2010 Elections, Political News

President Barack Obama will make at least two Virginia lawmakers happy as he campaigns in their state Friday: Rep. Tom Perriello, the only House Member to earn his own presidential rally this fall; and House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, who is banking on Obama’s visit hurting Perriello’s standings. Cantor said the only thing better than Obama’s making an appearance with the Virginia Democrat, who is locked in a tight race with GOP state Sen. Robert Hurt, would be if vice president Joseph Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) came along, too. Obama’s campaign stop makes it “very clear what direction Tom Perriello has in mind for this country. That is the Obama-Pelosi agenda,” the Virginia Republican said during a conference call.

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Cantor: Obama Rally for Perriello Will Help GOP

Get ready for 24 hours of Tom. Virginia voters in a district that’s become ground zero for Republican hopes at winning back the House on Nov. 2 are about to get a whole lot of Rep. Tom Perriello as the vulnerable freshman Democrat does a full day of campaigning. He’ll even squeeze in a haircut. Joined by top aides to Democratic leadership on Capitol Hill, Perriello on Monday will begin the nonstop campaign push with just over one week to go before he faces state Sen. Robert Hurt (R) on the ballot. “You work hard. You deserve a Congressman who works hard too,” is the slogan for Monday’s events, which begin at the stroke of midnight.

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Tom Perriello’s 24-Hour Campaign Blitz To Include Haircut, Truck Stop Visit And Debate

Get ready for 24 hours of Tom. Virginia voters in a district that’s become ground zero for Republican hopes at winning back the House on Nov. 2 are about to get a whole lot of Rep. Tom Perriello as the vulnerable freshman Democrat does a full day of campaigning. He’ll even squeeze in a haircut. Joined by top aides to Democratic leadership on Capitol Hill, Perriello on Monday will begin the nonstop campaign push with just over one week to go before he faces state Sen. Robert Hurt (R) on the ballot. “You work hard. You deserve a Congressman who works hard too,” is the slogan for Monday’s events, which begin at the stroke of midnight.

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Tom Perriello’s 24-Hour Campaign Blitz To Include Haircut, Truck Stop Visit And Debate

Sen. Jim Webb, whose own narrow victory tilted Senate control to the Democrats in 2006, is appealing to a large supporter list to get involved in Virginia’s competitive House races. Webb (D-Va.) wrote an email to supporters this morning detailing the tough challenges to “three extraordinary freshman members” — Democratic Reps. Glenn Nye, Gerry Connolly and Tom Perriello. “To a greater degree than perhaps any other state in America, Virginia is the prime battleground for control of the House of Representatives,” Webb wrote. “All of us recall with pride how in 2008, Virginia led the way with a net gain of three seats in the House – changing the balance in our delegation from an 8-3 Republican advantage to a 6-5 Democratic advantage.”

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Jim Webb: Virginia Is Prime Battleground

The National Republican Congressional Committee will expand its Young Guns list of top recruits for a sixth time Thursday as Republicans try again to expand the House playing field with less than seven weeks to go before Election Day. Eighteen GOP candidates are set to be promoted to Young Guns status, bringing the total number to 75. The committee has not ruled out expanding the list further before Nov. 2. The latest additions include Republicans who won competitive primaries Tuesday in races that have long been considered GOP targets for the fall, including Randy Altschuler in New York’s 1st district, Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta in New Hampshire’s 1st district and former Rep. Charlie Bass in New Hampshire’s 2nd district. But the list also includes several candidates in races that haven’t been considered competitive until recently. They include Republicans Ryan Frazier in Colorado’s 7th district, state Rep. Scott Tipton in Colorado’s 3rd district, state Rep. Mike Keown in Georgia’s 2nd district, state Rep. Austin Scott in Georgia’s 8th district and sportscaster Harold Johnson in North Carolina’s 8th district. Other Republicans who will achieve Young Guns status Thursday are Randy Demmer in Minnesota’s 1st district, Bob Gibbs in Ohio’s 18th district, Vicky Hartzler in Missouri’s 4th district, Dan Kapanke in Wisconsin’s 3rd district, Spike Maynard in West Virginia’s 3rd district, Jeff Miller in North Carolina’s 11th disrict, Ilario Pantano in North Carolina’s 7th district, Reid Ribble in Wisconsin’s 8th district, Bobby Schilling in Illinois 17th district and Van Tran in California’s 47th district. The Young Guns system ranks candidates in three levels: “On the Radar,” “Contender” and, finally, “Young Guns.” Candidates are named to the program by meeting individualized benchmarks set by the committee, which include developing grass-roots support, fundraising and creating a media plan. Being named a Young Gun qualifies a candidate for the highest level of support from the committee, although not every Young Gun has received the most coveted prize: television advertising buys in their district. The NRCC has bought or reserved television air time in 47 districts so far this cycle, but that list is expected to expand.

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NRCC to Add 18 New Young Guns Thursday

The conservative American Future Fund launched TV ads in seven more House districts today, bringing them on the air in 14 districts across the U.S. The total ad buy cost $2.3 million, according to the group’s founder, bringing the 14-district ad reservation to $4 million. “AFF enters the fray where issues of national importance are most highlighted – and that’s competitive areas around the country,” AFF founder Nick Ryan said in an e-mail. “Americans are appalled at the out of control spending and spiraling debt that the Congress continues to do with reckless abandon. Our focus is to highlight these issues and encourage Americans to stand up, be heard, and get active in stopping this liberal agenda.” The new districts are Alabama’s 2nd, where Rep. Bobby Bright (D) is running for reelection; Georgia’s 8th, where Rep. Jim Marshall (D) is running for reelection; Michigan’s 1st, where state Rep. Gary McDowell and surgeon Dan Benishek are fighting to replace retiring Rep. Bart Stupak; Michigan’s 7th, where former Rep. Tim Walberg (R) is again running against Rep. Mark Schauer (D); New Jersey’s 3rd, where Rep. John Adler (D) is running for reelection; South Carolina’s 5th, where Rep. John Spratt (D) is running for reelection; and West Virginia’s 1st, where Democrat Mike Oliverio and Republican David McKinley are running to replace Rep. Alan Mollohan, who lost in the primary. All are races where one or both House campaign committees have also reserved airtime. Each ad is similar, accusing the Democrat in the race of trying to trick voters and say he supported Nancy Pelosi for Speaker. In the ad being run against Schauer, for example, the narrator ticks off his votes for health care reform and higher energy taxes. “Don’t be tricked,” the female narrator concludes. “Magic can’t change his liberal record, but this November your vote can make Mark Schauer disappear.” AFF is still on the air in South Dakota, Texas’ 17th district, Washington’s 3rd district, New Mexico’s 1st district, Arkansas’ 1st district, Indiana’s 9th district and Mississippi’s 1st district. The group just went off the air in Iowa’s 1st district, a race that neither party is targeting, and in the New Hampshire Senate race.

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American Future Fund On the Air in Seven More Districts

The National Republican Congressional Committee’s independent expenditure arm announced Sunday it is airing new TV ads in eight districts across the country. The spots are targeting six current Members of Congress and two Democratic candidates in open-seat races. Reps. Allen Boyd in Florida’s 2nd district, Chet Edwards in Texas’ 17th district, Bobby Bright in Alabama’s 2nd district, Travis W. Childers in Mississippi’s 1st district, Tom Perriello in Virginia’s 5th district and Ann Kirkpatrick Arizona’s 1st district are the Democratic Members being targeted. All except Perriello and Kirkpatrick are in the conservative Blue Dogs Coalition. The two challengers being targeted are Roy Herron , who’s running to replace retiring Rep. John Tanner (D) in Tennessee’s 8th district, and Julie Lassa , who’s running to replace retiring Rep. David Obey (D) in Wisconsin’s 7th district. Each ad similarly ties the Democrat to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and will run in a single media market in the district.

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NRCC Ties Democrats to Pelosi in New Ads

Democrat Jeff Barnett is taking on 15-term Rep. Frank Wolf in Virginia’s 10th district. While the race is not expected to be competitive, Barnett sought to drum up support — and media attention — by walking the 80-mile district in six days. The Wolf campaign says it has left no stone unturned this election. “It’s [Barnett's] prerogative to do whatever he can do to get attention,” said Dan Scandling, spokesman for the Wolf campaign. “He’s going to run his race and we’re going to run ours like we’re 10 points behind, which means meeting with constituents, small businesses and rotary clubs in every corner of the district.” CQ-Politics followed Barnett on the first leg of his walk to see how he fared in the Republican stronghold. You can watch other political videos from the trail and meet candidates from the 2010 cycle by clicking here .

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Video: The Long Shot’s Long Walk

GRODY : Central Services earlier this week used dirt filled with garbage and debris in 11 spots throughout town. That particular load came from the city’s Waste Treatment Plant. Gary Sparks, Director of Administrative Services for the city, said only about 10 percent of the fill dirt used to come from there. Effective immediately, the city will not use dirt from that location again for filling purposes. A resident found and took photos of the garbage, which included broken plastic and feminine hygiene products – after placing it in a pile. The photos were forwarded to city officials. OH YES, Virginia, that is a maxi pad you see in the photo of the debris. Filed under: FAIL

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City Uses Trash to Fill Holes

The National Republican Congressional Committee will launch a major television ad blitz in 11 Congressional districts next week, in what will be the committee’s first multi-district independent expenditure drop of the 2010 cycle. The NRCC, which is already up on the air against Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) in the South Bend market, is expanding their fall ad campaign to target Alabama’s 2nd district, Arizona’s 1st district, California’s 11th district, Florida’s 2nd district, Kentucky’s 6th district, Mississippi’s 1st district, Tennessee’s 8th district, Texas’ 17th district, Virginia’s 5th district and Wisconsin’s 7th district. According to a senior strategist with knowledge of the buys the ads are scheduled to begin as early as Sunday. The ads are part of the more than $24 million the NRCC has already said it plans to drop in 45 districts around the country. Read more about the ad buy here . View the ad that’s set to run against Rep. Ben Chandler (D-Ky.) below.

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NRCC Expands Ads to 11 Districts