I guess Dan Casey at the Roanoke Times was right (for once).
According to Laura Vozzella, Democrat Commonwealth’s Attorney of Roanoke City Don Caldwell has supporters out collecting the signatures necessary for Caldwell to be on the ballot in the November Election. , AS AN INDEPENDENT.
Republicans are trying to knock off Edwards, a member of the Senate since 1996, with Nancy Dye, a retired surgeon, businesswoman and civic leader. Since July, she has raised about $130,000 — an amount comparable to the $140,000 Edwards has brought in since January 2012.
Edwards could also face a challenge from Roanoke Commonwealth’s Attorney Don Caldwell, a Democrat who has been considering an independent bid. Caldwell supporters were circulating petitions last week to put him on the ballot, according to two people familiar with those efforts. Caldwell’s office said he was out of the country and unable to respond to a request for comment.
This is not the first time that Caldwell has said he might run. He gave this quote to Dan Casey when the rumors of Caldwell originally were published in the Roanoke Times.
Roanoke Commonwealth’s Attorney Don Caldwell says he’s made no decision regarding an independent bid. But the fact that he’s even thinking about it, and is huddling with advisers, is raising eyebrows and prompting lots of chatter.
“I’m not prepared to talk about it at this point in time,” the 35-year veteran prosecutor told me last week. “I’m still consulting people and trying to figure out whether it’s a realistic possibility or not.”
When I reached out to Nancy Dye’s campaign, they re-directed me to the statement made in the Dan Casey article:
“As I travel the district I hear from people of all political persuasions of their desire to have real political change. The working families of the 21st district want more jobs, more opportunities for their children, and an educational system focused in the classroom.”
Then she added: “Our political democracy is built on participation and I applaud anyone who desires to enter the forum to better our region.”
If there are signatures being collected, and Caldwell runs, this is MASSIVE. Caldwell in his past two elections, 2009 and 2013, has ran unopposed and taking over 98% each time. This truly will take a huge chunk of voters from Edwards, which could really make running even more difficult than it already is for John.
Last week, the Roanoke Times published an editorial noting the terrible fundraising report Edwards brought in for the First Quarter.
He is the only incumbent who started the year with less money than his opponent.
On Jan. 1, he had $42,618 in the bank. Dye had $67,828.
Since then, he’s spent down his amount and she’s added to hers.
So in the latest round of filings, Edwards is down to $32,022 and she’s up to $85,194.
You don’t have to be a campaign finance expert to realize that’s generally not the direction you want to be going in.
But wait! There’s more! Or, in this case, to be more accurate, less.
During the most recent reporting period, Edwards raised just $5,130 — Dye raised $63,151
The point being: Democrats assume that Edwards is safe, so they aren’t focused here. For Republicans, this would be a very nice pick-up……
it’s ultimately in everyone’s interest that voters see an energetic campaign where everyone is engaged — both citizens and candidates. Usually, it’s the former that require motivating, not the latter.
The article basically says that Edwards is asleep at the wheel when Terry McAliuffe and Dick Saslaw doesn’t need to be defending another seat. With Hal Parrish raising huge sums of money & Traci Dippert quitting in Bryce Reeves district, the possibility of the Senate Democrats taking back the State Senate looks like a much harder task.
It will be interesting to see what happens in this race. With Caldwell and Edwards fighting over the Democrats in Roanoke City, Nancy Dye could have a much easier path to the State Senate.
Stay Tuned, y’all!
