Allen in the lead…with liberal trackers
By JR Hoeft | Thursday, June 16th, 2011 | Politics
If the polls, fundraising, and public appearances were not enough to convince you that former Governor George Allen is leading his Republican detractors on the road to secure the nomination for U.S. Senate in 2012 – perhaps another metric will help convince you: he has not one, not two, but three trackers from the Democrats and liberal special interest groups.
Clearly the Democratic party is hopeful that another gaffe of 2006 proportions will occur from the boot-wearing conservative.
In modern politics, it’s not unsurprising that the perceived front-runner would warrant attention from the Democratic Party of Virginia – which he has -but Allen is apparently a rock star in liberal circles, warranting a near entourage of paparazzi who happen to be card-carrying members of national liberal special interest groups.
First, we’ve learned that American Bridge – affiliated with Media Matters – is following the governor around like a loyal puppy dog. American Bridge is the brain-child of liberal activist David Brock. We did some easy research and learned something not too surprising about the organization: Shauna Daly is now running research for them and she’s Tim Kaine’s former flack at the Democratic National Committee. The hope of Daly is to turn the fledgling, yet well-funded, firm into the largest tracking organization in the country.
American Bridge, apparently, are not fans of conservatism. Especially when their tracker is Jeremy Koulish. Koulish thinks that metaphors for conservatives are “hyenas” and “vultures”:
“Hyenas. They tend to scavenge on the weak and take any advantage they can get. . . ‘I’m actually going to say vultures. That might be a better example because they again, they scavenge and they hunt on the weak.”
Nice.
Next, our sources tell us that “Terra Strategies” has taken interest in the former governor.
Big shocker that the organization is affiliated with Terry McAuliffe and the Virginia Democratic Party.
I think there’s probably more to this group though and I’m looking into it.
So, clearly “gotcha” politics is alive and well in Virginia. I’m certain that we will be seeing targeted negative ads against Allen sometime in the near future. But, I suppose, he should take it as a compliment – these national organizations see him as the main threat.
But what is maybe so insidious about this, if not unprecedented, is that the governor warrants this much attention. It’s one thing in Virginia politics for the DPVA to set-up A tracker; that’s expected. But two outside liberal special interest groups too? What is it about Allen that they’re trying to discover and why so early in the campaign?
Clearly these are the questions we intend to explore, in addition to their connections and background, about these organizations and their outside involvement in Virginia politics. This seems to be more about retaining a U.S. Senate seat to advance the liberal, progressive agenda rather than anything that is in the best interests of the citizens of the Commonwealth.
We’re learning more every day about these organizations, but if you also have information to share about those tracking Allen, or any of the GOP campaigns, let me know.
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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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14 Responses to "Allen in the lead…with liberal trackers"
Of course, they’re using more trackers! The ex-senator George Allen is the biggest threat to his own campaign. Already, they catch him in hypocrisy and wishy-washiness in the Democrat “cushy seats” video of Allen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw7g8eN1bTU&feature=share
Then you have George Allen speaking of diminished opportunities for his daughter on Neil Cavuto’s show linked from a Bearing Drift article. Like we common people are supposed to think the daughter of former senator, governor, and establishment darling, George Allen has diminished anything.
All recent stuff, even after “Reflecting and Learning” from the macaca debacle. Wouldn’t you track him?
The Democrat ensnaring the next Allen gaffe scores a feather in his/her cap and adds to their party’s stash of campaign attacks lying in wait. It is that simple.
George Allen is indeed in the lead. My choice, Jamie Radtke, has until the primary to change that. She’s made proven progress, but has a good way still to go. Good thing she started early. Allen certainly has more money at this point and leads in most polls. However, those polls taken now don’t necessarily reflect the future. We all know that. We also know that the unscientific poll taken by activists here on Bearing Drift that JAMIE RADTKE won, is not a reliable indicator either. But hey, polls are fun and indicate possible momentum shifts.
For reasons good & bad, George Allen has those trackers tailing his every move. He earned them. Even as wounded and flawed a candidate as he is, he is still the biggest threat in the room. Biggest threat to other campaigns…..and the biggest threat to himself.
So…are the Dems tracking any of the other candidates?
Yes Michael, Jamie has at least one tracker..
I think that I need to make this clear: my main point is how these two national special interests are taking an interest in the Virginia race; in particular, an interest in George Allen. Yes, Turbo, I can appreciate other candidates having a tracker, but three?! There’s something more going on here than just the U.S. Senate race, I think.
I’m more surprised by the fact that the Democrats actually created 4 jobs.
@ Scott, hahahahahaha
Those trackers are bowling for the fodder that make streaming youtube such a success. Allen is a target rich opportunity for cunning minds with videocameras.
You cannot deny the fact that Allen has baited himself in the past for attention.. now he is getting attention. He has succeeded.. Was that not his intent?
These trackers are being paid? I’ve seen a couple of them, they look like raggamuffin college students that do it for a free meal.
Loudon Lady, unless things have changed, you oughtta catch a sight of the gop tracker(s).
JR, I think Virginia should have been a GOP slam dunk, but with George Allen being a gold mine of gaffes that keeps producing, the Dems think this race is very winnable. National interest trackers could mean national Democratic money is testing the waters and fishing for easy material for commercials.
That would be my assumption. Do you have another theory?
“raggamuffin college students”
Those are generally the people interested in tracker jobs.
[...] to that, the Virginia Democratic Party has sent a tracker after him too. Riggs was confirming news first reported on conservative Virginia blog BearingDrift.com. (Unemployed woman trying to sell handwritten letter [...]
[...] to that, the Virginia Democratic Party has sent a tracker after him too. Riggs was confirming news first reported on conservative Virginia blog BearingDrift.com. (Unemployed woman trying to sell handwritten letter [...]
“Republican Detractors” – silly me… I thought when you had a primary, every who was running was called a candidate… guess thats what I get for thinking, unless someone can clear that up for me.
As for the trackers… most are probably doing it for the potential notoriety and expense money.
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