24th Update
Things are finally heating up in the 24th Senate seat. On top of the new radio ads, there have been a good number of endorsements in the race.
As you have probably seen elsewhere; Sen. Hanger has the endorsements of a good number of the elected officials in the district, while Scott Sayre has the endorsement of most of the GOP committee chairs and other party leaders.
This begs the question, which ones are more important? Obviously, the party faithful/volunteers will certainly be a boon for Sayre in getting his message out and building support; but Hanger's elected officials have their own group of supporters that usually reaches beyond the "party faithful" and could provide a good base for him as well.
On a different front, the biggest question I have had (and perhaps one or more of our SWACers can help me with this) is whether there will be a backlash among the GOP committees/etc against these constitutional officers and supervisors who are behind Hanger; since most all the committee members are behind Sayre.
What makes this even more interesting is that the constitutional officers are actually putting their livelihood on the line for Hanger if there is potential for a backlash. Obviously there is already a pretty solid contingent of people in this area that are willing to try and oust an incumbent that they don't agree with; so I often wonder if they will try the same thing against the local electeds. One advantage they have is their elections are this year too; so it would be 4 years before primary challenges or the like would be levied against them; but it still is an interesting dynamic.
One of my biggest concerns surrounding this primary is that it could have lastly ramifications and could potentially divide the local parties. In the other primary races, you have not seen this level of activism and draw battle lines like this one. In most other primaries, most of the local electeds and party leaders are staying neutral; while this one has seen nearly everyone make an endorsement. I just hope the party arises from this unscathed.
I may be way of base here, but I just wanted to see what everyone thought of this situation that seems to be developing in the 24th.
As you have probably seen elsewhere; Sen. Hanger has the endorsements of a good number of the elected officials in the district, while Scott Sayre has the endorsement of most of the GOP committee chairs and other party leaders.
This begs the question, which ones are more important? Obviously, the party faithful/volunteers will certainly be a boon for Sayre in getting his message out and building support; but Hanger's elected officials have their own group of supporters that usually reaches beyond the "party faithful" and could provide a good base for him as well.
On a different front, the biggest question I have had (and perhaps one or more of our SWACers can help me with this) is whether there will be a backlash among the GOP committees/etc against these constitutional officers and supervisors who are behind Hanger; since most all the committee members are behind Sayre.
What makes this even more interesting is that the constitutional officers are actually putting their livelihood on the line for Hanger if there is potential for a backlash. Obviously there is already a pretty solid contingent of people in this area that are willing to try and oust an incumbent that they don't agree with; so I often wonder if they will try the same thing against the local electeds. One advantage they have is their elections are this year too; so it would be 4 years before primary challenges or the like would be levied against them; but it still is an interesting dynamic.
One of my biggest concerns surrounding this primary is that it could have lastly ramifications and could potentially divide the local parties. In the other primary races, you have not seen this level of activism and draw battle lines like this one. In most other primaries, most of the local electeds and party leaders are staying neutral; while this one has seen nearly everyone make an endorsement. I just hope the party arises from this unscathed.
I may be way of base here, but I just wanted to see what everyone thought of this situation that seems to be developing in the 24th.
posted by GOPHokie @ 12:49 PM
4 Comments:
At 5/03/2007 3:00 PM,
Spank That Donkey said…
I think the Constitutional officer and Board of Supervisors have opened themselves up to endorsing Senator Hanger's voting record, and his rhetoric towards the same grassroots activists that help them all get elected...
http://bloggers4sayre.blogspot.com/2007/04/electeds-we-endorse-emmett-his-tax.html
This is really a defining time for elected officials.. Do you really support Conservative principles, or are you 'in the club'. I mean Emmett's big sale pitch is now his seniority..
Well yeah great, you'll use your greater seniority to go back to Richmond and take over Potts and Chichester's roles? In exchange for that our district and/or the individuals that support Senator Hanger benefit?
This election reveals alot about elected's inner Republicanism. The only exception is direct family members.. You know I can see that.
At 5/03/2007 3:53 PM,
GOPHokie said…
STD, so does this mean what I have proposed could very well come to fruition (aka these folks all get primaried as well?)
At 5/03/2007 11:51 PM,
Spank That Donkey said…
As I suggested in my linked post, now these elected officials get to defend Emmett's votes on consistently raising taxes during a surplus.
Not to mention crafting legislation to give in state tuition to illegal aliens, plus other legislation that is not exactly 'appealing' to conservatives, suchas 'stiff arming' Del. Saxman's School Choice legislation, and Del. Clines 'Yellow Pages' bill.
A glaring mistake by the BOS and Constitutional's or should we say very surprising association, is to have Tracy Pyles a democrat, and Nancy Sorrells, who bills herself an independent at the endorsement/reelection event for Hanger...
We have a certified Republican candidate (Michael Shull) for Nancy Sorrells district... By having her there to 'mug' for the cameras and sing the praises of Emmett, is that not an obvious reciprocating endorsement of Emmett back to Sorrells.. Quid Pro Quo type thing...
But what's it matter right? Emmett openly endorses Democrat tax increases by Gov. Warner and Kaine.. You know 'in the faces' of our three Conservative Delegates.
and as you can see, by Emmett's comments regarding grass roots Leaders who 'Thanklessly' volunteer out of principle and duty to defend Conservative ideals...
He has no loyalty to Grass Roots types, and by inference no loyalty to the Republican Creed.....
Is that where we want to take the State and local parties? Subsequently, to try and answer your question.... Who knows what will happen...
What we know is that we have a career politician, and a group of career politicians supporting him. Meanwhile, you have those people who volunteer their time to do the grunt work of the party, for the satisfaction of electing Conservative candidates...
The ultimate Primary.... or deciders are the voting public that pays attention to this process... are they with the career politicians... or are they inclined to vote along the philosphy of the Grass Roots activists?
My thoughts (which have gone on to long here), are that the role of the War in Iraq was a large factor in Congress itself turning from Pub to Dem... but do not discount the role of excess spending by Congress... and lack of Leadership...
Wasn't it Nixon that said, "You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time...
Time, and deeds (voting record) tend to catch up with politicians...
At 5/04/2007 5:31 AM,
Anonymous said…
Based on VCAP endorsed candidates' track records in GOP Primaries (see 2005), I'd say Sen. Hanger won this the day VCAP's endorsement was announced.
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