If there was any doubt that the Howell-Stimpson race was officially over, those doubts were removed today.
First, Howell’s campaign unleashed the endorsements of every member of the Stafford BOS who served with Susan Stimpson. As in, all of ’em.
Second, the Free Lance-Star editorial board came down with its own editorial endorsement of Speaker Bill Howell.
The coup de grace on what has become a coup de farce of a campaign effort? Howell’s fundraising numbers:
Howell’s campaign said Monday it had raised more than $550,000 in the latest reporting period, leaving his campaign $528,000 to spend in the final days of the contest.
. . .
A spokesman for Stimpson said she raised $28,000 during the latest reporting period and has $21,000 cash on hand.
No clue on who that spokesman might be, seeing as the Stimpson campaign is probably powering the front office by candles given the paltry fundraising effort.
This race was over the moment Stimpson announced. Any challenger campaign against Howell had to be flawless — from announcement to ending. This campaign stumbled out of the gate from the word go, whether it was the lackluster fundraising effort, the obsession over boogeymen and “dirty tricks” from false corners, or absurd e-mails with enough flourescent highlighting to put an ’80s glam band to shame, the staffers who either bailed, fired for their friends, or simply couldn’t be retained (depending on the story you hear), or the absolutely inept messaging…
The worst part? Howell’s best endorsement came from the candidate herself back in 2011:
This campaign was billed as Brat vs. Cantor 2.0 — and a good number of notables put their time and reputation behind the effort. Unfortunately, the Stimpson campaign just couldn’t convert that into grassroots support as Howell’s secret weapon — Cessie Howell — managed to get southern Stafford organized and energized, with an incredible door knocking campaign and deploying the messaging that by and large ignored Howell’s opposition and focused on the positives.
Howell is likable… Stimpson simply hasn’t provided two things required in any challenger race: a reason to fire the incumbent, and a reason to hire the challenger. If Stimpson is dismissive about the so-called chattering classes, she should knock on doors… they are her prospective constituency.
Needless to say… Howell is looking very comfortable moving towards the June 9th primary. Given the negativity of her campaign and Howell’s reputation — including Stimpson’s betrayal of her former mentor — it’s safe to say voters might very well be looking to make a statement against Stimpson and for Howell next Tuesday.
