Charlottesville Daily Progress political reporter Bob Gibson came to Connie Brennan's fundraiser in Nelson County on Thursday, and came away impressed with the optimism of people like Governor Tim Kaine, Senator Creigh Deeds and State Party VP for Finance Jim Turpin -- all of whom were optimistic about the Democrats' chances in November in general, and about Connie Brennan's chances in particular. http://www.dailyprog...A few excerpts after the break:
(I have a picture of Connie with Mark Warner, but pictures of the Kaine event are forthcoming.)
Virginia Democrats are allowing themselves to think the previously unthinkable.Kaine's problem, of course, is that he can't campaign too hard against the abuser fees that he signed into law. So here comes his angle --Instead of merely aiming for a takeover of the more closely divided Virginia Senate, many of the state's leading Democrats are openly talking about ... a takeover of the House, which would require a huge swing of 11 seats, instead of just four in the Senate...
The optimism was palpable at Del Fosse Vineyards on a misty evening Aug. 23 as Gov. Timothy M. Kaine rallied 140 Central Virginia Democrats in support of Nelson County Supervisor Connie Brennan's upset bid to unseat veteran Del. Watkins M. Abbitt Jr., a Republican-leaning independent from Appomattox.
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The big wheels in the party who spoke out for Brennan were sober optimists who have been reading poll results and other tea leaves showing Democrats doing better than expected in strange places, as Republicans retreat from President Bush's war and House Speaker William J. Howell's bid to tax abusive drivers.
Abbitt ... isn't burdened particularly by ties to Bush or to abusive driver fees, which he voted against.
But Abbitt is in the unusual position of facing a well-funded and articulate Democrat. Brennan has out-raised him and added about $15,000 to $20,000 to her formidable campaign coffers at the Thursday evening event in the southern-Albemarle-to-Appomattox district, which is the largest in territory among 100 House districts.
Kaine, in an interview, described the new political landscape.
About the 40-seat Virginia Senate now sitting at 23 Republicans and 17 Democrats, "I would have said six months ago that we have five very competitive races to try to win four," Kaine said.
"I would say now that there are nine races that are competitive, of which seven are really competitive - and I mean very - and obviously to win four out of nine is a lot easier prospect than to win four out of five," said the governor, a Richmond Democrat and former mayor.
In other words, Democrats no longer have to have everything line up enough to nearly run the table to take the Senate, in Kaine's view.
Democrats may have to both run the table and hope for a few additional Republican self-inflicted wounds to capture the 11 GOP seats they would need to win control of the House.
"Virginians have overwhelmingly spoken that they want a fix. They get to pick the people who they think will really fix it."Creigh Deeds also offered an optimistic prediction:
"We need four seats to take back the Senate. I will tell you tonight we are going to get those four seats," said Deeds, whose 25th District includes Nelson, Charlottesville and most of Albemarle. "My guess is we'll have a cushion.(Cross-posted at www.democraticcentral.com )"I am here tonight to announce to you that if you do your job for Connie Brennan, we will have a majority in the House of Delegates," Deeds said.
"There is so much momentum for us across the state! You can just about feel it in the air! Just yesterday, Bob Gibson (Daily Progress) reported on the optimism at a Connie Brennan rally."
The Brennan race is getting closer every day. Abbitt losing alot of his support. Appomatix business are saying they will not vote for him, but are afraid to openly support Connie.
Go to Connie's web site. When there think about contributing.