I'm hoping that Eric will have video and photos later, but for now, here are a few thoughts on last night's Fairfax County Democratic Jefferson-Jackson dinner at the McLean/Tysons Corner Hilton.
*The event was sold out, with around 500 people in attendance. That's extremely impressive, and a sign that Democrats are energized in Virginia's largest county!
*FCDC chairman Scott Surovell was his usual force of nature (and talent, and humor, and brains), demonstrating what a new generation of intelligent and innovative leadership can do. I keep thinking that if Scott can maximize Democratic performance from his county of 1.1 million people, Virginia will almost certainly be "in play" this November. Also, perhaps Scott can travel the state showing his superb PowerPoint presentation, which I hope to get a copy of at some point.
*With the primary elections just 3 weeks away, the races for the 10th and 11th CD's are definitely on people's minds. The candidates didn't speak last night, but the unofficial/unscientific JJ Dinner straw polls had Judy Feder winning 65-7 in the 10th and Jim Moran also romping 42-4 in the 8th. In the 11th, it was much closer, but it definitely appears to be a two-person race between Leslie Byrne and Gerry Connolly (out of 172 votes, those two received 156 votes; Doug Denneny got 12, "no vote" received 3, and Lori Alexander had 1 vote for her).
*Both Brian Moran and Creigh Deeds were there, working the crowd and gearing up for their seemingly inevitable 2009 Democratic gubernatorial faceoff. There were no straw polls for 2009 races.
*Announced LG candidate Jon Bowerbank from Russell County worked the VIP reception and the crowd, meeting a lot of people and making numerous new friends. I also hear rumors that Dick Saslaw was introducing Secretary of Finance Jody Wagner around as a candidate for LG. Is this race starting to heat up as well? Bowerbank vs. Wagner would pit a candidate from SWVA against a candidate from Hampton Roads, as well as a newcomer from the business community against a member of the Kaine administration. Stay tuned! [Full disclosure: Eric and I are doing some paid consulting work for Jon Bowerbank, along with our friends Brian Patton and Joe Puckett]
*On the AG front, Del. Steve Shannon appears to be the only candidate for the Democrats to this point, and he was also in attendance (I saw him briefly, and he seemed his usual energetic and upbeat self).
*2005 House of Delegates candidate Greg Werkheiser looks almost certain to be gearing up for a 2009 rematch against Dave "Abuser Fees" Albo. I strongly encourage Greg to do so, will support him all out, and strongly believe that "Albo Must Go!"
*Mark Warner wasn't in attendance last night, but we watched a Warner video, similar to the one shown at the Prince William County JJ Dinner, with a similar message to what I heard on the "fly around" a couple of weeks ago. Also, his deputy campaign manager, Joe Abbey, was busy working the crowd, and certainly Mark Warner's candidacy has Democrats excited.
*It's not often that I get to hear my congressman, Jim Moran, speak two nights in a row, but I guess it was my lucky weekend. :) Saturday night, Moran was the keynote speaker at the Prince William JJ, and last night he introduced Congressman David Obey, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee (very good speech, by the way).
*I had a chance to speak briefly with Sen. Webb, but he couldn't stay long, ubiquitous media superstar he is these days. I mentioned my petition to encourage Barack Obama to pick him for the ticket, to which Sen. Webb said (with a mischievous? smile on his face) something like, "yeah, I heard."
UPDATE: Whoops, forgot to mention that Glenn Nye was there last night, and that things appear to be going well with his 2nd CD run. If you'd like to help Glenn get his message out, please click here.
Gerry Connolly got 98 votes (57%)
Leslie Byrne got 58 votes (34%)
Doug Dennenny got 12 votes (7%)
Lori Alexander got 1 vote (1%)
Scott did a good job last night as MC, but he should not have refused to publicly announce the 11th CD straw poll numbers just because he has endorsed Byrne, who lost the poll to Connolly.
Obviously those who did the counting can do whatever they want...just wanted to point out that they are no "official" results.
So, perhaps acting snarky about Lowell's failure to include was a little, erm, in poor taste?
But I do realize how hard it must be to be one of Boss Connolly's minions....so I guess we can just overlook it.
I like both Byrne and Denneny, but let's face it - Doug does not really have a shot now; though I hope he sticks around and builds up his name recognition with continued work for the party and district. It is time to throw all effort into Leslie's campaign.
He really reminded all of us why we are members of the Democratic Party.
Then David Obey just gave a magnificent follow up.
In fact, Connolly clobbered Byrne 57% to 34%. That ain't close. Support the candidate who is paying you, but at least tell the truth.
And given that he was putting in the context of Judy Feder's trouncing of Mike Turner, it was an obsolutely correct statement.
It was much closer in the 11th.
Puleeeese, let's be real.
What was said is that it was "closer" than the other straw poll votes.
In the 10th it was roughly 90% to 10%, do you not consider 57% to 34% much closer than 90% to 10%?
So really, minus the 11, it's a whopping 29 votes.
I hope he stays involved and participates in ongoing activities; but I figure Judy has name recognition, fund-raising, and organization on her side... and we must win against Wolf in November.
*Announced LG candidate Jon Bowerbank from Russell County worked the VIP reception and the crowd, meeting a lot of people and making numerous new friends. I also hear rumors that Dick Saslaw was introducing Secretary of Finance Jody Wagner around as a candidate for LG. Is this race starting to heat up as well? Bowerbank vs. Wagner would pit a candidate from SWVA against a candidate from Hampton Roads, as well as a newcomer from the business community against a member of the Kaine administration. Stay tuned! [Full disclosure: Eric and I are doing some paid consulting work for Jon Bowerbank, along with our friends Brian Patton and Joe Puckett]
This is why I asked the question since paid staff has announced that he has announced.
He is obviously in the race, but he has not been out on the front steps of a any courthouses with a microphone yet.
I suspect there will be a series of events that will officially - and formally - announce Jon's candidacy in the near future. We need to get through the 2008 cycle still.