Chuck Smith Re-Entering VA-02 District Nomination Race? WHY?!
By D.J. Spiker | Thursday, March 11th, 2010 | Catch-AllRumors continue to abound (I have heard this through at least four individual sources, including three campaigns) that Chuck Smith, the first candidate to drop out from the 2nd District Republican nomination (and likely not the last), is contemplating re-entering the race. I wish I had a credible reason could possibly justify this decision. I like Chuck and I, like many others, think he’s a nice guy. But he ran once, got no traction. What changed from him leaving the race to make him believe he has a better chance now?
He demonstrated a proven failure to raise money, even while he was the only announced candidate in the race. He garnered little support in the grassroots or business community. And on hand funds?
At the end of the last filing period, 12/31/2009, Chuck had $717 in his bank account.
Put that number in perspective?
Glenn Nye: $852,210
Chuck Smith: $717
Result? Chuck didn’t even have half a percentage point as much as Glenn Nye.
If you know Chuck Smith, please encourage him to stay out of the race.
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Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right...entrenched on the right as a member of the Establishment, proudly tattooed member of the Republican Party, bartender by trade serving both sides the libations needed to continue the debate and discourse. College student, ten years late, majoring in Public Policy and Administration with an eye to serving the conservative and Republican movement in the public or private sector. ducit amor patriae You can find D.J.on facebook, Twitter, or contact via email at gosport.conservative@gmail.com. You can find D.J.on facebook, Twitter, or contact via email at gosport.conservative@gmail.com.
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20 Responses to "Chuck Smith Re-Entering VA-02 District Nomination Race? WHY?!"
I don’t think Republicans should be in the business of encouraging people to “stay out” of races where no Republican incumbent is running.
Be careful, DJ. The next candidate told he should “stay out” might be you.
I would say each candidate has about 45 days to make the case to Virginia donors that they’ve got the motivation, issues, and organization to compete until June 8 and win the nomination.
By the time we host our debate at ODU on April 15 (Kauffman Hall, room 224 at 7 PM), there will be a pretty clear indicator who has the grassroots and financial horsepower to carry this through to a victory in June and who should consider being a super surrogate as opposed to being a candidate.
I agree with DJ that Smith’s re-entry into the race, should he decide to do so, is very odd. He is obviously still interested in gaining the nomination, but what does he know that the rest of us don’t? And, how will he justify endorsing Scott Rigell only to mere months later run against him?
Doesn’t make a lot of sense, so I hope, when or if Chuck announces again, he explains why he feels Rigell no longer can be the candidate and tells us about his ability to raise money and a grassroots base.
It is seriously late for anyone to be getting in the race right now. Not impossible, but really late. So, they have to be able to get a lot of people passionate about them in a hurry.
Chuck misses the spotlight. Too much drama.
What does Chuck know about Scott Rigel that we don’t is the question. What does he know and when did he know it?
Lee, I’ve talked with Chuck knowing him from City Committee, and he said that he feels that the Lord may be calling him to get back in the race. I asked him if this had anything to do with Rigell and he reiterated that it did not.
If a man feels that God is telling him to do something, hard to argue with it.
I didn’t know God endorsed in primaries. Thought He kept his powder dry for the general.
Maybe Chuck just wants a bigger platform and has some things he still wants to say. Some posters seem to assume there is some conspiracy theory or “information” that Chuck is privy to that no one else knows. Similar to Bryan, I have heard from a very credible source that it is simply a faith issue for Chuck. No more, no less. I’ve also heard that Rigell didn’t pursue Chuck’s endorsement; Chuck went to Rigell. Even before he got out of the race, he apparently waffled a lot due to the “faith” issue, so I doubt the Rigell camp is surprised that Chuck changed his mind yet again. Regardless, if Chuck wants to run – or anyone else, for that matter, I say “the more, the merrier.” Unless a woman enters the race, the men will be separated from the boys very soon anyway.
I should have noted above that an inability to make up one’s mind is not a trait I’m looking for in a congressman. I say that not to discourage Chuck from entering the race again, but merely to point out that I am looking for a candidate who is steady and makes good decisions. Chuck’s path through this nomination process does not exactly inspire confidence.
While Chuck is a very likable person and can get on a soapbox with the best of them, there is little substance in his rhetoric. Chuck’s interests have always been his own advancement – nothing more. What you are all missing is that Chuck withdrew from the race because he saw a vacancy in the Virginia Beach Courts. He knew that he could not be running for Congress and ask the delegation to appoint him to the bench. So after getting no traction running for Congress, he withdraws and submits his name for the judicial vacancy. The only problem is that he is no more qualified to be a Judge than he is to be a member of Congress. When it came time for his peers, the members of the Virginia Beach Bar Association, to vote as to who is qualified to go on the bench – almost twice as many members vote that he is not qualified than vote that he is qualified. He once again gets no traction and is nowhere near the “short list” of potential appointees. The “there must be something out there I can get elected to” mentality is now refocusing on the only race available this year. Withdrawing his endorsement of Rigell is of little significance when that stands in the way of his own potential advancement. This has nothing to do with some inside information, or God – just a really big ego.
Maybe God told Chuck something about Rigell that is going to be in the rumor mill soon?
D.J. is right, but for the wrong reason.
Should Chuck now get back in, he has to put an organization back together to fight for a nomination about 90 days away. Anyone who has worked a campaign before knows that’s asking the virtually impossible. Considering how far along some of the other campaigns are, only a fool would bet on Chuck winning the nomination.
Well if Chuck does know things and gets miffed at Rigel could provide some fireworks that our side could really do without. Because of whoever comes out this primary we better damned well win in the general or Nye is there for life.
Chuck quit and put his support behind Scott Rigell and now rumor has it he is thinking twice. Too late. A person needs to be single minded at all times to win at anything in life, political or personal. That’s just the way it is.
All the candidates must allow their constituents to ask questions. We cannot afford another Sanford type incident. If there is anything.. ANYTHING reflecting ethics or judgement in the past or present involving any candidate that could surface after an election and compromise the 2nd district, Hopefully the issue will come forward and either the candidate will come clean or not.. Either way, honesty is the best policy.
Turbo-what are you saying here? Are you saying one of the candidates is having an affair with a woman in Argentina?-lol
These generalities and assumptions just keep coming around here. Scott Taylor has had to deal with some very distasteful unfounded accusations. Scott Rigell has seen more than his fair share of rhetorical inuendo. Now Chuck Smith is being derided for what amounts to hearsay.
So if anyone has facts they’d like to share to help people make a decision then please offer them up. Otherwise cut the crap. We all need to remember we are a reflection of our words and actions. Don’t give away your integrity on deductions based in rumor-unless you feel your voice and your reputation are worth an unfounded rumor.
Richard, I agree. Chuck is obviously a godly, family man. I am happy he is in our party. Next time he chooses to run I hope he will run to the finish because he feels he is called by God as Bryan R. said. Rumors and conjecture are embarrassing to our party. James “turbo” Cohen, I have no clue what you mean about a “Sanford” type incident but I think we should keep it clean here on Bearing Drift. Gossip and rumors will hurt everyone in our party and what you are saying is plain wrong. Everyone I know running in this race are fine upstanding people and I take offense you would surmise otherwise. Think about what you post before you post it, it’s here forever.
I’m fairly certain Cohen isn’t talking about Smith, he’s referring to the unfounded innuendo and hearsay that always floats around a hotly contested race.
I’ve heard it all, and as a ‘reporter’ or whatever you wanna call me, I won’t touch it until there’s actually a credible source or evidence to back it up. Period.
Bryan R says, Smith “said that he feels that the Lord may be calling him to get back in the race.” That’s strange because God just told me Chuck should NOT run and if he does that I should vote against him. Hmmm.
Thank you D.J. You get it friend. Richard and Kathy, To clarify, a “Sanford incident” aka extreme ethics breach is not in any way suspect here but IF one were uncovered it would cripple the GOP in our state. I am in no way implying anything of this nature has gone on with any of our fine candidates, but, if a credible source surfaces, rest assured the other party will interpret whatever is at their disposal to their candidates advantage.. This can only happen if we fail to vet our candidates. Can we as a party afford anything less in your opinions?
Questions and often rumors arise in any campaign. The way true or false rumors are dealt with in the press will become ammo for Glenn Nye for certain. This is true for any contest. If as mentioned in earlier replies Mr. Smith withdrew support or endorsement for any candidate, people are entitled to ask why and get answers without fear of being labeled as a gossiper, etc..
Ultimately, the best congressional candidate is the one who can defeat Glenn Nye without uncompromising republican principles.
Kind Regards, Jim
Glenn Nye has a closet full of issues. He needs to come out of the closet, so to speak, and be up front about how he feels about DADT, overturning the Federal Marriage law and whether his own lifestyle impacts his ability to represent the conservative views of the Second District.
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