(UPDATE: Great new ad by Tom Perriello, love it! - promoted by lowkell)
I'm not sure quite what to make of this poll, showing that "Representative Tom Perriello is statistically tied with Republican candidate, Virginia State Senator Robert Hurt."
In the initial head-to-head in the race for Virginia's [5th] congressional district, Perriello is within the margin of error against Hurt, 42 to 44 percent. Clark received 6 percent. Conducted August 24-26, the poll surveyed 400 likely voters and has a 4.9 percent margin of error.
I mean, I hope it's true, but given that I wouldn't put much stock in a poll done for the National Republican Congressional Committee (and also given the SurveyUSA poll that showed Hurt leading 61%-35%), I'm not sure I should much stock in this one either. I'd at least like to see the "internals" on this one. How about you?
Over at Open Left, Mike Lux is out with his list of "the general election races I think matter the most to progressives." Coming in at #1 is Virginia's 5th Congressional District, home of Rep. Tom Perriello. I strongly endorse what Mike Lux has to say (bolding added by me for emphasis):
1. VA-5. Tom Perriello vs. Robert Hurt. I put this at the top because I think it is symbolically the most important race of the year: can a Democrat who voted with progressives on virtually every major issue from this kind of southern conservative working-class district win in a year like this? The odds are long, and Tom is behind right now, but if anyone can do it, he can. Perriello is a great campaigner who has raised a ton of money, and his appeal to values-based economic populism is compelling. Because Tom has raised so much money, other candidates probably need your contributions more, although as tough as this race is, he can still use help. But if there is anything else you can do, including recruiting volunteers and signing up to make calls, please do so.
To volunteer for Tom Perriello, please click here, and remember, you don't have to live in his district to help him out!
P.S. I don't think I can make this event (unfortunately), but this coming Sunday afternoon at 4 pm, Arlington County Treasurer Frank O'Leary is holding a pizza party for Perriello at "Casa O'Leary" at 239 North Highland Street. If you're interested in pizza with Perriello, click here.
A corporate front group, Americans for Prosperity, is running ads attacking Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA) & dozens of other Democrats for supporting the economic recovery package that kept the recession from becoming Great Depression II. So what's AFP's idea of great economic policy? Shipping jobs to China & lining their own pockets with the salaries of those out of work Americans. Via TPM, here's some pushback from the campaign of Rep. Zack Space (D-OH):
Waldo Jaquith points us to a new poll of the 5th Congressional District by the conservative American Action Forum. The results, for what they're worth given the group's obvious pro-Republican bias, are that Robert Hurt leads Rep. Tom Perriello by 6 points, 49%-43%. These results are wildly different than the SurveyUSA poll conducted a few weeks ago, and which had Hurt leading Perriello by a whopping (and most likely, implausible) 23-point margin. Have things changed that much in a few weeks, are all these polls garbage, or was one of these accurate and other one totally off base? Got me, except that I never believed Tom Perriello was really down by that wide a margin to Robert Hurt.
By the way, also worth noting is that Hurt's "name recognition" is 75%, while Perriello's is 95%. As Waldo writes, "I think it's good news that Hurt's name recognition is comparatively low, because that gives Perriello a chance to define him." Good point, and that's where Tom's money advantage - not to mention his far superior public speaking and debating skills, intellect, integrity, work ethic, raw courage, etc. - comes in handy. This should be interesting.
P.S. Welcome back Waldo to the world of blogging. As he points out, it's been a rough month for him. Ugh.
Check out Rep. Tom Perriello (D-5th) at 1:30 today in his debate against...well, one of his opponents, anyway. Where's Republican nominee Robert Hurt? Ducking, dodging, evading, obfuscating, taking a nap? Meanwhile, as Hurt cowers, Perriello fearlessly faces the voters' questions. What else is new?
The first debate of the 5th district race is getting underway in a few minutes.
Unbelievably, Senator Robert Hurt is refusing to show up to make his case to the voters. I'll be making the case that if he wants the job of representative, he needs to show up for the interview. I'm looking forward to debating the independent candidate, Jeff Clark. We may not agree on many things, but we at least agree that any man who wants to represent this district should have the courage to show up to debates.
UPDATE 1:33 PM: Senior Statesmen of Virginia intro to the debate: "The Republican candidate chose not to accept." Ha. Also, according to Coy Barefoot, the moderator of the forum, Robert Hurt is the first candidate to decline an invitation from the Senior Statesmen since 1996. Wow, that's pitiful!
UPDATE 1:40 PM: Perriello says that, unlike Robert Hurt, at least Virgil Goode showed up and said where he stood. Also, Perriello says it's a "shame" that Hurt won't let Clark in the debates. Tom Perriello challenges Hurt to four televised debates, says "voters deserve that."
There were a couple of interesting developments today in Virginia's 5th Congressional district, where Republican Robert Hurt and Independent/Tea Party candidate Jeff Clark are challenging Rep. Tom Perriello (D). To begin with, here's a statement from Perriello's campaign regarding the endorsement earlier today by former Republican candidate Jim McKelvey of Hurt. Back in June, McKelvey said of Hurt: "I refuse to support him, he's not gonna represent me." So much for that vow, apparently!
First, Senator Hurt pledged away his independence to Washington corporate interest groups in order to become the lobbyists' candidate. Now, Jim McKelvey reveals a dozen more secret promises that this career politician made in backrooms, including a promise to abolish the Department of Education and vote against bills that fund our military and veterans. Who knows what else he'll be pledging tonight in the secret Tea Party meeting? We won't know -- because instead of talking straight to voters in a televised debate, Robert Hurt favors back-room deals, as all career politicians do.
In other news, with 3 months to go until election day, Robert Hurt is busy trying to duck debates with Rep. Perriello, most likely for two main reasons: 1) Hurt's up big in the latest poll; 2) Hurt must realize that Perriello is a far, far superior debater who will clean his clock. It's amusing, though, how Hurt's position has evolved over the past month or two.
According to the Lynchburg News & Advance, that city's Tea Party has banned the press from their August 5 meeting with Bob Goodlatte (R-6th) and 5th District GOP challenger Robert Hurt.
At a May meeting than drew about 50 people, the Tea Pots said that the "distraction of the press" being present was what members objected to. What distraction? Reporting what the seven GOP candidates in the 5th District had to say to potential voters?
Not only is the press being denied admission to the August meeting, but chair Mark Lloyd said only "registered members" plus "regular participants" will be allowed to attend. That policy reminds me of those phony "town hall meetings" George Bush used to have, where only card-carrying Republicans were allowed in and questions were screened in order to avoid the press in attendance hearing something critical of Bush.
I agree with the New & Advance editorial. "By excluding the media from Thursday's meeting, the Lynchburg Tea Party is serving only itself. But maybe that's what this third party political movement is all about."
Meanwhile, in August Tom Perriello is again holding 22 town hall meetings - open to the press and to all citizens - throughout the 5th District. Robert Hurt, who was opposed by many of those same 5th District Tea Pots and who has an independent challenger on the far right - Jeff Clark - is making a very big mistake when he agrees to meet the Tea Pots in secret. Just what will he promise them? We'll never know.
So, is 5th CD Republican nominee Robert Hurt proud to be joining the likes of crazy Sharron Angle on this?
Hurt Pledges to De-Fund ObamaCare
Charlottesville, VA - Today DeFundIt.org is proud to announce Robert Hurt, Republican candidate for Virginia's 5th Congressional District, has signed our pledge to de-fund ObamaCare. Over 135 candidates have signed the pledge, including Nevada Senate candidate Sharron Angle and thirteen NRCC "Young Guns". Chairman Alex Cortes, speaking on Robert Hurt's pledge said:
"By signing our pledge, Hurt has taken a leadership position in calling for the de-funding of ObamaCare as the first necessary step to fully repealing and replacing this unconstitutional, job-killing, fiscal train wreck. Americans and Virginians would have a friend in Congress with Robert."
Sooo...is Hurt really advocating putting seniors back in the "donut hole," restoring "rescissions" of coverage and denial of coverage for "pre-existing conditions," kicking children, putting back lifetime and annual limits on coverage, kicking "adult children" under the age of 26 off their parents' health insurance, and ditching tax credits to small businesses to help make covering their employees more affordable? Is that really what Robert Hurt is advocating for residents of the 5th CD? Unfortunately, he really is. That's one good reason why, this coming November, 5th CD residents are likely to pick Rep. Tom Perriello instead. Go Tom!
If the GOP still thinks that Tom Perriello (D-5th) is the most "endangered" Democrat in the nation, they haven't been paying attention to the campaign he has been conducting. So far, Perriello is doing everything right - from raising plenty of money to inspiring lots of young volunteers to begin campaign work early in the process, all the while engaging voters.
During the last recess Perriello took his campaign to the Main Streets of several towns in the 5th District, including Chatham, where his GOP opponent, the Sarah-Palin-endorsed Robert Hurt, practices law.
Tom Perriello isn't what I would call a typical national progressive. Instead, he reminds me more of Jim Webb. Perriello, like Webb, is determined to do what he can to make government work better for workers and the middle class. That's the reason he voted for health care reform.
The April-June quarter fundraising for Perriello gave him the best quarter he has ever had, more than $660,000, outpacing Robert Hurt, who raised $510,000. According to campaign manager Lise Clavel, the vast bulk of Perriello's money - about 97 percent - came in the form of donations under $200. Unlike Hurt, Perriello doesn't accept money from federal lobbyists or corporate political action committees. So far, Perriello has raised $2.3 million and had $1.7 million on hand at the beginning of June. Hurt has less than a third of that on hand.
The other candidate in the race, Jeffrey Clark, who is a Tea Bagger type, hasn't yet reported his third quarter results.
Not that this is a big surprise, but still interesting:
Democrats are pleased that Palin chose Hurt as one of the candidates benefiting from her $87,500 in donations this quarter because they believe she fires up their own base. Now they can goad Hurt into saying whether Palin will come campaign for him in the 5th District.
It's not the first political celebrity to get involved in the race. Both Laura Ingraham and Joe The Plumber backed Laurence Verga, an early conservative favorite who flamed out before the primary.
Let's just hope Palin has as much success with her candidate of choice as Laura Ingraham and "Joe" the "Plumber" had with theirs! LOL
Tea Party candidate Jeff Clark rips into Robert Hurt for being a typical politician and for refusing to let Clark into the debates with Tom Perriello. According to Clark, Hurt is "just what I thought he was going to be." Another great quote by Clark: "Robert Hurt is no Virgil Goode, and Robert Hurt is not going to be able to stay one-on-one with Tom Perriello." And, "The only thing [Hurt's] supporters have is fear...they have to instill fear into everyone in order to get them to overlook the sad record and the despicable conduct of Senator Hurt." And finally: "If Senator Hurt doesn't want to participate in the debates, I'm sure I will fill in adequately for the conservative message...but I would welcome [him] to sit in the audience, he may learn a thing or two about conservatism." Hahahaha.
I think it's fair to say that 5th CD Republican Party congressional nominee Robert Hurt is not exactly getting rave reviews for his decision to flip flop on debating the tea party candidate in the race, Jeffrey Clark. To read what Clark has to say, click here. For now, an excerpt will do:
I was disappointed to hear of Senator Hurt's change of position or the mix up that occurred concerning his opinion on the issue of the upcoming debates. I understand he believes that unless you have the money and backing you have no legitimate claim to be included in the political process because you risk being nothing more than a distraction in the important debate of how the two political parties intend to best govern us in the future.
On this matter, I respectfully must disagree with Mr. Hurt. Although it is true I am not independently wealthy and am nothing more than a common citizen that does not have the backing of the political parties...
Anyway, you get the idea -- Jeffrey Clark is not happy with Robert Hurt. Not that this is surprising, given Clark's need to appear in debates to have any chance at all of winning this election. Still, the fact is that Hurt did seem to flip flop on this one, apparently once his boss Chris LaCivita knocked some sense into him, and Clark's not pleased.
Meanwhile, the Roanoke Times weighs in, writing that "Hurt, state senator who spent six years in the House of Delegates, should have nothing to fear." Except that Hurt clearly does have something to fear, namely that Clark might take votes away from him and tip the election to Tom Perriello. It makes sense from a purely political point of view. The problem for Hurt is that this is about as anti-political a year as you'll ever see. Does Hurt really want to be acting like a typical, calculating, conniving politician in the year of the Tea Partiers? Something tells me, in the end, that Jeffrey Clark will end up in these debates -- whether Hurt's puppet master, Chris LaCivita, likes it or not!
(This is a follow-up on lowkell's earlier post about Robert Hurt's ridiculous debate change of heart. I just want to rub it in.)
According to the Charlottesville Daily Progress Robert Hurt, the Republican challenger to Rep. Tom Perriello (D-5th), has changed his mind and refuses to participate in any candidate debate in which tea partier and independent 5th district candidate Jeffrey Clark participates. (Hurt was willing to debate Clark during their primary fight, however.)
In a written statement, Hurt said, "We cannot allow the important debate in this election to be sidetracked by a candidate who is not serious about his campaign or his ability to win." Unfortunately for Hurt, it was just last Saturday that he told the Daily Progress that he was "absolutely" willing to appear at three-candidate debates that featured himself, Rep. Tom Perriello, and Clark. Before his mighty flip flop, Hurt said,
"We need to work out all of the details, but debates are a very, very important part of elections and obviously we want to make ourselves available to all of the citizens who will be judging us and we're committed to doing that but obviously we have the details to work out. We haven't talked with the Perriello campaign - I don't think - about what they're interested in."
Now, he's saying the opposite, a position that has allowed both Tom Perriello and Clark to attack him at will. I love it!
Five days after his statement appeared in print that he would "absolutely" be willing to appear in debates with both Tom Perriello and independent candidate Jeff Clark, Sen. Robert Hurt is changing his story. He is now refusing to debate with the independent candidate.
[...]
"This is pitiful. Virginians hate career politicians who say one thing and do another. Sen. Hurt should stay true to his word and debate Mr. Perriello and Mr. Clark. Sen. Hurt could not get the majority support of his own party and now wants to silence independent voices that reflect many in this district, including many views of the Tea Party," said Lise Clavel, campaign manager for the Perriello campaign. "Tom Perriello faced hundreds of Tea Party constituents during his 21 town hall meetings last summer. If Sen. Hurt wants this job so badly, why is he afraid to face just one?"
Jim McKelvey finished second to Robert Hurt on Tuesday in the 5th CD Republican primary, winning 26% of the vote. Obviously, Hurt will need the (enthusiastic) support of McKelvey and his supporters come November if he hopes to defeat Rep. Tom Perriello. But, based on this video, that doesn't look likely. Such a shame.
UPDATE: McKelvey has now launched a PAC, but remains "mum" on whether or not he'll support Hurt.
*"Robert Hurt has increased his support on the ballot by fourteen points (from 21% to 35%)
and now has a twenty-five point lead on his nearest primary opposition"
*"Hurt's closest opposition, Ken Boyd, garners just 10% of the vote, the
same percentage he received in our February survey. Including Boyd, the other six
candidates' ballot support does not even equal Hurt's 35%."
Assuming that Hurt wins the Republican nomination on June 8, the question is whether any third-party (e.g, "Tea Party") candidates will throw their hat(s) in the ring as well. Right now, though, it's looking like a one-on-one matchup between Rep. Tom Perriello (D) and Hurt. Clearly, if there's any justice in the world, Perriello should be reelected easily. But given how the world is these days, I'm sure this will be anything but easy. Having said that, I certainly believe that Tom Perriello can win reelection, as long as 5th CD voters focus on the superb job he's been doing and not on whatever "Swift Boat" tactics Hurt strategist Chris LaCivita comes up with this cycle.
Last month, I asked "Is there anything State Sen. Robert Hurt (R-Chatham) won't do for his donors at [American Electric Power subsidiary] Appalachian Power?" Today, we're learning more about what's in it for Hurt as he tries to win the GOP nomination to challenge Rep. Tom Perriello (D-5th).
Hurt's shilling came into the spotlight as he made outlandish excuses to defend Appalachian Power's massive rate hike in December. When 5th district voters expressed outrage at the huge price spike in the middle of a recession, Hurt claimed Appalachian Power had no choice but to raise rates because of carbon pollution regulations. Just one problem -- those regulations don't actually exist yet. (Will Hurt next blame AEP's recent minor stock slip on financial reform that has not yet passed?) Hurt has also vigorously rejected mainstream climate science, sounding an awful lot like Tea Party favorite Ken Cuccinelli.
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There were a couple of interesting developments today in Virginia's 5th Congressional district, where Republican Robert Hurt and Independent/Tea Party candidate Jeff Clark are challenging Rep. Tom Perriello (D). To begin with, here's a statement from Perriello's campaign regarding the endorsement earlier today by former Republican candidate Jim McKelvey of Hurt. Back in June, 
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