The afternoon session has just gotten started with LG Bill Bolling discussing the action in the Senate today on the repeal of the abusive driver fees and the judges.
Now up is Ron Butler, president of Creative Direct, LLC, a direct mail firm in Richmond. He has managed a number of campaigns, including that of former LG John Hager, and is the former political director for the RPV.
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Candidate recruitment – Butler says that where Republicans have failed is in this area and specifically mentioned the Democratic recruitment of Joe Bouchard and Bobby Mathieson.
Republican incumbents – only Doc Welch lost, and it was more a case of who Welch was (bankruptcy, etc) than anything. He says that the incumbents won because they had better candidates.
Even in NoVA, where it was expected that Ds would win House races, Rs held on because they were better candidates.
Rex Simmons – problem with his campaign was that he didn’t focus on bringing change and instead attacked Hugo. Race was very close until then. The attacks backfired, Ds overreached.
Senate Democratic races were “more thoughtful, more grown up” than the House races.
Losses on the Republican side came in the open seat races (House) because of candidate recruitment.
Party needs to understand the issues like the situation with Tricia Stall, in which they took a safe seat and lost it.
Bolling – the polling on the races was tremendous. There were only a couple of races that they lost that they could have won – Jay O’Brien and Tricia Stall – while there were a number of races that they won that they could have lost, like Cuccinelli.
Bolling – supports redistricting reform. In 1991, the Ds drew the lines and ended up electing a Republican majority. In 2001, the Rs drew the lines and ended up electing a Democratic majority. Races are more competitive – and that’s a good thing.
Butler – The state isn’t 60/40 Republican. R’s have to recruit better candidates. Look at Pollard’s race – didn’t get a strong R to run.
Butler – Thelma Drake is in a good position due to a weak Democratic candidate. She will benefit from having John McCain at the top of the ticket.
Bolling – need good candidates with the right message to run good campaigns.
Butler – Vance Wilkins would recruit candidates by going to the business community and getting them to give him names.
Wilkins also tried to recruit in the black community. Seems there is a hesitancy to stay out of nominating contests.
Bolling – candidate recruitment for the Senate for 2011 has already started. As the majority party, sometimes you forget how you got there. And now they are taking a step back to start this up again.