VPAP (The Virginia Public Access Project) has recently gone through a site upgrade and it looks great! For those new to Virginia Politics, VPAP is THE place to find data on Virginia campaign finance, while I think all the old fogies will appreciate the new look and expanded functionality. Either way- make sure to find your way to VPAP.org!
I can easily see how it could be argued to place McDonnell in a primary election. However, it is our long standing policy not to place candidates in primaries until at least two candidates of the same party have announced.
- Jason Ford, VPAP Database Manager
Press Release
Virginia Republicans Unite in Support of McDonnell-Bolling in 2009
GOP Leaders From Across Virginia Sign Letter Supporting Ticket
April 30, 2008Richmond - In an unprecedented display of party unity, Republican leaders from across Virginia have signed a letter expressing their strong support of Bob McDonnell for Governor and Bill Bolling for Lieutenant Governor in 2009.
The letter, which will be mailed to party members statewide, was signed by all eight of Virginia's Republican members of Congress, the General Assembly's GOP leadership team and other party leaders, including all of Virginia's GOP congressional district chairs and the leadership of the State Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia.
In the letter, these GOP leaders, along with other Republican notables from across the Commonwealth - including former Governor Jim Gilmore, former Attorney General Jerry Kilgore and GOP Chairman John Hager - stated:
"We strongly endorse the ticket of Bob McDonnell for Governor and Bill Bolling for Lieutenant Governor in 2009 and urge all Virginia Republicans to join us. A McDonnell-Bolling ticket will unite our Republican party around its core conservative principles, while putting forth strong, experienced leadership to meet the challenges facing our Commonwealth."
Attorney General Bob McDonnell remarked, "A united Republican Party is the first step towards ending the Democrats eight years of control of the executive branch in Virginia. Today, we have taken a tremendous step forward in our effort to reclaim the Governor's Mansion, and to win all three statewide races next year. Bill and I are honored to have received the support of our Republican members of Congress, every Republican District Chair, the Republican leadership in the General Assembly, the leadership of the State Central Committee and a number of other prominent and involved Virginia Republicans. From the grassroots to the halls of Congress, Virginia Republicans have united in support of our ticket. Together, we are going to win next year, and bring innovative, vigorous, conservative leadership to Virginia."
Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling noted, "Bob and I are honored to have the support of such a distinguished group of Republican leaders. I am pleased that the Republican Party has united behind the McDonnell-Bolling ticket and our positive vision for the future of Virginia. We will offer the people of Virginia the most experienced ticket to ever seek statewide office in Virginia, and a clear blueprint for finding solutions to the many challenges we face today. We are looking forward to the campaign that lies ahead and to victory in November of 2009."
But really now, it's been two weeks since the filing deadline, and there can't have been much activity - when are they going to get the Q1 figures out!?
Statewide and General Assembly candidates only file twice on non-election years. Their next report will be due on 7/15, and will cover the first half of the year. We should have them up by the end of that week. As of now, data for these candidates is only available through 12/31/2007.