Waldo:

His name is Mike Reynold. He ran AG McDonnell’s successful campaign to secure the GOP nomination for Governor over Bill Bolling…without having to go to a priamry or a convention. This was largely accomplished thru massive grassroots organization throughout the state. How exactly does this disqualify him running McCain’s campaign in Virginia?

Posted by Tom Shuman on 18 October 02008 @ 12pm

His name is Mike Reynold. He ran AG McDonnell’s successful campaign to secure the GOP nomination for Governor over Bill Bolling…without having to go to a priamry or a convention.

Um. Listen. Here’s the thing: if you want to say that he has experience, this really isn’t the resume item to lead with. I mean, I’m the Virginia State Sea Lion Attack Prevention Leader, and while it’s true that there hasn’t been a single attack by sea lions since my 2006 appointment by Governor Kaine, I don’t go around bragging about it.

How exactly does this disqualify him running McCain’s campaign in Virginia?

Who said he was disqualified? (Other than, of course, the top Virginia Republicans cited in the Post article.) I just acknowledged that it’s quite a promotion. Don’t you think it’s a big step up in three years?

Posted by Waldo Jaquith on 18 October 02008 @ 2pm

“I’m the Virginia State Sea Lion Attack Prevention Leader,”

Ok, I think I need to start getting more sleep, because the first thought in my head was, “Wow, really?”

Although, up here in PA, there is an actual position, appointed by the governor, where your entire job consists of going to the Mason-Dixon line annually and inspecting it at one symbolic point to ensure that the Rebels are still in their place. Apparently, there is a Southern equivalent who makes sure the Yanks aren’t trying to get back into God’s Country, on the same day. I very much want this position, just so I can say that I have prevented another civil war from tearing this nation apart.

Posted by Genevieve on 18 October 02008 @ 3pm

Are you sure that’s the Mason Dixon line? Cause I’m pretty sure I saw a similar event at a Waffle House up around Harper’s Ferry, once . . .

Posted by MB on 18 October 02008 @ 7pm

MB: Cute. All I know is what my damnyankee con law prof told our class once. I think it was both in reference to a case, his personal ambitions and dreams for life, and his mild shock that most of us still don’t really know what we want to be when we’re done with law school. “Well, you can do anything,” he said, “For example,” and somehow he related it to a free speech case. I don’t remember right now.

Posted by Genevieve on 18 October 02008 @ 10pm

Tom,

That’s not really running a political campaign per se. If there was no primary and no convention then we aren’t talking about much of a campaign then, are we? The McDonnell/Bolling deal was more or less a ‘behind closed doors’ thing. A bunch of party chairs indicated their preferences and the 2 of them worked something out like gentlemen.

That’s a pretty far cry from the management demands of running a Presidential campaign in the general election in the premier swing state of 2008. John McCain was out of his mind to put Mike Reynold in charge of Virginia. I don’t mean to bash Mike Reynold – I would do about as well if I’d been put in charge of Obama’s operation for some reason. He just clearly was not remotely ready for this task and I think that the results thus far bear that out. Obama has consistently been leading Virginia by 3-8 points. McCain’s ground operation here sucks. Empty offices, few volunteers in most areas. The signs and bumper stickers only just started showing up in many areas about a month ago. McCain’s campaign in Virginia under Mike Reynolds has been way, way behind the standard that Obama’s operation has set here.

I think that putting someone like, say, John Hager in charge of McCain’s Virginia operation would have made the difference. McCain should really be running even or ahead here. This mistake could literally cost him the election.

Posted by Jackson Landers on 20 October 02008 @ 7am