I'm glad to see that she is not waiting.  There is already one other announced candidate, Doug Denneney, possible more to come. 

Whoever we chose, let's make sure that Tom Davis is unemployed after Election Day, 2008.

how exactly?

Any more than you can blame them for having bu**holes.

This is a ballsy and brilliant move by Leslie Byrne.

Now the pressure is on BOTH Tom Davis and Gerry Connolly to announce shortly after 11/6/2007 their plans for 2008. 

Gerry will be under pressure for the next 47 days or so by dems that want to know if his hat is in the ring so they know whether to commit to Leslie or not.

Tom will be under pressure for the next 47 days by GOPers what ring his hat is in so they know if they can flow elsewhere in either the Senate or House race.

Very slick move, great timing.

Leslie is one smart cookie.  Assuming she runs, she's going to be VERY tough to beat for the Democratic nomination in the 11th district.  After that, she's going to be just as tough to beat in the general election, especially in a presidential year with Mark Warner on the ticket.  That seat is going from "red" to "blue," no doubt about it. 

...if only because I tend to think guarantees made over a year from the election tend to come back and bite the predictor.  Just ask Senator Allen.

From what I have seen Ms. Byrne is like a bright brilliant light.  For some she illuminates, others she just burns (no pun intended).  There seem to be an uncommon number of folks who love her and who really dislike her.  I imagine a primary campaign will be a bruising experience unless the Dems clear the field for her.

Recent trends show this seat is not a lock for the GOP, but I bet that it is not a lock for the Democrats either, and that whomever the candidates are it will be the marquee House campaign in Virginia.

first, Doug Denneny decided to run for the seat without knowing what the lay of the land would be, and has no intention of withdrawing

second, Connolly cannot announce for the seat until after he is reelected or it will be used as an issue against him in his reelection campaign.  But he has every intention of running or the seat if Davis announces he is not running again for the House.

So it may be a 3-way - or more - race on the Dem side.

I was afraid that someone might be trying to convince her to wait until 2009 and run for Governor. But now that she has filed an exploratory committee my decision has been made for me.

I have to admit to a little bias on my part, not the least of which is her early and strong support for Jim Webb and the fact that I got to know her very well during the campaign and like her and Larry personally. I really like her impressive qualifications, particulary  her prior experience which neither of her likely primary opponents can claim. I can't imagine how anyone could have better name recognition.

It's getting harder and harder for me to stay fully focused on the 2007 knowing how much fun it will be to work my butt of for both Mark and Leslie starting shortly after the Nov. elections. I hope I can squeeze in a little time for our Pres. nominee.

  T.C.

I like her spirit, I like her attitude, and I like her politics.

I hate her as a candidate. She barely won in 1992, got her clock cleaned in 1994 and 1996, and only because of the presence of Virginia Dobey in 1999 did she win a state Senate seat. She then ran for LG and despite Tim Kaine's decisive victory, was unable to win that race either. Had we nominated Chap Petersen, we'd have all three statewide offices.

She is arguably the worst candidate for this job. Connolly would win a general, Leslie might win but would be much less of a sure thing. And if she does win and there is another GOP year like in 1994, you can be reasonably sure she would lose re-election again.

have been reduced to shells of their former selves because of Democrats attacking Democrats. Maybe you'd be happier here?

You go on a partisan Democratic blog and insult one of the most popular Democrats in the commonwealth; Gee, I wonder if people are going to react negatively? Hmmmmm....

As for her being a loser? She carried 54.69% of the vote in this district in 2005. Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) carried 54.68% in 2006. Kerry/Edwards only 49.92%. Sending Leslie to Congress is VERY possible.

Leslie was the first occupant of the 11th CD as originally drawn, but for only one term, because she was defeated for reelection by one Tom Davis.  And I know a number of prominent NoVa democrats who supported Davis in that run because Leslie pissed them off.  She did win a 4-way primary to get the Dem nomination of Lt Gov, but also ran behind Kaine and Deeds statewide. 

As of now the 11th CD tilts Democratic, but it is not necessarily a lock for a Dem, were there someone prominent on Republican side who did not have to battle for the nomination while the Dems were chewing up on one another.

Just saying.

She is right to get endorsements early. I'll certainly support her.

Hey, what goes?

A couple elections ago, when Jim Moran was under attack for his unkind cuts against some American Jews and Israel, Leslie announced her intentions to seek Moran's seat in the 10th Congressional District. At the time, I thought that it was a rotten move on Byrne's part to want to kick a fellow Democrat while he was down. She acted like a mean sister.

Now, it appears that Byrne was/is/will be a resident of the 11th CD.

Leslie's in the 11th, as she's always been.  No clue what you're talking about.

Moran is Congressman from the 8th.
Wolf is Congressman from the 10th (though we'd like to replace him).
Davis is Congressman from the 11th (and I am excited to see Byrne defeat him or his successor).

Largely because Jim represents the 8th. What she had discussed was challenging him in the 8th. She probably would have moved to do so, but you don't actually have to reside in a Congressional district to represent it.

I don't quite understand why she had to wait until Moran was back on his feet if she was interested in the seat. Frankly, if we got two Democrats who don't suck instead of Moran and Byrne, I think we'd be better off, but to each their own.

This will be her best chance yet to regain public office.  She knows that Connolly has enough Democratic detractors to create space for her candidacy, and that she has earned goodwill among the emerging leaders of the party for her early support of Webb.

However, I really want to plead with both sides to put off any serious engagement in this primary battle until the Nov. 6 election is over.  WE HAVE A STATE SENATE TO WIN, FOLKS -- and winning it will be a dramatic step forward in the steady Democratic takeover of the Commonwealth.  We only need four seats to achieve this milestone, and we have the opportunity in the process to toss out such right wingers as Ken Cuccinelli, Jay O'Brien, Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis, and more.

First things first -- volunteer, contribute and get out the vote!

Leslie is the candidate that best represents the core values of the Democratic Party: she has class, treats others with respect, and is an honorable person.

I will gladly work on her campaign for Congress.