ERICA YOON | The Roanoke Times
Posted on 06/08/2014 7:04:33 PM PDT by Perseverando
ERICA YOON | The Roanoke Times
Delegates cheer candidate Ed Gillespie during his introduction at the state Republican convention
Saturday in Roanoke. Less than 90 minutes after voting began at the convention, Gillespie’s nearest
rival, Shak Hill, conceded the nomination to Gillespie. The low attendance — 4,200 delegates
had registered but about 2,700 came to Roanoke — may have expedited the balloting.
Ed Gillespie, a fixture in national Republican politics, easily won his party’s nomination Saturday to take on Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., setting up a marquee fight with control of the Senate at stake.
At 2:50 p.m., less than 90 minutes after voting began at the state Republican convention, Gillespie’s nearest rival, Shak Hill, conceded the nomination to Gillespie.
“I am so honored and I accept your nomination,” Gillespie told about 2,700 delegates at the Roanoke Civic Center. He said of Hill’s concession: “It is a very gracious step towards unifying our party.”
Before the delegates began voting, Gillespie, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, told the crowd that taking control of the Senate could ride on the Virginia outcome.
“We know that this Virginia Senate race will have a national impact,” he told delegates, who chanted: “We want Ed.”
“It won’t just mean that Warner will become the former senator from Virginia, it also means that Harry Reid will become the former Senate majority leader.”
Gillespie’s nomination victory over three rivals, which hardly surprised political observers, is a step in the GOP’s push to retake control of the Senate.
Democrats now hold 55 of the 100 seats, including two independents who caucus with the party. Control of the chamber is in question, with Democrats defending 21 of the 36 seats that are
(Excerpt) Read more at roanoke.com ...
I am not sure that this a particularly good thing. I like these career pols less and less as time goes by
He has my vote. The bigger picture of trying to gain the majority in the U.S. Senate is my priority.
https://www.facebook.com/edforsenate
I don’t care much for Ed, but I hope and doubt he can beat Warner in the fall.
That's your priority. My priority is to destroy liberal republicans, even in the general elections, until running as a liberal republican is a political kiss of death.
Liberal republicans don't have a great track record when they have controlled the senate.
/johnny
He's normal. Does he share my views on every last jot and tittle?
No, probably not. But then I'm pretty much to the right compared to most Republicans.
I like Ed Gillespie because he's normal. No wacky ideological or personality quirks that would kill the deal. He has a demonstrated track record of self-discipline which is exactly what has been missing among so many of my right wing comrades.
The more I think about it the more I believe that Virginia would be very well served with him in a position of responsibility.
JFK was to the right of most liberal republicans of today.
How is Gillespie on abortion, 2nd Amendment, amnesty, obamacare?
/johnny
I know but this guy is a Bushie through and through. That gives me pause. Do I like him better than Mark Warner? Marginally
The only so-called republicans I know that I wouldn't support are McCain and Lindsey Graham. Sometimes it's just best to tolerate them if you can take control of the senate.
I will grant that he is better than ANY dimorat out there. That’s not my standard any more. He worries me because he is a Bushie through and through. That gives me pause
/johnny
Take 2 minutes and watch his video. Make an effort to get to know him and his record.
We’re always better off with a guy that votes with us most of the time, rather than a guy that votes against you 100% of the time. You have to control Congress to control the agenda. Conservatives don’t have to be a majority to use moral outrage that sets the agenda.
Catch the Dems, catch the RINOs, get the word out and you control the agenda, but if you don’t control committees and their appointments you don’t get to write the legislation or pass it. You’re powerless and that’s the facts.
Like Priebus, this is another loser.
Agreed! Ronald Reagan said that.
I don't care what any politician says. I care what their record is.
/johnny
I am starting a pro-Gillespie ping list. Please message me if you’d like to be on it.
Yes we do. He was the little Bushbot weasel who enthusiastically declared to the Manchester Union Leader that the days of small government Republicanism were dead:
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/207956/has-big-government-won/bruce-bartlett
Screw him. Screw the VA GOP.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.