Comments on: Virginia Votes – So Votes the Nation? http://donklephant.com/2005/11/09/virginia-votes-so-votes-the-nation/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:59:03 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: BrianOfAtlanta http://donklephant.com/2005/11/09/virginia-votes-so-votes-the-nation/comment-page-1/#comment-3595 BrianOfAtlanta Wed, 09 Nov 2005 18:44:48 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=1297#comment-3595 Reminds me of a Republican candidate running against Fritz Hollings in South Carolina back in the 90s. A totally negative campaign, with no ideas. I hated Fritz, but voted for him anyway based on the campaign his rival was running. The difference there was that most of the things said about Fritz were true while they weren't in this race. Still, going too negative can really turn off voters. If I were a resident of Virginia, I probably would have voted for Kaine as well. Reminds me of a Republican candidate running against Fritz Hollings in South Carolina back in the 90s. A totally negative campaign, with no ideas. I hated Fritz, but voted for him anyway based on the campaign his rival was running.

The difference there was that most of the things said about Fritz were true while they weren’t in this race. Still, going too negative can really turn off voters. If I were a resident of Virginia, I probably would have voted for Kaine as well.

]]> By: Tony http://donklephant.com/2005/11/09/virginia-votes-so-votes-the-nation/comment-page-1/#comment-3589 Tony Wed, 09 Nov 2005 15:11:55 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=1297#comment-3589 I agree that I don't think this is that much of an indication of a national trend. Kaine carried the further suburbs of Northern Virginia, which is significantly different than past elections. But kreiz is correct in pointing out that Kaine is riding the coattails of Gov. Warner, who has a roughly 70% approval rating. Kaine got nowhere near that. More importantly, I think, this election turned on the negative campaign Kilgore ran. He attacked Kaine for his death penalty stance, skewing the facts horribly. Politicians playing fast and dirty with facts is nothing new, but the Kilgore's campaign didn't attempt even a dose of subtlety. Very off-putting and a deciding factor for many, including me. President Bush's approval contributed, but I don't think Virginia is a strong sign. More of a faint warning to Republicans for 2006 and beyond. I agree that I don’t think this is that much of an indication of a national trend. Kaine carried the further suburbs of Northern Virginia, which is significantly different than past elections. But kreiz is correct in pointing out that Kaine is riding the coattails of Gov. Warner, who has a roughly 70% approval rating. Kaine got nowhere near that.

More importantly, I think, this election turned on the negative campaign Kilgore ran. He attacked Kaine for his death penalty stance, skewing the facts horribly. Politicians playing fast and dirty with facts is nothing new, but the Kilgore’s campaign didn’t attempt even a dose of subtlety. Very off-putting and a deciding factor for many, including me. President Bush’s approval contributed, but I don’t think Virginia is a strong sign. More of a faint warning to Republicans for 2006 and beyond.

]]> By: kreiz http://donklephant.com/2005/11/09/virginia-votes-so-votes-the-nation/comment-page-1/#comment-3586 kreiz Wed, 09 Nov 2005 14:55:19 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=1297#comment-3586 Denise- there was a centrist candidate in the Va governor's race- Potts. He came in with a whopping 2% of the vote. As for the swing back toward the left- it will happen in 06 if things remain constant. This mini-election didn't provide much of a national indicator, given that Va had an incumbent and popular Dem gov. It was decidely local in flavor. Denise- there was a centrist candidate in the Va governor’s race- Potts. He came in with a whopping 2% of the vote. As for the swing back toward the left- it will happen in 06 if things remain constant. This mini-election didn’t provide much of a national indicator, given that Va had an incumbent and popular Dem gov. It was decidely local in flavor.

]]> By: Donklephant » Blog Archive » Election Results Tonight http://donklephant.com/2005/11/09/virginia-votes-so-votes-the-nation/comment-page-1/#comment-3585 Donklephant » Blog Archive » Election Results Tonight Wed, 09 Nov 2005 14:53:48 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=1297#comment-3585 [...] You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your ownsite. [...] [...] You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your ownsite. [...]

]]> By: Justin Gardner http://donklephant.com/2005/11/09/virginia-votes-so-votes-the-nation/comment-page-1/#comment-3583 Justin Gardner Wed, 09 Nov 2005 14:48:51 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=1297#comment-3583 <blockquote>Or is swinging away from the “right� a more accurate description?</blockquote> Bingo. It's moving inward (less polarized) and whichever politicians can best capture that spirit with message and attitude will win.

Or is swinging away from the “right� a more accurate description?

Bingo. It’s moving inward (less polarized) and whichever politicians can best capture that spirit with message and attitude will win.

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