Over the weekend RPV and Roanoke Sheraton Conference Center hosted the first of three US Senate primary debates with George Allen, E.W. Jackson, Bob Marshall, and Jamie Radtke.
I was there, along with Jason Johnson and Rick Sincere to provide Bearing Drift’s live coverage of the event. Live blog coverage can be replayed here. Rick has posted several podcasts as well, all available here. I came away with some expectations changed, some not.
(I’ll list the candidates and my opinion of their performance in alphabetical order.)
George Allen: As the front-runner Governor Allen was in the riskiest position yet he performed very well. He had to legitimize his three challengers or risk having an empty podium at future events, thus giving naysayers a crack in the armor to attack. It was not the gaffe fest Tim Kaine was hoping for, as Allen stayed on subject, answered each question thoughtfully and intelligently. He treated the other candidates with respect while focusing attention on each as they answered, laughing along with them at their jokes, and even crossing over to pat Bishop Jackson on the back as a response to one of Jackson’s answers. Continue like this in the next two debates Mr. Allen and you just might have this thing wrapped up.
E.W. Jackson: I had only heard of Bishop Jackson before the debates but had never heard him utter a word. I’m sure there are YouTube videos of him, but frankly I had never taken the time to check them out. In a word, I was impressed. Forceful, clear, concise, conservative and intelligent all apply equally. I thought he was the crowd favorite, even eliciting enthusiastic applause from the Marshall supporters. He’s not likely to win the primary, yet he does have a strong future in Virginia politics. Keep your eye on this man, there’s more to come from this rising star.
Bob Marshall: Staying true to the by now well-known Bob Marshall script, Delegate Marshall once again proves his conservative bona fides. Delegate Marshall was the only one who mentioned Chairman Kaine repeatedly. Like Jackson, Marshall is not likely to win the primary and that suits me fine. We need more Bob Marshalls in the General Assembly. Perhaps he would consider the senate down here instead of the senate up there. He’s needed more here.
Jamie Radtke: Like the next-to-last man standing in a Texas Hold-em game, Ms Radtke went all in. The only one to mention George Allen by name more than once she showed everyone who her target is. She effectively answered every question, showed her true conservative nature, and her fierce competitiveness. Like Jackson she too has a bright future in Virginia politics if she fails in this, her first endeavor.
NOTE: The above is an opinion piece. Not to be considered an endorsement. Not by this writer. Not by Bearing Drift. Bearing Drift has not yet endorsed a candidate for U.S. Senate and will not do so until late May, following the final debate. Any posts made on this subject are the position of the author only, and not representative of the opinion of Bearing Drift, Virginia Line Media LLC or its owners and contributors. Please see our Endorsement Policy for information regarding our endorsement process.
