Some of you are aware of the
story of a nice young
man, Chris Craddock, who was nominated by the Republican pary of Virginia to represent the state's 67th district in the House of Delegates. He has gained a reputation for what one might call
outspokenness. He has opined recently that the reason for the AIDS problem in Africa is that "Africans will have sex with anything with a pulse," that people "turn gay" because they have an absent or abusive father, and that "Christians and gays hate and despise each other" (he's a Christian youth minister, by the way). The local GOP
canned their successful incumbent in the primary because he wasn't on board with their vision of society the way this guy is.
Folks around this community naturally were rooting for Mr. Craddock's comeuppance, but as the election approached, things looked dicey. The district is overwhelmingly Republican. Craddock's internal polling showed a commanding
13-point lead in August. Even after the guy's motormouth began gathering attention, there were some
indications that Craddock's superior organization and GOTV would carry the day. The local press
seemed to say that the race was too close to call.
The results?
Mr. Africans-will-schtup-anything-that-moves was crushed, squished, trounced, squeezed, pureed. Respected and experienced public servant Chuck Caputo won 56% to 41%.
This was a great day, not just because this looney tunes and the would-be-worst-governor of Virginia both lost. The Republican party of Virginia was sent a decisive message by voters: Enough with the looney-tunes. Enough already with the right-wing extremists. We want people who will govern. This state is no longer drifting pointlessly to the right. You need to grow up and nominate some grown-ups as candidates.
I like the possibly prophetic remarks of the outgoing moderate Republican who holds the House of Delegates seat until January:
However, Del. Gary Reese (R-67th) who lost to Craddock in the Republican primary and holds that title until January, doesn't believe that Craddock necessarily has a lock on the district's votes. Reese is a staunch, lifelong Republican. Yet he recently swung his own support to the Democratic Caputo and away from the ultra-conservative Craddock. And he believes others will do likewise.
"The last time I got a similar sensation was in the Reagan-Carter [presidential] race," said Reese. "You get the sensation that the great middle is moving. It moved then for Reagan — it's moving now against Craddock and in favor of Caputo and, at this point, there's nothing he can do about it.
I have the feeling that "shifting middle" applies far beyond that one district. Like the sound of that?