Expected Virginian-Pilot endorsements: Webb & Drake

Local, Norfolk, Politics, Virginia 2 Minutes

This morning’s Pilot editorial explains how they make endorsements:

We treat an endorsement like a hiring process: We study a candidate’s background and job performance; check references and public records; and conduct an extensive interview. The close questioning in these interviews gives us a chance to get to know the candidates in a way voters can’t.

I think that last sentence is a little presumptuous but OK. In any event, I expect the Pilot to endorse Jim Webb for Senate. Here’s the giveaway for me:

Incumbent Sen. George Allen never responded to our many invitations for an interview. James Webb, his Democratic challenger, was interviewed three times.

I can’t imagine why Allen would ignore the Pilot. (Well, I can, but that’s a story for another day.) Perhaps he was not considering Southside Hampton Roads to be the battleground for him that it has turned out to be. (M-D shows Webb leading here.)

As for the endorsement of Thelma Drake over Phil Kellam, take a look at what the Pilot says about its biases:

We value the experience of incumbents. But we will endorse a challenger who can make a persuasive case for replacing the incumbent.

A challenger has two questions to answer: why the other guy should be fired and why the challenger should be hired. I believe Kellam has made the case for the first but not the second. He’s got two weeks to convince the voters, but I hardly think that is enough time to convince the Pilot.

As for the value of the Pilot endorsement, let me just say that it has no bearing on my vote. And I’m not sure that it should have any bearing on anyone’s vote. The day is long gone when the only people with access to the candidates is the newspaper. Today, we all have access. The candidates appear at venues where we have a chance to meet them and ask them questions. Most of us have access to the internet and candidates’ websites. There is enough information out there (although I have to admit that this election season I have gotten almost NO mail from the candidates, which is odd) to make an informed decision.

I do agree with the end of the editorial:

The test of a good endorsement is not whether the candidate wins but whether it helps you think about the choices. What’s important is not whether you agree or disagree with our choice, but whether we have given you a reason to vote on Election Day.

In the end, that’s the only endorsement that counts.

Yes. Please exercise your right to vote on November 7.

Technorati Tags: , , ,

Published

16 thoughts on “Expected Virginian-Pilot endorsements: Webb & Drake”

  1. Hilarious. They oppose Allen, who has more experience than Webb, because he snubbed them, but they support Drake because of her experience. Right.

    Everyone knows that being a Congresscritter is unskilled labor. Even Republicans think Mark Warner was a decent governor, but he had no experience. How many times has a spouse or child been appointed to replace a deceased politician? There is no way my wife could do my job, nor could I do hers; perhaps if I were a garbage collector and she were a politician, we could exchange jobs. The only value experience has for a politician is choicer committee assignments.

  2. Maybe some people have access to Phil but my chance was tonight at the Olde Wythe debate in Hampton and he bailed. I had thoughtful questions prepared for both candidates. I’m still trying to figure out why he’s running for Congress. Is it to have his name on the door? Is it for the interns? B/c he won’t take positions on the issues and when he does he either has a muddled position or he agrees with Drake.

    His actions are very telling. He’s afraid to get before a crowd of voters, he won’t talk to reporters, he listens to his “consultants”, he won’t live blog. What’s his deal? Will he always bail when the going gets tough? Will he always run and hide? Will he always turn his back on Hampton and the Eastern Shore? We may not have a lot of people over here but we still expect some leadership and a Congressperson who will understand and pay attention to our needs. That’s what we’ve got in Thelma Drake. I’m looking forward to seeing her in Olde Wythe tonight. She’ll answer the questions just as she has during her other public meetings on this side of the water. We’ll get one thing if Phil is sent to DC – SILENCE… (cricket, cricket)

  3. ellen, where are you? We have had phil kellam at a lot of functions on the peninsula. Phil is very friendly and quite smart.
    and he gave notice on the hampton event. so chill.

  5. Jack – note that these are my predictions as to who they will endorse. But I think you read it correctly. 🙂

    Ellen – I’m a little surprised that you would say that. Phil has been around, and has spent time on the Peninsula and the Eastern Shore.

  9. Phil Kellam came to the Harvest Fest on the Eastern Shore, big deal, all of the politians come to this event. He has barely showed his face on the ES, probably because he was endorsed by Troy Farlow would be my guess. Kellam also turned down a debate from the ES Chamber, Drake accepted.

  10. Phil Kellam came to the Harvest Fest, Big Deal! All of the Politians come to that event. Other than that, he barely has shown his face on the Eastern Shore. My guess is that since he was endorsed by Troy Farlow, he is embarressed to come to the ES. Kellam also turned down an invitation from the ES Chamber to debate Drake. Drake on the other accepted the challenge.

  11. You know what I think… Pilot will endorse Webb and then NOT endorse ANYONE for the 2nd districtrace. They WANT to endorse Phil but he has given them too many reasons not too.

    They will east their own before they endorse Drake.

  13. ES – sorry for the delay in your comments showing up. They got caught in my spam filter.

    Squeak – I’m sure you meant they will eat their own 🙂 But I still think they will endorse Drake.

    Guess we’ll know soon enough.

Comments are closed.