Posted on 02/08/2005 2:00:22 PM PST by Corin Stormhands
It's official ... almost.
Warrenton mayor George Fitch confirmed on Monday that he will formally enter the Republican Party gubernatorial-nomination race this week.
Fitch has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday morning in Norfolk to announce his candidacy for the party nod.
(Excerpt) Read more at augustafreepress.com ...
~sigh~
The guy doesn't have a prayer. But we don't need this.
Kilgore for Governor ping.
If we ignore him, will he go away?
Who is this guy? And why is he crashing the party?
arghhhhh, shades of John Hager and all the help he gave Earley.
Why would the Mayor of Warrenton choose to announce in Norfolk?
Just got this email from Mr. Kilgore's campaign.
For Immediate Release: Contact: Carrie Cantrell
Tuesday, February 8, 2005 (804) 421-9966 or (804) 317-7034
Kilgore Announces Campaign Leadership Team
- Former Governor Gilmore, Senators Warner and Allen to Serve as
Honorary Campaign Co-Chairmen -
RICHMOND - Former Virginia Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore today announced that former Governor Jim Gilmore and U.S. Senators John Warner and George Allen will serve as the Honorary Co-Chairmen of his campaign. In addition, the eight Republican members of the Virginia Congressional delegation will serve as Honorary Vice-Chairs. Jeffrey McWaters, Chairman and CEO of AMERIGROUP Corp., will serve as finance chairman, former Secretary of the Commonwealth Betsy Davis Beamer as treasurer and Richmond attorney Ashley Taylor will serve as counsel to the campaign.
"I am proud to announce that these dedicated, principled leaders in Virginia are joining our cause and will actively participate in our campaign for Governor," Kilgore said. "Having Governor Gilmore, the Senators and our Republican Congressional members supporting this campaign and out on the trail will help us spread our positive message of reform to unleash the potential of all Virginians and make our great Commonwealth an even better place to call home."
"I am pleased to lend my support to Jerry Kilgore in his campaign for governor," said former Governor Gilmore. "As attorney general I worked with Jerry in his role as secretary of public safety to abolish parole and reform juvenile justice. During my administration I worked with both Jerry and Marty to continue reforming Virginia government. I know that Jerry has the commitment and vision to move Virginia forward as our next governor."
"I have known Jerry Kilgore since he worked as a volunteer in my first campaign for Senate in 1978," said Senator Warner. "His dedication to the principles and values that we as Virginians hold dear are unwavering and will guide him in his vision for the future of our Commonwealth. He will make a tremendous governor."
"When I was selecting the members of my Competitiveness Cabinet, I could think of no better person to serve as Secretary of Public Safety than Jerry Kilgore," said Senator Allen. "He worked across party lines to champion our successful abolition of parole and truth-in-sentencing efforts. He is an individual of integrity, vision and who can get things done because he has the right ideas to improve the lives of all Virginians."
Vice Co-Chairs
Congressman Frank Wolf (10th District)
Congressman Bob Goodlatte (6th District)
Congressman Tom Davis (11th District)
Congressman Virgil Goode (5th District)
Congressman Eric Cantor (7th District)
Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis (1st District)
Congressman Randy Forbes (4th District)
Congresswoman Thelma Drake (2nd District)
Finance Chairman
Jeffrey McWaters, of Virginia Beach, is the Chairman and CEO of AMERIGROUP Corporation.
Treasurer
Betsy Davis Beamer, of Henrico County, served as Secretary of the Commonwealth during the Allen Administration.
Counsel to the Campaign
Ashley Taylor, of the City of Richmond, is a partner with Troutman Sanders and is a former Deputy Attorney General of Health and Human Resources and Education.
Kilgore will announce regional and coalition chairmen later in the spring.
###
In case you missed it, this article appeared in today's edition of the Washington Post:
Gilmore Set To Endorse Kilgore for Va. Governor
By Michael D. Shear
Virginia's last Republican governor, James S. Gilmore III, plans to endorse former attorney general Jerry W. Kilgore for governor Tuesday and will urge the GOP's anti-tax wing to support Kilgore's bid for the state's top office, Gilmore said.
Gilmore will serve as honorary co-chairman of Kilgore's campaign, along with U.S. Sens. George Allen and John W. Warner. Kilgore, who resigned as attorney general Feb. 1 to run for office full time, will make the announcement Tuesday.
"The Warner governorship has been relentless about raising taxes. It's time for a change," Gilmore said of Gov. Mark R. Warner, a Democrat. "By asking me to serve, I think Jerry's signaling an intention to address this in a forthright way."
Gilmore's decision helps clear the way for Kilgore's nomination in June and comes after a year in which Gilmore publicly toyed with the idea of making a comeback by running for governor himself.
Please visit this page for more on this article.
Paid for and authorized by the Virginians For Jerry Kilgore
(804) 421-9966 • (804) 421-9968 fax
P.O. Box 17098, Richmond, VA 23226
Political Contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes.
1) After the convention, Hager gave a significant amount of help to Earley. Earley's loss had nothing to do with Hager. Earley ran a week post-convention campaign.
2) I would assume that in addition to Norfolk, he'll also do Richmond, Roanoke and Northern Virginia, all the major media markets. Pretty much all statewide candidates do it that way.
A victory by Kilgore will doom Mark Warner's Presidential dreams. The MSM touts him as the great Southern Hope for the RATS. What's so great about Warner anyway? I doubt he could beat George Allen in 2006. Warner is most likely eyeing John Warner's Senate seat in 2008. But that Senate seat has Rep. Tom Davis's name on it.
I could swear I saw a "W 08" sticker today on a lib's car...
Thanks for clearing that up again Corin.
Earley was also facing a budget backlash, passed on from Gilmore (who could not run again). And Horseface did a nice job of courting the VA business community.
" Earley ran a week post-convention campaign."
Well, that 'splains it .. he had five months to run his campaign ;)
Problem is, Warner had two years. I don't buy that a primary challenge does anything but hurt the candidate for the general election when the opposing candidate hasn't had a primary challenge. I could be wrong but I don't recall Warner having a primary challenge, and he was blessed with endless money to spend, had developed name ID through his Senate run, had an organization in place, and just happened to run as a Republican.
With all due respect to Mr. Fitch, he doesn't seem to stand a snowball's chance, so why weaken Kilgore for the general? What does he bring to the table? The linked article and Fitch himself seemed to give precious little information. I'd seriously like to know, as I will be voting in that primary.
Heh...I'm not sure it made a difference whether it was a week or five months. ;-)
Coop pointed out above that there was a backlash from the Gilmore Administration. Plus, you're right that Warner spent two years going around the state spending his own money.
I really do think Earley could have overcome that. But it just didn't seem like he cared.
Well, according to the libs, GW was not elected in 2000, he was "selected". So, if you follow their logic, 2004 is "really" his first term so he is therefore eligible to run in 2008.
Just taking the liberals' logic to it's natural and inevitable conclusion.
I swear they can't think their way out of a paper bag.
I don't know about that...is Fitch seen as a conservative?! Or is he more of a RINO? If he's to the right of Kilgore, it might serve to solidify Kilgore's conservative positions somewhat.
FReegards...MUD
Talk about yer oxymoron...MUD
I volunteered for him, and I was surprised how many things weren't in place late in the game. Wasn't the most organized campaign I've ever seen.
Corin,
You and I have talked about this before. As you know, Mark Earley and I are good friends. I will be seeing him in a couple weeks (he will be speaking at our church's Men's Retreat the end of this month). I spoke with him several times during his campaign and got the impression that his heart was not in it. By then it was after the convention and was too late. Hindsight being 20/20 the VA Republicans should've probably backed Hager, but its all academic now.
Agreed. And I backed Hager in the primary because John and Maggie are personal friends.
I'm not trying to beat a dead horse, but I feel the need to set things straight everytime people start talking about how wonderful Mark Warner is.
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