I really like all these Judy videos.  This is probably the third or fourth one I've seen of her with that microphone just talking to constituents.  How... democratic...

She's way ahead of the curve. These videos are great.

Feder is definitely positioning herself to take out Wolf November 2008.

But I think she'll be doing a lot more.  Personally, I really like them and would love to see more candidates do this!

I like Judy. I met her on the campaign trail last year. But she has zero chance to win this November. She couldn't even win Loudoun last year. Lowell, do you really think that people west of Loudoun, like in say Clarke County or Winchester, will vote for Feder?

What this District needs is a moderate candidate that can stand up to the president on the war. Judy is not that candidate.

And Lowell, shouldn't you indicate that you work for Judy when you talk her up on this blog?

The campaign even sent out a full-fledged press release.  That's not enough for you?  Whatever.

As far as Judy having a chance to win, of course I believe she does.  And yes, I think there are plenty of people west of Loudoun who are not happy that Frank Wolf blindly supports George W. Bush on Iraq, opposes stem cell research that could cure diseases ranging from diabetes to Alzheimers, and who voted in 2005 against a border security plan that was consistent with the recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission.

By the way, since you like using my name so much, why don't you tell me yours?  Also, why don't you make the case for YOUR candidate, whoever that might be?  Finally, please define "moderate," because that's certainly not what Frank Wolf has morphed into the past few years.

I'm sure they did send out a release. And I imagine most RK readers weren't on the distribution list. I just think complete transparency on that would be good. Some people might have missed the post where you announced your connection with Judy.

As for MY candidate? Right now it'd be Judy. I'm not a Wolf supporter. But I'd like to hear more about the other guy in the race for the D's nomination.

My point about Judy is this: Wolf can very easily paint her as being out of the mainstream. Not fair perhaps but it was done last time very easily. Being painted as a "Georgetown professor" and supporter of "Hillary Care," while not fair, is much more harmful to Judy than any argument about a border security vote in 2005 will be against Wolf.

And I bet Judy isn't making any friends by being so active so early. There is a House and Senate to win, yet Judy is making calls to donors and actively campaigning?

You've got your list of talking points as well, so if you're going to force Lowell to be clear about his loyalties, perhaps you ought to come clean as well.

"the other D in the race?" We'd all be more than happy to hear more about the other D in the race, perhaps he ought to show up and tell us about himself. You can't win a race if you don't show up.

And last time it was easy to paint Judy as out of the mainstream? Did you commission a poll on it to find out? There's no evidence of that. Wolf has beat all kinds of candidates in the past (liberals, moderates you name it). There is ZERO evidence that Judy was succesfully painted as out of the mainstream.

She's right on target with the rest of the country on Iraq, healthcare, stem cell etc.

And for the record, the last (and only Democrat) to ever win Congress in the 10th district of Virginia....was an ivy-league educated professor.

awfully critical of her.  Very odd.  Anyway, since I've done full disclosure about my connections with the Feder campaign in about as public a way as possible -- a diary on RK and a press release from the Feder campaign -- how about you tell us:

a) Your name
b) Your background
c) Any ties to a campaign you might have
d) Why a supposed supporter of Judy's is coming on here and repeating Frank Wolf talking points about how she's supposedly "out of the mainstream" because she's an expert on health care.  Oh, and I love the little jab about "Hillary Care" - kill two Democratic birds with one stone, eh?  Both women, too...nice.

By the way, anyone who thinks that Judy's work on a health care plan that never passed is more harmful than Wolf's votes against border security, against stem cell research, and for the war in Iraq really needs to examine their value system.

Finally, Judy isn't making any friends by being active so early?  FYI:

1.  Turner's campaigning too, as well he should! We both want to take out a nasty old Republican incumbent.  He has a website (temporarily down), is doing calltime and hiring staff. He's even posted his calltime average of 3 hours per day on Democratic Gain in an ad for a finance consultant and then finance director.

2. Turner is busy shaking hands, walking around (quite aggressively from what the Feder camp is hearing) as a candidate for Congress in '08 at every event he attends. Several people have reported that he is trying to pressure 2007 candidates in Loudoun to support him basically for just doing his job as Precinct Ops chair for the Loudoun County Democrats. He also gives "updates" on his campaign at LCDC meetings.

3. Judy hasn't held a single event for herself, fundraising or otherwise, since getting back in the race in June.

4. Judy's activities thus far are: a) focused on a bad Republican incumbent-- Wolf and b) almost exclusively focused on the civil war we're caught in the middle of in Iraq (that's not waiting for Election Day to pass as it continues to inflict casualties on American service men and women and innocent Iraqi civilians).

5.  In that same time, Judy has been VERY active in 2007 races: walking the Frederick County fair with Karen Schultz and the Leesburg 4th July parade with Dave Poisson; going door-to-door for Margi Vanderhye; working Herndon Rocks for Jay Donahue; attending a pancake breakfast for Chuck Colgan and Jeanette Rishell;  attending Good ol' Girls, Foust meet-and-greets, the Poisson/Herring office opening and many other '07 events including a full schedule this coming weekend.

6. Through the campaign or personally, Judy has also contributed to: Jay Donahue, Janet Oleszek, Chuck Caputo, Karen Schultz, Dave Poisson, Jeanette Rishell, Margi Vanderhye, Marty Martinez and Susan Buckley.  She'll also be sending checks to Bruce Roemmelt, Jeanne West and John Foust) in the next few weeks.

Above, you said: "What this District needs is a moderate candidate that can stand up to the president on the war. Judy is not that candidate."

Here, you say: As for MY candidate? Right now it'd be Judy.

Contradiction?  Sure seems like it.

Right now I would vote for Judy. I'm not a fan of Wolf. That doesn't mean I think she can win.

And I have no connection to any campaign. But it's nice to see an honeset discussion here. I'm not sure why it's bad to be constructively critical of a candidate. I just don't believe Judy can win in this District. In the 11th? She'd be a great candidate. I just don't think this district is suited for her.

And I didn't know that Turner had done anything yet. His campaign finance reports don't indicate any real activity. 

needs 19,000 votes to beat Wolf. She can do that without winning a single precinct west of Loudoun.

And Judy is just as moderate as anyone else. Her policies are mainstream and completely in line with what the voters of Virginia say they want.

and so far, Judy seems to be proving that she can stand up to the president on the war...she's been taking Wolf to task.

And the election isn't this November, it's next November.

Judy's chances are a hell of lot better in 2008 then they were in 2006. She'll have more money, higher name rec and, as stunning as it is, the GOP is in worse shape then it was last year.

Also, Democrats nationally have a huge money advantage over Republicans this time around.  Which means that we'll have a lot more seats we can pour resources into than the Republicans can. 

Minor quibble - Judy is running for U.S. Congress and that election is not until November 2008.

This November is Virginia State elections (and many local elections).  She has a whole year and potentially a primary election to ramp up...  early start is probably needed to fight an entrenched incumbant like Wolf.

I too am interested in hearing more from Mike Turner (the other contender for the Democratic nomination) and even from Vern McKinley (a primary challenger for the Republican nomination) because I think that voters in the district, and even in the entire nation deserve to know all the choices before they make a decision.

I volunteered for and contributed to Judy's 2006 campaign, and before that for James Socas in 2004 (though I wanted Sam Kubba to get the Democratic nomination).  I am tired of Wolf and want him replaced yesterday.  I like Judy best so far, but refuse to work on any 2008 campaigns until after this November's election.

By the way, I fully expect that after Mark Warner announces for U.S. Senate tomorrow, he'll be out on the stump both for himself and for General Assembly candidates, just as Judy Feder is now doing.  And just as Jim Gilmore and Tom Davis are doing both.  It's pretty much standard operating procedure in politics.

My quibble was with the "No chance" posting above - sorry I replied to the wrong message.

I am thrilled to hear she is working hard for candidates running this year, and even more thrilled that she has chosen mostly the same people to support that I have (grin).

One of the reasons I like Wes Clark so much is that he focused on other people's races in 2006 rather than entertain any banter about is own potential candidacy.

I guess I missed the announcement about Judy's get together in Manassas.  When was this?

In this video, she's interviewing people as they enter a forum on Iraq that Frank Wolf was invited to but refused to attend.