Obama and Webb are next…but who will challenge them?
By JR Hoeft | Thursday, November 4th, 2010 | PoliticsWell it didn’t take too long for the Republican Party of Virginia to make known who its next contestants on the price is wrong will be: Jim Webb and Barack Obama.
Yesterday, the party launched http://www.obamandwebbarenext.com.
As the video clearly shows, the party is going to hammer Webb’s association with Obama every possible way for the next two years. On the aforementioned website they cite Webb’s deciding vote for ObamaCare, the addition of $2.5 trillion to our national debt since 2009, Webb’s support for the stimulus, and also his support for the Value Added Tax.
Clearly these have been unpopular initiatives, and it’s right to highlight the differences, but who will deliver the message?
Right now, I think you can speculate on at least five names. This list is heavy Hampton Roads, but maybe it’s time a U.S. Senator came from this region.
Possible GOP candidates:
- George Allen. He was Senator once. He’s making the rounds. He wants a rematch.
- Del. Bob Marshall. Was within a delegate at the 2008 convention of becoming the nominee. If his wife lets him, he’s running. Consistent conservative voice in the state legislature and led the Virginia Healthcare Freedom legislation.
- State Sen. Jeff McWaters. Millionaire. After building AmeriGroup, has the healthcare cred to make a solid repeal argument. Has served in the state senate, so understands how to legislate.
- Rep. J. Randy Forbes. Once state senator and candidate for lieutenant governor. Likely still harbors some state-wide ambition. Has been a tireless advocate in international relations with China, a strong social conservative, and an innovator on energy policy.
- Brig. Gen. Bert Mizusawa. Grew up in Hampton and has roots in both in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia. A former senior staff member of the Senate Armed Service Committee. Solid candidate in the GOP nomination fight for congress in the 2nd.
Who would you from Bearing Drift draft?
Regardless, Ward Smythe sums up Webb’s view of Tuesday quite nicely:
Of course, this idle speculation is based on Obama or Webb even choosing to accept their party’s nomination.
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About the author
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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50 Responses to "Obama and Webb are next…but who will challenge them?"
I would be happy to support another Allen run. What about Bolling or Cuccinelli, do either of them have any desire to be senator?
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Bearing Drift, Virginia Harlow. Virginia Harlow said: RT @bearingdrift: Web: Obama and Webb are next…but who will challenge them? http://bit.ly/doyaX0 [...]
Bolling wants to be governor in 2013 and wouldn’t challenge Allen in 2012.
Cuccinelli wants to finish up his term in 2013 and is a shoe-in to take on Mark Warner in 2014.
What about Gov. McDonnell? I think it would be nice to have either Forbes or Mizuwasa, from that list. I like Allen but it would be nice to not have to start up old fights about racism again.
I would hate to see Cuccinelli take on Warner. By that time the wave the republicans have been riding will have most likely slowed down. If Ken doesn’t run for Webbs seat I hope he runs for AG again. The last thing I want to see is a Bolling -Cuccinelli fight for the gov nomination.
I didn’t put McDonnell in the 2012 campaign because he’s either finishing up his term too in 2013 or running for President or Vice President. He could run for the Senate in 2014, but I still see that as more Cuccinelli’s year.
[...] (h/t JR Hoeft) The Republican Party of Virginia didn’t waste any time in naming its next targets. Yesterday, the RPV launched http://www.obamaandwebbarenext.com/ to kick off the campaign to knock off Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) in 2012. The site also has a video attached: [...]
lauren, I agree that a KC v. Bolling fight for gubernatorial nomination would fracture our party.
Kelley what do you think of Mike Pence ?
Allen remains my first choice, and my favorite. I think the 2006 lies about racism either have been or certainly can be addressed. And if he’s the best choice (and I believe he is) we shouldn’t allow the threat of another witch hunt to stand in the way.
That said, I could also support anyone else on the list who ends up being the nominee against Webb (if Webb runs).
Will,
Pence is great, but he’s not too likely to run for the Senate from Virginia.
Ward did you look at this post before you made your comment ?
Im a fan of Bert. Hes by far best qualified.
Will, um, yes I did. Granted it mentions that it’s time for Obama to go. But the focus of the post and J.R.’s comments are on the candidate to challenge Jim Webb. And the rest of the comments, until yours are talking about the same.
If you want to focus on the Presidential nomination, that’s cool. It just didn’t follow the train of thought.
All that being said, last rumor I heard is that Pence wants to run for Governor.
Corey Stewart might be mulling over the race as well . . . but it depends on what Cuccinelli and Marshall do.
Mizusawa would be a very interesting candidate.
as a native Southside Virginian, I lament the fact that our nominees will most likely come from NoVirginia. cruel but true
How about Rep. Rob Wittman?
Any list that includes more than Allen and Marshall should probably include Whitmann, and Corey Stewart. I would like a good conservative consensus nominee to appear so we can avoid an Allen Marshall fight.
This is a no brainer.. Mizusawa for U.S. Senate. Bert was never a good match for congress and considering his background and the circles he travels in, early in the primary I felt he should have bagged it and aimed for the senate.
George “Felix Macacawitz” Allen is damaged goods.. Calling someone Macaca with derogatory intent was fine for Chris Rock as a comedian but as a public official it will be tough to uninsult minorities let alone earn their trust. In 2 years it remains to be seen whether the gop will be riding high so the more I think about Allen taking aim at Webb the more concerned I become that Webb would remain seated.
While I like Allen and I think that he can be useful I believe that it would be best for the party to not have to fight those battles again about race. And, that one thing I took away from this year is that new people can bring in new ideas and be beneficial to bring in new people and energy.
Since my goal for 2012 is to elect both a new president and Virginia senator, it seems that I will be a semi-republican for 2 more years.
Although voted for Allen before, have this “gut feeling” that he should not be the candidate this time.
However I have decided to take the easy way out on this decision. I will support the candidate that the Honorable Mr Hoeft decides to support. That was easy.
The case for Webb includes the Post 9-11 GI Bill…and there are a LOT of veterans here using it.
Whoever runs-and I think BG Mizusawa is the most interesting candidate of the above-is going to have to address that…
Are we sure Webb is running again? His recent stance on affirmative-action is at odds with the NAACP and his third quarter numbers and war chest coffers are low.
What’s the scoop on uber-strategist Ed Gillespie’s interest? IF he wants the job, he’s earned ‘first dibs’ from state and national party. However, a Gillespie-run Mizusawa campaign would be pretty amazing to watch.
don’t get excited that Webb won’t run because Perriello might decide to get in it. Take it from a 5thDistrict Republican–perriello is one helluva campaigner. and he has deep Soros/union pockets.
2012 Senate election will be determined by not just the slate, but also which Virginia shows up to vote – the Virginia that elected Obama in ’08 (higher percentage from youth and black communities)? Or the 2010 Virginia (older and whiter)? I’m guessing, if not Webb, the Dem’s candidate will be base- and Obama-friendly.
Mr. McWaters has an impressive resume and checkbook, but his ties to Trinity plus hard right social christian-conservative views will turn off NOVA and younger voters. Same for Congressman Forbes; plus he’s unlikely to run.
2010 proves a ‘typical’ political background isn’t required anymore, which means our list of options can move pass the obvious and the re-treads. Hopefully, the Republican party will choose a baggage-free, fiscal conservative ~ who can also reach out, connect with, and appeal to moderate and independent voters.
kelley: talk among Demmocrats about Perriello seems to focus more on his either becoming state party chair or running for governor in 2013.
Jay, I think it will be somewhere in the middle. 2008 Virginia isn’t going to happen again.
Mizusawa 2012…Allen 2013.
steve vaughan: acquaint me with all those who have held state party chair (from either party)who have gone forward running for other elected office.
i’ve seen it go in the reverse order (elected office, then party chair–nat’l chair).
Kelley: the only one who springs to mind is Mark Warner.
He was party chair during the Wilder years and into Allen’s term I think. Quit, ran againt John Warner, lost. Came back and won governor.
On Perriello I didn’t mean he’d do both, but that Dems are talking about him doing one or the other.
thanks for the education Steve. Mark Warner was/is a fundraising machine which is very impt in party chair. that is why Perriello would be good since he is plugged into all the extreme left wing $.
@Coby – FWIW,I think you’re right but it’s way too early to predict. Depends upon what happens (or doesn’t) in 2011 and if Republicans stay fiscally focused, on message, and deliver on 2010 promises. If my own circle of under 35-year-olds indicate any trend, Obama’s guaranteed youth vote is … history.
Delegate Bob Marshall would also be a very interesting candidate. Über smart, qualified, frank, and enough of an outsider (e.g. Yes Campaign) to satisfy Tea Party Republicans.
This all assuming, of course, Obama isn’t primaried…
@Colby- Will NEVER happen. Obama controls the machine and the money. Instant political suicide for any Democrat (including Hillary) challenger. Plus, we took out most of the moderates on Tuesday; they can’t even ‘retire’ Pelosi.
Oops – sorry to mess up your name; meant to type Coby.
JR – is the edit box ever returning to BD?
@Jay D
I agree with you about McWaters. I think he’d be a terrific candidate but I sure wish he’d loosen his ties with the Trinity group.
What McDonnell does depends entirely on what happens in the 2012 Presidential. I think that if an R is in office, he runs for Senate against Warner – battle of the Titans and one I would look forward to working on, I want Warner to get shellacked. As for taking on Webb – Allen might want it, but I am not sure he should have it, especially since he would be President right now if he thought before he spoke. I like Randy Forbes and Bert Mizusawa; Jeff McWaters is exactly what we do not need more of in Washington, plus he has zero name ID outside of Hampton Roads, and very little even here.
Jay D-
Maybe. With the recent issues we’ve been having with the server and database, we disabled some of the plugins, one of them being the edit box.
Depending on what happens the next few weeks, we may enable that feature again.
Obama will be primaried. The Senate will make sure of it. The remaining members of the Democratically controlled Senate will sign off on the bills that will float up from the House. They will let Obama use his veto power and they will sink his ship underneath of him rather than lose their own positions of power. Democratic senators will be looking to score “blue dog” points going into the next election cycle and they already have a target on Obama’s back. Gorge and purge, it is their new party motto.
I like BG Bert Mizusawa. However, people will have to start getting behind him early on in campaign infrastructure and fund raising.
As with almost everyone else, I really respect all that Allen has done the GOP here in VA and his time as gov, and wish his career didn’t end with a verbal fumble. But with the deep bench conservatives in VA have we should be continually looking for the best candidate and the newer blood, rather than just running the same candidates because that is all we have. We need to look beyond Allen.
Allen regrettfully would be a gop retread. He was delusional when he thought he was headed for the WH.. Maybe he could take a crack in 2013 as earlier mentioned but..
I agree with Britt, as soon as practical Bert should put an expoloratory committee together. I’ll send a check as soon as there is an address. He fits the job description and seems neither tarnished nor ill prepared. Allen lacks an understanding of internal affairs of the military and without any background in the defense arena we expose ourself to further losses to other states that are wooing away our core components of our leading economic engine.
Honk if care what Turbo thinks.
Is Sen. Jim Webb Hinting at a Party Switch?
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/11/09/is-sen-jim-webb-hinting-at-a-party-switch/
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/11/08/jim_webb_why_reagan_dems_still_matter_107875.html
The interview with Kuhn. “The conversation soon shifted to healthcare. “I told him this was going to be a disaster,” Webb recalls.”
So Webb thought that Obanacare was going to be a disaster and still voted for it.
I will be nice about this. Would prefer a senator that will vote against something that he thinks will be a disaster.
Webb wants to be a vp but whose values would he augment? Maybe he will help Clinton primary against Obama.. he never endorsed the one. Being a nam vet, 2x purple heart ground troop marine and former Reagan navsec might help a little but that tie breaking stimulus vote thingy aint popular either and is not going to go away. And having too constantly watch his mouth will wear thin on his opponents looking for macaca. Webb, a Reagan era public servant, is not by any stretch a San Francisco Democrat.. As the dems left Reagan, the GOP left Webb when it lost its way.. Lotsa crossover appeal there for passionately pro America independents to consider and I bet many favor it.
The upset would be if Webb were to run under a conservative Dem banner.. It would be dem tracker against dem tracker.. The ad revenues could turn out better than American Idol. Get the popcorn ready.
Since I refuse to vote for anyone who is for cap and tax or obamacare, Webb is out for me. I would rather vote for Glenn Nye for senator then Webb. Perhaps I should become a democrat and vote in their primaries.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty for president in 2012. The country could do worse. Much worse.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/11/08/tim-pawlenty-skipped-mccain-set-billing/
Blue Dogs got their 2010 clocks cleaned, in part, because of token democratic party base backing. Jim Webb is not stupid. His recent writings against diversity programs (which will cost him base support in 2012) was a shot signaling his return to the middle. We can watch Webb’s early votes in the new Congress for more tip offs. My gut says he’ll cross the aisle and vote w/ republicans on fiscal (debt, deficit, jobs), immigration and defense legislation.
Webb won’t run if he isn’t fairly confident of a win. He was elected by a slim, less than 1% margin in 2006 and Obama is likely not to have much wind in his 2012 coattails. Unless things radically improve for the democratic party OR the RNC veers hard right on social issues and/OR RPV puts up a bozo for the senate seat , I’m betting Webb spends his remaining 2 years working on legislation (important to him) and doesn’t seek reelection in 2012.
The General (Bert Mizusawa) is über qualified and perfectly fits the country’s “mood”. He has a compelling personal story, a career and resume that scream excellence, a state wide (and national) base of support, the ability to raise money (Young Guns status), and possesses a first-class mind. Anyone that spends time in conversation with this man understands he’s smart, wise, deliberative, honor-driven, and exactly the type of leader we need more of in DC. For outside-of-Tidewater BD readers, here is a reposting of Scott Barron’s (co-author: Dangerous Games: Faces, Incidents, and Casualties of the Cold War endorsement during the D2 republican primary.
“I first learned about Bert Mizusawa several years ago when I interviewed him while doing research for a book on the Cold War, and after several interviews, I have come to know and appreciate his many talents, and can enthusiastically endorse his candidacy. I will admit that I am not thoroughly conversant on all of the issues that face Virginia’s voters, but I’ve learned from experience that it is wiser to vote on the candidate and not the issues, as circumstances and stands on issues may change, but character is a constant. I believe that what Virginia needs, what [the Senate] needs, what the Nation needs is leadership, as the future appears to be challenging us to move in new directions. What then are the essential qualities of leadership?
-A leader should have experience in a variety of venues; Bert Mizusawa has proven successful in private industry, in the military and in government.
-A leader should/must have a working knowledge of the military and national defense; Bert Mizusawa is a combat veteran and decorated soldier who rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the US Army, was a professional civilian staff member for the Senate Armed Services Committee and was a MacArthur Fellow at Harvard’s Center for Science and International Affairs. As a special assistant to Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera, he was involved in the transition and return of the canal to Panama.
-A leader should be educated. Bert Mizusawa has a Bachelors of Science from the U.S. Military Academy, a Master in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School. He also has earned a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies from the Army War College.
-A leader should have an understanding of, and a respect for the law. Bert Mizusawa is a Harvard-trained lawyer who has been admitted to the bars in New York and Washington, D.C.
-A leader should have an understanding of business and budgets. Bert Mizusawa has served as the president of PaxCentric, Inc., a consulting firm and as president of a technology firm.
-A leader should demonstrate excellence. Like Douglas MacArthur and Wesley Clark, Bert Mizusawa graduated first in his class at West Point and has spent a life dedicated to public service.
-A leader should have the courage to do what’s right. Bert Mizusawa was awarded the Silver Star for his rescue, under fire, of a Soviet Defector while commanding troops in the Korean DMZ on November 23, 1984, and has deployed to both Afghanistan in 2005 and Iraq in 2006, serving as Deputy to the Commanding General, Multinational Corps in Baghdad. He leads from the front.
Bert Mizusawa is precisely the type of individual that is needed in [the Senate]. Honest, ethical and not afraid to take a risk to do what is right. Now the voters of Virginia have the opportunity to do what’s right and elect Bert Mizusawa to the United States [Senate].”
yeah, what Jay said.
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