Sunday, September 02, 2007
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VA-SEN: Why Not Eric Cantor?
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Posted by:
Patrick Ruffini at
9:33 AM
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Conventional wisdom has Eric Cantor rising through the ranks in the House. But he's also the best hope for Virginia Republicans to hold John Warner's Senate seat.
Here's why the guy I wrote in for Senate in 2002 is still the best choice:
- He's the most talented member of the Virginia delegation.
- He hails from the Richmond suburbs, maybe the state's pivotal region. Northern Virginia has decisively rejected the last two GOP candidates on cultural grounds -- they were from the stix or acted like it. Cantor is from the suburbs in an increasingly suburban state. At the same time, he doesn't hail from NoVa proper and will find it easier to connect with conservatives throughout the Commonwealth.
- Cantor's conservative record would be a marked improvement over John Warner. He scores a solid 82% on the Club for Growth's RePORK Card, the best in the Republican leadership.
- Cantor's Congressional seat is solidly Republican and doesn't flip if he runs.
- He has one of the most obscenely high cash-on-hand totals in the House. That could scare off opponents. Of all the potential candidates, he has the most potential of scaring off Mark Warner -- who could figure a bruising fight against the tough as nails, well funded Cantor isn't worth it -- and that he'll be better positioned by running for governor against George Allen in 2009. Running in 2008 also rules out Warner as VP on the Hillary ticket.
Why not send Cantor a message of support today at EricCantor.com?
Tom Davis could best serve the Republican Party by staying where he is, something he can well appreciate as a former NRCC Chairman. He's the right fit for where Fairfax County is right now. If he goes, so does his district.
As for Jim Gilmore, we need look no further than his recent 11th place publicity stunt to evaluate his skill as a candidate. Yes, he was always a longshot, but the fact that he ranked well below three sitting U.S. Congressmen who both started with near-zero name ID should tell us something. The guy had less of a chance than Ron Paul for crying out loud. He ended as Governor on a low note and was a terrible RNC chairman. Gilmore is not the conservative Virginia needs.
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Too bad the GOP will probably pick a RINO... |
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Cantor is _very_ popular in his district. He is excellent in Congress - reliably conservative and popular with his colleagues. Running for statewide office, he would bring youth, energy, and conservatism to our Commonwealth. Otherwise it's going to be a battle among people from the past, and that is _not_ going to charge up 21st century Virginia conservatives, which must be done for us to _win_ the next election!
http://www.conservativa.com/wp/?p=43 |
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or an idiot like George Allen. |
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He's my congressman and would make an excellent choice for Senate candidate. He has been solidly against surrender to the illegals (amnesty), unlike Sen Warner. Probably the GOP's best chance to retain that seat. |
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"Too bad the GOP will probably pick a RINO..."
Same old garbage...
The same dim mindset that is debasing the GOP and the Conservative Interests, instead of building it.
So many fine Conservatives make up the GOP, and fight to help this Country, while the jaded cynic simply slander their admirable efforts.
The reason we have a strong economy, strong National Defense, no attacks since 9-11, is due in large part to the efforts of the GOP Representation in Congress and the White House.
But those so lost, who foolishly boycotted the vote in 2006, giving Congress to the mindless Pelosi and Reid, are stuck on stupid.
In a thread suggesting a fine candidate to run for a needed seat, what does some of the tired response provide?
More baseless GOP bashing...
Wow, how impressive.
Following a fashion which has only grown the Democrat control in Washington.
Some of these comments actually sound like closet Democrat Partisans...
Amazing, to have those lose sight of the many positives the GOP have fought for over the years.
It really is pathetic.
Same old garbage, missing the ugly context of the Liberal Democrat opposition.
If your stuck on the angst about Illegal Immigration, and opposed the reform in the Senate?
It was the GOP which stopped it.
But never mind dealing with facts, basis, reason, just stick with the ignorant slant that the GOP is the problem.
Take Arizona for example, the Republicans in the State produced several bills to deal with Illegal Immigration, only to have a Democrat Governor veto every effort.
Ignore the reality the Bush Administration fought the ACLU to complete the fence in San Diego, and does more to stop Illegal Immigration than the past 5 Presidential Administrations combined.
Just keep debasing your own interests...
Such brilliance.
And ignore Hillary Clinton and Company working to take things away from us...
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I don't think that the Republican rank and file are all that interested in what CFG thinks, and I don't understand why the pundit class is so obsessed with them.
George Allen would be a better pick.
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Cantor sounds like the right man for the job, especially since he's against amnesty for illegal aliens. |
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Why not send him a message of support???
You still don't get it do you Hugh? |
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Canter is young, pretty yet virile and...well, very pretty.
With those attributes, he should do quite well in a foot-tapping GOP primary against a pudgy, middle-aged Davis and a very grumpy, frumpy Gilmore. |
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hehehe...
sure...
why is it, that the account of JOE often reads like a liberal, and seems onlly interested in debasing the GOP (who serves the Conservative Interest)?
even before the 2006 election, offering nothing but a delusional-negative viewpoints, after the GOP in Congress had so many positives...
then later pushing John McCain?
mmm... |
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Eric Cantor looks like a younger Rick Santorum. This is good. He could lose the glasses, tho.
I emailed him and told him to run. Now we'll see how serious he might be. I will probably get a pitch for a contribution in the next 48 hours.
To HNAV: The Dem governor of AZ finally DID sign one of the immigration bills. It isn't a bad bill, either. She's term limited in 2010, and her eyes are on the US Senate. Remember the name - Janet Napolitano. Remember also she was the coach and chief handholder of the notorious Janet Hill when she testified against Justice Clarence Thomas at his confirmation hearing.
To some of us, she will always be complicit in the "high-tech lynching." She is very popular her and could win. My Arizona GOP is like state GOPs all over the country - they don't know whether to kill themselves or go bowling.
Cantor for J. Warner is a trade I'd make any day.
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I really like Eric Cantor. He would make a great conservative Senator. But...Tom Davis is running. He will not step aside. (So his seat is already lost.) The only question is will someone challenge him in the primary?
It looks like Jim Gilmore will, fresh after his less than inspiring run for the Presidency. And that means we already have a primary coming. So, I don't really want Cantor to also get in. Then the GOP would spend their time beating each other up in the primary/convention, while Mark Warner (assuming he runs; it is not a given) raises money and runs nice commercials touting how great he is.
And because of George Allen's implosion last year, the GOP cannot afford any more mistakes. Tom Davis, while not as conservative as I am, is more conservative than John Warner, and certainly more of a party loyalist (J. Warner refused to fundraise for Republicans who he claims are "too conservative." J. Warner is also wrong, and laughably wrong, regarding Iraq.) He has the most money, is a good a fundraiser, has a base in Northern VA, and is lauded by the media as a "moderate."
Thus, Davis would make the strongest candidate to take on M. Warner (assuming he runs). |
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...it will take a cliff climber to beat Mark Warner. He left the Governor's office as one of the highest favorable ratings a VA governor has ever received. If the GOP doesn't pick a strong military voice that John Warner had, Virginia goes completely blue. It will be tough to stop that wave unfortunately.
HNAV- you're right, that RINO stuff is garbage |
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