Two Democrats have gone on the record as intending to oppose Rep. Virgil Goode in the 2008 election, and I know an undeclared third, as well. The Hook has written about the latter two. First is UVa history professor David Shreve, who moved to Virginia from Louisiana in 1999. Charlottesville, university professor, not from Virginia; three strikes, he’s out. Next up we have Iraq War veteran, Chatham resident and former state trooper Brydon Jackson. Southside resident, Iraq vet, LEO? Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves a candidate…at least on paper.
As I’ve said before, I can envision two hypothetical candidates who could defeat Goode: a much-loved, retired higher-up from a now-shuttered major Southside manufacturer, or a veteran of the war in Iraq, also from Southside. One of those seems to have turned up, luckily enough.
Here’s hoping that the third candidate tosses his hat into the ring, and that even more folks vie for the nomination. That would be healthy for 5th district Democrats and lead to a better candidate emerging from that process. But the healthiest thing for all residents of the district would be to replace Rep. Goode. He’s made clear in the past five weeks that his views are considerably out of step with the values of this country, this state, and this district. The onus is on Democrats to demonstrate that to the district and run a strong campaign in order to see that goal through.
Brydon Jackson came to the Fifth District Committee meeting a few weeks ago. I was impressed with him. He spoke for about 5-10 minutes, and seemed comfortable doing so. He spoke about why he’s interested — he came back from Iraq with a realization that we were screwing things up, and we needed a change. He also cited Virgil’s Keith Ellison e-mail as another reason. He spoke strongly but not flamboyantly. Now, all he needs is about a million dollars…
I am doing an interview with Brydon Jackson after meeting him at the same meeting with Lloyd.
I am going to profile him soon on my blog.
Any clues for us who the third is?
Good good, I’m awfully glad to hear that. I can’t help him with the mil, but maybe the DCCC will see this as a race worth targeting this time around. Clearly he’ll need to put in some serious work in the next 12 months to demonstrate that. And, as we’ve both seen too many times, the fact that somebody would hypothetically make a good representative does not equip them to be a good candidate; too often the good candidate gets elected and proves to be a lousy representative.
I’m afraid not — it’s up to him to announce if and when he wants to do so. It’s not my secret to give away.
That’s very good news!
By the way, I have to ask, what kind of candidate would it take to beat Silent Bob here in the sixth?
What’s wrong with being a history professor? I think it’s an excellent qualification. Also, he’s lived here eight years! I wasn’t aware of any requirement you had to be BORN in Virginia to seek office here.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with being a history professor, and it’s good he’s been here for 8 years. But that doesn’t mean that the Southside folks will want someone that new to VA (my family has been here for over 30 years, and we’ve just stopped being the newcomers) OR someone from Charlottesville academia – too far removed from their concerns, or so they perceive. And, in the end, we’ve got to get someone ELECTED. Al Weed and Meredith Richards were both extremely good on paper and in person, but the Southside would have none of them. Of course, I think Virgil’s got the voodoo going down there – I swear he’s putting something in the water.
History Professors have a long history in Congress, Newt Gingrich anyone? As for Vigil Goode, his family has been a fixture in politics in the soutside for over 50 years. It’s not something in the water, it seems feed by the very soil down there. If democrats want to win in the 5th their best chance is going to be someone from Martinville area or close to there.
In many ways this race refelcts the state in microcosm, Charlottesville/Albemarle is Northern Virginia and the southside is Central Virginia (without Chalottesville). A UVa professor will have a real problem outside this area. Anyone who hasn’t lived a majority of their life here is going to have an up hill battle. People in that area sneer openly at anyone from New York or New Jersey. If democrats are serious they will find some who can do OK in the south and get his/her victory with the votes in Albemarle/Charlottesville.
I can understand the role emotion plays in motivating Dems to go after Virgil, but it seems quixotic. Like going after Katherine Harris and Jeb in ’02. Given Goode’s popularity and Rahm Emmanuel’s shrewdness, I imagine the national party will decide the resources are more wisely allocated elsewhere.
Joanna,
Consider this your notification of the rule. Well, you don’t have to have been *born* here, but you had better have spent your entire adult life in VA if you want to get elected to public office at that level outside of Northern Virginia. History professor plus living in Charlottesville plus only having been in VA for 8 years equals total disaster. I don’t care if he walks on water. David Shreve does not have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning that seat.
Now this guy Brydon Jackson, I’d like to hear some more about.
He’s welcome to seek office, and the man very well make a fine congressman. But — for the reasons that I’ve named — he cannot win, Rep. Goode can only lose.
Hasn’t this fellow tried to run once before? I seem to remember…
Next race will be in a presidential year . . . very interesting if this Brydon Jackson turns out to be a good candidate . . . especially if things in Iraq continues to get worse, there will be not a chance in hell that a Republican could get elected president (excluding Hagel of course).
Will Virginia turn blue, will it be a battle ground state?
All things that could spell trouble for Goode. Still a long shot though, but maybe this Koran stuff is playing as well down in Southside as we all think it is; compounded by the regions worsening economic situation ( hard to imagine, but more factory closings, etc., etc.)
Virginia is now, by definition, a swing state, according to voters’ party self-identification. It is, in fact, very slightly Democratic. The only state in which Democrats are LOSING ground is Louisiana.
Virginia wasn’t as close as we wanted in 2004. With changing demographics in the past few years, and two statewide Democratic wins since then, it will be a battleground, even with Clinton as the Democratic candidate. The DNC has already hinted at plans to make a major play in Virginia in 2008. All part of the political fallout of Governor Kaine and Senator Webb.
Smails, Rahm Emmanuel is no longer the DCCC chair. That has fallen to Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, whose first steps in that role seem very, very promising.
“By the way, I have to ask, what kind of candidate would it take to beat Silent Bob here in the sixth?”
Creigh Deeds, or someone who commits to running a four year campaign.
“Like going after Katherine Harris and Jeb in ‘02.”
Neither of those two people have jobs today. The GOP took the long view during the impeachment fiasco–you remember they took a beating in 1998 to set themselves up for 2000. A fair number of Democratic canditates took up campaigns last year that were termed “quixotic” at the outset. They’re in Congress, now. You keep hacking away, and someone might take notice that, for all Virgil’s nativist bullshit, you still can’t get a decent job in Southside. Maybe there are bigger problems than Mexicans picking tobacco or tomatoes.
@ Brian:
Yeah, I know neither has a job now, but Jeb was term-limited and KH overreached for the Senate. My point was they were both (re)-elected in ’02 after being targeted by the DNC for defeat. What’s yer point?
I don’t pretend to be an expert on DNC strategy, but if you wanna bet against Virgil being in the House in 2 years, I’ll take that bet (assuming he runs). Waldo can hold my money in escrow. (As long as he doesn’t profit, it’s legal. I think.)
What’ll it be?
David Shreve would be a wonderful congressman. I took his history class when I was a student at U.Va. and I was impressed with how much he knows about fiscal policy — and he uses his knowledge for good, not evil. He was also a great professor who took the time to talk to students outside of class. I realize he may have a hard time getting elected because he lives in Charlottesville, but if he were elected, he would do an excellent job.
Heck no. An incumbent congressman versus a hypothetical opponent? I’ll take your side of the bet on that any day.
I have to assume that the GOP won’t let Goode even think about running again, right? He might as well be boxing up his stuff now. You’d have to be fairly foolish not to be identifying a GOP candidate to hold the seat. And Republicans don’t do foolish things when they pick canidates in Virginia. Do they?
I think you’ve made it abundantly clear that Virgil is out of step w/ Charlottesville. The rest of the district? Hell no. What are you smoking?