It seems Minority Leader Ward Armstrong is still looking for a place to hang his hat.
Not content to leave the House of Delegates just yet, Armstrong has vowed to soldier on, move a couple miles, and challenge in the redrawn 9th District against Republican Del. Charlie Poindexter.
This brings much happiness to Dave Rexrode, Executive Director of the Republican Party of Virginia.
In a memo written to Southside Units and obtained by Bearing Drift, Rexrode makes the case for why Armstrong’s move makes GOP gains in the House of Delegates more attainable than previously expected.
Rexrode thinks that now the GOP can pick up an additional three seats in the House, pushing their majority levels even higher.
“There is little doubt that we will hold the seat,” writes Rexrode. “The new HD 9 is an extremely unfavorable environment for any Democratic candidate.”
Rexrode goes on to explain how despite Armstrong’s fundraising ability, the numbers are stacked against him. He also states, as our own Jason Johnson did, that HD 9 is going to be watched by most of the media, and Armstrong will offer a compelling storyline as minority leader, underdog, and potential statewide candidate, but, in the end, Poindexter is reelected.
“The voters of new HD 9 have demonstrated a clear preference for Republican candidates in recent years,” wrote Rexrode. “Not only will Ward’s decision to run come to an unpleasant end for him, it could be the impetus that pushes us over 70 in the House.”
