner will talk of positive, bipartisan achievements. The Gilmore campaign promised "to smoke him (Warner) out on some of the issues." Watch out Mark, this guy is known for using razor spurs in cockfights!

But, money doesn't vote on Election Day - people do. While I certainly haven't been to all these events, from news coverage Warner seems to be winning the war of meeting people face-to-face. A couple of events in the Valley drew 100-200 people at each. By contrast, when Gilmore traveled the I-81 corridor last week, he stopped at businesses where there was a captive audience of employees. A stop at a Roanoke Valley convenience store appeared sparsely attended - looked like more media than anyone else. There don't seem to be very many, even diehard Republicans, clucking for Gilmore!

Warner makes several Valley stops tomorrow (July 17) starting in Harrisonburg and ending the evening at the Rockbridge County Fair. He stops by the Staunton Performing Arts Center (Dixie Theater) at 3:00 PM to highlight the fine arts. Wonder if a big a flock will turn out?