(Posted with full permission)
By Hank Bostwick
Star City Harbinger
Roanoke, Virginia
10/14/08
It is undeniable. Virginia is trending Blue. Polls indicate that Senator Obama may be the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the Commonwealth in modern history. The significance of this political shift cannot be understated. The GOP is beginning to show signs of desperation as it becomes clear that Southerners of all stripes can no longer be enticed to vote against their self-interest by Rovian diversionary tactics. Unlike 2000 and 2004, there are no anti-gay marriage amendments and irrational anti-choice measures to draw the far right-wing out in droves across the country on November 4th.
Meanwhile, Virginians are showing overwhelming support for centrist moderates like Mark Warner (D). This spring, the Democrats of Fairfax County, Virginia, passed over left-leaning Leslie Bryne for progressive pragmatist Gerry Connolly. Democrats saw the writing on the wall and selected Connolly as a middle-of-the-road answer to the radical right-wing agenda of his Republican opponent and the wishy-washy knee-jerk ideology of the polarizing old-school Democrat. Fairfax County seems to be indicative of the Commonwealth as a whole. Connelly’s chances over his Republican rival are significant.
Additional evidence of Virginia’s political evolution can be found in the 5th District. A few short months ago, Democratic challenger Tom Perriello was written off as a mild curiosity in a traditionally conservative Republican district. However, five days ago, SurveyUSA revealed that Perriello has gained 12 percentage points over the past two months and has moved into striking distance of his incumbent rival, Republican Virgil Goode.
We have reported over the last few months about the infusion of extremist right-wing ideology into the Virginia GOP. For example, the infamous Koch brothers have tucked their fortune into the pockets of Virginia’s Republicans. Similarly, Virginia GOP Chair Delegate Jeff Frederick has demonstrable ties to extremist anti-environmentalist groups like Americans for Prosperity.
As disturbing as these connections may be, the tone adopted by the Virginia GOP in recent days is positively frightening.
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