1. We should thank Jim Gilmore for running. With Warner’s crushing money advantage, there was no one who had a strong chance against him. But Gilmore gamely went ahead and ran. He got out there and put forth conservative ideas, running with a small campaign budget all over the state talking to people, without a whole lot of help from Republican elected officials. In fact, even people who aren’t much involved in politics noted that “not a whole lot of help” coming from elected officials. If said elected officials notice not a whole lot of warmth lately from their constituents, they, the electeds, should wonder if perhaps their disappointing “not a whole lot of help” was noted by said constituents. Yes, of course, politicians have to be self-protective. But one would hope for a little more skill in balancing “helping your friends” and “watching out for yourself.”
And if you think I am writing about you and you ask, “Why would I help him? He didn’t have a chance?” I ask you, if you are an elected person and/or party leader of some kind, how did you let things get to the point where we got a Mega Money guy against Gilmore? Couldn’t you have seen this matchup coming? Could you have taken steps to get another candidate or arrange for more/better money? Exactly what leadership did you show early in 2007, or late in 2006, as you saw the possibility of this matchup coming along?
What did Casey Stengel say, “Doesn’t anybody here know how to play this game?
2. Terry McAuliffe’s run for governor makes McDonnell’s campaign more difficult. The upside: three Democrats spending money to fight each other. But there is a whole lot of Democratic money out there. Think of it this way… Obama spend over half a BILLION dollars to get elected. Yes, there’s a lot of money out there.
3. Got my invitation to the Advance, including details on some “how to” seminars. Pure. Comedy. Gold. No, I’m not going. I have better uses for my money.
