Del. Bob Marshall is going to make the GOP convention interesting. He’s gaining momentum throughout Virginia. Interesting to say the least:
From the WAPO
Republicans across Virginia are rallying with surprising vigor behind the U.S. Senate campaign of state Del. Robert G. Marshall, a quirky Prince William County conservative who is challenging former governor James S. Gilmore III for the GOP nomination to replace retiring Sen. John W. Warner (R).
Rest of article
On Friday evening, Bob Marshall worked the crowd at the Stafford County Republican Committee Lincoln-Reagan Dinner like a seasoned professional. Gilmore was there also with a cadre of young help, but Bob and his one campaign staffer probably talked to and put lit in the hands of more people then Gimore’s whole team.
I think that may be the first time I’ve seen Del. Marshall not have the camera hung around his neck and campaigning like a real canddiate.
Filed under: 2008 Elections
The difference I saw, and you mentioned it as well, is that Bob Marshall was on the offensive, actively working the crowd, moving around, seeking out elected officials, along with pretty much every other person that attended that dinner Friday night.
Gilmore on the other hand, stood in a single place, waiting for, maybe even expecting, folks to approach him.
Thats the recipe for a frontrunner, whom many see as Jim Gilmore in this nomination battle, to get beat.
Lastly- a BIG pat-on-the-back to the Stafford County Chair(wo)man- Susan Stimpson. The Linc/Reag Dinner was an abolute HUGE success, with every big-name Republican (except Bill Bolling strangely enough?) there in attendance. There must of been 150 people, including Ed Gillespie, Bob McDonnell, Speaker Howell, Richard Stuart, Rob Whitman, future LG prospects Corey Stewart and Jay O’Brien, and as already mentioned both Delegate Marshall and former Gov. Jim Gilmore.
Given its success, I’d like to see this dinner moved to a larger facility next year, like the expo center.
[...] coming on strong Even the Washington Post had to notice (h/t Hirons at VV): Republicans across Virginia are rallying with surprising vigor behind the U.S. Senate campaign of [...]
Stimpson did a fantastic job. These kinds of annual events are among the best tools to keep people interested, active, and fired up. She’s well on her way to building a very effective (and well-funded) organization.
With respect to the size of the crowd, the venue sold out, so we can’t know just how many additional people would have attended, but I’m sure it would have been a lot. However, I would be interested to see just what proportion of the people in attendance were actually from Stafford…with so many out-of-county elected officials and candidates and their respective coteries of aides and spouses, it was hard to tell just how big the turnout was among local people. I’m guessing next year she’ll keep it in Stafford (so no Fredericksburg Expo center), but she’s going to have to find a hotel with suitable meeting space.
As for elected officials, a mention should also be made of RPV Chairman John Hager, as well as his challenger, Del. Jeff Frederick, both of whom were in attendance and actively working the crowd. I’ve got the impression that race isn’t over just yet, and that it’s going to get more interesting soon.
From what I have seen and heard, Stafford is quickly becoming a model on how to run an effective organization, especially when times are very difficult for the GOP.
Frederick is done…plain and simple. He never really got off the ground.
The Stafford Lincoln/Reagan Day dinner in Stafford was indeed a huge success and Susan Stimpson should be applauded for the hard work she put into making it such an enjoyable evening.
It was a pleasure to get to meet so many elected officials. It was especially nice to see the two candidates for Senate. I saw Governor Gilmore working the room the entire night as well as say good bye to everyone as they left the dinner. He actually took the time to come to my table and say hello. I actually was not aware Bob Marhall was there until I was leaving, and even then he just gave me a head nod.
It is clear that Governor Gilmore is the candidate who has the ability and know how to campaign effectively. Just one more reason why he is the only Republican candidate who can beat Mark Warner.
By now everyone knows about Gilmore’s pro-abortion position–that he upholds abortion rights until the beginning of the third month of life. It is also old news that Gilmore serves on the Board of Directors of Barr Labs, which makes the Morning After abortaficient
–and Gilmore makes no apologies for it.
That was only the beginning of Gilmore’s eroding support.
If you see Marshall and Gilmore side by side, Gilmore doesn’t have the demeanor or the gravitas of a U.S. Senator. Marshall does. And Marshall’s oratory skills are superior. Unfortunately, Gilmore does not possess great speaking skills.
One of the biggest downsides to Gilmore is that he has absolutely no experience in the legislative trenches. His knowledge of parliamentary procedure pales in comparison to Marshall’s.
Warner is the same–no experience in a legislature.
Some of the Republican leadership is already shrinking from support for Gilmore. I just spoke with a party chairman who endorsed Gilmore and he told me he regrets it.
The recent newspaper headlines heralding Marshall’s victory on the steps of the Virginia Supreme Court certainly gave a huge boost to Marshall. Gilmore just doesn’t have what it take to take on everyone and win. He doesn’t have the confidence in his positions or his skills. He has not agreed to a debate with Marshall and the reason is obvious. Marshall is erudite person and a scholar. Gilmore talks like a used car salesman.
Marshall’s victories against Warner also adds to his stature as the most formidable candidate.
The record shows that Marshall is the only legislator who has twice overrode Mark Warner–and with overwhelming support from the General Assembly.
Marshall reminds voters that Warner took $317 million from the Transportation Trust fund for non-road expenses. Marshall was so infuriated that he wrote the Transportation Lock Box Constitutional Amendment to ban such raids on the transportation fund, and received unanimous support in the House, 96-0.
Marshall reminds voters recall Warner’s promise to never increase taxes, but within two years of his term, he increased taxes $1.5 Billion (and not one cent went for transportation). Marshall has made the same promise. In 16 years, Marshall has never supported a tax increase.
Another issue that shows that Marshall has a pulse on what Viginians want is the Abusive Driver Fees of 2007. Marshall voted no three times, when almost everyone else voted in favor of it.
As an independent voter, who often votes Republican because I am prolife, it is clear to me why Gilmore has the jitters. Not only does Marshall have a very good chance of winning the Republican nomination, he has an excellent chance of beating Warner in November.
I just don’t see what Gilmore thinks he has to offer Virginians. He just doesn’t posess the leadership traits we need in the Senate. Neither does Warner.