Rigell had a bad day

Hampton Roads, Local, Politics 1 Minute

I couldn’t help but think of this song as various news clips came through my email Wednesday regarding 2nd Congressional District Republican candidate Scott Rigell. First there was the USA Today story about the Cash for Clunkers program. Rigell, whose dealership sold 138 cars using the program, has been critical of Congressional spending. His opponents, however, have been critical of Rigell:

“It’s the hypocrisy of it,” said Ben Loyola, a Republican challenging Rigell in the primary. “You can’t say you’re against these programs, bailouts, and yet benefit wholeheartedly from them.”

As if that weren’t enough, via The Washington Post, we learn of the conservative Human Events article about the $1,000 donation Rigell made to Obama during last year’s primary, as well as other donations to Democrats.

“In November Republicans will aim at the Democrats, but for now their only expression is against the Republican establishment, and that’s who Rigell is,” said former Rep. Tom Davis (R.-Va.). “He gave money to Obama, he gave money to Mark Warner, and Louise Lucas, who is a Democrat state senator down there.”

Scott “Send a SEAL not a RINO” Taylor seems to be the favorite of Human Events.

Unlike Ben Pershing, I’m not so sure that the endorsement of Rigell by Gov. Bob McDonnell is a blessing. I mean, it worked so well for the last guy he endorsed down here. Besides, McDonnell’s endorsement is no surprise – after all, he attended Rigell’s campaign kickoff.

Overall, I’d say that Wednesday was a pretty bad day for Scott Rigell.

I still think Rigell will win the nomination. And, despite all the infighting, the Republicans will rally behind him. I’ve met Rigell – I actually think he’s a nice guy, even though we don’t agree on much.  (Heck, I think Bob McDonnell is a nice guy – and we certainly don’t agree on much.) For the next three and a half weeks, though, this primary contest is going to be pure entertainment.

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6 thoughts on “Rigell had a bad day”

  1. Rigell is totally unanswered when it comes to media. I’ve been getting mailers from him every other day for the past week or two, and he’s the only candidate I’ve seen on TV (granted, it was during Intervention on A&E, not exactly the biggest audience). Nothing from any of the other candidates. I’m expecting him to dominate the primary, especially since the anti-Rigell vote is probably going to split between Loyola, Taylor, and maybe Mizusawa.

    1. I’ve seen the Rigell ads on TV, on network stations. It must be a pretty significant ad buy. I don’t know how the other candidates are getting the word out. (Even though I live in the 2nd, I’ve not gotten any mail. I’m assuming they are targeting only R’s for the primary.)

      1. I have no idea why I keep getting mailers from him; neither my boyfriend nor I have ever voted in a Republican primary before. In fact, we both voted in the Democratic primary last year, which you’d think would tip them off.

        It has made me want to vote against him in the primary, except I’d vote for Jessica Sandlin, who’s possibly the most liberal candidate running in VA-02 this year, so she’ll finish dead last, so there doesn’t seem to be much point.

  2. If Rigell wins the nomination, can Nye credibly attack him on the Obama donation and the participation in the clunkers program? Scott Taylor’s “send a seal to Washington” mantra and his potshots at Rigell will get him the same results as his bid for VB Mayor.

    1. I can see Nye attacking him on the clunkers program, taking a position similar to that of Loyola. Not on the Obama donation, though.

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